Choosing which type of adoption plan suits you best can be taxing, but it doesn’t have to be. At Adoption Choices of Arizona, we encourage open adoption, but we support any decision you make because we realize that you know best. Here’s everything you should know about what open adoption is like in practice, as well as the other forms of adoption plans, to ensure you know what you want to pursue.
Open Adoption
It’s important to recognize that each adoption is different, and one may not be as open as the next. Open adoptions may include the adoptive family and birth mother paying visits to each other, but that’s not always the case. Sometimes, an open adoption may simply be an exchange of personal information and infrequent phone calls on special occasions like birthdays. It’s really up to everyone involved how open the adoption ends up being. We recommend open adoption, however, because a continued relationship between the birth mother and child can boost the morale of both in the long run.
Semi-Open Adoption
Semi-open adoption is exactly what it sounds like: in-between open and closed. It involves birth mothers and adoptive families exchanging non-identifying information, and any interaction is typically managed by a third party, like us at Adoption Choices. This contact is usually limited to cards, letters, or emails. Birth mothers can feel more relief knowing their privacy is intact and having some form of contact while the children can possess more self-confidence.
Closed Adoption
Though closed adoptions are becoming increasingly rarer in the U.S., they’re still an option. Closed adoptions mean no contact takes place after the adoption is finalized. Medical files and related paperwork are corked and kept safe, but there are methods to getting ahold of this information, including issuing a court order. It also means the child is left with a lot of questions that may never get answered. If the birth mother, however, feels this is best, then it must be.
For more adoption resources, visit adoptionchoicesofarizona.org or Expectant Parent Call or Text 1-480-900-5520
