FAQ

How can I contact The Children's Home of Pittsburgh?
If you decide you want to talk to one of our adoption professionals, you can call our FREE and CONFIDENTIAL hotline at 800-961-7704 to ask questions or discuss your specific situation. Our experienced adoption counselors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. When you call, you are not committing to an adoption plan. You can talk by phone or choose to set up a meeting with a counselor either at The Children’s Home, at your home, or at whatever location works for you. We also respond to text messages. You can text us at 412-736-2908. You can also email Erika or Ranisa, our experienced counselors, to ask questions or get more information.

Are services confidential?
All of The Children’s Home services for birthparents are confidential.

Do I have to pay for services?
All of our services for birthparents are available at no cost to you.

If I choose adoption, will my medical costs be covered?
If you don’t have medical insurance or don’t qualify for medical assistance, we can help make arrangements for the cost of your prenatal care and labor and delivery fees to be covered.

When is the best time to start an adoption plan?
There is no right time to start an adoption plan. Birthparents come to us at different stages in their pregnancy. Some contact us early in the pregnancy and receive counseling the entire time, others may not choose to make an adoption plan until after they have the baby.

How will I tell my boyfriend, parents, or family that I'm thinking about adoption?
Every situation is different and your birthparent counselor will work with you to figure out when and how to approach the baby’s father, your parents, other family members, or friends. If it would be helpful to you, your counselor can be there when you decide to tell them and help facilitate that discussion.

What does open adoption mean?
Open adoption means that you can choose to have some amount of ongoing contact with your child and the adoptive family. Open adoption allows for different levels of involvement and communication among birthparents, adoptive parents and children. The degree of openness is entirely up to the birthparents and the adoptive parents. In an open adoption, you have many options. You may choose to: select adoptive parents for your child; meet or talk on the phone with adoptive parents before placement; send items like letters, photos and gifts to your child and the adoptive family; receive letters, photos, videos, e-mails from your child’s adoptive family; or visit with your child and adoptive family after placement. Each adoption is unique and it is important to remember that openness can change over time. The adoption staff members at The Children’s Home understand that open adoption is not for everyone. Your birthparent counselor will help you figure out what type of adoption is best for you and support you in whatever choice you make.

What if I want a closed adoption?
If you want a closed adoption, a birthparent counselor can work with you to do so. You can choose to tell the adoptive family as much or as little about yourself as you would like. The only information that has to be shared is any significant medical history that may have an impact on your baby’s care.

How will I know if an adoption plan is right for me and my baby?
Your birthparent counselor can help you decide whether adoption is the best choice for you and your baby. Whether you choose to parent your baby or place your baby for adoption, we will support you either way and help you feel comfortable and confident in your decision. We believe that only you can make this difficult choice and are committed to helping you every step of the way.

How do I choose a family?
You and your counselor will talk about what is important to you in choosing the family that will raise your child. If you’d like to choose an adoptive family for your baby, you can tell your counselor what traits you would like an adoptive family to have. You may also choose to look through the profiles of prospective adoptive families and read the letters they have written about themselves. You may choose to meet the adoptive family before your baby is born.

What if I have my baby before I select a family?
If you have your baby before choosing a family, you can decide to meet an adoptive family in the hospital. Or, if this feels too rushed to you, The Children’s Home has an option for temporary, private foster care. Our foster care is provided through private foster homes. Each foster family typically cares for only one baby at a time. Foster families for The Children’s Home are not eligible to adopt. You are able to visit your baby during this time while you decide what is best for you.

Will I be able to see my baby after he/she is born?
The hospital time is your time to figure out what is best for you and your baby. You can spend as much or as little time with your baby in the hospital as you would like. Your birthparent counselor will help determine what feels the most comfortable to you and can help communicate to the hospital staff to make sure your plan is followed.

When does the baby go home with an adoptive family?
You can choose when the baby goes home with a family. The baby can go home with a family directly from the hospital or you may decide to use our short term foster care while you try to figure out what is best for you and your baby. In either scenario, you can decide if you want to be there when the baby does go home.

What if I change my mind?
Your birthparent counselor will help you consider all of your options before making this important decision. You can change your mind about the adoption at any time during your pregnancy or after the baby is born, up until the point when you sign the consent to adopt papers and they become legally irrevocable. Your counselor will help you determine when you are ready to sign these papers and will help guide you through the entire process.

To get started or to learn more:
Call 800-961-7704. All calls are confidential. Someone is available 24/7 to talk to you.
Text us at 412-736-2908 and a counselor will text you back momentarily.
Email Erika or Ranisa, our experienced counselors, to ask questions and get more information.