Missionaries of the Sacred

Adoption is an option

If you are facing a crisis pregnancy, you may find that you are simply unable at this time to provide for all of your child's needs. Or you may not be able to give your child something you think is really important, such as a two-parent home, financial security or the opportunity for a college education. If this is the case, consider adoption. There are different types of adoption, some are closed while others are semi-open or open, with varying amounts of contact. If you are considering giving your child up for adoption, you should know that you can choose what type of adoption you think would be best for you and your child. You also have the right to choose the family. Adoption laws vary by state, but there are many organizations out there who will offer free legal counseling. Below are a few links to explore.

• Things to Consider About Adoption - What kind of adoption would be right for you? What kind of parents would I want for my baby?
  
• Adoption Factbook - View the factbook online in PDF format and see related articles
• Rights of Expectant Parents
• Adoption Information by State
  

Thinking of adopting child? Check out the National Council for Adoption for information about choosing an adoption agency and attorney and financing your adoption.

Parenting

Although it might seem overwhelming at first, parenting can be an extremely rewarding experience. If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy and don't want to have an abortion, there are many factors to consider when deciding whether or not you should choose to parent your child or give her/him up for adoption. A good counselor can help you explore these factors and make decisions that are good for both you and your baby. Below are a few links to resources that you might find helpful.

• Family Education - information on child growth and development, free newsletters, ideas for family activities, etc.
• BBC - Parenting -  information on parenting organized by child's age. Find information on everything from feeding to bathing to coping with other people's advice.
• Questions You May Have - 10 questions that are often asked about single parenting
  
• Helpful Resources - help locating community assistance, pregnancy resource centers, state children's health insurance programs, etc.
• Child Support - information about child support in the USA
• OneToughJob.org - website with various parenting resources. Also available in Spanish.
• KidsHealth.org - website for information about child health and development
• USA.gov parenting resources - official information and services from the U.S. government