What services do we offer?

Pregnancy crisis service: 

Are you an expectant mother experiencing difficulty in planning for your future?

Or do you need to talk to someone who is neutral and can help you to look at your choices objectively, whether or not you are considering adoption?

Or do you just need to talk to a sympathetic listener who is non-judgmental?

Experienced social workers are here to give you confidential information and support.

If you choose adoption, we offer post-adoption counselling and support for as long as needed. The agency facilitates ongoing contact with the adoptive family if desired, including exchange of information, photographs and presents.

Extensive counselling is available to birth parents facing an unplanned pregnancy. We will help you look at all your options, making the best possible decision for yourself and your baby’s future. This service is available throughout the pregnancy and after the birth. Our help is both free and confidential, and we would like to assure you that we will support you in whatever decision you make.

If you choose the adoption option, you will have a say in where your child is placed. Margaret House has a number of families looking to adopt and you have the power to choose the most suitable adoptive family for your baby. All couples have been thoroughly screened and are ready and able to adopt immediately. Full family profiles are available to help you decide with whom you would like your baby to be placed. We also offer the choice of open adoptions.

Sex education: 

This service is available to all schools on request.

Preparing prospective adopters: 

If you are considering adoption as a way of building a family, you are invited to contact the agency to find out if you would be considered for our adoption programme.

If you would like to explore your options further, you are welcome to call one of our adoption workers, Bridget or Lisle, or the adoption secretary, Merle.. Prospective parents are screened and educated at Margaret House in all aspects of adoption. You will work with a social worker, who will help you to decide what type of adoption you want and  to help create and develop the insight, or understanding, necessary for a well-prepared adoptive family. Eventually, all the questions that you may have will have been answered and you will be ready to adopt.

You will then be asked to prepare a profile of your family. This is one of the most important aspects of your adoption. About 90% of the birth mothers, or birthparents, we work with want to select the adoptive family that will love and care for their child. They will make their selection based on the information in your family profile.

Newborns are usually placed with couples who are unable to have children of their own. Other families may be considered for children other than newborns. Support, counselling and information are given to couples both before and after the adoption.

Ongoing support, counselling & tracing for all adoptees:

Adoptees can talk to a social worker about any aspect of their adoption that is of concern to them. Information about birthparents, or even help in tracing them, is available. In order to trace your birthparents, the law requires you to be over 18 years of age, if you have your adoptive parents' consent, or over 21, without their consent. All enquiries are kept strictly confidential.

Abandoned babies: 

The agency places healthy abandoned babies with  adopters both nationally and internationally. Placements with South African adopters are preferable.