The coronavirus (COVID-19) is on everyone’s minds this week as schools are being closed and workers are being sent home. This virus is also on the minds of those at Adoption Choices of Texas too. We are here to inform you about how adoption is being impacted by this international pandemic. Please have patience with us as we navigate the many effects of this newfound virus.
Below are three ways adoption might be impacted by the coronavirus:
1. Adoptions may be delayed
Many people only consider the way international adoptions are being delayed by the coronavirus crisis, especially for adoptions from China. However, local adoptions are also most likely delayed because the spread of disease is trying to be minimized. Adoptive parents and potential adoptees are not going to come in contact with each other as much as they normally would to help prevent the spread of virus.
Open adoptions, where birth parents and adoptive parents have an option of contact, are probably being moved from face-to-face to online or over the phone. This is being done to minimize the spread of the Coronavirus, which is “thought to spread mainly person-to-person,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Protection. The conversion of mostly digital communication may take some time for parents to adjust to.
2. Number of working staff might be reduced
The wonderful people who make the workings of Adoption Choices of Texas possible will not be able to come into work as much because of the virus. The CDC has recommended “in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the U.S.” to be cancelled. If places of work have more than 50 people or more in a single space, these would also need to be cancelled. People who are sick are also asked to stay home as well.
Thus, there are not going to be as many people on hand to help with the process of adoption as there once was, at least in person. The staff of Adoption Choices of Texas are able to help online or over the phone, though.
3. Emergency plans are possibly being updated
As more news about the coronavirus comes out, plans will need to be updated. This means those looking to Adoption Choices of Texas for services need to be prepared for upcoming announcements and adjustments that reflect the news about the virus.
We are here for you
The leaders of Adoption Choices of Texas are doing all they can to adapt and overcome the effects of the coronavirus. We ask for your support and understanding as they prepare for further impact from the virus. We are fully operating during these times supporting our birth mothers and adoptive families.
Take steps to protect yourself and your family from the disease. Wash your hands often, and avoid contact with others. If you think you already have the disease or are sick, stay home and avoid public areas. Seek medical care if needed. For more information about the disease, head onto the CDC’s website. For more resources about adoption in general, explore more at https://www.adoptionchoicesoftexas.org
