Life was difficult for Beth. At 22 years old, she discovered she was pregnant. Beth had a strained relationship with her ex-boyfriend, the father of her unborn child, and she was estranged from her family. Unemployed and without reliable transportation, Beth didn’t feel parenting was a viable option and began considering adoption.
A friend had heard positive things about the Catholic Charities Joining Hearts program and encouraged her to call. She set up a meeting with program staff in her rural Arizona home.
About Joining Hearts
Joining Hearts shows love to women facing an unexpected pregnancy. Our pregnancy hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by compassionate pregnancy specialists who help women and couples statewide to explore life-affirming birth options for their pregnancies. All services are free and support women in their plan to parent or place their child for adoption.
The Joining Hearts team is committed to helping women understand the facts about parenting, adoption, adoption law, birth parent rights and more to help them make the best plan for themselves and their child.
The program can arrange for temporary care for a baby if the mother needs more time to make a decision, without the pressure of parenting or placing. Referrals are also available to connect to resources for housing, medical care, support groups, education, baby items and parenting support. Masters-level staff offer pregnancy clients lifelong support, regardless of their decision to parent or place their child for adoption.
Parenting vs. Adoption
After meeting with staff and learning more about adoption and her options, Beth decided to make an adoption plan for her unborn child. She chose a semi-open adoption where she would receive regularly scheduled pictures and updates.
Next, she selected adoptive parents by looking at profile letters, instantly connecting with one of the couples who matched everything Beth hoped for her child’s future. Beth planned to meet the adoptive parents but went into labor prior to the scheduled meeting.
Flexible Planning
At delivery, Beth changed her mind and made the emotional decision to parent her child. Her pregnancy counselor respectfully supported her decision and helped her connect to community-based parenting services for support.
A few weeks later Beth called her pregnancy counselor and asked if she could still make an adoption plan. Beth explained that parenting was harder than she thought, and she was struggling.
Lifelong Adoption Support
Beth felt her child deserved more than she could provide at this time in her life and requested her baby be placed with the adoptive family she had originally selected. The baby was placed the next day at Beth’s request, and soon after, Beth was able to meet the adoptive family.
Beth remained strong in her adoption decision and expressed appreciation and gratitude to the adoptive family. Beth also expressed gratitude to Joining Hearts for walking alongside her, providing supportive services every step of her difficult journey.
If you or someone you know is experiencing an unexpected pregnancy, text or call 888-818-4445 or visit joiningheartsaz.org.
