placing your older child
For Adoption
If you have a child between the ages of 6 months and 5 years old, it's not too late to make an adoption plan for them! We have helped hundreds of mothers safely and legally place their older children with loving adoptive families.
Why choose adoption for your older child?
As your child's mother, you are responsible for your child and their safety, health, and well-being. Parenting is hard for anyone, regardless of their situation. If you feel you are not in a good position to raise a child, choosing adoption is a mature, responsible, and selfless decision. Adoption can be a way for you to take control of your situation and give yourself and your child a better life.
There are many reasons why a mother might consider placing her older child for adoption. Maybe you're facing extreme challenges in your life. Maybe you don't have the financial resources to raise a child. Maybe your living situation is not safe or stable enough for a child. Maybe you have friends or family who promised they'd help you raise your child, but they are not following through. Whatever your personal reasons may be, it takes a strong and loving mother to make this incredibly selfless choice for her child.
Sibling Adoption
If you have multiple children and are considering placing a sibling group, no matter how old they are, we can talk you through your options. Furthermore, rest assured that your children will be placed with a family together. An ethical adoption professional would never wish to split up siblings. We work with many adoptive families who would be overjoyed to welcome siblings into their home.
How To Put An Older Child Up For Adoption | Adopting an Older Child
Step 1: Contact an older child adoption professional.
The best way to start the adoption process is to contact an adoption professional who can help you. The coordinators at Angel Adoption are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer your questions, help you find a family, and guide you through the process. Even if you’re not sure about your decision, our coordinators will be happy to explore your options with you and help you make the best decision for you and your child.
Step 2: Choose an adoptive family - families looking to adopt an older child
We’ll ask you some questions in order to present you with a selection of families whose adoption preferences align with yours. You will have plenty of wonderful families to choose from — we have so many hopeful adoptive parents who would be thrilled to welcome an older child into their hearts and homes.
Each family we present you with will have a completed home study, which means they are legally approved to adopt a child. The process includes an FBI background check and an in-depth analysis of the family and all aspects of their life. Furthermore, a family must be specially approved by their home study social worker to adopt an older child. You can be sure that whatever family you choose is completely prepared to adopt and that their home is a safe and stable environment for your child to grow and thrive.
Step 3: Choose your post-placement communication level.
The amount of communication you’d like to have with your child and the adoptive family after the adoption is entirely up to you. You can have a closed adoption with no contact, a semi-open adoption with limited contact, or a fully open plan with regular communication and in-person visits. We will only present you with families who are open to the level of communication you want. Remember, you can always change your mind about this at any point in the process.
Step 4: Connect with a local older child adoption professional.
When you are ready to move forward with the adoptive family you’ve chosen, we will connect you with one of our trusted adoption professionals who lives near you, usually an adoption attorney or social worker. This person will meet with you in person to go over the specific laws in your state, help you with any paperwork that’s needed, and answer any questions you have. Don’t worry, there is no cost to you; the adoptive family will pay all fees associated with this process. This person is your advocate and is hired for you, so never hesitate to lean on them whenever you need to.
If you’d like to meet the adoptive family before placement, your adoption professional will arrange a time for you to meet them in person. This will give you the opportunity to see how the family interacts with your child and give you a better sense of who they are. The family will always travel to you and work around your schedule for this meeting.
Step 5: Place your child with the family.
When you’re ready to place your child with the family, your adoption professional will work with you to put together a plan for your child that will allow them to safely and comfortably transition into the care of the adoptive family. You will be involved in this process every step of the way. After placement, you can communicate with the adoptive family and your child as often as you and the family are comfortable with.
Step 6: Receive post-placement adoption financial assistance.
As a birthmother, you might be eligible for a certain amount of financial assistance from the adoptive family to get you back on your feet after placement. Depending on the laws in your state, you could get help with bills, groceries, counseling, and more. Your adoption professional will work with you to put together a financial assistance plan that will allow you to move forward in the best way possible after placement.
Older Child Adoption Transition Plan
When you're ready to move forward with placing your child, your local adoption professional will work with you to create a transition plan for your child. The details of the plan depend on how old your child is, what the adoption professional feels is appropriate, and other factors. The older your child is, the more in-depth the transition plan will be.
The transition plan usually starts with a meeting with you, your child, and the adoptive family. It may also involve a meeting with just your child and the adoptive family, and/or some overnight visits. Once everyone involved is comfortable with moving forward, you will officially place your child with the family. Your child will go directly from your care to the adoptive family's; there is no need for foster care.
In many cases, your child is required to have counseling during and after the transition to ensure they are handling the process in a healthy way. As your child's mother, you are eligible for counseling as well. All counseling is paid for by the adoptive family.
Keep in mind, you have the right to change your mind at any point during this process. Nothing is final until you sign the official placement paperwork.
Frequently Asked Questions about Putting Your Older Child for Adoption
Why choose Angel Adoption?
At Angel Adoption, we believe that birthmothers are angels who bring miracles into the lives of others. That's why we named our company after them. With more than 25 years of experience, our team would be honored to guide you through your adoption journey. Over the years, we have helped hundreds of women across the United States place their older children with loving and deserving families.
As a prospective birthmother working with Angel, we offer you:
- a safe and supportive space to explore adoption — no judgment, no pressure, and no rush.
- our team of adoption coordinators available for you 24/7 to help with whatever you need.
- the ability to browse through hundreds of adoptive family profiles to find the best fit for your child.
- access to trusted adoption professionals in your area who will personally walk you through the adoption process.
- a completely safe, ethical, and legal adoption experience.