Pregnancy Counseling

CFCA offers decision-making counseling provided by knowledgeable, supportive, non-judgmental counselors who have your best interests at heart. These Masters-level social workers want to help you make the decision you feel is best for you and your baby - be it parenting or adoption.

If you decide to parent your baby, we will provide you with counseling and support and will help you plan for parenthood by connecting you with community resources including: parenting classes, education and career planning, childcare resources, parenting support groups, housing referrals and financial assistance.

If you decide not to parent your baby, we can help you make an adoption plan. You can select the adoptive parents for your baby and determine with them what level of contact you will have after the adoption is completed.

No matter what level of ongoing contact you choose, your child will always know that you love him or her because you carefully selected a loving family. By getting to meet and interact with you, the adoptive parents will also get to see your love for your child first hand and will tell him or her all about you, if you want them to.

CFCA will assist you with your medical expenses and, in some cases, will also help with other pregnancy-related living expenses, such as rent, maternity clothing, etc., in connection with placing your child for adoption, as allowed by the Court.

• In Phoenix/Northern Arizona, call 602 266-TALK
• In Tucson/Southern Arizona, call 520 296-TALK

or submit the Inquiry Form on the Contact page for more information.

What is decision-making counseling?

Anyone facing an unplanned pregnancy has a number of important decisions to make. Our trained counselors help you look at your options so you can make an informed choice about your child’s future. Our counselors will not pressure you or attempt to make decisions for you. Whatever you decide, we believe it is important that you make an informed choice and that you feel comfortable and confident with your decision.

How much does counseling cost?

There is no cost for counseling and related services for you and your family.

Will you tell my family or friends I'm pregnant?

Absolutely not. All counseling and communication with CFCA is absolutely confidential. We will not tell anyone about your situation unless you ask us to. If you want to involve your family in counseling you are welcome to do so.

What if I decide to parent my child?

If you choose to parent, CFCA will provide you with counseling and support so you will be prepared for the tremendous responsibility of parenthood.

What if I choose not to parent my child?

CFCA will provide you with counseling and support and will help you make an adoption plan for your child including:

• Selection of a loving adoptive family for your child
• An agreement with the adoptive family to see the child, not only when they’re born but throughout their lifetime, if you choose
• Assistance with pregnancy-related needs and expenses, including maternity clothes, housing and medical care
• Access to experienced legal counsel
• Housing and transportation assistance
• Emotional support during the adoption planning process and beyond
• Grief counseling
• Education and career planning
• Connection to other community resources

How could I possibly give away my baby?

Adoption is not about giving away a baby. Adoption is about making a plan for a child's life. Babies need and deserve stable environments where they can receive the emotional and financial resources to equip them for a bright future. If a young woman or couple is not prepared to parent, adoption is a loving solution to an unplanned pregnancy.

How can I be sure that the adoptive parents will take good care of the child?

Parents who adopt through Christian Family Care must prove that they are emotionally and financially ready to parent. They must complete a rigorous home study process and be certified by the Court in order to be approved as adoptive parents. Additionally, you will choose the parents and will have opportunities to meet them and make sure you feel they are the right people to parent your child.

What does the home study process for adoptive parents entail?

Potential adoptive parents have to do all of the following prior to becoming certified to adopt:

• Be fingerprinted and have a local and national criminal records check done to ensure that they do not have a felony record
• Have a Child Protective Services check done to ensure they have never been reported as having abused or neglected a child
• Write an autobiography of their life detailing their motivation to adopt, their family history, their long-range plans for their children and more
• Go through an extensive home study process, involving several visits with a social worker in their home to review their autobiographies
• Have a physical exam to ensure that they are physically and emotionally healthy
• Have a health and safety inspection of their home to ensure it is a safe environment for a child
• Fill out a budget form and provide financial documents to prove that they are financially stable and able to provide for a child.
• Provide five references who are contacted by the Agency
• Take a personality test that helps their case worker get to know them on a deeper level
• Attend adoption classes to learn about the adoption process and about being an adoptive parent
• Have all of the above information compiled into a report that is submitted to the court and approved by a judge

After a birth mother signs legal documents, can she change her mind?

Throughout the adoption planning process, and even at the time of the baby’s birth, the birth mother has the opportunity to re-evaluate her adoption decision and make another plan for her child. There is nothing a birth mother can sign during her pregnancy that will commit her to completing her adoption plan. In Arizona, any time after the baby is 72-hours (three days) old, the birth mother may sign legal adoption consents. Once these permanent papers are signed, they can not be withdrawn and the adoption is irrevocable.

Our counselors will never pressure you to sign adoption consents, but will instead encourage you to take all the time you need to be confident in your decision, or to make a different decision.

Won’t the child be confused about who his real parents are with an open adoption?

No. Children are very adept at sorting out complex relationships when they are told the truth. Children are much more likely to be confused and frustrated by secrecy and mysteries.