Quick Answers

Does adoption cost me, the expectant mother, anything?

No. Adoption services, counseling, legal services, and medical services are provided or arranged by Small World at no charge to you. We will complete all the necessary legal aspects to complete the adoption. You will not need to pay an attorney or anyone else.

  • Living expenses – We may be able to help birth mothers with necessary living expenses if the unplanned pregnancy disrupts usual income such as from employment or support from parents. Living expenses may include rent, groceries, and maternity clothes.
  • Medical Expenses – Most women are eligible for Medicaid or are covered by private medical insurance. We can assist in the application process or in determining eligibility. If a birth mother isn’t covered by Medicaid or private medical insurance, we may be able to help with medical expenses.
  • Attorney and Agency Fees – There’s nothing to worry about. We’ll handle every detail of your release and that of the birth father. There’s no need to work with a separate attorney and there are no costs to birth parents.

Will there be any financial assistance for me?

Depending on the state in which you reside, financial assistance may be legally available to you. Only a few states do not allow financial assistance. Typically, Small World is able to assist you with reasonable living expenses during your third trimester and one month following the birth of your baby. That is a total of 4 months worth of financial assistance. These funds come from the prospective adoptive couple and are a genuine desire to help you as the biological mother of the child they hope to adopt.


Can I choose the family to adopt my baby?

Yes. If you wish to choose the family to adopt your baby, you may choose and meet the family by looking thorough our profiles of families that have been approved and are waiting. The choice is yours.


Will I have contact with my baby in the future?

There are several different options for you concerning contact with the adoptive family. These range from no contact, letters and pictures delivered to you annually, and in some situations you and the adoptive family may choose to have a more open arrangement. Your Small World caseworker will help you decide what type of adoption will be most appropriate for you, the adoptive parents, and your baby.


Who makes the decisions regarding my adoption plan?

You do! We will provide you with profiles of approved adoptive families from which you can choose the parents you wish to adopt your baby. You will have the option of meeting the adoptive parents, spending time with them and having them at the hospital. The amount of contact is up to you.


Will I receive support before, during, and after placement?

Yes!  Our support staff will walk with you all along the way and help you make the best decision for your and your baby.


What about the father of my baby?

The birth father’s rights are different from your rights as the custodial parent at the time of birth. If the birth father is unknown or does not wish to pursue a plan of adoption, Small World’s legal experts will assist you in an appropriate way of addressing the rights of the biological father.


Can I choose the hospital?

Yes! You and your caseworker will sit down and make a plan of where you will deliver and how you would like your hospital stay to go. You can specify who will be with you during labor, whether or not you would like to spend time with your baby, and if you would like the adoptive parents to be present at the hospital.


When is the adoption final?

Two to four weeks after the baby is born you’ll attend a hearing in which you’ll release your parental rights so that the baby will be permanently adopted by the family you have chosen.