An open adoption is pretty much exactly how it sounds.
It’s open. Most adoptions in the United States now are open adoptions. It allows a birth mom (and birth dad), with the help of an adoption agency, the ability to choose an adoptive family that meets her personal criteria to raise her child. Many families like this option because it allows birth families to keep in touch with the adoptive family. The communication can be done directly from the birth parent to the adoptive parent or through means of a mediator (someone who communicates to both families). The adoptive and birth families work together and come up with an agreed upon communication plan. This can include emailing, texting, calling, personal visits, letters; anything and everything is up for discussion. On the other hand, if the families would rather just have identifiable information (first and last name, address, phone number), and medical records shared that is fine, too. There aren’t any two open adoptions that are the same.
What You Need to Know:
As with all decisions, it’s not always easy. Open adoptions do come with some difficult emotions. Some adoptive families may be insecure if the child has a strong bond with the birth family. And vice versa. Sometimes life can cause people to move to another city or state, making visitation more difficult, or when a child grows into an adult, they may not want the same contact agreement. These are all real issues that come with adoption. However, there are people to help guide you through the journey if you choose this is your best option. Consider contacting a counselor who is skilled in working with birth moms and the adoption process. And, as always, give us a call at Pathways. We are happy to answer any questions or put you in contact with those who can help you.