Types of
Adoption
International Adoption
o Explanation of what international adoption
is.
o Countries where Gladney facilitates
adoptions.
o Characteristics of international adoptees.
o Gladney’s approach to cultural preparation
for adoptive parents.
· Foster Care Adoption
o Explanation of the foster care system and its
goals.
o Process for children entering the foster care
system and possibility of adoption.
o Role of caseworkers in matching children with
adoptive families.
o Importance of keeping siblings together when
possible.
o Video showcasing a family’s adoption
experience (Nuñez family).
Planned Adoption
o Focus of the training: Domestic or planned
adoptions.
o Explanation of planned adoption: A birth
parent-led adoption facilitated by an agency.
o Timeframe of adoption: Placement typically
within 30 days after birth.
o Key elements to be covered in training: Steps
of planned adoption, types of post-adoption agreements, and state laws.
Terminology
and Language in Adoption
Key Terminology
o Importance of using respectful and accurate
language:
§ Avoiding “give up” or “put up” for adoption;
using "place for adoption" and "make an adoption plan."
§ Distinguishing between “real parent” vs.
“birth parent” and “adoptive parent."
§ Referring to a woman who chose to parent as
"choosing to parent," not "keeping her baby."
Respecting Birth Parent’s Choices
o Acknowledging and respecting birth parents'
decisions and using proper language in conversations.
Steps of
Planned Adoption
Starting the Adoption Journey
o How an expectant mother begins researching
and reaching out to adoption agencies.
o Timing: Adoption decisions can be made at any
point during pregnancy or after birth.
Options Counseling
o Role of options counseling in helping
expectant mothers weigh parenting vs. adoption.
o Importance of a pros and cons list to assess
both choices.
Caseworker Support
o Birth mother receives an adoption caseworker
for guidance and assistance with:
§ Medical coverage
§ Choosing a family
§ Preparing for birth
§ Legal paperwork
§ Post-adoption relationship planning
Choosing a Family
o Birth mother’s role in selecting adoptive
parents.
o The option to meet the adoptive family, if
desired.
o Matching process: Background information and
preferences.
Hospital Plan
o Collaboration with caseworker to create a
plan for birth, including rooming with the baby and support system during the
stay.
o Sharing the hospital plan with the hospital
staff to ensure proper understanding and support.
Working with Patients Making an Adoption
Plan
o Sensitivity in working with expectant mothers
considering adoption.
o Collaboration with hospital staff or
supervisors for appropriate responses and support.
Relinquishment and Transition Care
Relinquishment
o Explanation of relinquishment: Voluntary
termination of parental rights.
o Birth mother’s right to change her mind
before signing relinquishment paperwork.
o Legal considerations and laws around
relinquishment across states.
Transitional Care
o Role of transitional care families for babies
in the process of adoption.
o Importance of ensuring baby care before final
placement with adoptive parents.
Post-Adoption
Agreements
Types of Post-Adoption Agreements
o Open Adoption: Characteristics, including photo updates,
calls, and visits.
o Closed Adoption: No communication between birth parents and
adoptive parents.
o Semi-Open Adoption: Limited communication (letters, emails,
etc.) with no face-to-face visits.
o Flexibility and customization of
post-adoption relationships based on birth parents’ and adoptive parents’
comfort.
Variations and Agreement Flexibility
o Birth parents may choose different types of
agreements from each other.
o Agreements are often referred to as
“agreements of the heart” and are non-legally enforceable, but in some states,
they are enforceable in court.
The Role of Gladney’s Post-Adoption
Department
o Ongoing support for both birth parents and
adoptive families throughout their adoption journey.
Adoption Law
Legal Considerations in Adoption
o Importance of understanding state laws and
their role in adoption processes.
o Timing for signing relinquishment paperwork
and revocation periods.
o Birth father’s rights and involvement in the
adoption process.
o Importance of seeking guidance from adoption
attorneys or Gladney for state-specific legal information.
