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Open Adoption Explained
Author: Angela Heidt
If you are considering expanding your family through adoption, then you will have the option of an option adoption. But what exactly is an open adoption? The answer is not cut and dry as you can have different aspects in each adoption, depending on the wishes of the biological and adoptive families.
The True Open Adoption
In a fully open adoption, the biological family gets to have direct contact and interaction with the child – this can mean letters, phone calls, and visits. This allows each family to have a real connection with each other, which is something that may be important to your child as he or she ages. In no way does an open adoption diminish your rights as the adoptive parent; it merely keeps a link to your child’s biological family.
A Closed Adoption
A closed adoption is just that – closed. You and your family will have no contact with the biological family. You won’t know their names and will only be given basic medical information and health history. While this may seem like a good idea up front by shielding each family from the emotional turmoil of the adoption process, it takes a long term view to see just why open adoption can be for the best for all parties involved.
Benefits of an Open Adoption
While many people choose a closed adoption because it has the appearance of being “easier”, few stop to consider what will happen in the future, when your child is grown and wants to learn about his or her birth parents. Additionally, in the unlikely event that your child has a medical issue, an open dialogue with the biological parents can lead to a speedy recovery and in some cases can be a life saver.
Instead of thinking of your family and the biological parents as a separate entity, think of it as a blended family situation. Having contact with your child’s entire family will not only help your child, it also alleviates any feelings of guilt that may arise down the road from having “separated” your child from his or her first family. Together you can watch your child grow into a happy, healthy, and well-balanced individual.
How Open Adoptions Work
Generally speaking, an open adoption is a contract between an adoptive family and the birth family. The terms of this arrangement can vary widely from case-to-case. Contact can be limited to annual updates and photos, or can include regular phone calls and physical visits. It’s entirely up to the comfort of both parties, so that everyone is happy with the arrangement.
Before deciding on the type of adoption you prefer, take some time to talk to anyone you know who was adopted, or who adopted / gave up a child. Sometimes the best way to decide is to learn how the experienced worked first hand.
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