Answers to Questions Frequently Asked by Adoptive Parents
How long is the waiting period to adopt through Open Adoption & Family Services (OA&FS)?
The typical wait in our prospective parent pool is nine to twelve months.
How large is the prospective parent pool?
It ranges in size from 45 to 75 families.
How many children does OA&FS place each year?
We place more domestic infants than any other adoption agency in Oregon and Washington. On average, we place between 40 to 60 children per year. In the fiscal year 2010-2011, we placed 48 children. Over the past 10 years, we’ve averaged 49 placements per year.
How many placements are infants?
Last year, 95% of placements were newborns.
What are your restrictions?
We place no restrictions (age, religion, marital status, residency, etc.) on adoptive parents. Those interested in adopting must meet the minimum requirements for the states of Oregon and Washington and participate in a careful screening process with our agency. Adoptive parents from throughout the country have adopted through OA&FS. Note that the legal restrictions of some states (New York, for example) prohibit residents from working with an out-of-state agency. Please contact us at 1-800-772-1115 for details.
What if I’m a sexual minority?
OA&FS welcomes people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. We honor and celebrate the diversity of our clients, and we strive to create an inclusive environment where all of our clients feel safe and respected.
How do birthmothers find Open Adoption & Family Services?
Most birthmothers are referred to us by other professionals. Many birthmothers find us through internet searches, our online or print ads or upon the advice of someone they know. We are contacted by an average of 23 birthmothers per month. Options counseling is available to them at no charge. Approximately 20% of the women who contact us complete an adoption through our agency. (Nationally, about 1% of all unplanned pregnancies result in adoption.)
Is open adoption co-parenting?
No. The adoptive parents are the legal and emotional parents. Openness does not detract from the permanency of parenting. Rather, it establishes an atmosphere of candor in which the ongoing needs of all parties are honored.
Who are our birthparents?
Birthparents who plan adoptions through OA&FS vary in age and background, but most have long-term plans for their lives and all care deeply about the welfare of their children. A tremendous amount of love and foresight goes into their decisions.
What is an open adoption?
Birthparents choose the adoptive family that they want to raise their child. Together the adoptive family and the birthparents create a legally enforceable, individualized plan for ongoing visits and the exchange of photos, letters, etc. Birth and adoptive parents can call OA&FS for help and guidance, or to oversee the open adoption in the future if circumstances change or problems arise.
How is the adoptive family chosen?
Birthparents chose the adoptive family. Birthparents receive books containing introduction letters from our prospective adoptive families. They request more information about families they are most interested in getting to know. Further review of those families' full homestudies, autobiographies and photo collages helps birthparents narrow their choice.
How much does adoption cost?
Our fees continue to be among the least expensive of all agencies in Oregon and Washington. Total adoption expenses are determined by the adoptive parents' state of residency, costs associated with the birthmother's pregnancy, and legal fees. Fees will be explained in detail at one of our free introductory meetings.
What's the next step?
Contact Open Adoption & Family Services at 1-800-772-1115 or information@openadopt.org to find out more, or to reserve a spot at one of our free Adoption Information Meetings. To find out when the next free meeting is scheduled in your area, contact us or check our Web site's announcement of upcoming meetings. You can also review our step-by-step guide of how to adopt through OA&FS.