“I believe that adoption is the most loving choice that is available. Adoption is not ‘giving up’ a baby, but instead I view it as ‘giving to’ a family and ‘providing for’ a child.”
– Cheryl, 26, birth mother
If you are pregnant and considering adoption for your unborn baby, you have probably come across the term “giving baby up for adoption” in your search for more information. It is a phrase commonly used to describe a mother’s difficult choice to make an adoption plan for her baby.
But the truth is, “giving a baby up for adoption” diminishes the gravity of the choice you are making. It dismisses the time, effort and emotion you will put into your adoption plan to give your baby the best life possible.
At A Child’s Hope, our goal is to empower you to make the best possible choices for yourself and your baby. The following describes the one-on-one support you may receive from our counseling team through this challenging time.
Receive One-On-One Support Throughout the Adoption
Each woman who makes an adoption plan with A Child’s Hope will meet in person with one of our easy to talk to counselors. Wherever you are in North Carolina, there is one of our counselors within easy driving distance to meet with you in person. We have eight adoption counselors spread throughout the State. Our counselors live in Asheville, Charlotte, Durham, Fayetteville, Greensboro, Greenville, Gaston, Statesville and Raleigh. You will be working directly with an experienced adoption professional that is familiar with your community and can meet you in person to provide the services and support you need.
You select a family and meet them in a match meeting. Match meetings are held in your city or a city near you that you are comfortable with. So if you live in Asheville, but want to meet and have privacy, the counselor may suggest a match meeting in nearby city such as Waynesville, Canton, Candler, Swannanoa or Weaverville. If you live in Charlotte she might suggest you meet in Matthews, Davidson, Concord, Hickory or Huntersville area.
Click a star near where you live on the NC map to see what counselor would be assigned to you
Kelly Dunbar
Triangle
As an adoptive parent I truly have a passion for adoption. There is no greater joy than helping to create a family! I love this job and I love working with adoptive parents as well as the birth parents. When it all comes together it is an awesome experience!
Sloane Mosley
Greensboro
Sloane completed her undergraduate degree in Human Services Counseling at Old Dominion University and holds a Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California. Sloane has been working with children, birth mothers and adopting families for more than 10 years. She loves advocating for children and helping women during pregnancy.
Lakisha Brown
Winston Salem
Lakisha completed her undergraduate degree in Sociology with a concentration in Social Welfare at Winston-Salem State University. She received her Master’s in Social Work from Syracuse University. Lakisha has worked with children, individuals and families for more than 12 years. Her experience includes working with at-risk youth, homeless children and families, child mental health, as well as school social work and case management. She is also a long-time basketball fan, a former player and coach. She played at Winston-Salem State University and coached women’s basketball at Elon University and Syracuse University. Lakisha and her husband reside in Alamance County, with their young son.
Katherine Fitzsimmons
Triangle
Katherine completed her undergraduate degree in Sociology at St. Bonaventure University and earned her Master’s in Social Work degree from Binghamton University. Her passion is working with and advocating for women, youth, and children. She has worked for more than 10 years facilitating kinship, international, and domestic adoptions; eight of those years were working for the Independent Adoption Center here in Raleigh. Katherine also has a background in crisis management in a hospital setting. When she is not working, she can be found volunteering at her sons’ school, exploring the Raleigh-Durham area, or baking yummy sweets!!
Gloria Curry
Asheville
Gloria received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from St. Leo College. She earned a Master of Science degree from the University of Florida in Family, Youth and Community Science. Gloria has worked with children and families as an educator, mental health counselor and social worker. Gloria facilitated adoptions and foster care placements. She observed the remarkable courage, compassion and commitment of birth families who strive to ensure their child has the opportunity to achieve their potential. Gloria witnessed the dedication adoptive families have in providing care for the child. Gloria lives in Henderson County. She is an avid gardener, reader and loves to explore the mountains of western North Carolina.
Melanie Spainhour
Triangle - Bi-lingual
Melanie is excited to be working with A Child's Hope in the Raleigh area. She received her Master of Social Work degree from East Carolina University (Go Pirates!) and her Bachelor of Social Work degree from NC State University (GO PACK!). Melanie has worked with children and families, school systems and local communities, primarily focusing on the Latino community. She loves spending time with her husband, three daughters and taking trips to the beach!
Sylvia Senbel
Charlotte
Sylvia is a graduate of Western Carolina University, where she earned a Bachelor's in Social Work. She also received her Masters in Social Work from the University of North Carolina. Sylvia has been working with children and famalies for more than 19 years. She enjoys gardening, reading, hiking, and spending time with her husband and three boys. She also loves animals, especially her dog Jazzy.
Rachelle Garren
I am originally from Pennsylvania but moved to North Carolina 6 years ago. I have a two-year-old son, 2 dogs, and a cat! I got my undergraduate degree in psychology at Misericordia University in Pennsylvania. I earned my Masters degree in Social work from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. I have worked with children in a preschool setting for three years and worked with children and families for the last year as a therapist. Most of my experience is with children and adults who experienced trauma or substance use problems. I am very excited to be working with the adoption agency!
We believe that the best counseling is done in person. With A Child’s Hope, you will not just be a name or a voice on the other end of a phone call. When you work with us, we will be there to:
- help you decide if you wish to parent or place your baby for adoption
- take you to your doctor appointments
- help inform the birth father of the pregnancy and your adoption plan and obtain his DNA and relinquishments
- help you choose and meet adoptive parents
- set up a budget so you can receive financial help with living and medical expenses related to your pregnancy
- help you prepare emotionally for placing the baby at the hospital
- assist you in any way possible during delivery
- help you communicate your adoption plan with the hospital and help you get home after delivery
- set up a plan for future contact with the adoptive parents and your child
- help you create a plan that will allow you to see your baby after placement
“A Child’s Hope had a family feel and made it easy for me to choose. The agency gave me hope, deflected my fears and even provided me reading material to help me afterwards through my healing process.” – Pamela, birth mother (placed 2014)
How to Give a Baby Up for Adoption – Making an Adoption Plan
Since 2000, A Child’s Hope has been there for more than 315 pregnant women and birth mothers throughout all of North Carolina.
We view each child as a precious gift to a family longing to adopt. We view each birth mother as a brave woman who has made a selfless sacrifice so that her baby can have the best life possible. And finding a family for your child in a loving home is our number one priority.
At A Child’s Hope, this is your adoption plan – you are always in control. We are here to support you, provide information and counseling, and walk you through each of the following steps for giving a baby up for adoption:
- Talk with our friendly hotline operator. She will get some basic information about you and put you in touch with the adoption counselor near you.
- Meet in person with one of our easy-to-talk-to counselors. You can meet at your home or another location — whatever is most comfortable for you.
- Your adoption counselor will get more information about you, including your medical records, and go to prenatal appointments with you.
- We will notify your baby’s birth father of your adoption plan. Your counselor or a private investigator will meet with him to sign documents and obtain his DNA.
- We will help you create a budget to identify your financial needs and provide financial support.
- We will find waiting families who may be a good fit for you and your baby. You can review these families’ adoption profiles.
- You select a family and meet them at a match meeting. Your counselor will be there to provide the support and encouragement you need.
- Your counselor will help you create a birth plan, which explains your wishes for your hospital stay and delivery experience.
- Your counselor will always be in touch through delivery and provide the emotional support you need.
- Your counselor will guide you through document signing at the hospital.
- You will be invited to join the adoptive parents and baby in our office for placement day.
- You choose how often you want to receive letters, pictures and visits with your child over the years.
Remember that through each step of the adoption process, you are in control of your adoption plan. You will make many important decisions about the type of adoptive family you want for your baby, the relationship you want to have with your child after placement, and more.
In addition, you are never obligated to continue with the adoption process. You can change or choose to discontinue your adoption plan at any point prior to signing the adoption documents after your baby is born.
Taking the Next Step, But with No Obligation
If you are pregnant and considering adoption for your baby, we’d like to encourage you to contact A Child’s Hope confidentially and with no obligation.
One of our adoption counselors will reach out to you to answer any questions your might have about this important decision. Only when you are ready will we take the next step to help you create an adoption plan.
For more information about placing your baby for adoption, see our Frequently Asked Questions or visit other birth mother resources below:
What Our Adoptive Parents Say