Adoption Services
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Do you want to adopt an infant and grow your family? Do you want to connect to a woman or couple who has chosen adoption as a positive life decision?
Thousands of young women and men choose adoption as a plan for their unborn babies, and Hillcrest Family Services has been connecting birth parents and adoptive parents since 1914, when Dr. Nancy Hill founded our family-centered organization.
Hillcrest believes adoption should be a positive, uplifting relationship between birth parents and adoptive parents.
Hillcrest Family Services helps families through the processes of both domestic and international adoptions. We know the steps to take to make the process as smooth as possible. There are several options for today’s adoptive parents. We can provide in-depth information and counseling on these adoption options:
Open Adoption
- The expectant parents meet potential adoptive families before making their selection.
- The birth and adoptive families fully disclose identifying information (names and addresses) at the appropriate time.
- There may be ongoing contact, such as: attending the birth of the child, attending physician visits together, visiting the home, gathering as extended family members during special occasions, etc.
- There is direct correspondence between the families.
- The families contact each other directly by telephone.
- There are face-to-face meetings during the child's lifetime.
Semi-open Adoption
- The expectant parents choose a family from written, non-identifying profiles.
- An agency or third party mediates the contact between the parties before and after the birth.
- Birthparents and adoptive parents know each other only by their first names.
- Adoptive parents may be present at the birth and may have met the birthparents before the birth.
- All correspondence is sent through the agency or third party.
- Post-placement meetings are arranged and supervised by the mediator.
- Adoptive parents often share the child's pictures and letters with the birthparents, but may also include gifts, videotapes, etc.
Confidential Adoption
- Expectant parents request that the agency choose their child's adoptive family.
- Birth and adoptive parents do not disclose any identifying information (full names and addresses).
- The adoptive family receives information about the birth family's medical history up to the point of placement. There is no planned, ongoing sharing of social and medical information after the adoption is finalized.
- There is no contact between the adoptive family and birth family, such as sharing of photos and letters, or visits.
- Access to finding a birthparent is limited by law and must be by mutual agreement at the time the child is of legal age. The adult child must contact the state central adoption registry.
Whatever your choice, we will help you every step of the way. You’ll have many opportunities to visit in person, with our compassionate, knowledgeable staff. You’ll attend educational sessions on adoption issues. We conduct both psychological and physical exams for adoptive parents, as well as background checks, reference checks. We visit your home and community. We truly get to know you and your desires to parent.
We serve anyone in Iowa who wishes to consider adoption or parenting. While our offices are in Dubuque and Cedar Rapids, we will travel to meet you.
Our services are available to everyone, without regard to race, color, age, national origin, handicap, creed, religious or political affiliation.
Contact Us
Melissa Anderson, LISW, Director
Melissa.anderson@hillcrest-fs.org
Dubuque office
Cell: 563-542-5624
Jody Kirby, BSW, Adoption Social Worker
Jody.kirby@hillcrest-fs.org
Dubuque office
Cell: 563-542-6457
Robin Shelby, LBSW, Adoption Social Worker
robin.shelby@hillcrest-fs.org
Cedar Rapids office
Cell:319-560-1275
Melody Reck, Post Legal Adoption Services, Administrative Assistant
melody.reck@hillcrest-fs.org
Cedar Rapids office
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