W e l c o m e !
your Potential Parents!
We
truly believe in
the power of open adoption and see placing a child
for adoption as the
ultimate act of love that a birthmother/birthfamily
can
express.
If you are a pregnant woman we urge you to learn more about open adoption and all the options available to you before proceeding.
If you are a waiting family, please click here to learn more about the services we offer and how we can help you make your adoption web site work for you.
If you are a pregnant woman we urge you to learn more about open adoption and all the options available to you before proceeding.
If you are a waiting family, please click here to learn more about the services we offer and how we can help you make your adoption web site work for you.
Meet our Featured Potential Parents...
Each time the page loads these families are displayed in random order.If you're looking for a specific family remember to scroll down the page.
 Brad, Kim & Haley from CA Hello! We have great respect for your decision to consider open adoption to find a loving home for your child. We can't wait to welcome you and your child into our lives! We want to have an ongoing relationship that is comfortable for you. We are familiar with open adoption since this is how Haley joined our family. |
 Robert & John We’re
Robert & John and we fully understand that your
decision to adopt is difficult and that your goal is not to find just
any parents but to find the right parents to raise your child. We hope
our website should give you just enough information about us to leave
you dying to know more, but certainly not too much that you pass out
with boredom and move to the next site. We are a loving couple that
will treat your child with respect, care and unconditional love. We
look forward to hearing from you!
|
 Jim & Marti from CA Greetings
from sunny Mountain
View in Northern California! We are Jim and Marti McGuirk, and we are
so excited to build a family
together through Open Adoption. We can't wait to read bedtime stories,
play soccer in the park, and sing silly songs with our own child! We
look forward to hearing about you and your dreams for your baby's
future. |
 Chris & Shih Han from NY Hello.
We are Chris and Shih Han. Thank you for considering us. From the
earliest days, we dreamed of having a baby to share our hearts and
home. We are excited to start a family through adoption. Your child
will be loved as our own and cared for in a loving, nurturing and safe
environment. We look forward to getting to know
you. |
 Janie & Steve from CA
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|
Thank you for taking the time to allow us to introduce ourselves, we can only imagine how difficult this decision must be for you. We are Dan and Amy, a fun, loving, Catholic couple, eager to become adoptive parents. We are 37 years old and have been happily married for over 13 years. We know adoption is an option that is considered with great courage, strength, and love for your child. Please be assured, if you choose to place your trust in us, your baby will know the depth of your courage and love. Call us
toll-free
1-877-629-8590. |
 Andy from CA Hello, My name is
Andy from Sebastopol, California. After much thought
and consideration, I now find myself ready and excited to create my
family through open adoption. Your choice to allow another person to
raise your baby demonstrated tremendous courage, strength and love, and
you have my most sincere respect. Please take a moment and look at my
website and find out more about me and why I want to become a dad
through open adoption!
Please
call me toll-free at |
 Shad & Char from MO Hello! We are Shad
and Char, hopeful adoptive parents. Thank you for
the opportunity to let us tell you a little about ourselves. There are
so many wonderful families waiting, we are honored that you have chosen
to look at our profile. We have the greatest admiration for you and
hope that a sneak peek at us will help you, in some way, make your
decision.
|
 Nancy & Eric from NY Our
life will be complete with a child in our home. We are a happy, loving
couple with a big extended family of grandparents, aunts, uncles,
cousins and friends who all, along with us, are anxiously awaiting our
new addition.
Call us toll-free at
1-866-717-0678 |
 Linda from CA Hello! I am Linda from the San Francisco Bay Area. Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me. Adoption is a very big decision. I deeply respect your strength and courage as you plan for your child's future. My dream is to give a child what I have been given in life - tremendous love and support, education, and a wide range of life experience. I am committed not only to being a wonderful parent, but am also committed to your comfort as we work together towards a positive and healthy adoption. Call me
toll-free at
1-888-280-1233 |
We are Chris and Bill from New York City. Thank you for taking the time to get to know us and our story. We believe in our hearts that while life sometimes brings people together in unexpected ways, they are always brought together for a reason. As you consider whether an adoption plan is best for you, please know that we are deeply committed to the concept of compassionate and open adoption. We hope that as you explore our family album, you will get to know more about us, our life together and our dream of creating a family through adoption. Call
us toll-free at
1-888-876-8181 |
 Simon from CA My name is Simon Orchover from San Francisco, California. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to share a little about myself, and thank you for taking the time to get to know me. Knowing that love, respect and dignity are at the heart of adoption, I also realize that your decision to allow another to raise your child takes enormous courage and trust. I am deeply moved by this and believe that these qualities will be a fine example to your child. Call me
toll-free at
1-888-826-6066 |
|
My name is Anna from Berkeley, California. Raising two children in open adoptions has taught me many life lessons and I am fortunate that their birth families live close enough to stay in regular contact. So many of my own memories growing up involve having siblings and the close bonds and experiences we shared. I am wondering about who you are, what your situation is? I invite you to visit my website to learn about our life and my dream of being blessed, once again, through a fully open adoption. Call toll-free at 1-800-783-9652 |
|
The opportunity of bringing another child into our lives is our greatest dream, we don't take it lightly. Adoption is a great responsibility, an amazing journey, the promise of a loving lifetime with our new child. We admire and respect your courage for considering an adoption plan. We look forward to the fulfillment of our dream; finding, adopting, welcoming that special child into our family. Your baby will be loved more than words can express. We encourage you to read our profile and visit our website, once you begin to know who we are, we believe you will choose us. Please
call us toll free, 24 hours a day at
1-800-844-3630 |
|
Your heart will lead you to the right parents. It must seem that all these letters start off the same and blur together after a while. People that you do not know are being sympathetic to your situation while trying to convey their positive qualities and desire to be parents to your child in a few paragraphs. Please know that while this decision is probably the most difficult one you will make, you are not going to make the wrong decision. Your heart will lead you to the right parents who will love your child completely. We too, want to let you know that we are sympathetic to your situation. We cannot imagine what you are going through, but admire you and the strength you have to make this difficult decision. The fact that you are making an adoption plan shows the love you have for your child. Call
us toll-free at
1-877-303-2289 |
|
Dear Birthmother, Hi there! My name is Shelly and my husband is Salvatore. We'€™re both college educated professionals living in Manhattan. We have a son named Kaleo who is 6 years old. We would love to have another child in our family. Sal and I have had such wonderful experiences with Kaleo that we would be honored to have another child to share our lives with. Call
us toll-free at
1-800-615-5881 |
 Lisa from NJ Words cannot express how truly honored I feel to be able to share my story with you. Your courage and respect for your child are to be admired. I am committed to providing a child a home filled with warm hugs, loads of laughter and unconditional love. A quote lifted from a book by Cynthia Copeland Lewis states, "Look at the footprints you've made." What ever decision you make, please know that you will be this child's footprints and, unlike the ones made in sand, these will never get washed away. Call me
toll-free at
1-800-844-3630 |
|
Hello. We are Stacey and Jan. We are thrilled about bringing a new child into our home through adoption. We have a loving 5 year old, Eliska, who is hoping for a baby sister or brother. We promise to be respectful and supportive as you consider your options and we welcome any questions that you have for us. All our best, Stacey and Jan Call
us toll-free at
1-866-573-9722 |
|
Thanks for considering us! We recently adopted our daughter, Judy Virginia, through an open adoption and have had such a positive experience that we are ready to do it again! We both come from large loving families and cherish the memories of growing up with brothers and sisters. We want our children to experience thE same type of joy. We have a lot of love to give and are confident that we can provide a great home and family life for your child. Call
us toll-free at
1-866-203-8926 Pin 9563 |
|
We're a happily married couple, living in Santa Clara, part of the Silicon Valley and close to San Francisco. Choosing adoption is a very loving and courageous act on your part, and we want you to know that we want to be parents very, very much. We will share our love of life with your baby. Please visit our website. If you think we might be the ones, then call or email us so we can get to know you. If we're lucky, then this will be the beginning of a special bond between all of us that will last forever. Call us
toll-free
1-800-798-4608 |
|
Thank you for taking the time to read more about us! We are a loving couple who would love to have a family of our own. Although we could never know the emotions that you are experiencing at this time in your life, we hope that your connection with us will help ease some of the anxiety that this journey brings. We offer our prayers for your health, a sense of calm for your nerves, and happiness in your heart and soul. We thank you for taking the time to get to know us in this very moment in time. Whatever you decide we wish you all the hope in your heart that the right decision will find you and that you find the right decision. Call
toll-free
1-888-542-8841 |
|
Thank you for taking the time to read about us. We respect the courageous decision you are making, and we are both eager to get to know you. Our journey with infertility has been long and difficult, but we are excited about welcoming a child into our family through adoption. We hope that our website will give you insight into our lives. Call
toll-free
1-866-844-2023 |
|
We're Eva and Eliza. We know that making an adoption plan for your child is an enormous decision. We admire your strength and courage, and thank you for taking the time to get to know more about our family and what we would have to offer as parents to your child. We promise that if you choose to place your child with us, your child will have a warm and loving home where his or her spirit and mind will be nurtured and encouraged to blossom. He or she will feel our unconditional love throughout life. Call toll-free 1-800-844-3630 |
|
Hi! We are a fun, educated and happily married couple hoping to build a family through adoption. We promise you that a child placed with us will be supported, cherished and loved unconditionally. We are in awe of the decisions you face and admire the courage you show in considering the best future for you and your baby. We hope you'll take some time to see if we might be a match for you. We'd love to know more about you, too! Call
toll-free
1-877-249-8772 |
|
Our promise: We will be loving parents to your baby. Our promise: We will all see the baby grow together and share in the joy. Our promise: We are a devoted and loving couple who will give your baby our love, guidance, and a quality upbringing to be part of a very loving family. Our promise: We will be wonderful providers who will give your baby love, security, and a nurturing environment. Call
toll-free
1-800-844-3630 |
|
We are the Zazkowski family from Sunnyvale, California - an active family with two beautiful children and two curious dogs. We believe that parenting is the hardest job one can ever do, but it is also the most rewarding! We would dearly love to expand our family and are seeking to adopt an older infant or toddler. As parents ourselves, we view your decision to consider open adoption as a thoughtful and courageous act rooted in love. Our happy family has a great deal to offer a child, and provides a loving, stable home with a work-at-home mom, very involved dad, and a wonderful big sister and a bother who almost daily ask about their new little brother or sister! Call
toll-free
1-866-997-1977 |
|
Thank you for taking the time to allow us an oppurtunity to share our family with you. We know the choices before you are great and we commend you on your courage to consider an adoption plan for you and your baby. My husband, son and I hope that you will see that we have lots of love to give and look forward to sharing our lives with a baby. Call
toll-free
1-800-844-3630 |
|
Hi, we are Lee and Clint. Thank you for taking a moment to read about us and learn about our dream of adopting a baby girl or boy. Having adopted our son through open adoption, we know that this is a profoundly meaningful decision for you. We also know that open adoption is an act of great love and kindness. We have been together for 8 years, and we have built our family on the principles of love, trust and openness. Please visit our website to learn more about our family, our values, and our home in San Francisco. Call
toll-free
1-866-366-1103 |
|
We'€™re Eric and Melissa from Oakland, California. We have been together for over thirteen years and are very excited to form our family through adoption. We live in a diverse, urban neighborhood with our dogs, Cady and Roxie and our cat, Pippi. We will provide our child with many opportunities to learn, laugh and joyfully experience life. We are seeking a fully open adoption and will welcome your child, and you, into our hearts and family with unconditional love. Please visit our website to learn more about our lives, our values, and our desire to adopt a child of any ethnicity. We look forward to to speaking with you! Call
toll-free
1-866-869-4010 |
|
We are a family who is hopefully waiting for the stars to align so that we may adopt. We understand that you are preparing to have a child and that at this time, the future is uncertain and scary. Your choice to be thoughtful about your decisions shows how much you care about the future of your child. While we can't make the decision easier, we can offer a life to your child that will be loving, supportive, filled with opportunities and wonderful memories. We are Home Study approved. Please call us if you have any questions. Call
Michelle at 1-877-576-4593 or
Our Attorney, Sanford Bernardo: 1-800-710-1677 |
|
Hi, we are the Cruz family and we're thrilled to have this opportunity to connect with you. We're a young, fun-loving and affectionate family and we're so excited to keep on sharing the love and joy that family brings - both with you and a new baby. Please give us a call or check out our website to learn all about us. We hope we can learn all about you! Many blessings and absolute best wishes. Call
toll-free
1-888-529-5770 |
|
Hi! We are Joseph & Joe and we live on a farm with our two dogs, Baxter & Max. We hope that you get a glimpse of who we are, our life together and the love we have to share. It is our dream to begin our family through the miracle of adoption. We would love to talk with you, or meet with you so that you can learn more about us. Should you choose us as the family for your child, we would be honored to stay in touch through letters, pictures, phone calls and/or visits. Please feel free to contact us anytime. Call our
agency toll-free
1-800-844-3630 |
|
Thank you for taking a few moments to learn about us. We believe that open adoption offers limitless possibilities to all involved and we appreciate that you are considering us. We are very excited about open adoption because we want our child to know who his or her birth parent(s) are and that you care for your child. We look forward to hearing from you! Call
toll-free
1-866-835-2301 |
|
Hi! We are Scott and Mila from NY. We are an open-minded, professional couple, recently married, hoping to adopt our first child. We are here to connect with you, OUR Birthmother, and assure you that you are not alone in this unique journey. We admire your bravery and courage in making this decision. We are here to support you morally and financially and assure you that your child will be raised in a loving, healthy and learning atmosphere full of joy and laughter. We will be honored and grateful if you give us a chance to have the family we have been dreaming of. We would love to hear from you. Call
toll-free
1-866-420-9191 |
|
Hi! We're Michael and Anna from New York. You're probably going through a variety of thoughts and emotions. We pray that you receive the guidance to make a decision that will bring you peace of mind and comfort. If you are considering placing your child for adoption, please consider us. Visit our slide show, e-mail or call us to get to know us better. We look forward to providing a secure and loving home for your child. Call
toll-free
1-866-928-2656 |
|
We have a happy and affectionate 8 year old girl who, like us, is eager to expand our family by adopting a baby. We love our role as parents and long to share what we have learned so far and our stable life with a new family member. We live in a diverse community with lots of wonderful adopted kids around us. We are home-study approved and are working with a terrific adoption lawyer. We'd love a chance to introduce ourselves to you and give you a glimpse into the loving and dynamic family life we will offer your baby. We will always honor your trust by providing a safe, stable, nurturing, and engaging home. We look forward to learning about you and your wishes in making an open adoption plan. Call
toll-free
1-888-533-5933 |
|
Hello, Jeremy and Eric here in Charleston, South Carolina. We can't imagine the struggles and uncertainty you may be going through but we believe you are doing a wonderful thing by considering open adoption. Whatever you decide, we hope the best for you and your child. We're very thankful that you are taking this time to learn about us. We hope our site gives you some idea of who we are and what we value. We welcome your call anytime. Call
toll-free
1-866-578-3131 |
|
We are Jonathan and Rebecca, an easygoing, loving couple who live in San Francisco, California. We have been together for six years and married for three. We are excited about becoming parents and we chose open adoption because we feel it benefits everyone, especially the child, who will know that you made this choice out of love. Thank you for taking the time to get to know us. Call
toll-free
1-800-972-9225 |
|
Hi! We are Matt and Matthew from Atlanta, Georgia. We would love to speak with you! We admire your strength and courage in considering open adoption. We are ready and excited to welcome you and your child into our family. We look forward to the opportunity to get to know you and share more information about us. We are a committed and happy couple ready to provide a safe, fun and loving home for our child. We can't wait to begin this amazing journey! Call
us toll-free at
1-877-796-7505 |
|
We are a young, married professional couple located in New York City. We are anxiously looking to expand our family through an open adoption. We would love to hear from you and would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. Please feel free to contact us anytime, day or night. For additional information please visit our website. We look forward to hearing from you. Call
us toll-free at
1-877-289-0860 |
|
Hi! We are John and Danielle. We are a happily married couple from New York, hoping to build a family through adoption. John is an Electrical Engineer and Danielle teaches first grade. We are fortunate to both make good salaries and have secure jobs, enabling us to live comfortably. We hope that you will come to believe that we are the right parents for your child. Call
us toll-free at
1-866-927-4282 |
|
Hi, we are Regina and Karl. We admire you for the love you are showing by considering an adoption plan for you and your child. We have hearts that are ready, waiting, and eager to give lots of love. We want to give our child loving parents, a strong extended family, emotional and physical security, a good education, a strong values system, and a healthy sense of self. Our child-to-be will be an incredibly loved and precious addition to our life. We are very excited and hopeful as we begin our journey toward creating a forever family. Call
us toll-free at
1-800-844-3630 |
|
Hi, we're Elizabeth and Michael. Thank you for taking the time to get to know us. We are a loving, professional, married couple (with puppies) who will give your baby love, laughter and a stay-at-home mom. We are very excited to become parents. We look forward to hearing from you! Call
us toll-free at
1-800-480-7741 |
|
We're a secure, successful, educated and creative couple looking to provide a home filled with love, learning and stability to a domestic newborn. We're state-certified as adoptive parents and are ready to legally and safely adopt! You want the best for your baby—providing the best that life has to offer. We’ll cherish and support your child—give everything we have and more. Our website tells you so much more about us than this short ad! Check us out! We can’t wait to get to know you. Call
us toll-free at
1-866-760-7676 |
|
This might sound strange, but we believe nothing is an accident. Even now...especially now. Your baby has a destiny. You've obviously done a lot of soul-searching to be considering so deeply the future of your baby. If compassion is genetic, the fact that you are reading this already tells us something about you, and your unborn child. The reason we're here on this site instead of on a plane flying halfway around the world to an orphanage in Russia, is because we feel it's important for you, the mother, to choose the parents who will give your baby a nurturing, love-filled and inspired life. We'd love to hear from you! Call
toll-free
1-888-302-2384 |
|
Hello! We are Marty and LeAnn from the San Francisco Bay Area. Please come read our website! We love children and we look forward to bringing another child into our family through Open Adoption. We love kids, we are crazy about dogs, LeAnn used to raise seeing-eye dogs, Marty is into cars, we have a five-year-old son who would love to be a big brother, and we enjoy going to the beach often (it is only ten miles from home). Being parents is truly wonderful and we hope to be blessed again. We would love to meet someone who wants to continue to be part of our lives and their baby's life long after the baby's birth. We look forward to hearing from you. Call
us toll-free at
1-800-591-0714 |
|
Hello my name is Ivy and I am so excited and appreciative that you are considering me as an adoptive parent for your child. I'm a first grade teacher from New York who is looking to adopt a baby boy or girl. I am a single woman, who is financially secure, and emotionally prepared to take on the role of motherhood. I am really excited about welcoming a baby into my life. I am filled with hope as I embark upon my adoption journey. Call me
toll-free at
1-888-399-1513 Send me an e-mail at
ivyhopes2adopt@aol.com Click here to visit my web page. 03242009
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We're so glad you found us! We're Tim and Christine White from San Ramon, California and we hope to expand our family through open adoption. Our daughter was lovingly entrusted to us by her birthparents and we are raising her in a fully open adoption. We understand that you want to be sure that you are making the best choices for your baby and for yourself, and we admire your courage in considering open adoption. We invite you to visit our website and learn a bit about us. We look forward to talking and getting to know you! Call
us toll-free at
1-800-511-4876 |
|
Greetings!! We are Mike & Liz of Berkeley, California. We would like to thank you for taking the time to learn a bit more about us. We are very excited about becoming parents! Liz is looking forward to being a stay-at-home mom after our child arrives, and Mike is looking forward to cultivate whichever interests our child develops. We have three nephews under the age of six who live ten minutes away, and many friends with children in the area. We hope that our website gives you an idea of who we are! Call
us toll-free at
1-888-800-9628 |
|
Hi, and thank you for reading our profile. We are Kathi & Joe, a loving couple from the suburbs of New York, who wish to adopt a baby. Our lives are ready for all the responsibilities, blessings, challenges and joys of parenthood. We realize that it takes a great deal of strength for you to consider an adoption plan for your child, and what ever you decide, we truly wish you the very best. It is our belief that a biological child is a gift from nature, an adopted child is a blessing from God. We understand that these may be challenging times and hope we can help make them a little easier. We would love to hear from you. Call
us toll-free at
1- 877-565-9474 |
|
Greetings, we are Ruth and Julie, a San Francisco couple with loads of love, humor and warmth to give a child. We're excited that you are considering us as your baby's adoptive parents. Both of us are happier and more confident than ever before. We have a great home, and most of all have each other. It's time to become parents! Please consider us part of your support team as you make your decision. Call
us toll-free at
1-866-622-0680 |
Starting
Points
- What is open adoption?
- For pregnant women
- For adoptive parents
- Adoption in the News
- How to get listed with us
Our Pledge
At PotentialParents.com we value ALL FAMILIES. Unlike some other adoption sites we will never refuse to work with an adoptive family based on marital status, sexual orientation or gender identification.
We believe...
LOVE MAKES A FAMILY!
We
support the work of the
\
If you are considering becoming an adoptive parent there are many choices to make before starting the process. A good starting point would be to read the following article by Rumbold & Seidelman, adoption attorneys.
After deciding to build your family through adoption, the next step a prospective adoptive parent confronts is deciding what “kind” of adoption to pursue. Choices abound: Domestic Adoption or International Adoption; Public Agency Adoption or Private Agency Adoption; Agency Adoption or Private Placement Adoption. There is no one “best” method of adoption but rather there are advantages and disadvantages to each method. As a prospective adoptive parent, your task is to select a method of adoption which is most suited to your financial circumstances, your emotional needs and your personality. This article will focus on making the choice between a Domestic adoption through a private agency or through private placement adoption. .
Initially, I want to stress that all adoptions involve the same basic components; for example: educating the adoptive parents regarding the adoption process, determining whether the prospective adoptive parents are qualified to adopt, identifying an adoptive child, obtaining medical and background information , etc.. None of these components should be shortchanged regardless of the kind of adoption you chose. The quality of the service provided to the adoptive parents and birth parents should not vary based on the method of adoption chosen but may be affected by the ethics and expertise of the professionals performing the service.
Fundamentally, the difference between an agency and private placement adoption is that in an agency adoption, the agency acts as an intermediary between the birth parents and the adoptive parents. In a private placement adoption, there is no intermediary between the birth parents and adoptive parents. For this reason private placement adoption is often referred to as direct adoption; the plan for the adoption is made directly between the birth and adoptive parents.
In an agency adoption, the agency has mandated policies and procedures governing the adoption process and the adoptive parents are required to comply with those pre-established agency requirements. While some agency policies are dictated by state regulations, there are many areas in which the agencies have discretion in their approach. Consequently, an agency’s adoption procedures may vary based on the staff’s determination as to best adoption practices. This is especially true as it relates to issues of the level and degree of communication with birth parents both before and after the adoptive placement.
In a private placement adoption, the adoptive parents undertake to perform many of the required functions themselves, with the assistance of their attorney and independent contractors (i.e. social workers, psychologists, and advertising consultants) retained to perform services as needed.
* It tends to be less expensive (no agency fee is required)
The difficulty of choosing between methods of adoption varies greatly between people. For some, the inability to pay the agency fee alone may dictate their decision. Many others have an immediate, emotional reaction to each method and/or their personalities dictate the choice. For example, some adoptive parents choose to pursue private placement adoption because they have the time and emotional energy to devote to the process, they are comfortable or even relish the opportunity for direct communication with potential birth parents, they do not want to wait the delays inherent in the agency adoption process and they do not want agency adoption policies impacting on the manner in which the adoption is conducted. By contrast, some potential adoptive parents choose to pursue and agency adoption because by they time they reach the decision to adopt they have already walked a long and difficult path. These people are comforted by the knowledge that the professionals they have selected will take charge of the process for them and that the process will be conducted in an ethical and secure fashion which effectively addresses both their needs and the needs of the potential birth parents.
Of course, these are broad generalizations and there are exceptions to every generalization made. However, these broad considerations should be useful as a first step in your inquiry into these two methods of adoption. In conclusion, no one method of adoption is superior; it is merely a question of choosing the path to adoption best suited to your individual circumstances.
For further info we suggest vising the Rumbold & Seidelman website at AdoptionLawNY.com.
Practicing as Rumbold & Seidelman since 1996, Denise Seidelman and Nina E. Rumbold concentrate their practice almost exclusively in the areas of adoption and reproductive law. They are licensed to practice in both New York and New Jersey. Nina and Denise are experienced in all aspects of adoption law and have handled the full panoply of adoptions, including domestic private-placement adoptions, domestic agency adoptions (including adoptions of children in foster care), international agency adoption, and step-parent adoptions. They also focus their practice in the evolving field of reproductive law and have counseled Intended Parents, Egg, Sperm, Embryo Donors and Gestational Carriers in collaborative reproduction arrangements. They are both members of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. In addition to their law practice, Nina and Denise are trained mediators and serve as mediators in the fields of Child Permanency and Parent Child Mediation.
Nina was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1979 and Denise was admitted in 1980. Both Nina and Denise started their legal careers working as criminal defense attorneys for the New York City Legal Aid Society, where they each tried numerous criminal cases to verdict and Nina also handled criminal appeals. Nina has two sons, ages 21 and 18 and a daughter aged 16. Denise has two sons, aged 21 and 17 and a daughter aged 18.
\What is Open Adoption?
Open adoption is a term generally used to describe a variety of arrangements allowing for ongoing contact between members of the 'adoption triad' (adoptive family, birth family, and adopted child). The level of openness in any relationship varies widely. Degrees of open arrangements span from mediated contact, which implies letters and photographs sent through a third party (so that the adoptive family can maintain privacy), to fulll disclosure of the adoptive family's personal information. In fully open adoptions, there is actual physical contact, through meetings and visits between the birth family and the adoptive family. Sometimes an adoption agency may describe an adoption as 'open' when the birth-mother (and/or birth-father) may have a say or may make the actual decision on who is chosen to parent their child, though this is not the generally accepted definition.
An adoption where the adoptive and birth parents do not become aware of each others' identities and where only medical and historical information is given to the adoptive parents is known as a closed adoption.
PotentialParents.com highly recommends the
services of:
and
Pregnant? Have questions about open adoption?
The following answers to FAQs posed by pregnant women considering an adoption plan were supplied by Friends in Adoption, a leading adoption agency specializing in open adoption.
What Choices Do I Have in Adoption?
You have many choices in adoption! If you decide on adoption, you and the adoptive family will make the decision that will make your adoption unique and personal.
Just as every person is different, every adoption is different. The adoption will be defined as yours by the choices you make. You may decide to place your child with a family of a particular Race or Religion or it may not matter to you at all. You may want to meet with the family who will adopt your baby, or you may just want to talk with them over the phone. You may want to place your baby with a family who does not have children, or a family who already has children. The things you feel are important will shape your adoption plan. All adoption plans are as unique and different as the people who make them.
Why Don't Some People Think That Adoption is OK?
Adoption has changed a lot in the past few years. In the past, people often thought of adoption as a secret that shouldn't be discussed once the child was placed with an adoptive family. Happily, adoption is now being viewed in a positive way that looks at the needs of the birth parents, the child they are considering placing, and the adoptive parents they are choosing.
We are looking more at the needs of those involved in the adoption and how to make it work. We believe that adoption planning needs to be focused on the best interests of the child, and we are committed to "child-centered adoption". At Friends In Adoption, we are concerned with making sure that you have the information and support you need to make a decision you can feel comfortable with.
What if I Don't Have Medical Insurance?/How Will I Pay my Medical Bills?
These are both very common questions. There are many social and federal organizations that are designed to help you. If you do not qualify for these programs or if the resources are unavailable to you, it is possible that the prospective adoptive parents may assist in paying for your prenatal care and delivery costs. It depends on the adoption laws in your state.
What Are My Legal Rights in Adoption?
As a birth parent, you need to be fully informed of your rights before your child is born. The baby remains yours until you decide to relinquish your rights and place the baby with adoptive parents. In most states you will appear before a judge in completely neutral surroundings so that he or she can determine that you understand exactly what you are doing before you sign the adoption papers. The agency or attorney who you are working with should explain this to you ahead of time, and everything should be done to be sure that you are clear and comfortable with the adoption.
Do I Have to Tell The Father of My Baby? Who Else Should I Tell?
Fathers have rights too, and we address the issue of birth fathers in every adoption. Every effort needs to be made to include the birth father and/or account for his role in the adoption planning process. It secures the adoption for the child and for you.
It is hard to decide who else you can share this with. It is scary to think of telling your parents or friends, but these are sometimes the people who offer the best support since they already know you. It is up to you to decide whom you want to tell, but know that we are here to give you support or an unbiased opinion in the decisions you make.
What Happens After Placement?
Your adoption plan should/will address the need for contact after placement. It is important for you to know that your child will be secure and well taken care of, and your child needs to know he or she is as loved by those who placed him/her as those who will care for him/her. How you choose to do this and how often you keep in contact is up to you. Future contact may be important to help you feel good about the decision that you are making, as well as to secure the child's history and place in this world.
If you choose to place your child for adoption, you will need some time to adjust to the changes it will bring. You can use this time to develop a fresh outlook and make plans for the future. This can be a beneficial time for you, and we can provide an objective viewpoint during this time to help to put your new ideas to work.
What if My Baby is Not Healthy?
This is clearly the worst nightmare of any parent, whether it be a birth parent or adoptive parents. Everyone needs special care and support in a time of crisis, and we are here for you 24 hours day. Some families may not be ready to bear the added financial burden, but there are many who are ready, willing, and capable of parenting a handicapped or health-impaired infant. Good prenatal care is vital in order to do everything possible to ensure a healthy baby. Seeing a doctor as soon as you can may ensure an easier delivery, and increase the chances for you to have a healthy baby.
How Much Contact Will I Have? As Time Passes, Will it Change?
The amount of contact you have after placement is something that you and the prospective adoptive parents should work out ahead of time to insure that feelings will not get hurt after placement. It is important that birth parents and adoptive parents each know what their responsibilities will be before and after placement. It is important to know "where you stand". Therefore, you need to weigh your decisions carefully. Counseling is a very important part of your decision making process, It helps you to search within your heart, to identify your needs and to make a decision that you can feel right about.
For more information we recommend you contact Friends in Adoption , an adoption attorney or licensed agency in your area.
Considering growing your family through open adoption?
If you are considering becoming an adoptive parent there are many choices to make before starting the process. A good starting point would be to read the following article by Rumbold & Seidelman, adoption attorneys.
Adoption Option:
Making the Choice between Domestic Agency and Private Placement Adoption
by Denise Seidelman
and Nina E. Rumbold
Making the Choice between Domestic Agency and Private Placement Adoption
by Denise Seidelman
and Nina E. Rumbold
After deciding to build your family through adoption, the next step a prospective adoptive parent confronts is deciding what “kind” of adoption to pursue. Choices abound: Domestic Adoption or International Adoption; Public Agency Adoption or Private Agency Adoption; Agency Adoption or Private Placement Adoption. There is no one “best” method of adoption but rather there are advantages and disadvantages to each method. As a prospective adoptive parent, your task is to select a method of adoption which is most suited to your financial circumstances, your emotional needs and your personality. This article will focus on making the choice between a Domestic adoption through a private agency or through private placement adoption. .
Initially, I want to stress that all adoptions involve the same basic components; for example: educating the adoptive parents regarding the adoption process, determining whether the prospective adoptive parents are qualified to adopt, identifying an adoptive child, obtaining medical and background information , etc.. None of these components should be shortchanged regardless of the kind of adoption you chose. The quality of the service provided to the adoptive parents and birth parents should not vary based on the method of adoption chosen but may be affected by the ethics and expertise of the professionals performing the service.
Fundamentally, the difference between an agency and private placement adoption is that in an agency adoption, the agency acts as an intermediary between the birth parents and the adoptive parents. In a private placement adoption, there is no intermediary between the birth parents and adoptive parents. For this reason private placement adoption is often referred to as direct adoption; the plan for the adoption is made directly between the birth and adoptive parents.
In an agency adoption, the agency has mandated policies and procedures governing the adoption process and the adoptive parents are required to comply with those pre-established agency requirements. While some agency policies are dictated by state regulations, there are many areas in which the agencies have discretion in their approach. Consequently, an agency’s adoption procedures may vary based on the staff’s determination as to best adoption practices. This is especially true as it relates to issues of the level and degree of communication with birth parents both before and after the adoptive placement.
In a private placement adoption, the adoptive parents undertake to perform many of the required functions themselves, with the assistance of their attorney and independent contractors (i.e. social workers, psychologists, and advertising consultants) retained to perform services as needed.
WHY SOME PEOPLE CHOOSE
PRIVATE PLACEMENT ADOPTION
* It tends to be less expensive (no agency fee is required)
- * The process of becoming qualified as an adoptive parent can be more quickly and easily accomplished
- * Adoptive placements tend to occur more quickly because the adoptive parents have more control over the process of seeking out and identifying a potential adoptive child
- * The adoptive parents, with the guidance of their attorney, have more control in directing the various aspects of the adoption process
- * The adoptive parents look forward to the opportunity to have direct communication with the potential birth parents in the hope that this positive relationship will extend past the adoptive placement.
WHY SOME PEOPLE PURSUE AN
AGENCY ADOPTION
- * Once the agency qualification requirements have been completed the adoptive parents look forward to being able to emotionally distance themselves from the process until the time a child is actually identified
- * The Adoptive Parents personal schedules do not afford them the opportunity to direct the adoptive process or receive calls from potential birth parents
- * The adoptive parents are uncomfortable speaking directly with potential birth parents either because they feel they wouldn’t know what to say or because the process of receiving the phone calls would be too emotionally draining
- * The adoptive parents feel that the agency’s expertise and its established policies and procedures will make the process more secure
- * The adoptive parents do not have the confidence that they will successfully identify a potential adoptive child themselves
The difficulty of choosing between methods of adoption varies greatly between people. For some, the inability to pay the agency fee alone may dictate their decision. Many others have an immediate, emotional reaction to each method and/or their personalities dictate the choice. For example, some adoptive parents choose to pursue private placement adoption because they have the time and emotional energy to devote to the process, they are comfortable or even relish the opportunity for direct communication with potential birth parents, they do not want to wait the delays inherent in the agency adoption process and they do not want agency adoption policies impacting on the manner in which the adoption is conducted. By contrast, some potential adoptive parents choose to pursue and agency adoption because by they time they reach the decision to adopt they have already walked a long and difficult path. These people are comforted by the knowledge that the professionals they have selected will take charge of the process for them and that the process will be conducted in an ethical and secure fashion which effectively addresses both their needs and the needs of the potential birth parents.
Of course, these are broad generalizations and there are exceptions to every generalization made. However, these broad considerations should be useful as a first step in your inquiry into these two methods of adoption. In conclusion, no one method of adoption is superior; it is merely a question of choosing the path to adoption best suited to your individual circumstances.
For further info we suggest vising the Rumbold & Seidelman website at AdoptionLawNY.com.
Practicing as Rumbold & Seidelman since 1996, Denise Seidelman and Nina E. Rumbold concentrate their practice almost exclusively in the areas of adoption and reproductive law. They are licensed to practice in both New York and New Jersey. Nina and Denise are experienced in all aspects of adoption law and have handled the full panoply of adoptions, including domestic private-placement adoptions, domestic agency adoptions (including adoptions of children in foster care), international agency adoption, and step-parent adoptions. They also focus their practice in the evolving field of reproductive law and have counseled Intended Parents, Egg, Sperm, Embryo Donors and Gestational Carriers in collaborative reproduction arrangements. They are both members of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. In addition to their law practice, Nina and Denise are trained mediators and serve as mediators in the fields of Child Permanency and Parent Child Mediation.
Nina was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1979 and Denise was admitted in 1980. Both Nina and Denise started their legal careers working as criminal defense attorneys for the New York City Legal Aid Society, where they each tried numerous criminal cases to verdict and Nina also handled criminal appeals. Nina has two sons, ages 21 and 18 and a daughter aged 16. Denise has two sons, aged 21 and 17 and a daughter aged 18.
Adoption in the News
About Us
PotentialParents.com
was
founded in the Spring of 2005 after the adoption of our beautiful and
amazing
daughter. A “waiting
family”
for
over two and a half years, we were
involved in networking efforts designed to locate a birth family in
every medium
you can imagine, be it print ads, agency group advertising projects,
the yellow
pages, and the Internet. After
navigating the various adoption sites on the Internet, it became
apparent that
there was a need for a site that provided quality
networking and web design services
for a
reasonable price.
After
all, more
and more connections leading to adoption plans are being made via the
Internet. PotentialParents.com strives to be that site. By firsthand experience, we understand that adoption networking can be very expensive. We’d rather you save the money for your future child and all those unexpected expenses than spend it on more advertising. That’s why we offer options like “list until you adopt” and web design packages at significantly lower prices than other sites.
PotentialParents.com’s marketing effort is designed to have our site appear as a “sponsored link” when relevant search terms are queried at Google and Yahoo search engines. That way prospective birth parents will be more likely to visit our site when performing a web search giving you more exposure.
We hope you’ll consider giving us a try as you continue on your adoption journey. If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail us. We wish you the best of luck and hope that you make that “special connection” soon.
Sincerely,
Cliff Schlosser Loretto
Founder, PotentialParents.com
SUCCESS!
Congratulations to the following families who have recently adopted:
Conio & Cliff from NY
Joe & Sherri Ann from NY
Rachael, Rossiya & Ella
from NY
Ross, J. & Connor from MD
Todd & David from TX
Barbara & Roy from CA
Received on 7.09.08 via email:
"We have adopted a beautiful, healthy baby boy."
Lauren & Caroline from NY
Received on 7.02.08 via email:
"We have adopted a beautiful girl, Abigail!"
Stephen, Carmela & Maribelle
from NY
Received on 7.02.08 via email:
"Hello Cliff!
We
have adopted a beautiful baby boy! Luke Nickolas was born on May 23rd
in New Jersey and we adopted him at birth. We are home now and
Maribelle is loving him to pieces - as are we! Thank you so
much for your service, it is wonderful! Please move us to the
successful adoptions side of the website!
Thanks,
Carmela,
Stephen and Maribelle from NY"
John & Noreen from NY
Elizabeth & Paul from CA
It's a boy! Baby Domenic born 4.15.08
An internet match
Tom & Carl from NY
It's a boy! Luke Thomas born 4.8.08
Jill & Marion from NY
Congratulations! An agency match.
Tim & Christine from CA
It's a girl! - a Coop Adopt match
March 2008
Tony & Cynthia from CA
Baby boy, Benjamin - Internet match
Karen & Barry from CA
Karen and Barry Williams - Baby boy, Hayden - Friends & Family match
Ken
& Nancy from NC
Baby boy, Hugh - CoopAdopt match
Baby boy, Hugh - CoopAdopt match
John, Karen & Gavin from CA
Congratulations to John Karen & Gavin.
They have adopted a baby boy.
Tim & Brett from CA
Congratulations to Tim & Brett
on the adoption of Baby Olivia!!
Andy & Saran from CA
via e-mail on 10/28/07:
"Just wanted to let you know that we have adopted! Our little fella Eoin is home to stay and we are very excited. Thanks for the wonderful service you guys have given us in the last year."
Peter, Traci & Brendan from NY
via e-mail...
"We are so excited to tell you that we
have been blessed with a beautiful, sweet baby girl who makes our family complete! :)
As with our son, Brendan, we got the call out of no where and arrived home later the same day with our little miracle.
Her name is Kyra Elizabeth.
Born 8/4/07; Home 8/6/07.
Big Brother is thrilled and so are we!"
Denise & Dave from CA
Congratulations!!!
Dave and Denise have adopted
a son, Zachary!!!!!
A PotentialParents.com match!
Tony & Cynthia from CA
Its
a boy!
Benjamin
George Norris Barlow.
Born
7/27/07
(Internet
match)
Bridget & Joshua from RI
have adopted!
Chris & Deb from NY have
adopted a baby girl.
John, Kathy & Aaron from NY have adopted.
Joanne, Jerry & Jacqueline from NY
via e-mail...
"I just wanted to share the
good news and tell you that you
can move us to the "Success Story"
section of your site. Our match
came from a newspaper ad, but
we enjoyed being part of the
Potential Parents "family" for
the months that we were listed on
your site.
We became parents to a beautiful baby
girl born on May 20, 2007. She is healthy
and perfect and we feel so blessed to have been chosen as her parents.
Thank you again for your help!"
Jerry & Rian from CA
via email...
"We just wanted to let you know that our daughter, Sophie, was born on
April 15th. She's absolutely beautiful and perfect in every way. We are so happy and can't thank you enough. It was your website that connected us with our birthmother."
A PotentialParents.com match!
Robert, Penny & Cody from NY
have adopted a baby boy born on 2-13-07
Robin & Greg from NJ
have adopted a baby boy born on 2-13-07
Carol & Chris have adopted.
Tom & Melissa from PA
have adopted a beautiful baby girl.
Geoffrey & Gary from NY
have adopted a boy, Anthony Joseph.
Beth & Lou from CA have adopted.
Trish, Gina & Avery from PA
are head over heels with the arrival of sweet, little Finn.
Michael, Dawn & Cody from PA
have a dopted a babya boy, Michael Garrett.
Angela & John from NC have adopted a son.
Sherri from NY has adopted a son, Zachary.
Deanna from IN has adopted a son, Tyler Richard.
Tim & Terry from WI have a dopted a baby boy, Joshua Dale.
Leila & Hank from NC have adopted a beautiful baby girl, Julia Anne.
Matt & Jason from CA have adopted.
Tod & Tom from MI have adopted.
How to Get Listed with Us
Getting
listed with PotentialParents.com is fast, easy and most of all
affordable.
If you are a prospective adoptive parent who is home-study approved and currently working with an adoption professional such as an adoption attorney or agency you are eligible to list on our site.
If you are a prospective adoptive parent who is home-study approved and currently working with an adoption professional such as an adoption attorney or agency you are eligible to list on our site.
To
learn more about the services we offer and to sign up, click here!