Adoption Planning
Compassionate support to guide you through life’s changes.
Adoption Planning
Making an Adoption Plan
If you are pregnant or parenting and considering adoption, you are not alone. Catholic Charities North Dakota provides compassionate, confidential support to help you explore your options and make the decision that feels right for you and your child. Creating an adoption plan allows you to choose the family who will raise your child and decide what level of contact you would like to have moving forward.
Our social workers are here to walk with you through every step of the process. You can view profiles of waiting families, talk through your hopes and concerns, and receive counseling and support at no cost to you. Whether you are early in your pregnancy or have already given birth, we are here to help you make a thoughtful and supported adoption plan for your child.
Adoption Planning
You Are in Control
Creating an adoption plan means making choices that are right for you. We provide a safe, non-judgmental space where you can explore your options, ask questions, and move forward at your own pace.
You decide:
- If adoption is the right plan for you
- The type of family you want for your child
- The level of openness and connection you want moving forward
- What your adoption plan looks like from start to finish
Adoption Planning in North Dakota
How We Support You
When you work with Catholic Charities North Dakota, you are not alone. Our team provides:
- One-on-one counseling in a safe and supportive environment
- Help exploring all of your options, including parenting and adoption
- Assistance creating a personalized adoption plan
- Access to profiles of waiting adoptive families
- Support in choosing the right family for your child
- Coordination with medical providers, attorneys, and adoptive families
- Ongoing emotional support before and after placement
- Open to all faiths
We are here to listen, answer your questions, and support your decisions without pressure or judgment.
Adoption Planning
Choosing an Adoptive Family
If you decide to make an adoption plan, you have the opportunity to choose the family who will raise your child. You can review family profiles, meet prospective adoptive parents if you choose, and determine the level of communication you would like moving forward.
Your comfort and preferences guide every step of this process.
Waiting Families
Meet the Waiting Families
how the process works
Steps in Making an Adoption Plan
We are here to guide you through each step of the process:
Meet
Meet with a social worker. Schedule a time to meet in your area. If transportation is a concern, we can come to you.
Learn
Learn about adoption. Your social worker will provide education and answer any questions you may have.
Share
Share your preferences. Tell us what you are looking for in an adoptive family and the level of openness you want.
Choose
Choose an adoptive family. Review and select from our Home Study Approved Waiting Families.
Meet
Meet the family. A match meeting is typically arranged so you can get to know the family you selected.
Paperwork
Complete initial paperwork. Begin the legal steps required for adoption.
Delivery
Hospital and delivery. After your baby is born, if you choose to move forward, documents are signed allowing your baby to be discharged with the adoptive family.
Finalize
Finalize your decision. Attend a court hearing to legally transfer parental rights.
Support
Ongoing support. Continue working with your social worker for grief and loss counseling and emotional support.
Adoption Openness
Adoption today can include ongoing connection between you, your child, and the adoptive family. This can look different for everyone and may include letters, photos, or visits.
We will help you explore what level of openness feels right for you and support you in building a plan that reflects your comfort and wishes. Levels of openness may include:
Semi-Closed Adoption The birth family and adoptive family do not have ongoing communication, though the birth parents often select the adoptive family and limited information may be shared.
Semi-Open Adoption Some identifying information may be shared, and updates about the child are often exchanged through the adoption agency.
Open Adoption Birth parents and adoptive parents may communicate directly and share updates, photos, and sometimes in-person visits as the child grows.
Our team works with families to determine the level of openness that feels right for them while focusing on the best interests of the child.
Adoption Services FAQS
FAQs About Our Adoption Services
Choosing adoption comes with important questions, and you deserve thoughtful, honest answers. Below you’ll find common questions about our adoption services, including how we support families, what to expect throughout the process, and the resources available before and after placement. Our goal is to help you feel informed, supported, and confident as you explore whether adoption is the right path for you and your family.
What can you help me with?
The help that we will provide you will be specific to meeting your needs. We respect you and know that every person’s story is unique. We often help moms by providing education about pregnancy and child development. We connect moms with resources to make sure that they have nutritious food, stable housing, and are receiving medical care. We offer education on the options of parenting and adoption, and provide support and encouragement while YOU make decisions that are best for you and your baby. We support moms through labor and delivery and for as long as needed after your baby is born. If you choose to make an adoption plan for your baby, we will help connect you with a loving, home study approved family. What we don’t do is pressure or judge you. We are here to help in what is often a stressful time in a woman’s life.
If I choose to make an adoption plan, can I ever see my child again?
Yes, what you are referring to is called “openness.” There are many levels of openness that you can choose from when making an adoption plan for your baby. They range from receiving pictures and letters on a regular basis throughout your child’s life to having visits and direct communication with the family that you choose to raise your child. The birth parent(s) are the ones who choose the family and choose what level of openness they would like in their adoption.
What rights does the baby’s father have? What if I don’t know who the father is?
Under North Dakota law, the alleged father(s) of a baby have to be given notice of an adoption plan. Our staff attempts to contact and meet with the alleged father(s) regarding your desire to make an adoption plan. If you do not know who the father of the baby is or how to locate him, there are other legal options that we can assist you with.
I am Native American. Does that change the adoption process?
Keeping children connected with their Native American culture is very important and plays an important role in the adoption process. A federal law, referred to as ICWA (the Indian Child Welfare Act), requires Native Americans wishing to make an adoption plan for their child to notify their tribe and to give preference to family members, tribal members, and other Native American families when selecting a family to adopt the baby.
I’m under the age of 18. Can you still help me? Do I have to tell my parents that I am pregnant? Can my parents force me to make an adoption plan? Can my parents prevent me from making an adoption plan?
We are able to work with anyone who is pregnant even if they are under the age of 18. If you are a minor, we will work with you regarding the best ways to talk to your parents. As the expectant mother of your child, you will make all decisions regarding making an adoption plan or choosing to parent.
When do I have to make a decision?
There is no specific timeline for when your final decision regarding parenting or adoption needs to be made. It is important for you to contact us as soon as possible so we can help you make an informed decision, but that being said, sometimes we are called after the baby is born and that is just fine too.
Where is your office? What if I don’t have transportation?
Catholic Charities North Dakota has offices in Bismarck, Minot, Fargo, and Grand Forks. As getting to one of these offices isn’t always possible, just give us a call and we can figure out a location to meet that is more convenient for you.
What if I change my mind?
The decision to make an adoption plan in not final until a court hearing to terminate your parental rights has occurred. This is a special court hearing held a few days to a few weeks after the baby is born.
Do I have to be Catholic to receive help at Catholic Charities North Dakota?
No, Catholic Charites North Dakota serves people of all faiths.
Will you pressure me to give up my baby?
No. We will help you in the decision making process by asking questions, providing the information you need to make an informed decision, and by allowing you the time needed to determine what is best for you and your baby. We will not pressure you or try to persuade you. About half of the women we work with choose to parent and about half choose to make an adoption plan.
What does it cost to receive pregnancy services from the Pregnancy, Parenting, and Adoption Services program?
There are no fees for birth parents working with the pregnancy, parenting, or adoption services program at Catholic Charities North Dakota.
What if I choose to parent? Can you still help me?
Yes, we will help you get ready for baby! We can pass along donated baby supplies and provide parenting education to help you be the best parent possible. We are here to walk this journey with you, and we will offer support throughout your pregnancy, during labor and delivery, and even after your baby is born.
Can I choose who will adopt my baby?
Helping Families, making change
Start the Conversation
You do not have to have everything figured out to reach out. Whether you are looking for information or ready to begin an adoption plan, we are here to help. Contact Catholic Charities North Dakota today to speak with a caring professional and learn more about your options.