Catholic Social Services

Frequently asked questions of Birth Mothers.

If I am pregnant and would like to talk to someone about my pregnancy, will there be any cost ?

Why should I consider working with Catholic Social Services if I am dealing with an unplanned pregnancy?

If I choose to place my baby for adoption, how will I know that he or she will go to a good home?

Can I have input as to choosing the couple who will adopt my baby? What if I want to know how my baby is doing over the years?

Will my child be able to locate me at some later date if he or she should want to? If I do not desire this connection, do I have the right to decide whether or not this re-connection takes place?

If I am pregnant and would like to talk to someone about my pregnancy, will there be any cost ?

No, there is absolutely no cost to the birth mothers or birth family for any of the services that Catholic Social Services offers including counseling, community referrals and other supportive services.

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Why should I consider working with Catholic Social Services if I am dealing with an unplanned pregnancy?

Catholic Social Services has been a stable resource for birth mothers in the Montgomery area since 1952, and we have trained professionals to help you address concerns related to an unplanned pregnancy. Catholic Social Services will also be here in the future to offer additional support and or counseling as needed. We are able to assist you in meeting your needs related to your specific situation.

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If I choose to place my baby for adoption, how will I know that he or she will go to a good home?

We have a stringent home study screening process that each prospective adoptive parent must go through in order to qualify as an adoptive parent with Catholic Social Services. Due to this process, we have not ever had a placement disrupted since we began doing adoptions in 1952. The people that come to Catholic Social Services seeking adoptive services are here because they have a sincere desire to parent and love a child.

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Can I have input as to choosing the couple who will adopt my baby?

A semi-open adoption is one in which there is some contact between the birth mother and the adoptive couple. If you would like this type of service, we will work with you to best meet your needs. This may mean receiving pictures and update letters of your child periodically or actually meeting the adoptive couple depending on what your expressed preferences are. You also have the option to review profiles made by the adoptive parents about themselves.

We can also assist you if you prefer a closed adoption, where there is no identifying information shared between the birth family and adoptive family. The most important factor is that you are comfortable in the decision that you make in the best interest of your child and yourself.

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Will my child be able to locate me at some later date if he or she should want to? If I do not desire this connection, do I have the right to decide whether or not this re-connection takes place?

According to the current Adoption Law in the State of Alabama, an adoptee may request information on their birth parents at the age of 19. Initially, non-identifying information on the birth parents is given. If the adult adoptee request contact with the birth parents, Catholic Social Services will first contact the birth parents to obtain consent before any possible contact occurs between the birth parents and the adult adoptee. As situations change over 19 years, the birth parent does have the right to decide not to have contact if that is his or her wishes.

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