If your co-worker wants to place her baby for adoption, as far as I know it would be possible for you to adopt it privately through an attorney, as long as you've completed your homestudy and all the preliminary paperwork and been approved. Maybe you should broach the subject with her. The only problem as I see it is that it might not be comfortable for the two of you to continue working together after the adoption, and it sounds like she really needs this job, so you might have to be the one to seek other employment. I'm not saying you CAN'T still work together... I just can't imagine how either of you could be comfortable with it, not unless you have an incredibly open adoption arrangement where she is allowed to see the baby anytime she wants to. It would be very difficult for her to see YOU on a daily basis and not be able to see the baby.
If she's having problems caring for her other children, there may be programs that can help her. In my state, there are many resources for women in her position. There is a program called CCMS, (I believe it's a federal program, so perhaps they have it in your state as well) which offers financial assistance to low-income mothers to help them afford childcare... in fact, if they qualify, this program covers the entire cost of tuition for the children. There is also an organization called Any Baby Can, which offers free parenting classes and other support for single mothers. You might refer your co-worker to some programs in your area that could help her... your local Department of Health and Human Services could probably give you some idea of what resources are available. Best of luck to both of you. Sincerely, ~Sharon
