Support resources in Indiana

Adoption process, Adoption services, Social services, Pregnancy resources & support

1. I need unplanned pregnancy help in Indiana, what are my options?

An unplanned pregnancy can change everything. You may be trying to decide if you can parent, wondering who you can talk to, or thinking about whether adoption is the right choice for your child. KidsFirst can talk with you about each option, answer your questions, and help you understand what an adoption plan would involve if you decide that’s the path you want to take.  

If you want to make an adoption plan, we’ll ask for proof of pregnancy and a copy of your ID when we first meet. From there, we’ll send you profiles of potential adoptive parents or bring them with us if we’re meeting in person. If one family stands out to you and you’d like to meet them, we can help schedule that meeting.  

You also have the right to decide whether to name the biological father. If you do, we’re required to contact him and obtain his consent for adoption. He may sign the relinquishment paperwork before the child is born, or you both can sign after the birth. If you choose not to identify him, it’s his obligation to put his name on the registry and notify the agency of his intention to parent. If you give us permission to contact him, we can speak with him, but we can’t pressure him or influence his decision.

In many cases, an adoption plan can begin quickly, in as little as an hour. If you’ve just delivered, we’ll follow the hospital’s policy for when paperwork may be signed. That usually happens between 24 and 48 hours after the birth, though it can take longer. KidsFirst works with children from infancy through school age.

If you call after delivery, we can show you profiles of fully approved adoptive families. Some women know they want to choose the family themselves. Others would rather have KidsFirst help select a family from approved adoptive parents. Either choice is okay, and we’ll walk you through what happens next. 

2. I am already parenting. What are my adoption options in Indiana?

Even if you’re already parenting your child, adoption may still be an option. As a child-focused adoption agency in Indiana, KidsFirst is intentional about learning your child’s background and unique needs. That way, we can introduce you to appropriate, fully approved families.

We’ll need to learn from you about your child’s personality, likes, dislikes, medical needs, behaviors, favorite foods, and anything else that helps us understand them better. Those details make for a more thoughtful placement. 

Over the years, we’ve worked with many biological mothers who chose adoption for a sibling group. If the biological parents hope to keep the children together, we’ll make every effort to find a single family for all of them. 

3. What are the options and decision-making opportunities involving a present or potential child removal?

We will work with your DCS caseworker if you are currently working with one. We encourage you to contact us before or as soon as your child is placed in the custody of DCS. If you are a mother who delivered a baby in the hospital and DCS was called because of substance abuse, you can call us before or after the DCS caseworker comes in, and we will work with them directly. If DCS has come and removed your child, ask for the caseworker’s business card, and we will connect with that DCS worker.

If you prefer, we can provide profiles of fully approved adoptive families so you can choose the family for your adoption plan. If you’d rather not make that decision yourself, we can choose the family ourselves. DCS will typically review the approved adoptive family’s home as part of their process. 

We want you to understand the permanency of an adoption plan. It’s also important to know the difference between a reunification plan through DCS and a permanent adoption through a private adoption plan. If you feel that a private adoption plan is the right option, you can choose the adoptive family and decide whether you want an open, semi-open, or closed adoption. You have a say in who will raise your child and whether you want a long-term relationship with the child and the adoptive family.

This is a big decision, and we don’t want you to take it lightly. It’s important to understand your options before making a final choice. You do have a say.

4. How can I make an adoption plan if I am in the middle of legal issues, incarceration, or addiction or mental health treatment?

First, we’re sorry you’re going through such a difficult time. As a parent, you have a voice and a choice. If you feel adoption is the best decision for your child, you have the right to make that decision, even if friends, family members, or people representing you have other opinions. Many parents don’t realize they have that right.

We recommend that you make a list of the questions that matter most to you. You might have questions about whether a family will keep your heritage alive in your child’s life, value education and new experiences, or support your child’s interests, gifts, and personality as they grow. Whatever matters most to you, you can look for those qualities in adoptive parent profiles and ask questions upfront, either to us or to the potential adoptive parents.

We’ll do everything we can to help you gather the required documentation. Legally, we’ll need your ID and, if you’re already parenting, your child’s birth certificate. If you’re pregnant, we’ll need proof of pregnancy. We’ll walk you through the process so you know what paperwork you need to complete.

The biological mother makes the final decision about placing her child with the family she chooses. You can make a plan that includes visits through open adoption, updates and pictures through semi-open adoption, or no ongoing contact through closed adoption. In a closed adoption, our agency would still reach out to the adoptive family for pictures if you called us after placement.

5. I am pregnant and parenting and considering an adoption plan but worried about confidentiality or involvement of family members. Will you keep my adoption plan private?

We understand the sensitivity of your situation and will always maintain confidentiality and respect your privacy. There are two scenarios that we must report: 1) if there is a child in danger or 2) if someone’s life is in danger. Other than that, regardless of health or legal issues, we will work with you and respect your privacy. We encourage you to share any medical history that may be relevant to the child in the future. This helps the adoptive family be better prepared to care for the child. This works the other way as well. If the adoptive family has a new situation that would affect their parenting, we would share that with you. Even if you are underage or dealing with difficult situations, we would not discuss this situation with your family.

6. I am undocumented or a refugee dealing with an unplanned pregnancy. Do I have options?

Yes. If you are pregnant or parenting, adoption may still be possible. We just need documents that establish you as the biological parent.

We can talk with you about your specific situation and help you understand what may be possible. Please call our adoption agency for unplanned pregnancy help in Indiana. 

Resources in the State of Indiana

1. I’m pregnant or parenting in Indiana and don’t feel safe in my home or relationship.

There are many domestic violence shelters and supportive resources across the state of Indiana:

Indianapolis: Domestic Violence Network, The Julian Center, Beacon of Hope Crisis Center
Danville: Sheltering Wings 
Noblesville: Prevail, Inc
Marion: Hands of Hope
South Bend: YWCA North Central Indiana 
Crown Point: St. Jude House 
Floyd and Clark Counties: The Center for Women and Families
Warsaw: Beaman Home

2. I’m pregnant or parenting in Indiana and can’t afford to feed myself or my children.

Food banks and pantries covering Indianapolis and surrounding counties provide immediate food assistance. For specific distribution hours and neighborhood boundaries, please reference the directory table below:

• Regional Distribution: Gleaners Food Bank, Midwest Food Bank
• Local Indianapolis Pantries: Crooked Creek Food Pantry, Boulevard Place Food Pantry, Mid-North Food Pantry, Covenant Foods, Mount Carmel Church Food Pantry, Mount Zion Baptist Church Food Pantry 

3. I’m pregnant or parenting and homeless in Indiana, are there places I can stay?

Emergency and transitional housing facilities support families facing a housing crisis. Please refer to the table below for locations and intake phone lines:

• Emergency Shelters: Wheeler Mission Center for Women and Children, Dayspring Center, Holy Family Shelter, Queen of Peace Shelter
• Housing Placement & Day Services: Family Promise of Greater Indianapolis, Horizon House, Good News Ministries 

4. I’m pregnant or parenting in Indiana and don’t have a doctor. Are there free resources for healthcare?

Free and low-cost healthcare clinics operate across Indiana to provide prenatal, pediatric, and general medicine to individuals without health insurance:

• Indianapolis: Gennesaret Free Clinic, Women’s Care Center, Near West Free Clinic
• Hamilton County: Trinity Free Clinic (Carmel), Heart and Soul Clinic (Westfield)
• Regional Clinics: Matthew 25 Health and Care (Ft. Wayne), St. Thomas More Free Clinic (Mooresville), Huntington Free Clinic (Huntington) 

5. I’m pregnant or parenting in Indiana and I’m struggling to pay my rent. What resources are available to me?

Rent assistance, eviction prevention, and affordable housing networks cover central and statewide Indiana:

• Statewide Support: Housing4Hoosiers, Indiana Community Action Association
• Indianapolis/Marion County: Indianapolis Housing Agency, Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana, John Boner Center – Homeless Initiative Program
• Regional Housing Assistance: HAND, Inc (Hamilton/Boone), and Brightpoint (Northeast IN)
  

6. I’m pregnant or parenting in Indiana, are there maternity homes where I could live?

 Maternity housing programs offer structured residential environments for expectant mothers and young families: 

• Hannah House Maternity Home (Bloomington)
• The O’Connor House (Carmel) 
• A Mother’s Hope (Ft. Wayne)
• Hannah’s House (Mishawaka) 
• Mommy’s Haven (Lowell)
• St. Elizabeth Catholic Charities (New Albany) 

7. I’m pregnant or parenting in Indiana, and I was raped or in a sexually abusive relationship. What are my options and resources?

You have access to free, strictly confidential medical advocacy and crisis support:

• Statewide Advocacy: The Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking (ICESAHT) provides comprehensive toolkits and matches survivors with localized county advocates. 
• 24/7 Crisis Hotline: Contact the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800-656-4673 or chat live via the RAINN Online Hotline. You can request to be seen by a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE)—a registered nurse specialized in forensic care and trauma-informed medical support.