Reasons someone might consider planning an adoption: Lack of support

By content specialist Leah Lusk and program manager Delphine Veith

Parenting isn’t just about financial resources — it also requires encouragement, consistency, and people to lean on. But not everyone has access to that kind of support. Some are isolated from their families, in strained or unsafe relationships, struggling to navigate convoluted systems, or already parenting without help from anyone. And sometimes people make assumptions about their available support systems – both about who can provide support and who can’t or won’t – that end up impacting their decisions. When someone is facing an unplanned pregnancy, it is critical that they can accurately assess what supports are available before making life-impacting decisions.

Society often idealizes the nuclear family while ignoring the real needs of people who may be trying to raise children without a partner, extended family, or reliable community. Some supportive services exist, but they can be hard to find, qualify for, and sustain.
When someone is already stretched thin — emotionally or logistically — the idea of parenting without backup can feel impossible. In these moments, adoption may appear to offer the structure and support that’s missing.

The absence of support doesn’t mean someone isn’t capable of parenting; they may need more time, more connection, or more community. We do our best to help the people we work with slow down to consider their options and fully explore the parenting resources and supports that are available to them. This might mean supporting people in talking with family and friends about their potential needs and researching what community resources are truly available. Sadly, there often just isn’t enough support for the people who need it most.

Coming next week: Not ready to parent