HAPS is a private, not-for-profit adoption agency licensed by the State of New Jersey to provide a complete range of adoption services.
We provide traditional adoption placement services in which a birthmother contacts us directly, and we assist her in choosing an adoptive family. We also work with adoptive parents and attorneys to provide “Identified” agency placements, in which the adoptive parent and birthparent have already identified one another. We are approved to provide placement services for New Jersey and Connecticut families, as well as well as families living in other states whose adoption laws permit out-of-state placements.
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HAPS’ licensed clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) provide options counseling for birthparents who are considering making an adoption plan. We provide pre-placement and post-placement counseling for birthparents. Under New Jersey law for agency adoptions, termination of birthparents' rights cannot occur less than 72 hours after the birth of the child her child.
Birthmothers contact HAPS through referrals from hospitals, schools, attorneys and other networking sources. Once a birthmother has contacted our agency and decided to place her child for adoption, we work diligently to provide the best services for all members of the adoption triad, especially for the child who is always our primary client.
Finding a Birthmother: HAPS utilizes networking with hospitals, attorneys and other sources. Adoptive parents, however, are encouraged to advertise and to use an 800 phone line. They are assisted in placing ads by our staff and are supported in completing a “Dear Birthparent” Letter and Portfolio.
Birthmother Referral: Part of the services provided by our agency is to screen and accept appropriate birthparent referrals and to obtain pregnancy confirmation. Once a birthparent is identified, letters and portfolios are presented to her, if requested.
Services Provided To Birthmother: HAPS will initiate adoption services which will include a minimum of 3 face-to-face options counseling sessions on separate days with the birthmother (NJAC 10:12A-5.4). These sessions are conducted to evaluate the birthmother’s emotional and physical state regarding her ability to make decisions for permanency planning for her child. The Social Worker will discuss options and provide adoption counseling, obtain releases for all medical/hospital records, take social and medical history, and initiate contact with the hospital to determine hospital policies surrounding adoption and adoptive parents’ presence at birth and visitations.
Services Provided To Birthfather: If the birthfather is known and available, our agency will provide him with the opportunity for face-to-face meetings, as with the birthmother. The Social Worker will obtain social and medical history.
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