How COVID-19 has Impacted Adoption Communities in Kansas
COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus, is wreaking havoc on all human life. This virus may also be causing you, the birth mother, to rethink your plans to place your baby for adoption. But, despite the global pandemic we are facing, the process of adoption is still possible for you!
At Adoption Choices of Kansas, we are determined to help you with your choice of adoption as much as we can, and in the safest way possible. If you, the birth mother, are able to complete the process of putting your child up for adoption pre-pandemic, then your child should be able to spend time with their adoptive family sooner, rather than later. However, if you are a birth mother who is going through the steps during this time, there are still multiple ways in which you will be able to complete the process.
Today, we want to share with you how COVID-19 has impacted adoption communities in Kansas.
Hospital Experience will Change for Birth Mothers
With hospitals starting to become increasingly restrictive due to the rise of the coronavirus outbreak, birth mothers going through the adoption process still are able to deliver their baby safely. However, some things will look different. This will vary from hospital to hospital, so it’s important to call ahead and learn of any extra safety precautions your hospital is taking. Know that this may feel more stressful, but that the hospital staff is trying to ensure that both you and your baby remain safe throughout your stay. One of the biggest changes in your hospital experience regards visitors. Birth mothers will have to limit the amount of people who come and visit or stay with them to one person. This way, both you and your baby will be safer, as will the adoptive parent or birthing partner who is there with you.
In addition, the approved visitor will need to go through and pass the hospital’s required screening process to ensure everyone’s health and safety. Your child’s adoptive parents may or may not be allowed to experience the moment of birth or those thereafter with you as pre-pandemic. However, the hospital does have a process in place where your baby will be safely delivered to them at an appointed time.
The Adoption Process Changes for the Birth Mothers
During this pandemic, we are operating virtually. So, when you begin your adoption journey with us, your caseworker will get in contact with you via virtual resources such as FaceTime, ZOOM or Skype. All the necessary paperwork and adoptive parent profile books will be exchanged via email. This may not be the same as a face to face journey would be, but we will do our best to make it as authentic as possible — even from virtual means. When you have selected your child’s adoptive family, any and all contact will happen virtually as well through similar programs as aforementioned. Because our physical offices are closed, we are not able to facilitate in person meetings at this time. If you wish to meet your child’s adoptive parents in person, we strongly recommend you all closely follow CDC guidelines: wash your hands, wear a facemask and practice safe social distancing measures. We understand how important communication and establishing a strong, healthy relationship between you and the adoptive parents are through the adoption process. Yet, your health and safety — and that of the adoptive parents and our staff — is our top priority. We are closely adhering to the CDC guidelines until told differently. We are operating virtually. So, when you begin your adoption journey with us, your caseworker will be more than happy to help you complete the process.
Adoption Is Still Possible Right Now
Even though we are going through a global pandemic right now, adoption is still an option for you! If you are a birth mother wanting to place her baby for adoption during this challenging time — you still can. Adoption Choices of Kansas can be reached via our website where we are very much open and available to support you anyway we can. You can also call or text us:
Call Us 877-903-4488 or Text Us 316-209-2071
Due to COVID, there are some aspects of the adoption process that may or may not be delayed. Because everything is happening virtually now, it may take a bit longer for communications to happen between either your caseworker or the adoptive parents. Our staff is working diligently to provide the best and most efficient service possible, but we do ask that you remain as patient as you can. We are still here for you, and we value your choice in working with us. We will keep you as updated as possible every step of the way.
How COVID-19 has Impacted Adoption Communities in Kansas
Despite the uncertainty and unpredictability of the pandemic, the adoption community is still going strong. Our agency is open and fully-functioning, and we have no intention of closing down completely. So, placing your baby for adoption is still, and always will be, an option.
With stay-at-home orders in effect, this allows you more time to get to know your child’s adoptive parents virtually (should you choose an open adoption). This, in turn, will provide you with the opportunity to establish a strong and healthy relationship with them — just as you would face to face. We are all adapting to our sense of normal, but that will never eliminate the option to place your child in a loving and safe home.
Adoption Choices of Kansas serves birth parents statewide and beyond, please call us or text us to learn more!
Call Us 877-903-4488 or Text Us 316-209-2071
Meet the Author: Andrew William Orihuela is a bilingual graduating senior from Hofstra University who loves writing and helping others. He can be found working in the kitchen as well. Helping others and journalism have always been strong passions of his since he was young. As a hard-working college student, Andrew has spent his last four years writing and gaining experience within the journalism field, producing works for both print and broadcast journalism. He gained recognition for his latest works becoming a member of the Lambda Pi Eta Communications National Honor Society in 2018. He also gained experience in writing for broadcast television and radio from creating news and sports story packages.
From working in sports and news radio, he helped his award-winning college radio station, WRHU Radio Hofstra University, to become a three-time National Association of Broadcasters Marconi award-winning station within the United States in 2019, which is given to the best college station in the country.
When he is not writing stories, Andrew enjoys cooking, helping around the house, going for walks, working out, watching sports on television and relaxing with his family and pets. He lives in New Jersey with his Mom and his extended family.
