Pregnant?

An unexpected pregnancy can lead to a lot of unanticipated questions:

What am I going to do?
Who can I turn to for help?
How do I take care of a child?

We will help you sort out your feelings and work with you as you sort through the steps
and choices of parenting or adoption.



Pregnancy Services with Catholic Charities

At A Caring Connection , we offer FREE, CONFIDENTIAL, CARING, AND PROFESSIONAL PREGNANCY SERVICES to anyone who is troubled by an unexpected pregnancy, regardless of race, ethnic/national origin, religious or marital status.  We provide services throughout the state and will meet with you in your home or a site in your community.

It is our aim to help you in making your decision by listening to your concerns and needs, assisting you in finding answers to your questions, and helping you to make the best decision for you and your baby.  A Caring Connection can help you understand more about yourself, your pregnancy, the new life growing inside you, and help you create a positive plan for you and your child's future.

Services are available for women and men of all ages to assist them in deciding whether to parent their child or make an adoption plan.  A pregnancy affects more than the pregnant woman alone; therefore, others may be involved in counseling, including the child's father, a spouse or significant other, and other family members or friends.


How to Know Which Option is Best for You and Your Baby

The following are considerations for women experiencing an unexpected or untimely pregnancy:

Will you have the resources to make a good home and family life?
Are you emotionally ready to parent this child?
Have you finished school?
What are your job prospects?
Who will provide child care?
Who can you depend on to help you?
What is the best plan for this child?  Who can provide that?
Will you have the resources to make a good home and family life?

Our staff will assist you in exploring these and many other issues -- and in looking at how the adoption and parenting options would affect your future and your child's future.  One of the best ways to determine if adoption is right for you is to talk with someone who has made an adoption plan to learn firsthand of their experience with adoption.  You may also want to talk with someone in circumstances similar to yours who has chosen to parent their child.  A Caring Connection   can put you in touch with someone who has faced the same decisions you're facing now.


Parenting As An Option

Should you choose to parent, A Caring Connection will assist you in finding the resources you will need to care for your child (i.e. housing, clothing, etc.).  We also offer parenting education, assistance with budgeting, and information on resources for which you may be eligible.




Adoption As An Option

Adoption is a lifelong process and A Caring Connection views each adoption as unique and sacred.  Individualized services include not only legal aspects of adoption, but we also offer expertise in the whole adoption experience.  Our goal is to assist you in arranging an adoption plan with which you are comfortable. Our doors will remain open to you even after the adoptive placement.  We're here for you as long as you need us!

With A Caring Connection , you have the reassurance of knowing the parents you choose for your child have already been carefully screened and prepared for parenting an adoptive child.  The home studies of A Caring Connection adoptive parents include criminal background checks, home inspections, financial information, medical screenings, and numerous references.  In addition, each adoptive couple is trained in CPR and adoption issues.

With the extensive training provided to our adoptive couples, A Caring Connection is able to send your baby home from the hospital with the couple you choose, eliminating the need for a foster home placement.  Before an adoption is finalized, an experienced Caring Connection staff person maintains contact with the adoptive family to assure a successful transition.


Open and Closed Adoption

When an adoption plan is chosen, the birth parent(s) may select the adoptive family for the child and may select an "open" or "closed" adoption.

An open adoption involves sharing of information between the birth family and adoptive family and possible ongoing contact between both parties.  A closed adoption means that no identifying information is shared between the birth family and the adopting family.


In an open adoption, birth parents decide how much information to share with the adoptive parents and how much involvement they will have with the child and adoptive family.  Birth parents may opt to meet the family before or after the baby is born, share letters and pictures throughout the years and have ongoing contact, if desired.