Domestic Adoption
HAPS is a fully licensed, full service, not-for-profit New Jersey adoption agency.
We provide traditional adoption placement services in which a birthmother contacts us directly, and we assist her in choosing an adoptive family. We also work with adoptive parents and attorneys to provide “Identified” agency placements, in which the adoptive parent and birthparent have already identified one another. Although we have worked with out-of-state families, most of our work is directed to NJ residents.
HAPS’ licensed clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) provide options counseling for birthparents who are considering making an adoption plan and want to place their child through the agency. We work with the birthparent throughout the adoption process. This includes pre-placement counseling to coordinating with the birthmother’s hospital during the birth and hospital stay, through placement of her child and post-placement counseling. Under NJ laws, an agency can accept an irrevocable relinquishment from a birthmother at not less than 72 hours after she gives birth provided all of the requirements (including options counseling) have been met by the agency. While we never “guarantee” that a birthparent’s rights will be terminated at 72 hours, this is an option that could be considered. The possible “72 hour” relinquishment and the required options counseling are two areas that distinguish agency placements from private NJ adoptions.
Birthmothers contact HAPS through referrals from hospitals, schools, attorneys and other networking sources. Once a birthmother has contacted our agency and decided to place her child for adoption, we work closely with hospitals and adoption attorneys, as needed, to provide the best services for our clients in the best interest of the child, who is always our primary client.
Finding a Birthmother: HAPS does not advertise, but rather utilizes networking with hospitals, attorneys and other sources. Adoptive parents, however, are encouraged to advertise and to use an 800 phone line. They are assisted in placing ads by our staff and are supported in completing a “Dear Birthparent” Letter and Portfolio.
Birthmother Referral: Part of the services provided by our agency is to screen and accept appropriate birthparent referrals and to obtain pregnancy confirmation. Once a birthparent is identified, letters and portfolios are presented to her, if requested.
Services Provided To Birthmother: Once contact has been established with the birthmother, HAPS will initiate adoption services which will include a minimum of 3 face-to-face options counseling sessions on separate days with the birthmother (NJAC 10:12A-5.4). These sessions are conducted to evaluate the birthmother’s emotional and physical state regarding her ability to make decisions for permanency planning for her child. The Social Worker will discuss options and provide adoption counseling, clarify the birthmother’s comprehension of the permanency of the adoption, determine possibility of coercion, obtain releases for all medical/hospital records, give copies of relinquishments and affidavits to birthmother for her review and for her to review with her attorney, take social and medical history, initiate contact with the hospital to determine hospital policies surrounding adoption and adoptive parents’ presence at birth and visitations
Services Provided To Birthfather: If the birthfather is known and available, our agency will provide him with the opportunity for face-to-face meetings, as with the birthmother. The Social Worker will provide information regarding denial of paternity, relinquishments, and review these forms with client, as well as obtain social and medical history.
Termination of Birthparents’ Rights: The agency can take relinquishments from the birthmother and obtain affidavits not less than 72 hours after birth, provided the appropriate options counseling has been completed. The agency will generally take relinquishments from birthfather, not less than 72 hours after birth. A birthfather’s rights can also be terminated by denial of paternity.
