| What is Open Adoption? | | | | independent relationships with their birthparents. |
| Adoption is a process by which a child is born to one | | | | Rather than being cut off from their genetic roots, |
| set of biological parents, and is then raised by | | | | many adopted children are allowed and encouraged |
| different parents. The adoptive parents are the child's | | | | to get to know their birthparents. |
| legal parents. But just because the child is being loved | | | | Birthparents may be treated like extended family. |
| and raised by his or her legal parents, should that | | | | Some families invite their children's birthparents to |
| mean that the biological parents, or birthparents, | | | | birthday parties or family dinners. The birthmother or |
| must forfeit all contact with them? | | | | birthfather is as much a part of the child's life as an |
| Many people say no, just because you don't have | | | | uncle or aunt, and is included in a similar fashion. |
| the resources to raise a child should not mean that | | | | It avoids long searches for birthparents by adoptees. |
| you have to cut that child out of your life completely. | | | | If an adopted child wants to know his or her |
| Children, too, have a right to know where they came | | | | birthparents, an open adoption makes that easier; the |
| from originally, and to establish relationships with their | | | | families already have some kind of contact. They do |
| genetic parents, even if those people aren't the | | | | not have to spend years searching through old files |
| primary parents. | | | | and following rabbit trails. They can simply get their |
| The resulting custom is called "open adoption." Open | | | | birthparents' address from their parents or lawyers. |
| adoption can mean several different things. | | | | Different families will do open adoption differently. |
| The birthparents know who their child's adoptive | | | | Many families, for example, are not comfortable |
| parents are, and vice versa. There was a time, not | | | | including birthparents in the family, but are quite glad |
| very long ago, when all adoption records were | | | | to send pictures and progress reports to birthparents |
| secret, and adoptive parents knew nothing about | | | | several times a year. Others, however, feel that a |
| their child's birthparents. Birthparents, too, let go of | | | | child can never have too much love, and anyone who |
| their babies and never saw them again. But adoptive | | | | loves their child should be included in that child's life. |
| parents need to know things like their child's medical | | | | Open adoption often makes it easier for a |
| history, and birthparents need to know their child is | | | | birthmother to place her baby for adoption. Many |
| well cared for and doing well. | | | | know that they aren't ready to raise a child, but still |
| There can be contact between birth and adoptive | | | | want to know the child is happy and loved. Open |
| families. Pictures may be exchanged, emails sent, | | | | adoption provides them with a means to stay |
| letters written, and gifts given for birthdays and | | | | connected, to whatever degree, while still letting their |
| Christmas. | | | | child be raised by a loving family. |
| Adopted children may be encouraged to establish | | | | |