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Sometimes, pregnant women considering adoption wonder, “If I give my baby up for adoption, do they go to foster care?”

The answer is no. By placing your child for adoption with an adoption agency, you are choosing a clear path for the rest of your baby’s life, avoiding the possibility of them ending up in foster care. When you work with an adoption agency like American Adoptions, your child will be placed directly in a healthy, happy family that’s been thoroughly screened, is 100 percent ready for the commitment of raising a child and is happy to embrace you as the birth mother of your child, speaking of you with joy and love and keeping you a part of your child’s life through pictures and letters. So, know that when you put a baby up for adoption, it does not go into foster care, but instead into a loving family of your choice.

Our adoption specialists are always available to talk in depth with you about how the process of adoption helps your child avoid foster care. Even if you’re just considering adoption, you can contact us anytime at 1-800-ADOPTION completely for free and with no obligation to choose adoption unless you’re ready.

How an Agency Adoption is Different from Foster Care

When you’re wondering if by putting a baby up for adoption, it ends up in foster care, know that this is never the case with American Adoptions. In many cases, a foster care placement of a child is not a voluntary decision — but choosing to place your child for adoption is always entirely up to you.

When you choose to place your baby for adoption, you also get to choose the perfect adoptive parents for your baby, and he or she can be placed directly with them — without ever entering the foster care system. Unlike foster care placements, an adoptive placement involves you selecting the family that you want to raise your baby. This is why when you put a baby up for adoption it does not go into foster care — because there is a home waiting for them once you sign your adoption consent. You are the only one who decides which family is best for your baby, and your adoption specialist will help you find the perfect family for your preferences.

In addition to selecting a family and knowing that there will be a home for your baby after you place them for adoption, you can also be reassured that these families will provide the support and love that you want for your baby. All adoptive families go through a lengthy screening process, which includes criminal background checks and a home study review process to ensure they’re prepared to raise an adopted child. Therefore, you can know that these families will provide a great home for your baby, and the risk of them ending up in foster care after being placed through our agency is nearly nonexistent.

In adoption, you will also be able to choose the level of contact with your child and their adoptive family before, during and after the adoption process is complete. You will rarely have that opportunity with a foster care placement. With adoption, however, you have the option of staying in contact with your baby’s adoptive family in whatever way you desire — whether it’s through letters and pictures sent through your adoption agency, direct email and text correspondence or even in-person meetings. Open adoption is important in creating a healthy adoption relationship for all, so when you choose to place your child for adoption, you will likely have a more positive experience that helps you heal from the emotional struggles of placing your child with another family — unlike in foster care, where you have no such guaranteed contact. As a prospective birth mother who chooses adoption, you will always have control of the level of openness you desire in your relationship.

Other Questions You May Have About Adoption and Foster Care

We understand that you, as a pregnant woman considering adoption, have many decisions to make — and you may also have many concerns and questions during this decision process. As mentioned above, we are always ready to answer these questions and help you choose an unplanned pregnancy option that’s best for you.

Some questions women commonly have are:

“Can the state make you give up children for adoption?”

If you’re concerned about putting a baby up for adoption and having it end up in foster care, it’s important to first understand how the foster care system works. Foster care is designed as a safekeeping process for children whose parents need time to improve their circumstances before being reunified; foster care does not mean a child is automatically made available for adoption. In fact, when a child is removed by the state and placed in foster care, parents are given multiple opportunities to complete a reunification plan before the department of child services starts exploring the possibility of adoption and termination of parental rights. If necessary, they will go through a lengthy legal process before potentially terminating parental rights. But, as mentioned before, you will have several opportunities to reunite with your children before then if you’re in this situation.

When it comes to the infant adoptions completed by American Adoptions, we will never force you to place your baby for adoption; that’s entirely your decision. Know that no one has the power to choose adoption for your baby except you. If you are worried that a state department may force you into a decision that you’re not ready for, you can always contact our agency at 1-800-ADOPTION. We can help you obtain an adoption attorney to interact with the state department on your behalf.

“If I don’t have an adoptive family lined up, can my baby go to foster care?”

It’s never too late to find an adoptive family for your baby and go through the adoption process, avoiding the placement of your child in foster care. If you want to place your baby for adoption but don’t yet have an adoptive family chosen, our adoption specialists will help you find the perfect adoptive family, no matter how late you’re starting the adoption process. When you work with an adoption agency, your child will never be placed in foster care but instead will go through the normal adoption process with you being in charge every step of the way. If you’ve given birth at the hospital and are worried about your baby being placed in foster care, call us at 1-800-ADOPTION for the free assistance you need. By choosing adoption, you will have the ability to create an adoption plan that meets your desires, rather than a state department making those important choices for you.

If you’re still asking, “If I give a kid up for adoption, will they be in foster care?” or have more questions about the adoption process, we encourage you to reach out to our adoption specialists. They can give you more specific answers to your questions based on your circumstances and help you get the resources you need.

Share to help reach women who may be worried about what happens when you place a child for adoption.