DO BIRTH AND ADOPTIVE FAMILIES EVER MEET?
Other than in open adoption situations, meetings between birth and adoptive families most frequently occur prior to the placement of a child. Birth mothers have the right to choose the adoptive family for their children, and sometimes they wish to interview families face-to-face during that decision-making process. Those interviews take place in a safe and neutral location (such as the Agape office) with a staff member present, and all individuals are introduced using first names only. The staff member facilitates the interview and helps to ensure that each party’s identity remains confidential. The face-to-face interview is not a required part of the selection process, and either party can refuse to take part in it. Occasionally, we also have semi-open adoption situations in which it is the wish of both parties to have a face-to-face meeting after the placement of the child. Those meetings would be conducted in much the same manner as a pre-placement interview. They would be held in a
