Pregnant? Need Help? Not Sure What To Do? NO COST support is available.

Pregnant and want to discuss your parenting options? Not sure if you’re pregnant? Florida Adoption Center is here to provide help with all of your emotional, physical, and financial needs and to help you understand the adoption process. Contact us anytime. 

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An Unexpected Pregnancy can be difficult to navigate. You Need Help. You need a support team.

If you are Pregnant, and Need Help, Florida Adoption Center Is Here For You.

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We understand how learning about an unplanned pregnancy can be overwhelming. You need time to process and then you need to understand your options which is why we have packed our website with useful information and resources to help and guide you. If you are pregnant and ready to get more personalized help we are here for you even if all you need is a friendly ear and some information about your parenting options.

The Staff at the Florida Adoption Center are available to discuss and help process your decisions, thoughts, and feelings whether you choose adoption or not. We are committed to providing support for expectant/birth parents before, during, and after an adoption and also to providing resources to birth parents who chose to parent. These services are at NO COST to you. If you are pregnant and need help with your choices, we are here to help.

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I’m Pregnant and I need help, I don’t know what to do. 

If you are unexpectedly pregnant you may have many anxious thoughts.  Being unexpectedly pregnant changes everything and can be scary, especially if you feel unable to care for a baby. You may be asking yourself how will you take care of a child when you have others to care for. Perhaps you are wondering how you will be able to afford the expense of a baby especially if your income is already stretched thin. You may be worrying about how you will you care for a baby by yourself with no help.  Florida Adoption Center is a judgment-free zone that is committed to listening to your concerns then sharing information about your choices so you can make informed decisions for the future of your child.

What can I expect when we meet?

If you are uncertain about your pregnancy status we will provide a free pregnancy test.  Our caring staff will then help you work through your feelings and understand your options. In the event that you choose to parent your baby we will provide the best resources to help you prepare. If you decide parenting is not a viable option for you we will help you create a personalized adoption plan to put your baby up for adoption.

We believe adoption should not be a decision made from desperation, but rather a decision based on love for your child. We want you to carefully consider your parenting options, before deciding whether an Adoption Plan is the right choice. There will be no pressure from us as you process your decision and no costs associated with our meetings even if you choose to parent your child. Once a client chooses adoption for their baby, they will enter our Adoption Program. This only happens after they have had opportunity and time to work through their feelings, and believe they are in a good position to make an informed, committed decision. Being pregnant doesn’t have to be scary, having a plan that works for you is important. The first step is reaching out to let us help.

How do I get started?

1. Contact Us – Let Us Help!

We can be reached by phone or text at any time and can meet as many times as you would like as we support you in making an informed decision.  You can also contact us on the website, Facebook Messenger, Google page, or Instagram. We will get back to you as soon as we can. Our services come at NO COST to you.

Will I have to meet in person, or can I get information over the phone or via text?

We can meet face to face, via phone, zoom call, text, or many other ways. Come see us at the office or we can come to you. We are here for you. It is never too late for an adoption plan; you can start at any time in your pregnancy or even after the baby is born. You can even call from the hospital. We can always help.

How often do we meet?

If you choose adoption for your baby we normally meet weekly for educational sessions, community referrals, and emotional support. We are able to get to know you during these meetings which allows us to better help you match with a family that meets your desires for an adoptive family. FAC can also help you meet your needs whatever they may be –  financial, medical, legal, or help with transportation or housing.

Can I meet with someone more than once before I make the decision?

An unexpected pregnancy can be extremely difficult and we are committed to supporting you completely. Our caring team will help you whether you chose to parent, or whether you chose to make an adoption plan. We will meet with you as many times as needed for you to feel comfortable with your decisions.

The decision to parent or to choose an adoption plan can be confusing and emotional. Oftentimes, well-meaning friends and family add more confusion (and emotion) to the decision. We are not going to push or rush you to make an adoption plan, rather we are here to help you work through your feelings to arrive at a decision that feels right. If you chose to parent, we will help you navigate community resources and put you in touch with social services, and help you navigate resources to help strengthen your family.

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Communication with you during your adoption plan is important so we offer a basic cell phone with a monthly service while you are in the program.

Together, we will explore your feelings, circumstances, and available options, including parenting (single or jointly), or making a customized adoption plan. We network with community agencies to explore all options to help strengthen your situation. Together we will explore your options and YOU will decide if adoption is the right choice for you.

We want you to ask questions, explore and discuss all your options with our adoption counselor to make sure adoption is the right decision for you and your family. By doing so you can make a committed decision to start and follow through with an adoption plan. 

Make sure you ask ALL the questions you may have. Our caring adoption counselor will explain your rights based on the laws, the father of the baby’s rights, and the ins and outs of the adoption process. If you would like to seek the advice of an attorney, this is possible with an adoption plan.

Our policy is to provide you with copies of all documents surrounding the adoption, so you have access to your adoption information. Often these documents have personal information and should be appropriately stored to ensure your privacy. Our goal is to help guide you through the process and help access resources to have a healthy baby.

We expect you to seek prenatal care for your health and receive offered counseling opportunities. You are eligible for financial support, for reasonable living and maternity expenses, as allowed by law. We can assist with Medicaid applications, substance treatment options, accessing prenatal care, and will provide education on budgeting, relationships, etc. In addition, you will find that FAC offers a non-judgmental environment where you can openly discuss your lifestyle without fear of criticism.

Florida Adoption Center is licensed annually through the Department of Children and Families and the State of Florida but we are not DCF nor a foster care agency. We offer private adoption plans. FAC can intervene if you have an open case plan with DCF if you choose adoption as the best option for you and your family.

Our staff is ready to answer any questions about the adoption process. We will help guide you in making a personalized adoption plan and provide counseling throughout the process. Counseling can include adoption competent counseling and legal counseling. In our program, we will give you the opportunity to view families to match with from across the US and help you form a relationship with the adoptive family you choose.

We have a large selection of families waiting to match with expectant families. Several families are open to a meeting via zoom call, or in-person prior to being matched to make sure a connection is there. We have had birth parents who have had a tough time picking between two families and have had zoom calls with more than one before making a decision. 

You can get to know the adoptive family via zoom calls, face-to-face meetings, text, phone, and Facebook if you choose an open adoption plan. We also use the online forum Child Connect to help you stay connected. FAC also contracts with an openness counselor to help set expectations and develop guidelines for future contact. This counselor will help build a loving relationship with the adoptive parents.

You can have direct contact with the adoptive family. We have many families who would welcome an open relationship with you and who would want to get to know you. If you want an open adoption we will make sure the family you select feels the same way and will want to develop a relationship with their child’s birth parent. 

Other birth parents might prefer a closed adoption where everyone’s identity is kept confidential. Some parents want a situation where they can receive regular updates on their child’s progress but not have an ongoing relationship.

Other examples for specifications that birth parents might have are for their child to be placed with a family that travels or speaks a foreign language. Some want their child to have older siblings while others want their child to be the only child or the first child in the family. Others, want to make sure their child has the chance of a college education. We will help you to consider all the options so that you can have a plan that works for you.

The selection process will vary depending upon the type of adoption chosen (Open, Semi-Open, or Closed). To aid Expectant Parents in their decision-making process, prospective Adoptive Parents develop a Profile Book where they share details about who they are and personal details about their family life. Our Profile Book allows the Expectant Parents a “snapshot” view of the Adoptive Family’s daily life and history.

The Adoptive family may share how they spend family holidays, where they went to school, what they do on the weekends or what they do for fun for example. Often hopeful Adoptive Parents will write Expectant Parents a letter introducing themselves. Adoptive Parents are encouraged to share as much or as little as they are comfortable sharing.

The selection process is to a large extent a mutual exercise. Adoptive Parents are also able to state a preference. It is important that Adoptive Parents carefully contemplate whether they will consider only children from their own racial background, or whether they are open to the idea of adopting a child of a different race to their own. Expectant Parents sometimes have strong feelings about their culture and will want their child placed within a family sharing their own racial or ethnic background. The staff of the Florida Adoption Center is committed to making matches that are best for both Expectant and Adoptive Parents.

When a child is adopted, we believe it is important to provide each child with their complete health history. We compile a comprehensive package documenting babies’ health information, and that of their biological families. We gather the child’s information from various sources, hospitals, parents, etc. This health information and history is important as it will enable adoptive parents to make informed health care decisions for the child throughout their lives, and for the child to be empowered to make informed healthcare choices in adulthood.

FAC is committed to open disclosure. We provide a non-judgmental environment as a way to give Mother and Baby the best possible care, before and after birth. Expectant/birth mothers are asked to disclose whether their baby is or has been exposed to illegal drugs and/or prescription medications, or alcohol.  Many adoptive parents will consider a drug-exposed baby, but it is vitally important to know what a child has been exposed to in utero so that proper medical care can be provided for the child after birth. We do encourage Expectant Parents to be informed about the consequences of taking medications (prescribed or otherwise), and other substances while pregnant. Our goal is healthy babies and mothers.

2. Pick the Perfect Parents

The question we get asked most is “Can I pick a family for my baby?” Picking a family for your child is a very personal choice and one that is available to you. You can look through profile books and read about families hoping to adopt. Eventually you will pick the family you think would be the best choice for your baby. We have a large list of adoption-approved families waiting and hopeful to be matched.  You get to choose the family that you fit best with. We have families waiting that are open, semi-open, or closed in their preferences for future communication. 

Some expectant parents may have a strong preference for an Open Adoption and will expect to have regular updates or visits. Other expectant parents prefer a Closed Adoption and will have no contact with the child after placement. You will have time to consider what level of contact you would prefer for your specific situation.  We will offer you all the information on the different kinds of adoption without any pressure.

The ground rules for contact, in an Open or Semi-Open Adoption, are clearly planned out between the parties before the Adoption takes place. At the time of the adoption, each member will know the expectations and responsibilities.

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3. Plan Your Delivery

The aim of the Florida Adoption Center is to provide services to expectant birth parents to enable them to give their child(ren) the best start in life. This means access to healthcare, access to healthy nutrition, substance abuse education and treatment, and ways to reduce stress. The aim is a healthy mother and in turn the birth of a healthy child.

Can I have a plan for the hospital, so I am comfortable?

We want you to be comfortable throughout your adoption plan, especially at the hospital. There are a lot of emotions and hormones at this time, and you deserve an advocate that will show up for you. We will talk and discuss the plan for the hospital and share your wishes with the hospital. While we are not in control of the hospital staff and at times the hospitals do not adhere to stated wishes regarding the adoption plan, we will advocate for you at the hospital as much as we can. FAC also helps with your comfort level and preparedness by purchasing a hospital bag with personal items for your stay at the hospital.

Although we cannot force you to get prenatal care services, we hope that we can support you in seeking prenatal care by providing no cost transportation and medical services to you during your pregnancy. Our goal is for you and your baby to be healthy!

We have a list of health services throughout Florida and are happy to help you connect to receive prenatal care for you and the baby. If you already have a doctor, that is fine too. We want to ensure your medical care is provided at no cost to you.

You can choose the hospital you are most comfortable with. You will need to make sure the doctors you are working with for prenatal care also deliver at the hospital you choose. If your prenatal team does not deliver at your chosen hospital, you may need to either find a prenatal care service that delivers at the hospital or consider exploring the hospital your prenatal care providers deliver at.

At the hospital, you will be in charge of decisions regarding the birth of the baby and the care for the baby up to the point that the consent for adoption papers are signed. Once the consents are signed, then the hospital will legally address the agency or the adoptive parents regarding any needs of the baby.

Post birth you will have the opportunity to spend time with the baby if you would like and interact with the adoptive parents if you would like. After consents are signed, the hospital will discharge you from the hospital. The agency will make sure you have a ride home, and make sure you receive financial and emotional support for the next six weeks. Our agency stays committed to our birth families beyond the six weeks and offer counseling services if needed in the future.

Yes, you can see the baby at the hospital. We hope you will take this special time with your child, and help care for the baby immediately after birth. Most birth mothers enjoy the time at the hospital and create memories to later share. Often there are a lot of pictures taken that can be shared in a future baby book. If this is a time you would prefer to be alone with your baby, we can make those arrangements too. This is your plan; you get to decide what you are comfortable with. 

We will provide the hospital with a written document with your adoption plan wishes. Most hospitals are supportive of birth parents’ decisions and an adoption plan. At times, we have encountered negativity from hospital staff. This agency will always advocate for you and your baby at the hospital.

We help you develop a birth plan for the hospital and send it to the hospital ahead of time, so the social workers/staff are aware of your plan. Most hospitals are great about discussing the plan with you but there are many staff changes throughout the hospital stay and the plan does not always get communicated from shift to shift. It is important to continue to communicate your wishes and needs. 

We want you to be comfortable with your adoption plan. If you do not want to interact with the adoptive parents, you do not have to. The adoptive parents can be at the hospital to start bonding with the baby and most hospitals will provide a separate room so you can get your rest and recover. We can make sure you have the privacy you deserve.

You do not have to decide what happens at the hospital before you go. We can make a plan right from the hospital. You can call from the hospital and find a waiting family even after your baby is born.

Often the consent for adoption is taken at the hospital 48 hours after the birth of the baby. We will have a zoomed court reporter and your choice of witnesses. If you do not want to choose the witnesses, the agency can arrange for witnesses to be present for the consent signing.

You will have a session with a professional prior to signing the consents to review the legal documents and to make sure you are making an informed choice. If you choose to sign the consent for adoption at a different location, we can make those arrangements also. A consent for adoption can be signed when you are discharged from the hospital even if it is not 48 hours after the birth of the baby. When you find out you have a discharge order from the doctor, the consent for adoption can be signed on that day. The agency often is in contact with the hospital staff to make arrangements for discharge. 

The Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) hearing is when a judge affirms that the consent for adoption by the birth mother was properly executed. They will also confirm that a consent for adoption, affidavit of non-paternity, notice of service, or diligent search certificate was filed and properly executed for the birth father. A court date for the TPR hearing happens after the consent for adoption has been signed and filed with the courts.

Once the judge affirms that the paperwork was executed properly they will sign off on the Termination of Parental rights. When the consents are signed, the baby is placed in the legal custody of the agency and the physical custody of the adoptive parents. The baby goes directly home with the adoptive parents from the hospital. A finalization hearing happens after TPR has happened, and after the baby has been placed with the adoptive parents for a minimum of 90 days.

Each month an adoption professional visits the family to perform a post-placement supervision visit. These visits ensures that everyone is adjusting to having a baby in the house and that the baby is happy, healthy, and everyone is thriving. Monthly reports are filed with the courts and reviewed by a judge prior to the adoption being finalized.

After the finalization hearing, a new birth certificate is ordered with the baby and adoptive parents names. Often the adoptive parents change the first name as well as the last name of the baby. Know your rights! Check out the Florida Adoption Statues. 

If you do not have insurance in the state of Florida and you become pregnant, you then become eligible for Pregnancy Medicaid, which covers your medical care for the pregnancy. Check out Florida Medicaid

Many expectant/birth parents choose an Open adoption plan so they can see their child grow and know their child is thriving. An Open adoption is being able to contact on a regular basis and in a multitude of different ways. You can engage in an open adoption where you have cell phone contact to share pictures and texts, and Facebook posts, etc.

Many of the open adoption plans have yearly visits and sometimes more if the families agree on more visits. We have Open, Semi-Open, and Closed adoption plans. Each vary in the amount of future contact. With the Open and Semi-open adoption plans we use an online forum called Child Connect. At Florida Adoption Center we also contract with an Openness Counselor that helps build a relationship between you and the family you choose. This counselor will help you with an open adoption future communication agreement.

Child Connect is an Online Forum that the agency sets up for the next 18 years to receive picture and updates on a regular agreed upon schedule. You will be able to send pictures and messages and maintain contact. The pictures and updates stay online for 18 years so there is no need to print them out and perhaps lose them, you can always go online and see them whenever you would like.  Child Connect

A post placement supervision visit is just that. It is a visit with the adoptive family by an adoption professional after the baby has been placed with the family. The goal for our babies is to facilitate a caring transition to their forever homes. We strive to place the child directly into the care of the Adoptive family wherever possible.

FAC is committed to placing children in homes where they will be provided for and have the opportunity to grow and thrive in a loving home. After the child is placed with the Adoptive Parents, agency staff must perform regular post placement supervision visits (required by Florida Law, and every 30 days until finalization). The visits are designed to ensure the Adoptive Parents are coping well, the family is adjusting to the addition of a new family member, and most importantly to ensure the child is thriving.

Post Placement Supervision

All the research suggests that all members of the adoption triad (birth family, child, and adoptive family), are affected by seven core issues surrounding adoption in their lifetime. These core issues are as follows:  loss, rejection, guilt and shame, grief, identity, intimacy, and mastery/control. How these core issues are handled sets the parameters for how an adopted child’s life unfolds.

The presence of these issues does not signify that the act of adoption or the adoptee is pathological.It is awareness; it is a challenge, but when there are anticipated issues, then identifying, discussing, and helping adopted children to integrate these core issues as they grow helps to universalize and validate their experiences. Understanding these issues and how to best mitigate the effects can help greatly with all of the complex feelings that come along with Adoption.   Core Issues of Adoption

You can receive counseling before, during, and after you decide on your adoption plan. We offer adoption competent counseling so you can work through your emotions surrounding the adoption and we can connect you with a mental health counselor for ongoing counseling.

If an open adoption is chosen we can also connect you with an Openness Counselor. The Openness counselor will meet with you and the adoptive family separately and together to set parameters of future contact and to help you develop a relationship with the adoptive family.

4. What Comes After Adoption?

I want an Open Adoption; Will I be able to stay in touch with my baby? / How will I know my baby is ok?

Every adoption plan is personalized, and expectant parents are given the opportunity to make decisions abut what kind of adoption will work best for them and which family they want their child to be placed with. In addition, we encourage expectant parents to provide letters, and photographs to make up a “Memory Box” as their gift to their child. FAC educates the adoptive parents on the benefits of sharing with the child the contents of the Memory Box and any other information provided by the expectant/birth parents. We also ask that expectant/birth parents consider carefully whether they want the child to be able to contact them once they reach adulthood.

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Do You Still Have Questions?

We are here to answer any questions you may have. If you don’t find the answers here please feel free to contact us.

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We can help you with an Intervention adoption plan even if you have a case plan and your parental rights have NOT been terminated. Typically, when DCF offers a case plan you will have one year to finish your plan. If you do not complete the requirements usually parenting classes, substance use treatment, employment, stable housing, adequate income, etc., within the department’s time frame they will terminate your parental rights and place your child for permanent adoption.

Most of these instances do not offer the opportunity to have a relationship with your child until after 18 years old. With a private adoption plan, you can decide the type of future relationship you will have with your child. We often find families connected by adoption share in the love for their child. 

When a birth parent chooses an adoption plan, the consent to the adoption is signed and then our attorney will intervene, and this is called an “Intervention.”  

Are you a teen, pregnant, and afraid to talk to your parents? We can help with suggestions and information to help you. An unplanned pregnancy can feel like the end of the world, and it does not matter whether you are 14 or 40, it can feel overwhelming.

FAC will help you understand your options and educate you about the adoption process. We work to make sure you have medical insurance coverage. Florida has pregnancy Medicaid that allows all pregnant individuals to have health care coverage.

If you don’t have access to private medical insurance through your parent’s insurance, we can give you written documents verifying a positive pregnancy, and then you can get Pregnancy Medicaid. We can give you a pregnancy test, help you communicate with your parents, and develop a plan for the future.

We offer a Free Pregnancy Test because we know how important it is to have your pregnancy confirmed as early as possible. There are many reasons why it is important to know as early as possible.

If your pregnancy test is positive, you can start to prepare for your pregnancy and birth. The earlier you know, the more time you have available to you to make important decisions. An early test means you can get signed up for Pregnancy Medicaid, Food Stamps, WIC, and begin prenatal care.

If you need help with your Medicaid application let us know as we can help. Once there is a positive pregnancy test, we can write you a letter confirming your pregnancy which Medicaid will accept as your “proof of pregnancy.”

A pregnancy test can let you know if you are or if you are not pregnant. Pregnancy tests can be taken about a week AFTER your missed period for the most accurate results. Urine pregnancy tests are about 99% accurate and are quick and easy to use and can be done right at our office. Occasionally, you can have a false-negative result but never a false positive. If your test is negative and you still believe you may be pregnant it is a good idea to repeat the test a week later.

What about the baby’s father?

The agency will address the birth father and complete the process needed for the adoption plan. If you know contact information, we can get a private investigator to serve documents to him or do a diligent search to find him if possible.

What if I don’t know who the father is?

You do not have to know the father of the baby to choose an adoption plan. Fathers do have rights and deserve the opportunity to parent if they are in the position to resume responsibility for their child. We will give you all the information on how the process works for fathers. 

What is a Putative Father Search?

The Putative Father Registry is maintained by the Department of Health in Jacksonville. This is a registry for an unmarried biological father to register for paternity. This is saying he wants to accept the responsibility of the child and has a parenting plan. Typically, documents are served to identified birth fathers and they do not follow the guidelines and do not get notice to the court hearing. By law, this agency will diligently try to locate the named birth father to notify him of his rights. Putative Father Registry

What if I can’t find the baby’s father?

You do not have to know where the father of the baby is. Our agency will find and contact him, get all the documents served or signed, and take care of the legal aspects of the adoption. If you are in contact with him and he will be cooperative with the agency, we may ask for your assistance. If you do not feel comfortable or the relationship does not allow communication that is okay too. We can do all that needs to be done regarding birth father rights and communication. 

What is the Non-paternity Affidavit, Service of Paperwork, and Diligent Search?

If a birth father is in the picture and will sign documents (Non-Paternity Affidavit) stating that he will not claim paternity, then his parental rights will be terminated at the first court hearing. Once a probable birth father is named, he will then be served with documents (Service of Paperwork) informing him of his rights and how to claim paternity.

A birth father must claim paternity on the registry, inform the agency in writing, file a parenting plan with the court, and pay financial support to the birth mother all within 30 days of service of the paperwork. He will then be notified of the court hearing for terminating parental rights to ask the judge to grant him paternity. When a birth father is named without contact information, a Diligent Search will be conducted by a private investigator, and that information is used in court regarding contact with the birth father.

I’m in jail, can I have an open adoption?

You can still have an adoption plan even if you are in jail. Typically, the jail allows for the agency to provide you with services while in jail as a professional appointment much like an attorney. Often it is helpful to speak with clergy at the jail and ask them for help with contact with the agency and contact to receive messages. 

How will I be able to see pictures and updates from jail?

We use an online forum called Child Connect. If you can get online and sign into the Child Connect account, you can see pictures and updates to 18 years. The agency sets up the account and will give you the username and password for access.

Will the family stay in touch with me while I’m in jail?

We have families that maintain contact with birth mothers in jail via letters, email, and phone calls. 

Is it ok to change my mind?

It is absolutely, ok to change your mind. The law states you are not obligated to sign the consent of adoption papers, even if you receive financial assistance during your pregnancy. If you change your mind, you must let the agency know as soon as possible to protect yourself against any fraudulent activities. We will be happy to provide you with community resources should you decide to parent.

If I change my mind and decide to keep my baby, do I have to repay the money given to me?

It is not the law that you must repay the money you have been given during your adoption plan. Birth parent should know though that many times, adoptive parents use their lifelong savings to grow their families and are devastated financially and emotionally when an expectant mother changes her mind.

It is particularly important to let the agency know as soon as you know you have changed your mind and stop taking funds for expenses. This will help eliminate any legal issues and allows the agency to utilize those funds to give adoptive parents the opportunity to still grow their families with a new adoption plan.

We have had other birth families work towards repayment of the expenses utilized for their pregnancy, but this is not required by law or against the law if you do not repay the funds used. 

If I change my mind and decide to keep the baby, are there legal issues or charges against me?

You do not have to sign your consent for the adoption even if you have been given help with your living expenses. Adoption Fraud is especially important to understand so you do not have any legal issues or charges against you.

The State of Florida states that Adoption Fraud is when you make an adoption plan and receive financial assistance when you know or should know that you are NOT pregnant: if you are accepting money from more than one agency or entity at the same time; or if you are making a false representation to induce payment of living expenses when you do NOT intend to make an adoptive placement.  SO, for example, if you have the baby and do not tell the agency and keep requesting the agency pay for your housing, food, etc. THIS IS A CRIME! and you will have charges filed against you. 

Are there resources available if I decide to keep my baby?

If you have the baby and decide you are going to keep the baby, just let us know. We will find the community resources available to you and your family and make referrals to community organizations to help your family thrive. 

What is Adoption Fraud:

The State of Florida enacted a law effective July 1, 2012. That makes it a criminal offense (Misdemeanor and/or Felony) for adoption deception. Adoption deception becomes a felony if the sums received exceed $300. 

ADOPTION DECEPTION CAN BE DEFINED AS ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:

  • MAKING AN ADOPTION PLAN AND RECEIVING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WHEN YOU KNOW OR SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT YOU ARE NOT PREGNANT.
  • ACCEPTING MONEY FROM MORE THAN ONE ADOPTION AGENCY, ATTORNEY, OR ADOPTIVE PARENTS AT THE SAME TIME. 
  • MAKING FALSE REPRESENTATIONS TO INDUCE PAYMENT OF LIVING EXPENSES WHEN YOU DO NOT INTEND TO MAKE AN ADOPTIVE PLACEMENT

Simply stated, if you are not pregnant, not planning to put the baby up for adoption, or take money from more than one entity for the purpose of adoption, you will be committing a crime. It is NOT A CRIME if you change your mind. What becomes a crime is when you are deceptive in your adoption plan.

If you have decided to parent, prior to taking more resources, let the agency know you have changed your mind and put it in WRITING. You will be asked to sign a document stating you know about Adoption Deception, so make sure you understand your rights and the law.

What if I am not a US Citizen?

FAC can will still work with you to explore your options and help you make the best decision for you and your baby.

What if I don’t’ speak English?

We can hire an interpreter and have the documents translated into your native language.

Can I make an adoption plan if I am not a US Citizen?

Absolutely! We can make an adoption plan with you if your baby is born in the state of Florida. If your baby is not born in Florida, or if you are looking to have an adoption plan for an older child, we can work with you to figure it out.

Does my baby have to be born in the US?

If you would like to place a child for adoption that was not born in the US, we may not be able to help you directly, but if we are not able to, then we will help find an agency that can. 

While working with us we will help you with health and nutrition education, life skills training, education and employment planning, mental health and substance abuse services when needed, as well as help you to sign up for Medicaid, WIC, Healthy Families, obtain prenatal care and medical care and work on reducing family stress. We put you in touch with community agencies that could include housing, rent, utility assistance, job training, food, clothing, furniture, and much more.

Not only do we provide you with financial assistance for housing, food, transportation, phone, and other reasonable living expenses allowable by law, but we also provide case management services in a caring and non-judgmental environment.

We pay expenses directly to the source and when we give you gift cards as a financial resource, we ask you to keep and submit the receipts as a record. Financial assistance continues for six weeks after the birth of the baby to help you recover and get back to work. We will help you identify, explore and work on your support systems as well.

If you are suffering from substance issues, you will not be eliminated from the program. FAC will look at all resources to help support you in a healthy pregnancy and seek substance use treatment services if you desire the help. We have families open to a child that has substance exposure.

Services throughout Central Florida include but are not limited to Melbourne, Orlando, Palm Bay, Apopka, Altamonte Springs, Kissimmee, St Cloud, Vero Beach, Fort Pierce, Daytona Beach, St Augustine, Lakeland, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Tallahassee, Gainesville, All Florida.