Many people dream of the day they will become parents and bring their baby home from the hospital. When a woman who is expecting a child is homeless, though, she may feel fear and hopelessness rather than excitement. If you are pregnant and homeless you may wonder what your options are for ensuring your child has adequate care. You likely have more options than you think. Our adoption lawyer in Pensacola, FL can help you understand what legal routes you have.
What Are Your Options if You Are Pregnant and Homeless?
Being homeless when you are expecting a child is less than ideal. Pregnant women who are homeless often wonder what options they have.
Some women will opt to terminate their pregnancies. In Florida, women can obtain abortions up until 15 weeks gestation; after that time, abortion is only an option if the mother’s life is in danger or if the fetus is not viable.
Other pregnant women may be eligible to receive assistance with temporary housing through community support efforts. Those programs are designed to provide an opportunity for expectant mothers to get back on their feet, obtain employment and find stable housing to enable them to continue to parent if that is desired.
If working with these community programs is not possible, expectant women can consider adoption as an option for the best interest of the child.
Adoption Choices
If a pregnant woman chooses to place her child for adoption, she must decide what type of adoption best aligns with her future goals. She will have the option of an open adoption, semi-open adoption, or a closed adoption. Open adoption and semi-open adoption are the most common. These allow the birth mother to stay in contact with the adoptive parents post-placement. Contact can be as simple as communication by text, email, or letter updates. Some birth mothers choose to have phone, FaceTime, or in-person visits.
When considering an open adoption or semi-open adoption it is essential that the expectant mother choose prospective adoptive parents that she communicates well with and that make her feel confident and comfortable with her openness level and adoption plan. If communication is positively maintained throughout the pregnancy and post-placement, the biological parents can still play an interictal role in their child’s life as they grow up.
In a closed adoption, the birth mother generally will not keep in touch with the adoptive parents post-placement.
Gulf Coast Adoptions has many loving, pre-screened, financially secure waiting families ready to adopt. You get to hand-select the family. You can speak with them, meet them and develop a relationship with them, so when you do have your baby, you can feel secure knowing you picked the best family for your baby.
Talk to a Skilled Pensacola Adoption Lawyer
Parents generally want to raise their children in the best environment available, but for pregnant women who are homeless, that may not be a feasible option. If you are homeless and pregnant and are considering adoption for your child, Clay H. Whittaker of Gulf Coast Adoptions is a skilled adoption lawyer who can inform you of your options and help you to decide what option is best for you and your child. We assist pregnant women throughout Florida and Alabama. Our services are completely confidential and without any cost to you. Call anytime at 850-999-7977, or contact us online.