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Adoption Jacksonville FL

Jacksonville Adoption, Home Studies and More

If you are interested in adoption and live in Jacksonville, Lifetime Adoption is here to help. We work with birth parents to make sure all their needs are met and enjoy watching adoptive parents’ dreams of expanding their family come true. You will always find a caring adoption coordinator available to answer your questions and explain the adoption process.

Help for Pregnant Women in Jacksonville

“Jax. It’s Easier Here!” may be the slogan for Jacksonville, but that’s not how life feels all the time. If you are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, things may not seem easy.

Lifetime Adoption is the Jacksonville adoption agency to call or text 1-800-923-6784 if you are considering adoption. Figuring out how to deal with an unplanned pregnancy can be tough. Looking into all of your options will give you some control over the situation. Many women in Jacksonville have turned to Lifetime to find out more about the adoption process.

Sometimes a woman is not emotionally or financially ready to parent a child. You want what is best for your child, and sometimes that means making the tough decision to find adoptive parents who are ready and eager to bring a child into their family. You may be surprised by the option of open adoption and all the choices you make when you choose this option. You pick the adoptive family you believe is the right fit for you and your baby. You get to decide if you want contact after the adoption is final and you decide what kind of contact you want. You even decide what your hospital stay will look like when it is time to deliver your baby.

When money is already tight, funds for pregnancy expenses can be hard to come up with. If you have decided to place your baby for adoption, talk with your adoption coordinator, who can arrange help with food, rent, transportation to medical appointments, clothes, phone, and more. You should not have to struggle with these extra costs. Your coordinator can help!

Are you finding yourself struggling to parent a toddler, siblings, or a special needs child in the Jacksonville area? Consider Jacksonville open adoption. At Lifetime Adoption, we have placed many older children and special needs children in loving homes. We also have many parents excited to adopt siblings. When you choose open adoption, you can choose parents who are open to contact with your child or children after the adoption is final. A professional counselor will be involved to help create an adoption plan that is best for everyone, especially the child or children.

Don’t be afraid to make that call to an adoption coordinator who can explain all of your options. This can feel like a difficult and emotional time. Our adoption coordinators are caring and non-judgmental. They will be there for you every step of the way. Call or text about our Florida adoption services in Jacksonville 1-800-923-6784.

Adoption Agencies in Jacksonville

If you are considering placing your child for adoption, different questions and concerns may pop into your head at any time of the day. At Lifetime Adoption Agency, we are here to answer your question twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. All you need to do is call or text.

At Lifetime Adoption, you can count on:

A variety of adoptive parents to choose from, who have all completed their home study and had background checks done.
24-hour access to support and help
Continued support and counseling if wanted after delivery
Peer and Professional Counseling available
Pregnancy-related expenses assistance
Maternity clothes, toiletries, and other items you may be in need of during your pregnancy
And much more!

Adoption Counseling in Jacksonville

Choosing adoption for your baby is a brave, difficult, emotional decision and one that needs to be thought through completely. Friends and family often have their own strong opinions about what to do about an unplanned pregnancy. It is often helpful to speak with someone who is not involved and who will listen to you without their own emotions and opinions being involved. Through Lifetime Adoption in Jacksonville, peer and professional counselors are available to you. Your adoption coordinator is happy to set some sessions up for you.

Among Lifetime birth mothers, peer counseling is very popular. It’s likely you do not know anyone else who has placed their child for adoption, and connecting with someone who has placed a baby for adoption can be very helpful. Questions such as how she told her mom or the birth father and how she picked a family for her baby are great topics to discuss. You may want to hear what her adoption experience was like. Her story may be different from yours, but she will understand how you feel and what your concerns are. Lifetime Adoption peer counselors are more than happy to share their adoption journeys with you.

Maternity Hospitals in Jacksonville

One of our birth mothers, who attended the University of North Florida, was very nervous and anxious when it was getting close to her delivery date. Her adoption coordinator helped her create a hospital plan that helped her feel more in control. Once she knew that everyone understood her wants and needs for that day, she felt more at ease. Your adoption coordinator will also help you come up with the plan that is unique to you. They will ask you questions about things that you may not even have thought of, such as:

When you give birth, would you like friends, family, birth father, or adoptive parents in the room?
Would you like the adoptive parents to be at the hospital from when you are admitted and to stay?
Would you like to hold your baby or feed your baby?
If you would like to hold your baby, would you like to be alone, or would you like anyone in the room with you?
When you leave the hospital, would you like to go before or after the adoptive family leaves with the baby?

Your adoption coordinator will take all your answers to these questions to create a plan for you. She will share your plan with the hospital and the adoptive parents so everyone is on the same page.

In Jacksonville, the hospitals with labor and delivery services are:

Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside
Mayo Clinic Hospital
Naval Hospital Jacksonville
Onslow Memorial
Jacksonville Memorial Hospital
SRB OBGYN
St. Vincent’s Medical Center Southside

Whether you give birth in a hospital in Jacksonville, at home, or even a hospital out of the area, our coordinators will be there for you. They have dealt with all kinds of different situations and are prepared to be there for you.

More Helpful Resources for Pregnant Women in Jacksonville

If you are experiencing an unexpected pregnancy and have some additional issues you are struggling with in your life, Lifetime Adoption can help. Our coordinators can provide resources and help you find the information and support you need to make the right decision regarding your pregnancy. Sometimes, life can be very overwhelming, and you should make an adoption decision from a place of stability, not one of crisis.

If you are in the Jacksonville area and are living in a domestic violence situation or are homeless, it should be a priority to find safe housing. Here are some local resources for women’s shelters in Jacksonville and the surrounding area:

Trinity Rescue Mission

Hubbard House

Sultzbacher Housing

City Rescue Mission

You may be eligible for the WIC program if you are struggling with hunger and are a pregnant woman or mother of young children. WIC stands for Women, Infants, and Children, and the program provides an EBT card to purchase healthy food such as milk, vegetables, cheese, whole grains, eggs, and fruit. They also offer other referrals to local services. Learn more by visiting their website:

WIC – in Duval County, FL

It is vital to get into a treatment program if you are struggling with addiction. It can be dangerous to stop using drugs suddenly when you are pregnant. There are options if you are addicted to opiates or prescription drugs. A Lifetime coordinator can help you find a treatment center that offers counseling and medications (like methadone and suboxone) that can help you wean off the drugs slowly. Here are a few resources in Miami-Dade County:

New Seasons Treatment Center

Stepping Stone Center for Recovery

Parkside Treatment Center

Lifetime Adoption counselors can provide confidential help for whatever issue you may have. If there are other resources you are in need of, such as help with rent, prenatal care, maternity clothes, transportation, pregnancy verification, and more, call or text today.

The Jacksonville Adoption Process

What do you need to do to start the adoption process? All you need to do is call or text an adoption coordinator at Lifetime Adoption or just go online to fill out the contact form. She will get a hold of you, explain the steps, and answer your questions about child adoption in Jacksonville, FL. You will find her to be a caring, non-judgmental source of information and help.

One of the first things you will do is review profiles of our hopeful adoptive families. You can and learn about their lives and their hopes and dreams of growing their families. You can view the personal letters they have written, and many have provided video messages so you can really get to know them. Click here to view adoptive family profiles online. You will find the family that is perfect for you and your baby.

We help adoptive families from across the nation, so you can choose a family from Florida or from any other state. Your coordinator will also give you some of her recommendations for adoptive parents she thinks would suit both you and your baby.

Your adoption coordinator will also help you connect with any resources you need in the Jacksonville area through programs, such as the Florida Department of Health, Duval County Women’s Health services that ensure you access to prenatal care and other help. You may need a Jacksonville doctor for your prenatal care and perhaps a way to get there. Your coordinator will make it happen.

Would you like to get started? Give us a call or text today.

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Other Paths to Adoption in Jacksonville

Foster care is also an option you might want to consider. Life can sometimes get difficult, and parenting may not be the right thing for you or for your child at this time. Sometimes a baby is born with some substance exposure which can result in The Department of Children and Families Northeast Region Circuit 4 taking them and placing them in foster care. This is not ideal because you will not be able to choose who your baby is placed with or where they are placed. With open adoption, you do get to make these decisions, and you may be able to have contact after the adoption as well.

Another option is relative or kinship adoption. If you have a family member, who is, generally, blood-related to the child, and that would like to adopt your child, this can be a great solution. However, it is important to take the time to really talk about what this type of adoption will look like for everyone involved. Relative adoption can come with some of its own set of challenges. The day-to-day reality of parenting can take more emotionally and financially from your relative than they thought it would. Your relative may think they are just helping out for a time, and there may be some interaction and boundary issues.

Think carefully about which kind of adoption is the best fit for you and your child. Your Lifetime adoption coordinator will explain the pros and cons of these different options.

Adoption in Jacksonville, FL

Do you imagine beautiful days exploring the parks around Jacksonville with your child? Jacksonville being “The City of Parks,” will give you plenty of opportunities. Do you dream of adopting in Jacksonville, FL? Adoption is an exciting and life-changing decision. The adoption coordinators at Lifetime Adoption are ready to help you navigate the adoption journey. You will receive all the answers to your questions and many facts about adoption that you may not know. The entire adoption process will be explained in detail. Lifetime Adoption specializes in open domestic adoption, and we are here to guide you through the adoption process today!

Adoption Services in Jacksonville, FL

If you are interested in infant adoption in Jacksonville, FL, or a child up to the age of six, contact us at 1-727-493-0933 to get information and ask any questions. Creating an adoption story is what Lifetime Adoption is committed to. Our adoption coordinators are dedicated to making everyone in the adoption triad happy. Access our free online adoption application on our website. You will also find lots of other adoption resources such as education, referrals, and the support you will need for a successful adoption journey.

Begin the Adoption Process

This is a lot of information, and you probably want to know, “How do I start the adoption process?” The good news is that it is easy! All you need to do is visit Lifetime Adoption and fill out our online application. There is no fee, and it does not obligate you in any way.

Lifetime will review your information. Once pre-approved, an adoption coordinator will contact you. The whole Jacksonville adoption process will be explained, and your coordinator will create a plan for your adoption that fits your needs. Contact us today – we look forward to helping you on your adoption journey.

Adoption Attorneys in Jacksonville

A necessary part of your adoption will be a Jacksonville adoption attorney. Even when working with an adoption agency in Jacksonville, you will need an adoption attorney. The Florida adoption laws can be complex, and all paperwork must be completed legally and then must be filed with the courthouse. Your Lifetime Adoption coordinator in Jacksonville will refer you to a local adoption attorney.

Home Study Services in Jacksonville

Whether you choose domestic or foster adoption, you will be required to complete a home study. Home Study Services are available for adoptive families through Lifetime Adoption in the Jacksonville area. Even if you are not contracted with Lifetime Adoption, we can provide home study services. You may have found a birth parent on your own, or you may have chosen to work with another agency. Lifetime Adoption is still here to provide cost-effective home study services. You can get started by filling out our free application for home study services for prospective adoptive families living in Florida.

Background checks, employment and financial verification, and a home visit will all be part of your home study. You will also need to meet the mandatory education hours and Lifetime will give you access to those resources. You will want to get your home study done right away. Then you can move on to fulfilling your dreams of adoption. Your Lifetime adoption coordinator will guide you through the entire process.

So, what do you need to do to complete your home study? Rounding up all required documents will be your first task. This is not anyone’s favorite thing, but it is very important. In Jacksonville, Florida, you will need to get the following documents together:

Financial Statements such as tax returns, marriage certificates, profit and loss statements, or paystubs.
Five written references from anyone that knows you well and can vouch for your fitness to be an adoptive parent. This can be personal friends, co-workers, or maybe fellow church members.
Health statements from your physician or other medical professional that can attest to your physical and mental well-being.
Background checks – if you are over the age of 12 and live in the home, you will need a local, state, and federal background check. This must include checks for neglect and abuse in your history.
Autobiographical letters explain why you want to adopt, what your beliefs are regarding parenting and marriage, and any other facts you would like to share.

Your social worker will conduct a home visit as part of your home study. Interviews will be conducted with every adult in the home, and the social worker will check out your home environment as well. The purpose of the home visit is to make sure you have a safe and suitable home to raise a child in. Your social worker will also talk with you about your feelings and views on marriage, family, and parenting.

Education hours are required to complete your adoption in the state of Florida. Lifetime Adoption can assist you with access to podcasts, classes, articles, and webinars. Your 12 hours of education or more must be completed to satisfy the adoption state requirement in Florida.

Finalization of Adoption at Court in Jacksonville

The final step in your adoption journey is the finalization. Once you have completed your home study, matched with a birth mother, and your baby is born, you are close to the final step.

According to Florida mandates, finalizing your adoption will require no less than 90 days from when you take custody of the baby. You must have a visit in your home with your home study social worker within one week of the placement. Next, you will meet with your social worker once a month until you have had a total of three visits.

All the paperwork will be completed and filed with the courthouse by your adoption attorney. A friendly judge will schedule a hearing date at the Duval County and Fourth Judicial Circuit Courts at 501 W Adams St, Jacksonville, FL 32202. In this hearing, the judge will look over all of your documents and review the home study. She will then issue a final decree of adoption. Make sure you have a tissue because it is now time to celebrate, and there are generally happy tears! Now your adoption is final.

Other Paths to Adoption

Jacksonville International Adoption Agencies

Some couples see orphans on the news in countries that are struggling or have been hit by a natural disaster. They would like to help the children in need through adoption, so they choose international adoption. This is very kind, but it’s important to talk with an international adoption agency. Each country has its own laws and requirements that must be followed. A country may have had a natural disaster that makes them unable to complete adoption requests, or their government may be in turmoil, so they put adoptions on hold. This is why doing your own research is so important.

Eastern Europe, African nations, and China are some of the most popular countries for international adoption. Choose an agency that is able to work in the country of your choice and has successful experience in that country. Some agencies that specialize in international adoption are:
Adopt International

Celebrate Children International

Foster Care Adoption

Foster Care Adoption in Jacksonville

Another path to adoption is to become a Jacksonville foster family. The Florida Department of Children and Families will provide all the information on the process to qualify as a foster parent. Some of the requirements are to:

Complete the mandatory foster parent education. You must have a fingerprint-based, criminal background check to confirm no child abuse or neglect is in your history or anyone’s that lives in the home.
Attend a required foster parent orientation.
Have a complete home study with a social worker to certify your ability to foster a child in your home.

There is a nationwide project called AdoptUSKids that gives you access to foster kids across the nation who are hoping to be adopted. This is a great resource for families wanting to adopt from the foster care system. Families must have a completed home study and any other requirements in their state to qualify. Foster adoption generally takes less time and cost than newborn, domestic adoption, or international adoption. It is important to know that foster care adoption generally involves older children and children with special needs.

Mardie Caldwell

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