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Thinking About Adoption: Step by Step
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Thinking About Adoption: Step by Step

Step 1

CONTACT US

  • You can call or email – whatever you are most comfortable with. Call 1-888-671-0300, text 309-251-9621, or email pregnancyinfo@lssi.org
  • We’ll answer questions you have right now and give you specific information to help you start thinking about your options. When you’re ready, we’ll connect you with one of our pregnancy counselors.
Step 2

MEET WITH US

  • Meet with a pregnancy counselor at a place that is good for you. This could be your home, an LSSI office or anywhere that is convenient for you.
  • It’s free and private. There are no strings attached.
  • You can bring someone with you, if you want to; it’s up to you.
  • As you meet with your LSSI counselor, you will work together to come up with an adoption plan that is best for you. There’s no pressure — the plan and the decision are up to you. We’re here to assist with resources and help you understand the adoption process and your legal rights.
Step 3

CHOOSE A FAMILY

  • When you’re ready, you can look at albums with letters and pictures of adoptive families. You can also look at some of our waiting families online.
  • All of our families are licensed and pre-approved for adoption.
  • Once you have selected a family, you can decide if you’d like to talk with or meet them. If you want to, we’ll set that up and go with you for support.
  • One thing to discuss with the adoptive family is whether you want to stay in touch after the adoption. This might be through letters, calls or in-person visits. If you decide not to meet the family or don’t want to stay in touch, that’s fine, too. It’s up to you.
Step 4

DECIDING

  • Once your baby is born, your counselor will meet with you to be sure adoption is still your plan. The baby can go home from the hospital straight to the adoptive family, if that’s what you want. If you need more time to think about your decision, LSSI can arrange for your baby to be cared for in a nursery home.
  • We know this is a very big decision, so we will work with you to make sure you are confident in your decision.
  • At any time before signing the legal papers, you can choose to parent your child. We will assist you in getting started as a parent and finding resources in your community for you and your child.
Step 5

ADOPTIVE PLACEMENT & FOLLOW-UP SERVICES

  • Your LSSI counselor will meet with you to sign the final legal papers for the adoption when you are ready.
  • In Illinois, you must wait at least 72 hours after giving birth to sign the papers that make the adoption plan legal and permanent. However, if you are not ready, you can take as much time as you need to make your final decision.
  • The options for the father are a little different. We’ll talk with you about all of these options.
  • You can continue to meet with your LSSI counselor for as long as you need after making your adoption plan. If you need to come back and talk with a counselor in the future, the door is always open to you.
  • You and the adoptive parents may continue to stay in touch based on the plan that you have developed. Sometimes LSSI helps families stay in touch; many just stay in touch on their own.