Pregnancy Counseling

An unexpected pregnancy presents many difficult choices. At Wide Horizons For Children (WHFC), you will meet a caring, experienced social worker - a social worker you can trust, who keeps your confidence, who does not judge and who understands and respects your feelings. If you choose to work with WHFC during your pregnancy, we can offer you support in a variety of ways.

Resources for your health needs

First and foremost, your health and well-being and the health of your child are extremely important. Our pregnancy social workers want to ensure that you are receiving adequate pre-natal care and have access to ongoing medical services. In addition, if you need help with other basic needs such as housing, food, or clothing, we will help you with this.

Resources for communicating with your family and friends

Our pregnancy social workers are committed to understanding your unique situation and working with the important people in your life. This may include the child's birth father, his parents, your parents, other family members or other children you may be parenting.

The Decision-Making Process: Whether to Parent or Not to Parent

Your Options

Throughout this process you have choices regarding your child. In reviewing all of your options related to whether you feel prepared to become a parent or not, we are committed to ensure that you have accurate and thorough information and resources. Your social worker will provide you with all the information regarding your options including:

• Choosing whether or not to continue your pregnancy
• Choosing to place your child in short-term foster care to give you additional time to make your decision
• Choosing to work with Wide Horizons For Children adoption placement services should you choose not to parent your child
• Choosing to parent your child and helping you access necessary services to do so

Your Rights

Throughout this process, you have specific rights which we respect:

• Your child remains your child until you decide to make an alternative plan. You should not be coerced by any person into relinquishing your child for adoption.
• You have the right to choose an adoptive family.
• You have the right to request full openness in an adoption plan including the exchange of identifying information with the adoptive family.
• You have the right to request confidentiality in an adoption plan and not share any identifying information with the adoptive family.

Post-Birth Counseling

The time following the birth of your child can be an emotionally difficult period. Our social workers will be available to support and guide you through decisions and plans you've made or are making for you and your child. Whether or not you decide to pursue an adoption plan following the birth of your child, they will ensure your rights and decisions are honored and protected.

Post-Adoption Consent Counseling

At WHFC, we consider adoption to be a life-long process. In an effort to be a supportive presence and resource, we often have contact with birth families throughout their lives. We will help mediate and support your relationship with your child's adoptive family throughout this life-long process.