Information on Chicago IL Adoptions

We know that no two adoption situations are exactly alike and that every person has his or her own thoughts, feelings and ideas about adoption. We are here to listen and to provide you with useful information so that you can decide what is best for you and your child.  Below we have described how adoption works through the Adoption Center of Illinois at Family Resource Center.

1. Getting started…

The first step is to finding out how adoption works is to contact an adoption counselor.  When you are ready, you can call, email, or send a text to reach one of our counselors.  Counselors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Whether you are pregnant or your child is already born, we are here to listen and help answer all of your questions about how adoption works.  We believe you have a right to be aware of all of your options. Your communications with us are confidential and there are no strings attached.

2. Talking with a counselor and meeting with us…

Once you contact us, an adoption counselor can arrange to meet with you at a location and time that is convenient for you.  Your counselor will review each step in the adoption process so that you know how adoption works and what to expect.  She will ask about your specific situation and help you understand your rights and how adoption works in Illinois.  Illinois adoption law protects birth parents in certain ways – call 1-800-676-2779 to find out how.

3. Mapping out your own individual adoption plan…

When you are ready, your counselor can help you create your own adoption plan.  Adoptions can range from “open” to “closed” and everything in between.  Contact with the adoptive family you choose and your child can range from in-person meetings, the exchange of pictures and letters, or no contact at all. This is how adoption works the Adoption Center of Illinois and Family Resoruce Center. We can help you think about what kind of contact and relationship you want to have with your child’s adoptive family.

4. Selecting the adoptive parents for your child…

At the Adoption Center of Illinois, it is your right to choose your child’s adoptive family.  You can look through albums of waiting adoptive families and if you want, your counselor can arrange for one or more meetings between you and the adoptive parents you choose.  Your adoption counselor will also assist you in exploring adoption options and your wishes regarding post-adoption communication.  FRC will respect your decision whether or not you decide to select, meet, or stay in touch with your child’s adoptive family.

5. What happens when your child is born…

We will be there to help you communicate with the hospital and make sure that the hospital knows exactly how adoption works and what you want to happen while you are there.  We believe that your wishes should be respected while you are in the hospital and that you have every right to see and spend time with your child (or not) after he or she is born. Your baby can go directly from the hospital to the adoptive family you have chosen, or, if you feel you need more time, FRC can provide temporary care for your child with one of our loving temporary care families.

6. Going forward with your adoption plan…

We encourage you to take as much time as you need before making a final decision about adoption and about whether or not to place your child for adoption.  Under Illinois adoption law, birth mothers must wait at least 72 hours (3 days) after their child is born to sign final papers for adoption.  Once a birth parent signs these forms (Final and Irrevocable Surrenders for Adoption), their adoption decision is permanent and cannot be changed. We only want you to choose adoption if you think adoption is the best choice for you and your child.

7. Support after an adoptive placement…

Your adoption counselor and FRC are here to continue to support you after you place your child for adoption.  Your counselor will be there to talk to and listen.  We frequently help birth mothers link to resources in the community after they place a child for adoption. Adoption Center of Illinois and FRC take pride in maintaining respectful and ongoing relationships with the birth parents we have worked with throughout the years. Sometimes communication between birth parents, adoptive families and their children goes on for the rest of everyone’s lives.  We are here to help assist with the exchange of photos and letters and face to face meetings.  We have been there for everyone we have ever worked with -answering questions and providing real and practical support.  We continue to be in communication with many of the birth parents who placed children for adoption-some going back as far as 1988 when we helped with the first adoptions. Adoption today is not like it was in the old days – please contact us to find out how adoption works.

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• Meet Our Counselors
• Meet Families Who Want To Adopt
• Your Rights Under The Law (pdf)
• Birth Parent Information Packet (pdf)