Understanding Open Adoption:A New Approach to Building Families

Adoption has always been a safe method for couples looking to start a new family.

Although couples are usually the ones who adopt children, a single person can too. Those who look to adopt go through an extensive process including clearing requirements, providing proof of a stable income, and thorough background checks. In most cases, parents who give birth to the child no longer stay in contact with the child’s new family, but open adoption takes an entirely new approach. In open adoption, although the child is still taken in by a new family, the child’s parents stay in contact with the new family and their child.

One thing that differs between open adoption and regular closed adoption, is that open

adoption requires more communication between the birth parents and the new adoptive family. They have to set up communication standards and plans to keep in touch, but the birth parents don’t have any legal custody. While at first the idea may sound a bit foreign and confusing, here are some reasons as to why people take the open adoption approach to building a new family:

1. A lot of times, young parents aren’t able to financially support their child, and so

the open adoption method helps them find a family who can support their child

while enjoying watching their child grow.

2. Parents can interview and select parents who they want to adopt their child. It

reduces the uncertainty of not knowing where their children will go, and

encourages them to personally connect with families.

3. For adoptive families, the benefits that come from connecting with the birth

parent is that they can get updated medical records, less fear of not knowing

where the birth parent is, and helping the child learn more about their family tree.

At the moment, closed adoption is still more common in families looking to adopt, but open

adoption isn’t as scary once you know the facts! It would be good to talk to an adoption

professional about your options and make sure you feel secure in your decision as a parent

regardless.

Article written by Amber Montoya.