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Why Adoption Support Matters

How Birth Mothers Are Supported and Evaluated

At American Adoptions, we've been able to help guide and complete 13,000 journeys because we have birth mothers on staff who understand how to guide pregnant women through the process and provide: 

  1. Overall preparedness.
  2. Overcome potential roadblocks.
  3. Emotional support.

Without proper support, families often experience setbacks such as:

  1. Being connected with expectant mothers who are not fully committed to adoption.
  2. Lacking the guidance of experienced staff to navigate roadblocks and build a stable support system.
  3. Disruptions caused by emotional unpreparedness during the adoption journey.

These factors lead to more disruptions, forcing families to start over, losing precious time and money. That’s why choosing an agency with experienced staff to guide on these three levels of support is crucial in finding the right expectant mother for your family. 

1. Commitment Level

It’s not enough for an expectant mother to express interest. Adoption is a lifelong decision, and not everyone who considers it is ready or sincere.

A qualified professional helps assess:

  • Commitment level of the mother to adoption to ensure she is not connected with a family too early
  • Preferences and expectations regarding the type of family and long-term relationship she envisions
  • Indicators that suggest adoption may be pursued primarily for financial reasons

How to people will eventually drop off once conversations start to happen causing a funneling down of people

This kind of screening requires experience, sensitivity, and licensed training—not just a phone call or an intake form.

Missed Red Flags: A Real Story

An agency was matched with a birth mother who showed multiple signs over time that she wasn’t fully committed to the adoption plan. But without qualified support or oversight, no one noticed the concerns. The family spent thousands before the match fell apart, losing both time and money.

2. Addressing Potential Roadblocks

Birth mothers need people in their corner—before, during, and after the adoption. Without it, fear and doubt can quietly grow.

We evaluate the expectant mother's situation to ensure:

  • She has a supportive social network and can engage in open, informed conversations with those close to her about her adoption plan.

  • She has financial and medical coverage to ensure she can receive proper pregnancy care.

  • She has access to accurate information and unbiased counseling to explore her options and make an informed decision.

The more support she has, the more stable the journey becomes for everyone involved. Each expectant mother will have an adoption specialist assigned to support her through all parts of her journey and navigate conversations with her network.

3. Emotional Preparedness

Adoption is an emotional journey. That’s why we ensure every woman receives:

  • Licensed counseling to prepare for the emotions of delivery and placement
  • Support in building confidence around her decision and envisioning the life she wants for her child
  • Ongoing support, even if she chooses not to place

Without this, families face an increased risk of disruption, and birth mothers face the process alone. 

To learn more about the importance of support for grief and loss, talk to our peer support specialist, Michelle, here

Choosing the Right Professional Matters

When families try to navigate this on their own—or with the wrong kind of support—the process can feel uncertain, unprotected, and emotionally risky.
 
That’s why who you choose to walk alongside the expectant mother matters just as much as who she is.
 
Just like finding the right expectant mother, who you choose to support her makes all the difference. Here's how the different options compare:
 
[[Chart]]
# Professional Type Where They Struggle Effectiveness & Risk
1 American Adoptions & Nationwide Licensed Agencies Fully licensed, clinical counseling, thorough screening, and ongoing care ✅ Protects both the woman and the family—before, during, and after placement
2 National Agencies Without Licensure Limited legal standing; may outsource or skip emotional support ⚠️ Under legal scrutiny; may not meet state/federal support standards
3 Small Local Agencies Limited capacity; can’t always offer 24/7 support or deep screening ⚠️ Safer than most, but often slower with narrower reach
4 Law Firms or Legal Centers Focus on legal—not emotional—support; no licensed counselors involved ⚠️ May meet legal requirements but fall short emotionally
5 Families Supporting on Their Own No clinical training, legal safeguards, or emotional guidance ⚠️ High risk of emotional and legal disruption

Why American Adoptions Is Built For Support

Our Commitment to Success

  • We’ve successfully supported over 13,000 adoption journeys by prioritizing expectant mother care.
  • Our team of 100+ licensed staff members includes birth parents, adoptees, and adoptive families who have experienced the process firsthand.
  • We’ve built one of the most comprehensive support systems in the country to guide women through every emotional and practical step of adoption.

Our Commitment to Success

  • We’ve successfully supported over 13,000 adoption journeys by prioritizing expectant mother care.

  • Our team of 100+ licensed staff members includes birth parents, adoptees, and adoptive families who have experienced the process firsthand.

  • We’ve built one of the most comprehensive support systems in the country to guide women through every emotional and practical step of adoption.

Our team isn’t just trained—we’ve lived this journey. From adoptees to birth parents to adoptive families, our licensed professionals bring personal experience and professional training to every situation. View our staff stories and how American Adoptions was founded here.

This consistency builds trust and reduces disruptions, creating better outcomes for everyone involved. When birth mothers are fully supported, adoptive families are more protected, and every outcome is treated with care.

Next Step:

Learn how state laws can limit your ability to work with a birth mother—especially if you're trying to connect with her independently.

Disclaimer
Information available through these links is the sole property of the companies and organizations listed therein. American Adoptions provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do we need to retain our own attorney?

No, American Adoptions has established relationships with some of the best adoption attorneys in the nation. Because adoption laws vary from state to state and between counties, it is important to utilize the services of an adoption attorney who specializes in the state where the adoption will finalize, which is unknown until you match with an expectant mother. You have the right to retain your own attorney, but doing so may be an additional, unnecessary expense.

Can we choose the gender of our baby?

American Adoptions does not allow gender specificity in adoption. Any family who wishes to be gender-specific in their adoption should contact us at 1-800-ADOPTION and ask about the possibility of an exception waiver before taking any other steps toward adoption with our agency. Any families who do receive an exception to be gender-specific may also incur an additional fee, which helps cover the additional advertising costs of such a request.

Please note that gender specificity will likely increase your wait time significantly.

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