Comprehensive Program

The Birth Parents

Adoption begins with quality Pregnancy Services to women who are considering placing their child for adoption.

Approximately 350 pregnant women contact Barker directly each year. They come at all stages of their pregnancy and sometimes after they have delivered. Each faces one of the most difficult decisions a woman can make, whether she is able to take on the parenting responsibilities of her baby or whether she will ask someone else to do that. While some fathers are involved in the decision-making process, many of the women are alone. In addition to counseling about her options, she may need help locating housing, medical or legal resources, or guidance in working with the baby's father or her family. She may choose to place her baby in Barker's temporary foster care while she makes her decision. Barker provides counseling and assistance in all these areas, often for an extended period.

When birth parents choose to place their baby for adoption after receiving Barker's assistance in considering all their options, the adopting family can be secure in the knowledge that the decision was made freely.

The Prospective Adoptive Parents

Individuals or couples who have attended an Information Meeting and our Pre-Adoption Group may decide to begin the adoption process in the Domestic Comprehensive Program. We work primarily with families in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

Prospective parents will fill out an application and soon after, begin the home study. In the course of the home study, the social worker will discuss with applicants many possible characteristics or circumstances of children being placed for adoption, some relating to family background, some to medical or legal considerations. People need to be open-minded and flexible, while at the same time assessing the risks and not pushing themselves beyond what they can handle.

The practice of adoption has changed dramatically since Barker was founded in 1945 and our procedures have evolved accordingly. Connecting birth parents who wish to place a child for adoption with families wanting to adopt a child has become more of a collaborative effort. More than ever, families need to be active in the process. Many prospective adopters will assist in the effort to locate a birth mother. At every step along the way, however, Barker staff is there to guide the process, ensuring that all parties participate in a healthy, respectful and ethical manner.

The Placement

The specifics of the placement vary, depending on the preferences of the birth parents and the prospective adoptive parents. Many birth parents who work with Barker choose to be involved in selecting the family for their child and may meet with the family at some point -- before, during or after the birth of the baby. Some families agree to have the baby placed directly from the hospital, in order to have the baby with them as early as possible. (By definition, these placements are considered a legal risk until the birth parents' revocation period has elapsed.) Other babies are cared for individually by a Barker Foster Care family until the birth parent reaches a decision, until medical information can be ascertained, or until the necessary legal steps can be taken to free the child for adoption.

The waiting time for the placement of a child varies depending on several factors. It is important to note that a child cannot be placed until the home study is completed and approved.The more flexible a family is in regard to their placement, the higher likelihood of a shorter waiting period.

After Placement

Barker continues to support the new family and maintains contact through visits with the family. Regulations require three visits over a six-month period. Barker also works with attorneys to complete the necessary steps for finalization of the adoption. We ask that you submit medical and progress reports to our agency until the adoption is finalized.

The type of post-placement contact depends on the desires of the adoptive family and the birth parents. A minimum number of photos and an update letter is to be sent to the birth parent(s) via Barker each year. However, many families provide updates more frequently and some of our families are interested in having visits with the birth parents. Again, post-placement contact is mutually agreed upon by birth parents and adoptive parents.

Since The Barker Foundation's commitment to all those involved in an adoption is a lifelong undertaking, families may obtain information from files and exchange information with birthfamilies, even years after placement, through Barker's lifelong services.

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