| An adoption option that includes a controlled level of | | | | into the adoptive child's birth family may prevent a |
| communication between the birth mother and the | | | | genuine connection to the relationship the child has |
| prospective adoptive family or parent is called a | | | | with his history. This may present issues when it |
| semi-open adoption. As with any adoption, the | | | | comes time to answer questions about heritage, |
| facilitator or agency will maintain full communication | | | | medical history or any other numbers of things |
| with the birth mother and the adoptive family, but in | | | | related to the child's blood relatives. Any |
| a semi-open adoption, the two will likely never make | | | | communication that does occur between the |
| contact without a third party. The agency, or | | | | adoptive family and the birth family has to be filtered |
| facilitator, with both parties' agreement, will | | | | through a third party, and there is the potential for |
| implement various forms of communication, which | | | | delay while the contact is being made, and the |
| may include e-mail, cards and letters or even acting | | | | question is being answered. |
| as the third party for phone communication. There | | | | Consideration for the disadvantages of semi-open |
| are varying degrees of disadvantages to this option, | | | | adoption for the adoptive child should be weighed |
| both for the birth family and the adoptive family, and | | | | carefully as well. The child may perceive a negative |
| additionally for the adoptive child. | | | | connotation surrounding his adoption when it is |
| Disadvantages to consider for the birth parents are | | | | learned that his adoptive parents chose not to have |
| limitless, and different for each individual circumstance. | | | | first hand knowledge of his birth family. He may |
| If your desire is to maintain a degree of relationship | | | | believe there is something wrong with the family or |
| or communication with your child, know that the | | | | simply never fully understand why there was limited |
| course of a semi-open adoption usually doesn't | | | | contact between the two families. As the child |
| provide for the names and location of the adoptive | | | | grows, and possibly finds his birth family, there could |
| parents, subsequently, communication regarding the | | | | be reluctance to meet them, based on his |
| health and general well being of your child may not | | | | preconceived notions, and challenges surrounding his |
| be readily available. Consider also, if your adoption | | | | own identity without a solid family history to support |
| agency contact leaves her current position, there | | | | him. This child may also never fully understand the |
| may be a period of adjustment and an interruption in | | | | nuances surrounding the adoptive or birth families' |
| the flow of communication while the position, and | | | | choices, which could lead to a life long struggle to |
| your case, are being reassigned. Prepare yourself for | | | | fully understand the sacrifices and circumstances that |
| the idea that your grieving process may be made | | | | brought him to his adoptive family. |
| more difficult by not being able to have the self | | | | The adoptive process is full of options, each requiring |
| assurance that the child you gave birth to has | | | | a degree of soul searching and solid personal choices. |
| flourished in his new environment. The semi-open | | | | Every adoption is unique and presents its self with it's |
| adoption, while a viable option for some, does not | | | | own set of challenges, for the birth family, the |
| provide for continued updates to the birth parents | | | | adoptive family and the adoptive child. Fully exploring |
| over the course of the child's life. | | | | and expressing your wants, needs and desires |
| While the thrill of a newly adopted child coming home | | | | surrounding your adoption, and keeping the lines of |
| is intangible for the adoptive family, the semi-open | | | | communication open, can ease the transition for all |
| adoption does present it's own set of challenges for | | | | parties involved. |
| these new parent's. Lack of understanding and insight | | | | |