In decades past, almost all adoptions were closed. A closed adoption meant neither the birth mother nor the adoptive parents knew anything about one another. A doctor or social worker chose the adoptive family, so everyone remained anonymous.
Today, nearly 90% of adoptions are open or semi-open, allowing the biological and adoptive parents to meet and communicate.
How Does Open Adoption Work?
To be approved to adopt, a couple must provide significant information. First, the state requires a home study to prove their home and household members are ready to receive a child.
A couple must also provide medical and financial records, proof of employment, referral letters, criminal background checks, and a profile book. The profile book shows photos of their family, neighborhood, and home. It includes letters to an expectant mother. New Life goes a little beyond what the state requires and asks for a letter from a pastor as well.
If an expectant mother (or birth mother) chooses an open or semi-open adoption, she views several profile books of potential adoptive couples to select the family to raise her child.
New Life Adoptions recommends expectant mothers (and the father if available) meet with the adoptive family before and/or at the placement of the child. Meeting with the family before giving birth helps give her confidence that she made the right choice.
Is There Ongoing Contact?
An open or semi-open adoption means both parties agree to continue communication.
A semi-open plan maintains privacy because all correspondence is sent through the agency first. With an open plan, the birth parents and adoptive parents exchange identifying information to communicate directly with one another.
New Life Adoptions requires our adoptive families to maintain an ongoing exchange of letters and photos with the birth parents for 18 years. Our families also sign a commitment that they will visit with their birth family 2 to 3 times a year. .
Is Open Adoption Good?
Open adoption benefits both a birth mother and her child.
Birth Mother Benefits:
- Greater control over who raises her child
- Comfort in knowing her child is safe and loved
- Support in dealing with her grief and loss (as opposed to a closed adoption that is more secretive)
- Building a personal relationship with her child and the adoptive parents
- Greater satisfaction with the adoption process
Adoptive Child Benefits:
- The child has a connection to their birth family
- No secrecy
- Increased self-worth and identity
- A sense of belonging
- Better understanding of the reason for placement
- Fewer questions about their origin
Would You Like to Know More?
The adoption professionals at New Life Adoptions have the wisdom and experience to guide you through your adoption journey. Our faith based agency has placed over 550 babies in two-parent Christian homes since 1983.
If you are an expectant mother and would like more information about placing your child for adoption or an adoptive couple interested in building your family through adoption, please contact us. You can call or text us at (281) 955-1001. We look forward to hearing from you!