What Is an Open Adoption?
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An open adoption is, essentially, an adoption in which the child who is being adopted has the possibility of having a relationship with his birth family. Contact is allowed and even encouraged between the birth family and the adopted child. This is in contrast to a closed or a semi-open adoption, in which the adopted child may never have any contact with his birth family until he is over the age of 18, if ever.
A birth family is able to know specific, identifying information about the adoptive parents in an open adoption. The birth mother can select the adoptive family, and will often meet them ahead of the birth. In some instances, the adoptive family may even be in the delivery room when the baby is born. In a semi-open adoption, the birth mother is given only profiles with non-identifying and non-specific information about the birth parents.
In an open adoption, direct, one-on-one contact between the birth family and the adopted child may take place. This can take the form of visits, phone calls, letters, or even emails. Contact is also encouraged and necessary between the adopting parents and the birth family, as the adopting parents will be intricately involved in facilitating the contact between the adopted child and her birth family.
An open adoption can be more of a hassle for both the birth parents and for the adoptive parents. However, there is research to suggest that adopted children who have access to their birth family may benefit in a variety of ways. It helps to give a child a more complete sense of identity and a bigger sense of wholeness. An open adoption is based on the idea that it is best for the child to know his birth family, but to be raised by his adoptive family. While an open adoption can be awkward and uncomfortable at first, at least for the adoptive parents and the birth parents, over time much of this dissipates.
If you are considering adoption, or if you are placing your baby into adoption, you should consider the possible benefits of an open adoption.
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