Adoption doesn’t have to be complicated or stressful. The right adoption agency can help ensure a bright future for expectant parents, adoptive families and adopted children.
We’ve created this comprehensive guide to make the adoption process in Green Bay as simple as possible. Whether you’re considering placing your baby for adoption or hoping to adopt, this resource will help you understand every step of the journey.
If you’re ready to begin, we’re here to help. Call 608-821-8220, email aowinfo@adoptionsofwisconsin.com or stop by our local office to talk with a social worker:
Madison
433 W. Washington Ave., Suite 300
608-821-8220
How to Put a Baby Up for Adoption in Green Bay
Choosing adoption for your baby doesn’t mean you’re “giving up.” It means you love your child enough to prioritize their future. You want to make sure that they have every opportunity in life, even if you can’t give it to them.
If you’re considering adoption, here’s how the process works:
Step 1: Contact an adoption agency near Green Bay. You don’t have to go through this alone. An agency like Adoptions of Wisconsin Inc. can help you navigate the adoption process and provide free support.
Step 2: Create an adoption plan with your social worker. Your adoption plan will act as a “roadmap” for the process. It will contain details about your ideal adoptive family, communication preferences and more.
Step 3: Pick out the perfect adoptive family for your baby. You can look through profiles of waiting families until you find the right one.
Step 4: Meet the adoptive family, if you want. In an open adoption, you can talk with the adoptive family before and after placement. Maintaining a relationship with your baby’s adoptive parents can give you peace of mind.
Step 5: Give birth and complete the legal steps. You can consent to the adoption after your baby has been born. If you need support, we offer free counseling and other services for birth parents.
Adoption Financial Assistance in Green Bay
If you’re considering adoption for your baby, you could get financial assistance in Green Bay. Wisconsin allows adoptive families to cover the following costs through a licensed adoption agency:
Counseling
Maternity clothes (up to $300)
Transportation for medical- or adoption-related appointments
Pregnancy and childbirth medical expenses
Living expenses (up to $5,000 if necessary)
Birthing classes
A small gift for you (up to $100)
How to Adopt a Baby in Green Bay
You’ve waited long enough to grow your family. Adoption can get you closer to holding your baby in your arms for the first time.
Here’s what you can expect throughout the adoption process:
Step 1: Select an adoption agency. Adoptions of Wisconsin Inc. is fully licensed, so we can ensure your adoption meets county and state regulations.
Step 2: Get a home study for adoption. The home study ensures that you’re ready to become a parent and welcome an adopted child into your family.
Step 3: Create an adoptive family profile. Your profile should contain details, letters and photos that reflect who you are.
Step 4: Meet the expecting parents. If the expectant parents want an open adoption, you can meet in person to ask each other questions.
Step 5: Bring your new family member home. After the birth parents consent to the adoption, you can take your baby home.
Adoption Agencies in Green Bay
Green Bay has various agencies based on the type of adoption you’re pursuing:
Private domestic adoption
Foster care adoption
International adoption
Types of Adoption in Green Bay
There are four different types of adoption. Depending on your family-building goals, you may want to look for a professional that focuses on one specific type.
Infant adoption: You can welcome a newborn or infant into your family through private domestic adoption.
Foster care adoption: You could adopt an older child, sibling group or child with special needs through foster care.
International adoption: Adopting a child from another country involves additional legal processes.
Stepparent adoption: You may want to legally adopt your stepchild to solidify your parental relationship.
Adoption Laws in Green Bay
Wisconsin’s adoption laws protect every party involved and ensure an ethical, legal process.
Adoption professionals: Only licensed professionals can complete home studies and facilitate adoptions in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Financial assistance: Depending on their circumstances, expectant parents could receive financial assistance for some pregnancy- and adoption-related expenses.
Birth fathers: Both birth parents must consent to the adoption unless a Wisconsin court terminates one parent’s rights or the parent has been absent for over a year.
Consent to the adoption: Birth parents can terminate their parental rights after the baby is born by filing a petition.
ICPC: The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) law protects children in interstate adoptions.
Adoption Requirements in Green Bay
There are no requirements to place your baby for adoption as an expectant parent. Figuring out what to do about an unplanned pregnancy is hard enough. Our goal is to make the process as simple as possible for you. If you need support, reach out today.
However, there are legal requirements if you want to adopt a baby. Here are six requirements you’ll need to fulfill in Green Bay, Wisconsin:
Be at least 21 years old.
Be single or married for at least one year.
Have enough space in your home for a child.
Make enough to support your household.
Complete 25 hours of preadoption preparation, including six hours of in-person training and six hours focused on the child’s needs.
Complete a home study.
Green Bay Adoption Costs
Private domestic adoptions typically start at $30,000, according to the Child Welfare Information Gateway. This fee covers your agency’s fees, the legal paperwork, the pregnant woman’s medical costs and more.
While we don’t provide financial assistance to hopeful adoptive families, there are several funding sources. Adoption grants, loans, fundraises and the Adoption Tax Credit can all help you offset the costs of private domestic adoption.
In comparison, foster care adoptions have minimal costs. These adoptions focus on placing children from foster care, typically older children or sibling groups, into permanent homes.
Other Adoption Professionals in Green Bay
Several types of professionals support the adoption process:
Adoption attorneys: You will need legal experts to help you with adoption paperwork and the court processes.
Home study agencies: We are fully licensed in Green Bay to complete home studies and facilitate adoptions.
Adoption social workers: Our experienced social workers offer guidance to both expectant parents and hopeful adoptive families.
Foster care services: We can provide recommendations for reputable foster care agencies.
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If you’re ready to start your adoption journey, call 608-821-8220 or email aowinfo@adoptionsofwisconsin.com today. Let us help you build a brighter future through adoption.
