Catholic Social Services

Frequently asked questions of adoptive parents.

What are the cost involved in an adoption?

How much information will I be able to obtain concerning the baby's background?

Should the birth parent(s) want to see the child in the future, do I have any rights concerning agreement and/or refusal?

Is there a requirement to inform the child that he/she is adopted or is that decision left up to the adoptive parents?

What are the cost involved in an adoption?

To understand the cost involved, it is important to understand the process of adoption. Adoption is a service that Catholic Social Services offers to interested individuals or couples. There are no costs to the birth families. The costs to the adoptive parents are to cover the costs of running this program including, but not limited to: counseling for birth family, assistance to birth family in finding housing, transportation and other community resources; foster care expenses, medical expenses not covered by Medicaid, and professional services involved in working with birth families, foster families and adoptive families. To find out the cost involved in independent adoption services, click here.

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How much information will I be able to obtain concerning the baby's background?

Due to Catholic Social Services performing primarily semi-open adoptions, we make all effort to respect and protect confidentiality of birth parents and adoptive parents. With confidentiality being protected, we do provide non-identifying social and medical background information to the prospective adoptive parents. Based on preferences expressed and agreed upon by the birth family and adoptive family, there may be continued contact facilitated through Catholic Social Services.

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Should the birth parent(s) want to see the child in the future, do I have any rights concerning agreement and/or refusal?

At the age of 19, the adoptee is considered an adult and can seek to find his or her birth parents. According to current Alabama Law, once a birth parent's parental rights have been terminated or relinquished, she or he is not permitted to contact the adoptive parents or child.

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Is there a requirement to inform the child that he/she is adopted or is that decision left up to the adoptive parents?

There is no legal requirement that an adoptive parent must inform the child that he or she is adopted, but we do strongly encourage open communication regarding the adoption with the child and with your family. Research has shown that it is to the adoptees benefit to be informed of their adoption which also increases trust, understanding and open communication. There are many books and resources available to assist in talking to the child from an early age about adoption.

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If you have any additional questions that were not addressed here, please click here.

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