If you think you want to place a baby for adoption in Utah, I can help. I am an adoption attorney and a birth mother. Our nonprofit, The Adoption Resource Center, is one of the most trusted nonprofits in the country. I have personally worked with several pregnant women in Utah who placed their baby for adoption. I can help you too!

Place A Baby For Adoption Utah

In this article I want to tell you a story about a young pregnant mom in Utah that I worked with. When you read this story, I hope you will better understand what it’s like to work with me. Sometimes women don’t choose the right adoption professional to work with. It’s never too late to change your mind and work with someone you trust. Kristen’s story below is a perfect example.

You are welcome to reach out to me anytime using the contact options on this page. I’m happy to help you place your baby for adoption, or just to listen if that’s what you need. My services are absolutely free!

An Adoption Agency Moved Kristen To Utah

Kristen (names have been changed) was living in Southern California when she became unexpectedly pregnant. At that time, Kristen was struggling with homelessness. She already had two kids she was parenting, and she had trouble holding down a job. There had been a couple of Child and Family Service cases opened on her other two kids, and she didn’t want this baby to end up in the foster care system. For these, and many other reasons, Kristen felt adoption was right for her.

Not knowing where to turn or how to start the adoption process, Kristen did a Google search. She found an agency in Utah that advertised free housing for expectant moms who wanted to place a baby for adoption in Utah. The agency told Kristen if she wanted free temporary housing, she had to move to an apartment complex the agency owned in Utah. Initially Kristen thought it sounded sketchy, but she thought because it was an adoption agency they must be legit.  She agreed to move to Utah and the agency paid her airfare and for the temporary housing.

Moving To Utah Was Isolating and Depressing

Kristen almost immediately regretted the move. While the agency allowed her to bring a support person along (baby’s father Jeff who was also homeless and unemployed), they immediately felt isolated. Both had always lived in Southern California, and they immediately started to miss their friends and family and other kids. They found Utah to be very spread out, and nothing was in walking distance. With nowhere to go and no way to get around, they were stuck in the apartment most of the time. Kristen and Jeff had been together a long time, but hadn’t lived together. Within days they were bickering and getting on each other’s nerves.

They also weren’t prepared for the winter weather. After about three weeks it started to snow. Coming from Southern California, Kristen and Jeff didn’t have clothes for the cold weather and didn’t have any interest in outdoor winter activities. They missed the sunshine and being outdoors, walking and relaxing by the ocean. Kristen especially started to feel depressed. She had trouble getting out of bed and didn’t want to do anything but watch TV. There were many times they thought they should just go home to California, but they didn’t have the money for the plane, and the agency wouldn’t pay for a place ticket until the baby was placed for adoption.

Kristen’s Father Has A Stroke

When Kristen finally called me, she was frantic. Her father had suffered a stroke and was in the hospital. They weren’t sure how bad it was and couldn’t give a prognosis. Kristen was desperate to get home to see him. She called the agency and they wouldn’t pay for airfare. Kristen and Jeff didn’t have the money, so they were stuck.

When they called me, Kristen and Jeff had lots of questions. Most important, they wanted to know if they had to stay in Utah. Could they work with a different agency? They were terrified of getting arrested or getting in some other trouble in Utah. I explained that they could always change their minds. Accepting financial assistance, even moving to another state, does not obligate you to do an adoption. In my mind, the biggest issue was the adoptive family they chose. If they wanted to place their baby with the adoptive family they chose, then they might have to stay with that agency.

The Agency Hadn’t Chosen A Family For Them

I was relieved and also surprised that Kristen and Jeff hadn’t been matched with a family yet. It bothered me that the agency was going to choose the family (Kristen and Jeff didn’t seem to mind), but even more so, that she hadn’t met and gotten to know a family yet. (They definitely wanted an open adoption.) The pregnant women I work with always choose the adoptive family. If they insist that I choose, then I send them a profile of a family who has been waiting for a really long time and then keep sending profiles until they find one that is a fit. As long as the birth parents are okay with someone else choosing, I’m not going to argue.

I was relieved that Kristen and Jeff hadn’t been matched, because I didn’t want them to disappoint adoptive parents who were excited about adopting their baby. The fact that they weren’t matched after several weeks made me question how this agency operated. This is pure speculation, but I had heard of agencies charging adoptive parents different prices for different babies.  I couldn’t help but wonder if this agency was looking for adoptive parents who were willing to pay the price the agency wanted. In any case, Kristen and Jeff wanted to get back to Southern California, and I agreed to help them under the circumstances.

Choosing An Adoptive Family Felt Empowering

When Kristen explained to her mom that it was not against the law for her and Jeff to leave Utah, her mom borrowed money from a friend to pay for the airfare. I assured them that if Kristen and Jeff ultimately chose adoption, the adoptive parents they chose could reimburse her mom for the airfare to get them back to California.

Once she knew her dad was going to be alright, Kristen was ready to start adoption planning again. She was surprised at how relieved and empowering it was for her to choose the adoptive parents herself. She admitted that she didn’t know that was an option. Kristen and Jeff weren’t sure how open they wanted the adoption to be, but they knew they wanted to meet the adoptive parents before Kristen delivered. Kristen was really clear, too, that the adoptive parents would be the first to hold the baby.

Labor and delivery were smooth, and the time everyone spent together at the hospital was really incredible. They have an open adoption with a visit every couple of years. Kristen and Jeff frequently thank me for helping them find the best possible family for their daughter. I couldn’t be happier for all of them.

If there’s one thing I hope you learn from this story, it’s that you have options. I’m here to help you figure out these options and to be there for you as you decide what’s best for you and your baby. Use the contact options on this page to reach out directly to me. I can help!