Question 1

How Can Sunrise Help Me?

Accepted Answer

At Sunrise Family Services Society, our counselors often receive emails or phone calls with adoption related questions. One of the questions that we simply hear all the time is “How Can Sunrise Help Me?” Please see the video for the full answer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYRRhoSAaqY

Question 2

Must I be sure that I want to plan an adoption before I come to see you?

Accepted Answer

No. Our counsellors will spend as much time as you need to review your options and help you get the information you need to make the choices that are right for you. If you decide not to plan an adoption, we will refer you to resources and organizations, which can assist you. We can put you in touch with birth mothers who have placed a child for adoption, or birth mothers who have chosen to parent their children, who would be available to talk with you.

Question 3

I Don't Live In The Lower Mainland - Can You Still Help With Adoption?

Accepted Answer

The answer is absolutely Yes. Our office is located in North Vancouver and you are welcome to come in and have a meeting in our office anytime. We also have the availability to come to you so one of our counsellors can meet with you in your area in your community in any location that you are comfortable with.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yrIbwld7xU

Question 4

What about the birth father?

Accepted Answer

Some birth fathers are involved in the adoption planning, some are not, and some in fact wish to parent. Whatever the situation, we can help. While it is ideal if the birth father is involved and supporting you in your adoption plan, that is not always the case. However, if he is involved, we can offer counselling support, and provide information regarding a birth father's legal rights.
 
If the birth father is not supportive of an adoption plan, you can talk to your counsellor about the implications, options and decision-making for the best possible outcome for the baby. Even when the birth father is not involved you can provide any known medical and social information, to preserve for the child.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-OI3L83bag

Question 5

When Should I Contact The Adoption Agency?

Accepted Answer

The answer is any time, really. We work with women at all different stages of their pregnancy as early as confirmation of the pregnancy all the way up to being called after the child has been born. We will work with you at any stage of your decision making process to help you look at your options and make the best plan for you and your baby. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1gvg-06BxM

Question 6

Can I Pick The Family For My Child?

Accepted Answer

At Sunrise Family Services Society, our counselors often receive emails or phone calls with adoption related questions. One of the questions that we simply hear all the time is “Can I Pick The Family For My Child?” The answer is YES.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpVcQVc4R8A

Question 7

How Do I Chose The Adoptive Family?

Accepted Answer

The counsellors at Sunrise will provide you with the profiles of prospective adoptive families, for your review. In many cases, birth parents will select a few families that they are drawn to; Sunrise will then give you the homestudy packages of the families you are interested in knowing more about. After you have reviewed the homestudies and profile information, and have selected a family who is the right match for you, your counsellor will contact the family to discuss the potential for placement. You will likely meet the family you choose before the baby is born, at a meeting arranged by your counsellor. It is only after this meeting that you confirm that this is the right family for you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZkIz8hCSio

Question 8

What will the adoptive family learn about me?

Accepted Answer

You will complete a social and medical history which we will share with the adoptive family. Sunrise will not release any identifying information you have provided to us, such as a last name or contact information. However, once you meet the family, you can share as much information as you feel appropriate.    
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ber6fBb01-Q

Question 9

What Will I Know About The Adoptive Family?

Accepted Answer

Once you begin working with us you will get to read a homestudy report on as many different families as you would like. That report is actually an assessment completed by a social worker that includes several background checks as well as a full education program that they complete with the agency. Please see the video for the full answer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfyYbCnW3JY

Question 10

What Happens After I Choose a Family and We Meet?

Accepted Answer

After the initial meeting with the family, you can discuss how much contact you would like before the baby is born. Where you meet and the amount of contact you have with the adopting family is up to you. You can also discuss the kind of openness you will have after the adoption.
 
You will work with your counsellor to develop a birth plan, including: whether or not the adoptive family will be with you during the birth, who will care for baby in hospital, how long you would like to spend with the baby before you sign the consents to adoption, when the baby will go home with the adopting parents, how the placement of the baby with the adopting parents will occur, and any plans that are important to you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mV_EeEDaAs

Question 11

Can I See My Child As They Grow Up?

Accepted Answer

The answer is yes. As the birth parent making an adoption plan, you can determine what your level of openness and contact will look like and a conversation that you can have with the family that you choose to place your child with, and we as the agency are here to help you with those conversations.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cLOFj8g0H0

Question 12

What about ongoing openness?

Accepted Answer

You and the adoptive family will decide what kind of relationship and contact you might have. Having a discussion about openness before the baby is born can help to clarify what you are looking for in terms of openness and contact, and ensure that the adopting family is a suitable match. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Y3s4EDE3a4

Question 13

Is open adoption good for my baby?

Accepted Answer

The literature about open adoption is overwhelmingly positive about the benefits of openness, not only for the child, but the birth parents and adopting family. Openness takes a commitment to relationship building, by the birth-parents and adopting parents, but the outcome is incredibly positive for the child, who will benefit from loving relationships with many people. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG1sJvvji2U

Question 14

Are my parents, friends and birth father allowed to see the baby?"

Accepted Answer

Yes - you can invite whomever you wish to visit you while you are in the hospital. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGveD5ZSFXo

Question 15

What happens when the baby is born?

Accepted Answer

Usually a hospital-stay or birth plan is in place before you deliver. However, your wishes may change when the time arrives. This is often a very emotional time and you may need more time and support than you initially anticipated. Your counsellor will be on hand to ensure your experience is what you want. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuS5pMZYfEQ

Question 16

Who will choose the baby’s name?

Accepted Answer

The name given to the baby at birth can be chosen by you, the adoptive parents, or you can give the baby a name together; it is really up to you to decide what feels right. Some birth parents find that giving the baby a name which is significant to them is an important part of the adoption process.   
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPkXLeBZ-gI

Question 17

When Can I Sign The Adoption Papers?

Accepted Answer

At Sunrise Family Services Society, our counselors often receive emails or phone calls with adoption related questions. One of the questions that we simply hear all the time is “When can I sign the adoption papers?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwCjPCt5iZE

Question 18

How Will I Feel?

Accepted Answer

You may wonder, how will I feel after I leave the hospital? How will I feel on my child’s first birthday? How will I feel when I see my child again for the first time? These are all questions you can talk about with a counsellor at our adoption agency. We can discuss your fears about the future.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhcGo6PgvSA

Question 19

What About Social Pressure?

Accepted Answer

Some moms tell us that they are worried that if they make an adoption plan, their friends will think they are being a bad mom. What is the right decision for one person, is not the right choice for another. Only you can make the right choice for you and your baby. You are not a bad mom if you choose to place your baby for adoption. Making an adoption plan is a very selfless choice. You may be making this choice because you feel that you are unable to parent at this time in your life. That means you are putting your baby’s needs first.
 
If you decide to place your child for adoption, you will be making a very hard choice for you. You will also be giving a couple the opportunity to become a family. There are many couples who are not able to have children and really want to have the chance to be parents.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OuPPCOc19U

Question 20

Are There Fees For Your Services?

Accepted Answer

The answer is NO. No fees at all for any of our services to you whether you decide to place your baby for adoption or as a birth parent, there will be no fees at any point. Additionally, if you go on counseling with us there are no charges for those services either.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BH9j9E-nLk

Question 21

Will the agency continue to give me support?  What support does the agency offer post-adoption placement?

Accepted Answer

Sunrise offers post-placement counselling and facilitates a support group in Vancouver that is available once a month. Our counsellors can provide you with one on one counselling in person, or over the telephone. You are invited to participate in or attend any agency events, such as our birth-parent information panels which occur three times a year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxO39SMw7d8

Question 22

What if I already know someone who would like to adopt my baby?

Accepted Answer

This is called a direct placement. If you have someone in mind who you would like to place your baby with, we will work with you and the family to facilitate this process, and provide you with whatever support you need.

Adoption FAQs