The Program 

Madison’s domestic adoption program is a highly desirable program due to its flexibility and availability of infants.  Prospective adoptive parents are provided with training and education about the adoption process and the issues involved in adoption.  Madison will work with families to complete a profile, including written information and pictures, that possibly will be presented to birth parents who are making an adoption plan for their child. 

The adoption process will vary depending on the wishes of the birth parents.  In some cases, birth parents do not wish to select a family for their child themselves.   When this occurs, Madison will present the situation to the first available, paper-ready family who are a good fit with the situation. 

Often, birth mothers will review family profiles and select the family they wish to raise their child.  This may involve pre-placement meetings between the birth parents and adoptive parents.  Most domestic adoptions completed by Madison will be semi-open, meaning that adoptive families and birth families may exchange yearly letters and/or photos.  Birth and adoptive families can agree to the amount of information to be exchanged, and the time frame for sharing pictures and information about the child after placement.  These exchanges of information will be done through the agency.  Open adoptions can also take place for birth and adoptive families who desire this type of arrangement.  Most often, newborn infants go home with their adoptive families directly from the hospital. 

The Children 

Most children who are adopted through the domestic program are placed with their adoptive families as newborns.  It is rare that toddlers or older children become available, although it does happen. Children placed for domestic adoption come from all ethnic backgrounds, including Caucasian, African-American, Asian, Latino, and Indian.  There are numerous reasons that birth parents choose to make an adoption plan for their child, and Madison does not judge any decision as long as it is made with the goal of providing what is in the best interest of the child. 

The Home Study 

Every adoption process begins with a home study performed by a licensed social worker.  The home study process is intended to not only investigate suitability issues, but also to help adoptive parents understand the unique issues that may come up during and after the adoption, and to prepare parents for raising an adopted child.  A social worker will meet with adoptive parents to prepare the home study by gathering information about each parent’s background, relationships with family and friends, education, career history, finances, attitude toward discipline and other parenting issues.  Each adoptive parent and any other adult household members must obtain criminal and child abuse background clearances.  For families who reside in Delaware, Pennsylvania and Illinois, Madison will serve as the home study provider.  Once the home study is completed and approved, Madison can begin to help adoptive families to prepare a profile for presentation to birth parents. 

Eligibility 

This program is highly flexible. Families of almost any description, including married couples, single persons, divorcees, and non-traditional families, can adopt a child through our domestic program.  There are no agency restrictions regarding age, race, color, religion, or family size.  Eligible families must have an approved home study, and current child abuse and criminal clearances.  Families must also have the desire to provide a safe, permanent, and loving home for a child. 

The Birth Parents 

Madison provides trained counselors who are available to answer birth parent phone calls at all times. We provide assistance, counseling and one-on-one support to birth parents who need to investigate the right choice for their child’s future.  Madison will already be personally familiar with the birth parents by the time you are matched with them.  Prospective adoptive families will receive basic information about the birth parents, and they will receive a copy of your prepared profile. 

Madison will be with each adoptive family through the entire adoption process, providing the same support and encouragement that we offer to the birth parents. 

Waiting Times 

Most birth parents want to be involved in the decision about who will raise their child.  Once a birth parent has selected the profile of their ideal adoptive family, we will arrange for the next steps.  Waiting times vary greatly; however, the degree of flexibility of the adoptive parents can affect the length of the wait. 

Fees 

The TOTAL cost of the program is approximately $26,000- $30,000.

Answers to Your Adoption Questions

Why should we use Madison Adoption Associates?

The Internet has provided success for some adoptive parents; however, most birth parents do not look for an appropriate family for their child by searching the Internet.  Web sites created by waiting adoptive parents are often the target of unethical and/or fraudulent people.

Madison Adoption Associates provides a screening step for your adoption to be sure that each adoption is being handled legally and in the best interest of the children and everyone else involved.  Adopting a child is an emotional experience, and Madison works to protect adoptive families from misinformation that can cause heartache and financial loss.

What is a "Profile"?

The Profile is your introduction to a birth parent who has chosen to make an adoption plan for their child.  Madison will work with you to prepare a profile that conveys your desire for a child, and presents non-identifying information about your lifestyle and what the child’s life and future will be like.  It will include pictures of you and your family, and should be loving, emotional, and sincere.  Birth parents have a variety of reasons for being drawn to a particular adoptive family and your profile will connect with the right birth parent.
 

What is an adoption home study?

All adopting parents must complete a thorough home study by a licensed agency in their state of residence. The home study process involves several interviews with a social worker, and required paperwork, including a medical statement, criminal & child abuse background checks, financial information, references, etc.  An approved home study certifies that the adopting parents are qualified to adopt a child. The home study process can take 2 to 3 months to complete. If you reside in Delaware, Pennsylvania, or Illinois, Madison Adoption Associates will be happy to provide home study services for your adoption.  For families living in other states, we can recommend qualified home study providers in your area. 

As part of the home study process, adoptive parents will be expected to attend parenting workshops/seminars, watch videos, or read books related to raising an adopted child.  Parenting an adopted child is a life-long commitment, and issues related to the adoption of a child may come up throughout the child’s life.  Education regarding these issues will ensure that adoptive parents are prepared to handle these issues.

What expenses are the adoptive parents responsible for paying?

Some states allow birth parents to receive assistance with pregnancy related (non-medical) expenses.  Adoptive parents should expect to pay birth parent expenses of $2,000 to $5,000.  All issues relating to adoption expenses issues should go through the agency; adoptive parents should not be discussing expenses with birth parents.  Madison Adoption Associates is available to both adoptive parents and birth parents for guidance in these situations.

Most birth parents either have medical coverage or will qualify for medical coverage. MAA encourages birth parents to get state aid in case of a medical emergency. Most birth parents are willing to apply for coverage if they haven’t already done so. If a birth parent has private insurance, the adoptive parents will be asked to cover co-pays or deductibles for pregnancy related medical costs.  All states allow for reimbursement to birth parents for out of pocket medical expenses.

Can we specify the gender of the baby to be adopted?

Since most birth parents are matched with the adoptive parents before the baby is born, MAA does not allow adoptive parents to be gender specific.  Many birth parents do not know the gender of their child, many are too young to require an amniocentesis, and ultrasounds are not 100% accurate. 

If MAA is aware of a valid reason that an adoptive family is seeking to adopt a child of a specific gender, we may try to accommodate this request; however, MAA will not make any promises or guarantees regarding the gender of a child.  It is the sole discretion of MAA whether or not to waive the rule of not allowing gender preference by the adoptive parents.  The well-being of the child is the first priority in every adoption case.

What is an open adoption?

Birth parents often want updates and pictures after the adoption placement.  This situation is known as semi-open adoption.  Post placement contact will be well-defined ahead of time so that there are no disappointments.  All post placement contact will be handled through Madison. 

Only a small percentage of birth parents want visitation after the adoption, and some adoptive parents are comfortable with that degree of openness.  This situation is known as a open adoption, and entails the exchange of addresses and direct contact information between the two parties.  Madison will not present birth parents who want visitation unless the adoptive parents have specified that they are comfortable with this openness.

How many other adoptive parents are waiting to adopt through Madison Adoption Associates?

Madison is a small agency, and as such, we have a small number of adoptive parents who are waiting to be matched.  We work closely with each adoptive parent and each birth parent to be sure that the placement is the best choice for everyone involved, especially the child. At this time, Madison has less than 10 families who are seeking to complete a domestic adoption.

How does Madison work with birth parents?

Madison has an extensive network of child advocates, social workers, medical professionals, and adoptive families who refer birth parents to us.  Madison obtains preliminary information about birth parents during counseling sessions and in-person background interviews.  Confirmation of the pregnancy is obtained from a qualified doctor.  Our birth parent counselors will discuss all possible options with a birth parent to be sure that they are confident in their decision to make an adoption plan.

 What information is available about the birth parents?

Adoptive parents are protective of their personal information.  In the same way, some birth parents are also very protective of their privacy and want to know about the possible families for their child before revealing intimate details of their lives.  A level of trust must be established between the birth parents, the adoption agency, and the adoptive parents.  This takes time. 

Once a prospective match has been made between birth parents and adoptive parents, there is usually at least one phone call between the parties.  As the birth parents become more comfortable with you, they may open up more about their life. The degree of openness between birth parents and adoptive parents depends on each one’s comfort level.  Birth parents may want to share the pregnancy with the adoptive parents who will be raising the child.  Some birth parents may be going through this experience alone, and the adoptive parents may be the only people who are excited about the pregnancy.   

All medical and history information about the birth parents that is legally made available to Madison Adoption Associates will be provided to the adoptive parents.  In most cases, the information necessary for adoptive parents to make a decision will be obtained and provided to adoptive parents within 2-3 weeks after the intake of the birth parents.

How long does it take to be matched with a birth parent?

The wait time for domestic adoption is very unpredictable.  Many circumstances will vary with the desires of the birth parents.  Couples with children sometimes have to wait longer.  Openness to race or special circumstances can shorten the waiting time.

Our goal is to introduce adoptive parents to a birth parent as soon as possible; however, we cannot give a definite time frame because the birth parents select the adoptive parents.  Madison will present the Introduction Letter and Profile to birth parents, but we cannot influence a birth parent’s decision regarding the adoptive parents.

How often does a birth parent change their mind?

With extensive counseling, most birth parents feel confident in their decision by the time they are matched with adoptive parents.  Madison has trained and experienced counselors who specialize in adoption-related issues.  The social workers help prepare birth parents for the different emotions they will feel at birth.  The social workers also try to understand any hesitations the birth parents may feel about adoption.  Birth parents who have been properly counseled have less risk of not following through with the adoption plan.

 What rights do birth fathers have?

If a birth mother is legally married, her husband is the presumed father and his rights are equal to hers.  As the birth father, he must also agree to terminate his parental rights and proceed with the adoption. If the identified birth father is not married to the birth mother, he is known as the assumed father and his rights vary depending on state law.  Madison works with birth fathers in making the adoption plan in the same way that we work with birth mothers.  Madison will be sure that the birth father has an opportunity to meet with an adoption attorney or agency to advise him of his rights, the laws, and obtain his consent to the adoption.  Time frames for the consent also depend on state law.

If a birth father is not willing to consent to the adoption, Madison will work with him to determine his plan for the child’s future.  Often, birth fathers are reluctant to consent, but they are not ready to be a full-time parent.  There are legal steps that can be taken to terminate a birth father’s rights. Again, the laws vary by state and Madison will consult with adoptive parents regarding these situations.

Who is a typical birth mother?

Birth parents come from every background and from all socio-economic levels.  Most teenagers who find themselves unexpectedly pregnant decide against adoption.  Certain ethnic groups are less open to adoption.

The average birth mother is in her 20’s. About half of birth mothers already have at least one child. These women understand the responsibility of parenting a child and they feel they are not able to give another child the emotional or financial security they need.  Most birth mothers feel that they cannot afford to raise a child. Lack of financial resources is the number one reason women consider adoption.

What are birth parents looking for in an adoptive couple?

Most birth parents are hoping to find permanency and a loving, stable home for their child.  Adoptive parents do not need to be perfect – meaning the youngest, most attractive, or wealthiest.  Birth parents connect to adoptive parents who show genuine warmth and honesty in their letter and profile.  Each birth parent will have their own reason for selecting the adoptive parents for their child, often including religion, lifestyle, family size, and family interests.  Adoptive parents who express their heartfelt desire for a child will attract birth parents who are looking for those qualities.

Interested?