| The open adoption, or fully disclosed option, is | | | | he deal with the grief associated with giving an infant |
| becoming more and more the norm in adoption cases. | | | | up for adoption, she will feel more secure in her |
| In this kind of adoption the adoptive parents and the | | | | choice of adoptive parents, less pain and guilt will be |
| adoptee have an 'open' relationship with the birth | | | | associated with the decision and will feel comfortable |
| family. This means that they are actively involving the | | | | in the wellness off the infant. |
| birth family in the infant's life. | | | | Open adoption advantages for the adoptive parents |
| This openness if often conducted in a way that is | | | | include the increased sense in having the actual 'right' |
| most comfortable for the adopting parents and may | | | | to parent the infant, an increased sense of |
| include communication via telephone, letters, email and | | | | confidence in their parenting skills, a better |
| even visits. As the child grows and raises more | | | | understanding of the infant's background and the |
| questions the contact between the parties in the | | | | delight of being chosen as a parent. |
| adoption often changes to reflect the needs of the | | | | The advantages in an open adoption make it look like |
| family or child. | | | | a clear choice, however, there are also disadvantages |
| The goals in maintaining an open infant adoption are | | | | for both parties. For the birth mother the |
| focused entirely on the healthy growth and | | | | disadvantages may come if she feels disappointed in |
| development of the infant. An open adoption will help | | | | her choice of the adoptive family. Disadvantages for |
| the infant by minimizing it's loss, to celebrate all of | | | | the adoptive parents may come from pressure by |
| the important people in the adopted infant's life and | | | | the birth mother for visitation, negative feelings |
| at later stages in the child's life allow him or her to | | | | resulting from dealing with an emotionally disturbed |
| resolve issues related to the adoption itself. | | | | birth family or the potential for feeling they have an |
| If, in an infant adoption scenario, openness hasn't | | | | obligation to support the birth family. |
| been established in the onset then adoptive parents | | | | Other things to consider when deciding if an open |
| need to decide when and how much information | | | | adoption is something the parties would like is the |
| should be divulged about the birth family. Some things | | | | geographic proximity to each other, the stability of |
| to take into consideration when making this decision | | | | the people surrounding the situation and any legal |
| are: At what age should the child be included contact | | | | issues that may have a bearing on the circumstances. |
| with his or her birth family? What role or roles will the | | | | As with all aspects of an adoption, the decision of |
| birth family have in the child's life? What happens | | | | whether or not to have an open adoption should be |
| when one party involved decides to break off | | | | made prior to actually proceeding with the adoption |
| contact? | | | | of the infant. Having this knowledge will make the |
| An open adoption also offers some advantages to | | | | process of adoption go much smoother. |
| the families involved. For the birth mother it will help | | | | |