Adoption Triad

The three main relationships forever interconnected in an adoption- the child, birth family and adoptive family.

Birth parent

A child’s biological parent who has signed a consent to make an adoption plan. Please note, a pregnant woman who is considering adoption should not be called a "birth mother," even if she has indicated her intent to place the child for adoption.

Expectant parent

A person or couple who are pregnant/ expecting the birth of a child and considering making an adoption plan for his/her/their child after birth.

Finalization

Officially completing the legal adoption process in your state that grants you permanent legal custody of your child.

Open Adoption

An adoption entered into with some level of contact between the birth family and adoptive family.

Placement

The transition of a child to the care of an individual or family who plans to adopt them.

Screening email

An email that alerts waiting families to the potential adoption plan of an expectant parent or parents.

“The call”

The phone call, typically from the hospital or agency social worker, that tells a waiting family they have been selected by a expectant family to parent.

The pool

When an adoption agency is involved in matching expectant parents and waiting families, the pool refers to the list of waiting families working with a given agency.

Waiting family

A family hoping to grow their family via adoption, who has completed a home study but has not yet been matched with a child.