open Adoption

During the early part of the 19th century, closed adoption was practiced due to social pressures.  Biological mother and adoptive parents were considered outcasts.  So any adoption taking place was kept secret.  However, today’s society is no longer that judgemental compared to those people before.

Unlike close adoption where everything about adoption is kept secret, open adoption is handing your child, your legal rights, and guardianship are transferred to the adoptive parents.

Open adoption may be disadvantageous to the adoptive parents’ side for it may mean:

1. Distraction

Yes, distraction because the biological mother or parents and the child might get to see each other and the child would have less bonding time for his adoptive parents.

2. Insecurity

The adoptive parents would feel less of being a parent to the child.  Knowing who his biological parents are, the child might look up more to his birth parents.

3. Fear of losing the child

The child might still want to be with his birth parents even if he is being relinquished by them.  He may miss them and long to have a family who has the same blood as he has.

But the bright of having the adoption open is:

1. Freedom from guilt

The adoptive parents can look at the adopted child straight in his eyes and tell him that every single thing about their family is open and no secrets were kept.

2. Trust from the child

Knowing that his adoptive parents are honest to him, especially about his adoption makes the child trust them.

3. More knowledge about the adopted child

In open adoption, more hereditary background about the child can be made known.  If the child’s birth family has this physical or mental problem, then the adoptive family knows how to handle or prevent the said problem.   Also, when asked by the child about his origin, the adoptive parents have ready answers.

4. Reduced fear about the birth mother’s intention

The adoptive family is aware of her intentions for the child because open communication between them makes the birth mother’s intentions known.

5. Establishment of good relationship to the birth parents

It is important for the adoptive parents to have a good relationship with the child’s birth parents.  This will make them comfortable  if ever their paths would come across each other.

Being open about the adoption that took place will give the adoptive parents from fear of being hated or mistrusted by the child.  On the other hand, it will make the child know his real self.

Closed adoption is an adoption where in the adoption records are kept sealed. It means that the biological parent has surrendered their capacity and authority as a parent of the adoptee’s life. Closed adoption is also associated with “secret” or “traditional” adoption, although itis not, in fact, traditional at all. Closed adoption largely arose in the 20th century, in response to changing social values about adoption. The opposite of a closed adoption is an open adoption, in which the records are left open, creating the potential for contact between the birth parent and the adoptive family.

Closed Adoption: Advantages for Birth Parents

The closed adoption experience is different for each person; however here is a list of potential advantages that you might encounter with a closed adoption:

* Sense of closure-Some birth mothers and birth families report that having a closed adoption provides a sense of closure and enables them to move on with life.

* Privacy-Placing a child for adoption is an extremely sensitive and vulnerable choice. Having a closed adoption creates an opportunity for a stronger sense of privacy.

* Reduced fear-Some birth mothers are concerned about explaining their choice and a closed adoption serves as a way to prevent them from a confrontation with a child placed for adoption.

A closed adoption refers to an adoption process where there is no interaction between the birth mother and the prospective adoptive families. There is no identifying information provided to either the birth families or the adoptive families. Non-identifying information such as physical characteristics and medical history may be provided to both parties. When considering a closed adoption, there are a number of disadvantages that need to be thought through carefully for all parties involved.

Several organizations facilitate contact between birth parents and adoptees who are interested in connecting later in life. These groups provide records searches or offer registries of people who are seeking each other out. In a situation where a child or birth mother wants to get in touch, a letter will typically be sent by a third-party intermediary, indicating that contact is desired and leaving the decision up to the recipient of the letter.