ADOPTION AND SURROGACY

Transcription

1 ADOPTION AND SURROGACY Speaker: Karen Anderson, MSW, LCSW ADOPTION Types of Adoption Closed Adoption Semi-Open Adoption Open Adoption 1

2 Adoption Process Birthparent Counseling Birthfather Rights Signing Relinquishments When are rights severed? The Hospital Experience Paperwork Issues Birthmother s Rights vs Adoptive Parent s Rights What if No Adoption Plans in Place? Ways to Support Birthmother Focus on birthmother s needs Affirm her love Accept her grieving Encourage bonding Comment on how well she cared for the baby during pregnancy Support her choices 2

3 Hospital Information for Birthmothers We understand you are considering giving your baby up for adoption. This is a process filled with many emotions and questions. Here at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital, we want you to feel fully supported in your journey here and know that you have many options, rights and choices. Some of the following are things that may have been discussed with you during your pregnancy, but we want you to know that you have all the rights of a mother while in the hospital and this includes. You have the right to change your mind about anything at anytime. Seeing and holding your baby if you would like. Having the baby room in with you, visiting the baby in the nursery or not seeing the baby at all. Choosing a name for the baby that will go on the birth certificate. (The adoptive couple will have a new birth certificate issued later). You will be given an ID bracelet that matches your baby and you can select one other person to receive an ID bracelet with this same ID number. This person has full access to see and visit baby. The adoptive parents will be able to see and visit baby too, so it is up to you if this is who you want to get the second band. The adoptive couple may opt to get a hospital room to be near the baby. If you are comfortable with the baby being in the room with them, let your nurse know it is up to you. You will be seen by a hospital counselor/social worker to support you, answer questions, and help you through the hospital process. The baby can stay in the hospital until you are discharged (even if you have a C-Section) unless you prefer the baby to be discharged earlier than you are. When the baby is ready to be discharged, if you want the hospital to discharge the baby to the adoptive couple, you will be asked to sign one document giving the hospital permission to discharge the baby to someone other than yourself. This is called a Release of Minor Form or an AD22. It is not a relinquishment of your baby or parental rights. Please ask your hospital counselor or nurse any questions you might have and let us know how we can make this experience go smoothly for you. HOSPITAL INFORMATION FOR ADOPTIVE PARENTS We understand you are hoping to adopt a baby. First, let us say Congratulations! We know that as adoptive parents you have much joy and some trepidation about what lays ahead. This is a process filled with many emotions and questions. Here at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital, we want you to feel fully supported in your journey here. As you also know, the birthmother is our primary patient and retains all the rights of a mother in the hospital. Some of the following are things that may have been discussed with you prior to coming to the hospital but we want to provide you with some useful information: The birthmother has the right to change her mind about anything at anytime. You are welcome to see, hold, and visit the baby as much as you like if the birthmother has no objections You may opt to get a hospital room here (for a fee) and have the baby room in with you. We will need the birthmother to give us verbal consent for this but will be happy to ask her if you let us know your wishes. The birthmother may choose a name for the birth certificate. This does not impact your adoption or choosing a name for the baby as you will get a new birth certificate in this process. You may either be given duplicate ID bracelets that match the baby or will be asked to show photo identification. Either of these are acceptable and allow you access to the baby. Whether you have an ID bracelet or not will have no impact on the discharge of the baby to you. Prior to discharge of the baby we must have a letter from the adoption agency, attorney, or facilitator regarding the adoption plan. This has all the identifying information such as your names, addresses, drivers license numbers, and social security numbers. Without this, the baby cannot be physically discharged to you. It is very likely that the hospital already has this document, but if you aren t sure ask the hospital counselor or nurse. You will be seen by a hospital counselor/social worker to support you, answer question, and help you through the hospital process. The baby can stay in the hospital until the birthmother is discharged (even if she has a C-section) unless she prefers the baby to be discharged earlier than she is. When the baby is ready to be discharged, the birthmother will sign one document giving the hospital permission to discharge the baby to someone other than herself. This is called an Release of Minor Form or an AD22. It is not a relinquishment of her baby or her parental rights. You will also sign this document at discharge. Please ask your hospital counselor or nurse any questions you might have and let us know how we can make this experience go smoothly for you. SURROGACY 3

4 Types of Surrogacy Traditional Gestational Surrogacy: Historical Perspective Historical Perspective 1988 Baby M case 1998 Buzzanca case Who Uses a Surrogate? Straight Couples Gay Couples Single Men Single Women 4

5 Emotional Issues Biological/Legal Parents Surrogate Labor of Love: Woman Carries Her Daughter's Baby Rich Chinese hire American surrogate mothers for up to $120,000 a child Wealthy Chinese are hiring American women to serve as surrogates for their children, creating a small but growing business in $120,000 "designer" American babies for China's elite. 5

6 FINANCIAL ISSUES Agency Fee - $20,000*: Additional $2,000 only for residents outside the U. S. & Canada, due upon signing the retainer * Includes cost of full time Case Manager and Trust Account Management Surrogate Mother Compensation: - (payments begin 6 weeks after a transfer that results in a pregnancy) 1st time surrogate 2nd time surrogate 3rd time surrogate California $28,000 $33,000 $35,000 All other states $25,000 $28,000 $30,000 Surrogate, psych group meeting before pregnant ($75 each month - repeats each month she attends, before she starts receiving pregnancy payments) Surrogate, reimbursement per cycle (IVF or AI) (repeats each transfer attempt) Maternity clothes allowance (only paid once) Psychologist (Testing and monthly group meetings - paid in two payments - first in the beginning, second at heartbeat) Attorney for the couple(trust fund mgmt and court filing) ($2,500 paid when trust us set up, $2,000 paid upon heartbeat) Attorney for the surrogate (only paid once per surrogate) Court filing fee (paid once at 4 months pregnancy) Registered dietician (paid once) Life insurance for surrogate (paid at the beginning then renewed annually) Health insurance premium per month) OB care and delivery (approximate insurance copay & deductible) $300 $750 $750 $3,500 $4,500 $500 $600 $75 $250 $2,750 $2,500 6

7 Possible Extra Costs Extra paid to surrogate for twins (begin at 4 th payment thru 10 th ) Extra paid to surrogate for triplets (begin at 4 th payment thru 10 th ) $4,200 $5,600 Extra paid to surrogate who has successfully $ 500 been a surrogate before (paid over the 10 months of payments) Amniocentesis $2,100-$3,000 Level 3 ultrasound $ 500 (these services may be covered by surrogate s health insurance) If surrogate is put on bed rest by her doctor $1,000-$1,500 (lost wages, childcare, housecleaning) per month for 1-3 months. Hospital Procedure Paperwork Issues Staff Sensitivity 7

8 RESOURCES SURROGATE AGENCIES Center for Surrogate Parenting Ventura Blvd., Suite 675 Encino, CA ( ) Conceptual Options Scripps Summit Ct., Suite 240 San Diego, CA ( ) Creative Conceptions La Paz Rd., Suite 136 Mission Viejo, CA ( ) Conceptual Options Treena Street, Suite 103 San Diego, CA ( ) Growing Generations 6310 San Vicente Blvd., Suite 402 Los Angeles, CA ( ) Surrogate Alternatives 363 Calle La Quinta Chula Vista, CA ( ) Surrogate Parenting Services P.O. Box 7461 Laguna Nigel, CA ( ) 8

9 This image cannot currently be displayed The American Surrogacy Center Inc WEBSITES Surrogacy & Egg Donation & Embryo Adoption professional directory Listings and profiles for complete resources. Legal. Medical. Psychological. Agency. Support Groups and Related Links. And coming soon---an International Directory! If you provide services related to surrogacy, egg donation, and embryo adoption and would like to be listed in our directories, please click here and fill out the form on our secure server. 9