| One of the elements defining an adoption is the | | | | In a semi-closed adoption there will be no contact |
| degree of openness between birthparents, adoptive | | | | between birthparents and adoptive parents, but the |
| parents and the adopted child. The degrees range | | | | birthparents will be able to look through a number of |
| from open adoption to closed adoption with | | | | profiles of parents wanting to adopt in order to |
| semi-open and semi-closed adoptions falling between | | | | choose the parents for their child. The birthparents |
| these spectrums. The degree of openness is usually | | | | may therefore see photos of the adoptive parents |
| chosen by the birthparents so the adoptive parents | | | | beforehand and learn something about the family in |
| may need to be flexible in this regard but you should | | | | order to decide who they want to raise their child |
| still look into what each involves. | | | | but after this there will be no further contact and the |
| Open adoption means that there is quite a bit of | | | | agency will handle all the details. |
| communication between the adoptive parents and | | | | In a closed adoption, the adoption agency determines |
| birthparents. The child may also know who the | | | | which family to send a child to and no information is |
| birthparent is. How much information is shared is up | | | | given either to the birthparents or the adoptive |
| to both couples or the adoptive parents and the | | | | parents. There is no communication between the |
| birthmother, but generally includes sharing identifying | | | | sets of parents or with the child after they have |
| information, writing letters to one another, visiting, | | | | been given up for adoption. |
| sending photographs and generally communicating | | | | Adoptions range from open adoption where there is |
| with the birthparents or birthmother through out the | | | | a lot of communication and information shared |
| child's life. | | | | between parents and with the child, through to |
| Whereas in open adoption the contact is direct | | | | closed adoption where no information is shared or |
| between birthparents and adoptive parents, in a | | | | communication kept. In general open or semi-open |
| semi-open adoption there is still contact allowed in the | | | | adoption is preferred over closed adoption. In some |
| form of letters, gifts, photos, etc; but these are sent | | | | cases however the birthparents may elect to go for |
| through the adoption agency in order to allow both | | | | semi-closed or closed adoption depending on their |
| sets of parents some space in not being required to | | | | circumstances and what they feel able to cope with. |
| deal directly with one another. The child is still allowed | | | | As an adoptive parent you will generally need to be |
| to know who their birth parent is and the agency will | | | | open to options but if you are strongly against a |
| keep the birthparents informed about their child, but | | | | certain option then you may also have room to |
| there will be no direct contact between the families. | | | | inform the adoption agency you are working with. |