Adoption Locator

One of the elements defining an adoption is the degree of openness between birthparents, adoptive parents and the adopted child. The degrees range from open adoption to closed adoption with semi-open and semi-closed adoptions falling between these spectrums. The degree of openness is usually chosen by the birthparents so the adoptive parents may need to be flexible in this regard but you should still look into what each involves.

Open adoption means that there is quite a bit of communication between the adoptive parents and birthparents. The child may also know who the birthparent is. How much information is shared is up to both couples or the adoptive parents and the birthmother, but generally includes sharing identifying information, writing letters to one another, visiting, sending photographs and generally communicating with the birthparents or birthmother through out the child?s life.

Whereas in open adoption the contact is direct between birthparents and adoptive parents, in a semi-open adoption there is still contact allowed in the form of letters, gifts, photos, etc; but these are sent through the adoption agency in order to allow both sets of parents some space in not being required to deal directly with one another. The child is still allowed to know who their birth parent is and the agency will keep the birthparents informed about their child, but there will be no direct contact between the families.

In a semi-closed adoption there will be no contact between birthparents and adoptive parents, but the birthparents will be able to look through a number of profiles of parents wanting to adopt in order to choose the parents for their child. The birthparents may therefore see photos of the adoptive parents beforehand and learn something about the family in order to decide who they want to raise their child but after this there will be no further contact and the agency will handle all the details.

In a closed adoption, the adoption agency determines which family to send a child to and no information is given either to the birthparents or the adoptive parents. There is no communication between the sets of parents or with the child after they have been given up for adoption.

Adoptions range from open adoption where there is a lot of communication and information shared between parents and with the child, through to closed adoption where no information is shared or communication kept. In general open or semi-open adoption is preferred over closed adoption. In some cases however the birthparents may elect to go for semi-closed or closed adoption depending on their circumstances and what they feel able to cope with. As an adoptive parent you will generally need to be open to options but if you are strongly against a certain option then you may also have room to inform the adoption agency you are working with.

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