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29 Oct Open Adoption

Posted at 10:27h in Adoption Information, Adoption News, Birth Mothers by

Openness in adoption refers to the amount of contact among birth parents, adoptive parents, and the adopted child. The amount of contact may vary from family to family and, within a family, may change over time. This communication may range from little or no contact; to mediated contact through a third party, anonymous email, or post office box; to ongoing communication with shared identifying information; to occasional in-person contact, holiday visits, or regular communication and visitation when all parties wish it to happen. There is not one type or degree of openness that is right for every family.

Appoximately ninety-five percent of domestic infant adoptions in the US have some degree of openness with varying levels of ongoing connections between adoptive families and their children’s birth families.In the vast majority of domestic infant adoptions, the adoptive and expectant parents considering adoption meet each other, and the expectant parents pick the new family for their baby. In many infant adoptions, openness continues on some level once the adoption is finalized. The level of openness varies from sending letters and pictures through an adoption agency, to online connections via Facebook, to periodic phone calls and texts, to scheduled visits. It is important that both the expectant and adoptive parents are informed of their options for open adoption before they are matched, and that both parents find the right level of openness going forward.

Openness in adoption has evolved over the last 25 years because of the input from adult adoptees and research by mental health professionals. Longitudinal adoption research has shown that open adoption is better for adoptees, adoptive parents, and birth parents.

+ How Common Is Open Adoption in the US?
+ Why Should I Consider Open Adoption? Who Does It Help?
+ Is Open Adoption the Same As Co-Parenting?

Many people at the beginning of their adoption journey have never heard of or considered open adoption, and thus are often wary. It is common for prospective adoptive families and birth parents to initially have fears or concerns regarding openness (contact) with one another. It is very important that both adoptive parents and expectant parents become educated on open adoption and their options for creating an ongoing relationship that will work for all parties in the best interest of the child. Developing a relationship may help allay many of these fears.

Adoptive Families Magazine provides a collection of resources on open adoption from both birth families’ and adoptive parents’ perspectives. Blog topics include: what should be included in an openness agreement, working through miscommunication, and adoptive parents and birth parents accounts of adoption, among others.

 

If you have any questions regarding open adoption or you are ready to begin your adoption journey, contact Adoption Choices of Arizona!

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