Support resources in Louisiana

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

1. I am dealing with an unplanned pregnancy, what are my options? 

Unplanned pregnancy is a surprise which creates a lot of thoughts and need for big decisions. Only you know if you will be able to parent or if an adoption plan is a better option for you. We wish you lots of wisdom and strength. We would be honored to be a support for you or answer any questions you may have when making this not-simple decision.  

When making an adoption plan, we will ask for proof of pregnancy and copy your ID when we first meet. We will email profiles of potential adoptive parents or we will bring them in person when we are meeting. We can also schedule a meeting with a potential adoptive family of your choice, if that is your preference and you prefer to choose the family.  

You have the right to name or not to name biological father. If you name him, we are obligated to contact him and have his consent for adoption in place as well. A biological father has the right to sign relinquishment paperwork before the child’s birth or you can do it together after the birth of the child. If you chose not to identify the father, it is his obligation to put his name on the registry and to notify the agency about his intention to parent. We can talk to the biological father if you release his name, but we can never push him or influence his decision one way or another.

We are able to set up an adoption plan within an hour. If you just delivered the baby, we would need to follow the policy of the hospital regarding when you could sign paperwork. It is typically sometime between 24 and 48 hours after birth but could be longer. We place children from infancy to school age. If you just delivered the baby, you could call us right away and we will present profiles of fully approved adoptive parents. In some situations, women will not want to choose the family, and we can do that for you. It is your decision.

2. I am already parenting, what are my options?

You have the option of adoption even if you are currently parenting your child. As an agency we are very intentional to make sure that, based on the background and unique needs of the child, you are introduced to appropriate fully approved families. We will need to learn from you about your child’s personality. What they like, don’t like, medical needs, behaviors, things they like to eat, etc. The more we know, the better if job we can do to help your child be put in the right situation in life.

Through the years, we have dealt with many situations where a biological mother made a decision to place a sibling group for adoption. If it meets the hopes of the biological parents, we will always make a huge effort to place children in one family. We will also want to learn about the personalities, medical needs, behavioral needs, etc of each child. We are very intentional in our work, and we will present potential adoptive parents who we feel are fully equipped to provide a good life for your children, even if they are a multiple sibling group.

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 was 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 child, please always ask for a business card for the caseworker and we will connect with DCS worker.

We can provide profiles of fully approved adoptive families so you can can choose the family for your adoption plan if that is your preference. We can also choose the family from fully approved adoptive parents for you if you prefer. DCS will typically inspect the home of our fully approved adoptive family.

We want you to understand the permanency of an adoption plan and the difference between plan for reunification, which involves DCS, and permanent adoption- which you would do with a private adoption plan. If you feel a private adoption plan is the right option you will have the choice of the family, and from an open/semi-open/ or closed adoption. You have control of who will raise your child and the ability to have long term relationship with the child and adoptive family who is parenting your child. It is a big decision, we don’t want you to take it lightly; it is important to know both your options and choices. 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 of all, we are sorry it is such a difficult time in your life. As a parent you have a voice and choice and if you feel this is the best decision for your child, this is a decision you can make, regardless of other opinions- friends, family, people who represent you. Parents are entitled to make this decision and so many don’t know they have that right.

It is important to put together a list of questions that are very important to you. You might want to make sure the family will keep your heritage life in the child’s life. You might want a family who will give your child the best education and travel and explore the world. It might be a family who would support your child in their interests and gifts you gave to the child and will allow them to become who they are meant to become. Whatever it is that is really important to you, you can look in the profile of potential adoptive parents and ask these questions upfront to us or to the potential adoptive parent.

We will provide all the help we can to help you obtain all the required documentation. Legally, we will need ID and a birth certificate if you are parenting, or proof of pregnancy. We will walk you through the process so that you know what papers you need to complete.

The biological mother makes the final decision regarding placement of her child with a certain family she chooses. You can make a plan which would incorporate some visitations (open adoption), updates and pictures (semi-open), or closed. In this scenario of closed adoption, our agency would still reach out to 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 keep confidentiality and respect your privacy. There are two scenarios that we are obligated to report: 1) if there is a child in danger or 2) 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 medical history which would be relevant to the child in the future will be shared with the adoptive family so that they can be fully equipped and ready to parent 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. Regardless if you are underage or dealing with difficult situations, we would not discuss this issue with your family.

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

Yes, you have options for adoption. If you are pregnant or parenting it is possible, we just need the proper documents that establish you as the biological parent. We would be happy to look at each situation individually. Please call our office to discuss your situation, completely confidentially.

Resources in the State of Louisiana

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

There are many domestic violence shelters and resources across the state of Louisiana. 
Hammond: Southeast Spouse Abuse 
Franklin: Chez Hope Inc
Jennings: Communities Against Domestic Abuse 
New Orleans: Crescent House and Esther’s Haven House, Inc
Monroe: The WellSpring 
Ville Platte: Faith House 
Pineville: Family Justice Center 

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

There are many food assistance programs and resources across the state of Louisiana.
Shreveport: Food Bank- Northwest Louisiana 
New Orleans: Second Harvest Food Bank 
Baton Rouge: Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank 
Minden: Joe LeBlanc Food Pantry 
Alexandria: Food Bank of Central Louisiana 
Hammond: Tangi Food Pantry 
Kenner: City of Kenner Food Bank
Mandeville: The Samaritan Center 
Monroe: Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana 
DeRidder: God’s Food Box 

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

There are many homeless shelters and resources across the state of Louisiana.
New Orleans: New Orleans Women & Children’s Center, New Orleans Mission, and Covenant House New Orleans  
Lafayette: The Outreach Center and Family Promise of Acadiana 
Alexandria: Hope House
New Iberia: Iberia Homeless Shelter 
Baton Rouge: St. Vincent de Paul Bishop Ott Sweet Dreams Shelter 
Monroe: Homeless Services 

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

There are many low income clinics and OBGYN services and resources across the state of Louisiana. 
Lake Charles: Calcasieu Community Clinic 
New Orleans: Health Care for the Homeless and Odyssey House Community Health Center at Tonti 
Covington: Start Community Health Center 
Abbeville: Abbeville Community Health Center 
West Monroe: Go Care Community Health Center 
Franklin: Teche Action Clinic 
Slidell: St. Tammany Community Health Center 
Gretna: Daughter of Charity Health Center
Shreveport: Martin Luther King Health Center & Pharmacy 

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

There are many rent assistance programs and resources across the state of Louisiana.
Abbeville: Vermilion Parish BHA-HUD Section 8 Housing 
Baton Rouge: Connections for Life and Louisiana Housing Corperation
New Orleans: United Way and Fair Housing Action Center 
Morgan City: St. Mary Outreach 
Lafayette: Smile Community Action Agency 
Slidell: The Good Samaritan Ministry 

6. I’m pregnant or parenting in Louisiana, are there places I could live?

There are many pregnancy homes and resources across the state of Louisiana. 
Keithville: Heart of Hope Maternity 
Shreveport: Mary’s House of Louisiana, Inc 
Leesville: New Life Crisis Pregnancy Center 
Lafayette: DesOrmeaux Foundation 
Baton Rouge: Seller’s Maternity Home 
Hammond: Restoration House 
Thibodaux: Crossroads Pregnancy Resource Center 
Natchitoches: Women’s Resource Center of Natchitoches 
Monroe: Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home

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

Resources include Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault. You may also contact the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area. You may wish to be seen by a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner- a Registered Nurse who has received special training to provide comprehensive care to sexual assault victims.