Birth Parents

HFS has been assisting birth parents with unplanned pregnancies since 1949. If you are faced with an unwanted pregnancy, an HFS social worker will provide you with FREE unbiased counseling, information, and resources. A social worker can also come to your location.

Call our 24-hour hotline: (800) 464-2367

Our Adoptive Families

Get to know our waiting families and read the letters they’ve written to birth parents.

Caty & Brian

Jeremiah & Sarah

Christy & Sean

Katelin

Peter & Nikki

Ozzie & Mireya

Counseling

As the oldest continuing adoption agency in Los Angeles County, we’ve been assisting birth parents with unplanned pregnancies for over six decades. If you are faced with an unwanted pregnancy, an HFS social worker will provide you with free, unbiased, and supportive counseling, information and resources. A social worker can come to your location. Call (800) 464-2367.

Selecting Adoptive Parents

If you choose adoption, you can also choose the parents for your child. We have qualified and loving adoptive parents who have been screened and approved – they’re ready to become happy, caring parents. You may select them, meet them, and speak to them about your hopes and dreams for your child. Together, you can determine how open your relationship will be.

Temporary Foster Care

If you need time to decide your future, one of our loving foster families will care for your child until you come to a decision. This is a short-term, temporary service which is provided at no cost to you.

Parenting Support

Through counseling, some birth parents decide that they wish to parent their child. If you need someone to talk to and to help you find resources that will enable you to become a strong, committed parent, we are here for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I am only interested in talking to someone about my options and not committed to adoption?

HFS staff are not going to push adoption. We are here to listen to you and educate you on your options, parenting or adoption. We want to make sure that you make the best decision for you and your child, and to do that, you need unbiased information and support. You can have contact in person, by phone, or via email, depending on your preferences, but if you do choose to make an adoption plan, we will need to meet you in person to go over paperwork and discuss your adoption plan.

Things we will cover include your rights as a parent, your choices at the hospital, your choices in picking a family, and your choices in after-placement contact. We will only show you families that meet your criteria and that desire the same things you do.

If you do decide to parent, we do have wonderful supplies such as clothing, diapers, bottles, diaper bags, strollers, and formula to help with the initial stage as a new parent.

Contact us by calling 800-464-2367 or by emailing us at info@hfs.org.

What if I just found out I’m pregnant, should I wait to call?

You can call us at any time during your pregnancy or within a few months of your child’s birth. We will provide you with counseling and support throughout your pregnancy. Many of our birth parents don’t have a great deal of support from others because either they don’t have anyone or they are hiding their pregnancy. We are here for you!

Is it too late to call if my baby was already born?

It’s not too late to call and see what your options are. We work with mothers who have already delivered and counsel you on your options.

Can I get financial support?

The law states that a pregnant woman can receive financial support if it is pregnancy-related. This includes rent, travel to/from medical appointments, food, and clothing. HFS staff will discuss your financial needs with you when you meet. It is against the law to buy or sell a child, so the funding you would receive needs to meet State law requirements. Any money provided to you is considered a gift. So if you change your mind about the adoption, you will not be asked for the money back.

What if the baby is born and I’m still undecided?

In cases like this, we have approved and supervised families that can care for your child until you are comfortable with your decision to either parent or make an adoption plan. We recommend that the child only stay with this interim family for a short time so that the baby can start bonding with their forever family, you or adoptive parents.

What if 5 years later, I need supportive services related to my adoption? Can I get services from HFS?

At HFS, we believe in providing emotional support to our clients for their lifetime. No matter how long ago you made your adoption decision, you are welcome to call and talk to one of our social workers for free.

This is my first baby, and I don’t know what to expect. Do you provide classes for labor?

HFS highly recommends that you have prenatal visits, but in addition, we have a registered nurse on staff who can meet with you to discuss what to expect in labor and warning signs. This is a free service.

I am a single dad and might be interested in adoption. Can I also get services?

Yes, all parents are welcome to contact us and talk about your options.

What is Safe Surrender, and is it the same as making an adoption plan?

Safe Surrender is a California law that allows a birth mother to relinquish her infant in the first 3 days of life to a fire station or hospital with no questions asked. It was put into place in hopes that lives would be saved and that birth mothers, feeling that they had no other choice, could give their child a better life. Adoption through HFS does differ because we allow you to have a voice in the kind of family that will raise your child, and you will be allowed to have further contact with your child. The Safe Surrender program does not allow you to pick a family or have any further contact in the future.

I know someone who is pregnant, and I want HFS to talk them into making an adoption plan.

We are not in the business to talk pregnant moms into adoption. We ask that you provide her with our information and will talk to her about her options but will not push adoption. We believe that anyone who makes an adoption plan should be fully invested in the plan and feel comfortable with her decision.