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Open Adoption

Open adoption is one of several openness options available to families adopting today. In mediated or semi-open adoptions, contact between birth and adoptive families is made through the agency without identifying information being shared. Open adoption brings birth and adoptive families together and recognizes how important they all are to each other and to the child. It allows both families to nurture their relationship as it naturally develops. The agency continues to be available to support the relationships that develop.

In an open adoption:
The birth parents meet potential adoptive families before making their selection.
The birth and adoptive families fully disclose identifying information (names and addresses) at the appropriate time.
There may be ongoing contact in the form of: attending the birth of the child, attending physician visits together, visiting the home, gathering as extended family members during special occasions, etc.
There is direct correspondence between the families.
The families contact each other directly by telephone.
There are face-to-face meetings during the child's lifetime.

Adoptive parents who do well in an open adoption accept birth parent participation as a way to enhance their parenting and the life of their child, not to diminish it. Typically, they are confident enough to set appropriate boundaries without fear of jeopardizing their relationship with the birth family. Birth parents who do well in open adoptions view their role not as parents, but as persons very special to the family. They are accepting of the entire adoptive family and build a relationship centered on what is best for the child. Open adoption is most easily understood in the context of an "extended family" relationship.

Relationships with some degree of openness seem to give adoptive parents the best opportunity to answer their children's questions most effectively. In open adoption plans, children grow knowing that they are loved by their family members -- the parents who adopted them and the parents who gave them life.

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