Adoption in Bakersfield, California

Bakersfield Adoption, Home Studies and More

Adoption Services for
Birth Parents and Adoptive Families

Please choose where you’d like to begin:

Information about placing
a child for adoption
or
Information about adopting a child

If you are interested in adoption in Bakersfield, Lifetime Adoption Agency is here to help. Our adoption coordinators work with birth parents who would like to place a child for adoption by providing support and resources needed, and we work with adoptive families to help their adoption dreams come true.

As a nationwide leader in modern, domestic adoption, Lifetime Adoption has experienced adoption coordinators available 24/7 and over three decades of experience connecting birth and adoptive families. Lifetime is the choice for both birth mothers and adoptive families. Lifetime can meet all of your needs with resources such as counseling, adoption articles, webinars, podcasts, referrals, and one-on-one support.

Help for Pregnant Women in Bakersfield

An unexpected pregnancy can be confusing and sometimes scary. Emma* called one of our adoption coordinators very panicked. She was living in Bakersfield and had just found out she was pregnant. She had told her boyfriend, and he was very angry. After a long discussion, Emma was certain she wanted to place her baby for adoption, and our coordinator was able to put her in touch with a domestic violence safe home where she was safe throughout her pregnancy and able to make a plan for the future.

Adoption can be a positive choice if you feel you are not ready to be a parent. You and your baby can both have a positive future. We have couples who are eager to grow their families through adoption.

Just give us a call or text 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to learn more about what modern, open adoption looks like today. At Lifetime Adoption, coordinators are available to give you the information and support you need. You will always find a very caring adoption coordinator on the other end.

It is important to be ready emotionally and financially for a baby, and the adoptive parents at Lifetime are prepared. They have completed a home study that includes background checks, financial checks, and home visits and are excited to provide a loving, stable home for your child. An adoption coordinator at Lifetime Adoption will help you find a family that has the values and lifestyle you are hoping for your baby. You will view adoptive family profiles and choose who you feel should adopt your baby. It is important to choose a family that is on the same page as you regarding after adoption contact. You will also decide how things will happen at the hospital.

Another issue you may be dealing with is the unexpected expenses that come up during pregnancy. In California, pregnant women, who choose adoption, can receive help with medical costs, maternity clothing, food, rent, transportation to doctor’s appointments, and other pregnancy-related expenses. Your Lifetime Adoption coordinator will help you connect with these resources.

Parenting an infant, toddler, or young child if you are having financial, emotional, domestic violence, or addiction issues can create a situation that is not good for you or your child. Adoption may be a positive option for you and your child. Lifetime Adoption has families that are eager to adopt an older child, toddler, sibling set, or child with special needs. There are loving adoptive parents for every child.

Placing a child for adoption is not a decision that is made lightly. Making that call to a Bakersfield adoption agency may not be easy, but you will find a coordinator that will listen and talk with you about your situation. If you need, she will even put you in touch with a counselor at no cost to you.

Give a call or text to Lifetime Adoption anytime.

*Names are changed for privacy

Adoption Agencies in Bakersfield, CA

You can be sure that when you contact Lifetime Adoption, a coordinator will explain the whole adoption process. At Lifetime, there are parents nationwide who are hoping to adopt.

At Lifetime Adoption, your coordinator will make sure you have:

Assistance with pregnancy-related expenses
Peer and Professional Counseling at no cost to you
24-hour help and support available, seven days a week
Free maternity clothes, toiletries, and labor bag if you need them.
Adoptive parent profiles from families across the nation. These families have all completed their home studies which include background checks.
Additional support for you after the adoption
And much more!

Adoption Counseling in Bakersfield

Referrals to professional and peer counseling are important when considering adoption and Lifetime Adoption has counselors available at no cost to you. Professional counselors are available to help you go through the decision-making process to deal with the emotions that come up during the adoption process.

Peer counseling is also available. Another birth mother, who has been through her own adoption journey, sharing her experience and how she dealt with certain situations can greatly benefit you. Maybe you are unsure how to tell the baby’s father or perhaps your family about your pregnancy and adoption plans. A peer counselor can provide some great tips and advice.

Maternity Hospitals in Bakersfield

Your adoption coordinator will help you create a hospital plan. This is another piece of your adoption plan. You may want to consider questions such as:

Would you like time alone to hold your baby first?
Would you prefer not to hold your baby?
Would you like the adoptive parents to hold the baby first?
Who would you like to be in the room with you during delivery?
Who to cut the umbilical cord, the birth father, doctor, or one of the adoptive parents?
Would you prefer to leave the hospital before your baby does or after?

Your adoption coordinator will go over all of these questions and more to make sure your stay in the hospital goes the way you would like it to. Your Lifetime Adoption coordinator will also make sure that the hospital staff, along with the adoptive parents, are aware of the plan.

In the Bakersfield area, the hospitals with labor and delivery services are:

Adventist Health Bakersfield
Bakersfield Birth Center
Bakersfield Memorial Hospital
Kern Medical
Mercy Hospital Southwest – Bakersfield

Life doesn’t always go as expected, and sometimes labor surprises us. Our Lifetime Adoption coordinators are here 24/7 for you no matter what happens. They have handled birth mothers giving birth at home to birth mothers who have gone into labor while traveling.

How to Start the Adoption Process

While choosing adoption is not easy, getting the process started is. Just fill out the contact form or call or text Lifetime Adoption. An adoption coordinator will answer all your questions and explain the adoption process. She will get to know what you may need and make sure you have all of the resources and services to help you through your pregnancy.

One of the first things you will do is view adoptive family’s online profiles. Your coordinator can also send you profiles of adoptive parents that she believes would be a good match for you and your baby. You can read personal letters and even view video messages. This will give you a good idea of what the adoptive family is like and what their values are.

Just click here to view adoptive family profiles online. When you choose a family, you may prefer one that lives in California or maybe a family that lives in a different state. It is up to you to decide what kind of family you want and what kind of lifestyle you would like your baby raised in. Once a family is chosen, your Lifetime coordinator will help you talk, text, or video chat with them to see if it is a good fit. Your coordinator will work closely with all of you.

Just give us a call or text today!

Get In Touch

Other Adoption Options in Bakersfield

If you know that parenting is not right for you and your child at this time, but you don’t believe adoption is right for you, foster care may be another option for you. Sometimes this choice is made for you if your baby is born with exposure to substances. Kern County Department of Human Services may decide to place your baby in the foster care program. Unfortunately, in a foster care situation, you will not be the one to choose who your child is placed with or what kind of contact you can have in the future. Before CPS places your child or even after, you can still take back some control by choosing adoption. Just contact Lifetime Adoption and explain your situation and the fact that you want to choose adoption for your baby. Your adoption coordinator will work with the social worker, and then you get to choose the adoptive parents and create a Post-Adoption Contact Agreement.

One other option is relative or kinship adoption. In this case, a family member, who is generally blood-related, can adopt your child. Be aware of some issues that may arise with kinship adoption. This can be a great solution under the right circumstances, but everyone needs to understand that adoption is permanent. Your relative will be financially and emotionally responsible for this child to adulthood.

Talk to a Lifetime Adoption coordinator to make sure you understand all of your options and the pros and cons of each type of adoption.

Adopting in Bakersfield

Can you imagine yourself bringing your child to the California Living Museum and looking at the bears or going to the petting zoo? Is adoption an option you are considering to grow your family? Lifetime Adoption is here to help. Our very caring and experienced coordinators are available to explain the adoption process and help make your adoption dreams come true. All of your questions will be answered, and you will be provided with all the information you need. Learn all about modern open domestic adoption here.

You can fill out a free online adoption application if you are in Bakersfield and are considering adopting a newborn or a child up to the age of six. You can also call us at 727-493-0933. The Lifetime Adoption coordinators are available to provide all the resources, referrals, education, and support you need for a successful adoption journey.

Begin the Adoption Process

The adoption process can seem complicated, don’t worry. Your Lifetime Adoption coordinator will there help you through the entire process. Getting started is easy. Just fill out our online application. To apply is free, and applying does not obligate you in any way.

You will be contacted by a Lifetime Adoption coordinator who will go over the whole adoption process once you are pre-approved. She will answer all of your questions and make sure you have all the support and tools you need to navigate your adoption journey.

Adoption Attorneys in Bakersfield

One important aspect of your adoption process is hiring an adoption attorney. In California, as in other states, adoption laws can be complex. Your adoption attorney will make sure all the documentation is filed correctly, and the hearing is scheduled for your finalization of the adoption.

Home Study Services in Bakersfield

Whether you decide to pursue foster adoption, domestic or international, a home study will be required. Your Lifetime Adoption coordinator will be able to put you in touch with a Home Study Services provider in Bakersfield.

What can you expect from the home study process in Bakersfield? The process will include:

Verification of marital status whether, single, married, or divorced
Financial and Employment Statements such as tax returns paystubs, profit, and loss statements if self-employed.
Medical Statements from your doctors that verify your mental and physical well-being and attest to the fact that every adult living in the home is free from tuberculosis
Three written references attesting you are suitable to adopt a child

A home study provider will gather all your information and will set up a time for a home visit. The home visit is meant to ensure you have a safe and adequate home to bring a child home to. The home study provider will ask about your views on parenting, family, and marriage. The provider will interview everyone who lives in the home and will then compile all of this information into a report.

Finalization of Adoption at Court in Bakersfield

The finalization of adoption is a very exciting day. This final step will happen at a hearing in court. In general, in California, the finalization happens no less than six months from when you take the baby into your care. There will be one interview with your home study social worker in your home and then an additional three visits within a six-month period. These can be either in your home or at another location.

Next, you will attend a hearing, which in the Bakersfield area will be at the Kern County Superior Court. At this hearing, a judge will review all documents, including your home study. Then a Final Decree of Adoption will be issued. Big happy tears here, so be ready to take some great pictures for your family album. Your adoption will now be final.

Other Paths to Adoption

Bakersfield International Adoption Agencies

Lifetime specializes in modern, open, domestic adoption, but there are more ways to adopt. International adoption is another option.

There are significant differences between domestic adoption and international adoption. Some of the differences involve timing and cost. There are also other differences. When considering international adoption, there are many things to consider, such as the country’s laws and requirements, the country’s politics, and other factors.

It will be important to work with an international adoption agency that specializes in adoption in the country you are considering and can provide a record of successful adoptions in that country. Eastern Europe and the nations of Africa and China are some of the more popular countries to adopt from. Here are some agencies that specialize in international adoption:

Adopt International

Holt International

Foster Care Adoption

Foster care adoption is another way to adopt in Bakersfield. First, you apply to become a resource family with the Kern County Adoption Agency. Once approved, you will go through their assessment.

You can also view children from across the nation in the foster care system that are hoping to be adopted through AdoptUSKids.