Our pregnancy support workers will become case managers and aim to help you achieve the goals you identify for yourself and your child. We will connect you to community resources to alleviate some of the stressors you may have. Our workers will also work to help you learn more on the topics of parenting that you desire to learn more about.

Our pregnancy support workers will help you explore the decision to create an adoption plan and will help you implement your adoption plan by ensuring that all legal requirements are met, and acting as your advocate throughout the process. Our workers will help you find the prospective adoptive parents that you feel are the right fit and aid in developing a relationship, if desired, with the adoptive parents that you identify. We walk with you through every step of this process- during pregnancy, after delivery, and beyond. Our workers are available to you for as long as you so choose.

View Our Adoptive Families.

Our pregnancy support workers will also work with you to identify what type of adoption you feel is best (closed, semi-open, or open). All of the prospective adoptive parents with our program are open to having some sort of (a) relationship with expectant parents; it is up to you to decide what you feel is best for you and your child. Open adoptions are based on mutual trust and respect for all who are involved.

If you are in labor or your baby is already born and you still want to consider adoption it is not too late. You can contact Catholic Charities when you are in labor, while you are still in the hospital, after you have delivered, or even if you have been discharged home from the hospital with baby. We are here to help!

It is never too late to create an adoption and is not as uncommon as one might think. If you are not ready to parent for whatever reason, please Contact Us:

(920) 272-8234 • Main number, available during business hours

(920) 680-2544 • Textline/After hours phone

We encourage expectant fathers to participate in services with the mother of their child (together or individually) to explore and plan for parenting and/or adoption. With regard to adoption it is important that fathers are notified of the adoption plan and provided proper legal notice of any court proceedings related to termination of parental rights. To ensure that notices are done, any expectant father can file a declaration of paternal interest with the State of Wisconsin

View Our Waiting Families

Do you have questions about what it would be like to create an adoption plan? Below you will find answers to some of the questions frequently asked by those considering creating an adoption plan. If you do not find the answers to your questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Where do I begin? Or where do I start?
If you would like to meet with a worker to discuss your options; parenting and adoption, please feel free to reach out to us by texting or calling 920-680-2544.

I am still unsure about creating an adoption plan, can you still help me?
Yes, a worker at our agency can meet with you discuss your options. We are here to support you in making a decision that is best for you and your child. If you make the decision to parent, we will assist you in creating a parenting plan and getting you connected to community resources. If you choose adoption, we will assist you in creating the type of adoption plan you desire.

May I still have contact with my child after he/she is born?
Yes, you most definitely can have contact with your child after the child is born and into the future! All couples at our agency are open to participating in an open adoption and are willing to respect your wishes in how you may want that to look. Openness can include but is not limited to photos in the mail, google share accounts, text messages, phone calls and in person visits.

Is there a time frame when an expectant parent(s) should begin to create an adoption plan?
An expectant parent can connect with our agency to begin creating an adoption plan at any point prior to or even after the birth of the child. We will support you in developing a plan that you believe is best for you and your child.

What types of adoption are there?
All prospective adoptive couples at our agency are open to having openness but below we will explain in detail the different types of adoption:

• Open Adoption: This involves meetings between both birth parents and adoptive parents in which a relationship is established throughout the child’s life. Openness can include but is not limited to photos in the mail, google share accounts, text messages, phone calls and in person visits. If you are working with our agency to create an adoption plan you may select a family that is screened and approved for adoption through reviewing a profile they have created and interviewing them.
• Independent Adoption: This type of adoption involves the birth parents and the adoptive parents connecting with each other outside of our agency and then come to work with our agency to complete all steps necessary for an adoption plan.
• Closed Adoption: This is where the agency determines and selects the adoptive parents should you desire a closed adoption. All information remains confidential and there is no contact or communication between the adoptive parents and birth parents.

We are here to support you and if you are unsure as to how you would like to proceed with contact and/or a relationship with the adoptive parents and your child we can continue to discuss it together to create a plan that is best for you and your child.

Can I choose the family that I want to adopt my child?
Yes, when creating an adoption plan at our agency we help you throughout the whole process which includes selecting a couple that you feel is best for your plan. Our agency has many couples that are approved for adoption. All couples at our agency are required to complete a home study, which includes parenting and adoption education and training, extensive background checks including that there is no current or history of child abuse or criminal history; they must be able to provide a safe, loving, and healthy environment for a child to be raised in.

Is it too late to create an adoption plan if my child is already born?
No, it is not too late to create an adoption plan. Our workers are here to support you and meet you where you are at. Together we can create a plan that is best for you and your child. If you would like to learn more about what the adoption process will look like once a child is already born, please feel free to reach out to us today.

Does an agency have to be involved in the adoption process?
Yes, an agency must be involved per Wisconsin State Statues.

Do I need to identify the father?
When creating an adoption plan, your pregnancy support worker will discuss with you the legal conceptive period and if you are aware of the potential father of the baby during that period you will need to identify him. If you do not know whom the father of the baby is, an attorney assisting with completing the adoption process will complete a publication for the unknown father(s) which shows the court that we have attempted to provide notice/include the father in this process and to provide court hearing notice.

Can I just sign my rights away?
In the State of Wisconsin, the biological mother must attend a court hearing in order for her rights to be terminated voluntarily. A worker at Catholic Charities, will help you prepare for and support you in the court process. No one at court will judge you and everyone present at the hearing understands that this must be very difficult. These types of hearings are closed to the public. We are here to support you every step of the way.

Can I have ongoing support if I desire?
Of course, we are here to support you for as long as you may need. You can continue to meet with a worker for as long as you choose. We are here to provide lifelong support. Your worker can also provide you with resources and support group information (when available) for ongoing support if you feel that this would be helpful to you.
If you placed with our agency and would like to talk with someone, please feel free to call/text 920-680-2544 and ask to speak to our birth parent support worker.

Will I regret my decision at some time in my life?
This is a tough question to answer. It is natural and very normal to question any tough decisions we make. Adoption is no different. In our experience, women who were actively engaged in adoption planning, do feel peace with their decision as they reflect and remember that they made the best decision for their child and themselves. In addition, as most birthmothers choose to have an open adoption, they know that they will remain an important part of their child's life. Choosing adoption does not mean you are a bad person; it simply means you know you are not at a place to parent a child.

What if I change my mind about adoption?
Researching adoption, talking with a social worker, or meeting with a prospective adoptive family does not obligate you to choose adoption. You can change your mind anytime prior to the Termination of Parental Right Court Hearing taking place. Take time to consider your options. Ask questions, gather information, and meet with a pregnancy support worker to determine if adoption is a good fit for you and your child.