| A "fully open" adoption is one in which the birth | | | | on the age of the child, he or she may not really |
| mother has ongoing visits with the child after the | | | | understand why that happens. |
| child has been adopted and is being raised by their | | | | The solution may be to provide semi open adoption. |
| adoptive family. In the past fifteen years or so, fully | | | | Semi open adoptions allow the adoptive parents to |
| open adoptions have become more common as a | | | | meet and get to know the birth mother before the |
| result of proponents of fully open adoptions pushing | | | | baby is born. Photos, letters and updates can be |
| the idea on birth parents and adoptive parents. Some | | | | exchanged on a regular basis, so that there is |
| people believe that having the open relationship | | | | continued contact and the ability for the child to |
| benefits the children. | | | | meet the biological parent(s) someday if that is what |
| Some adoptive parents-to-be are scared by the idea | | | | he or she chooses to do. In this situation, the child |
| of a fully open adoption, and there are a number of | | | | has access to the documents, photographs, family |
| birth mothers who have fears about ongoing contact, | | | | history, and letters from the birth parent(s) when he |
| as well. There are no studies that prove that ongoing | | | | or she may want to look at it but the child would |
| contact between birth parents and a child that has | | | | never be forced into spending time with the biological |
| been adopted is really in the child's best interest, and | | | | parent. |
| many adoption professionals actually don't feel a fully | | | | If you have been thinking about adopting a child, but |
| open adoption is the best solution. | | | | the idea of a fully open adoption scares you, you do |
| It is likely that an adopted child would benefit greatly | | | | have options. Just be sure that the adoption |
| from having information available to them, things like | | | | professional you choose to work with and hire |
| photographs, health histories and possibly letters from | | | | understands your preference and is willing to work |
| their birth parents. If an older child requests to meet | | | | with you under a semi open adoption arrangement. If |
| his or her birth parent, every effort should be made | | | | you like the idea of a fully open adoption, perhaps |
| to arrange the meeting - but to force a fully open | | | | work it out so the terms of the agreement always |
| adoption on a child who may not even desire to have | | | | takes into consideration the child's needs and wants. |
| ongoing contact with the birth parent(s) does not | | | | For example, you could agree to visits for the first |
| seem to be beneficial or in the best interest of the | | | | three years of the child's life, or until the child is old |
| child. Adoption agreements are typically arranged | | | | enough to understand, and leave it open to |
| before the child is even born - how can you know at | | | | reevaluate based on the reaction and needs of the |
| that point if the child needs or wants to have | | | | adopted child. It's impossible to predict what the child |
| ongoing visits with the birth parents in the years to | | | | will prefer beforehand, so having this type of |
| come? | | | | adjustable agreement allows you to make a decision |
| Some children may experience confusion and upset | | | | based on the child rather than on what the birth |
| over ongoing visitation with the birth parent(s). It can | | | | parent(s), adoption professional or adoptive family |
| be upsetting to have to say goodbye to your | | | | may think is the best decision. |
| biological parent over and over again, and depending | | | | |