What is Open Adoption?

Adopting a child is a life-changing journey, opening your heart and home to a new family member. Like biological parenting, adoption is full of “what-ifs” and can cause anxiety for potential adoptive parents because factors such as prenatal care are out of their control.  Adoption has also changed significantly in the past twenty or so years to a form of agreement called “open adoption.” Open adoption stands out as a unique and often beneficial option for both adoptive families and birth parents. Open adoption offers a pathway to creating a family while maintaining a connection with the child’s biological roots, providing a supportive and nurturing environment for everyone involved. Our team at Hopeful Beginnings believes in and promotes the benefits of open adoption.  We are here to help you determine if open adoption would be a suitable choice for your unique situation.

What is Open Adoption?

At its core, open adoption is an arrangement where the adoptive and birth families share some identifying information and maintain some level of contact throughout the child’s life. This contact can range from occasional updates and photos to regular phone calls and in-person visits. Unlike closed adoption, where no contact or information is shared, open adoption allows for a more transparent and collaborative relationship between all parties involved.  Open adoption has been proven to foster a more secure identity formation for the adoptee who grows up knowing the details of their birth story and biological family. 

How Does Open Adoption Work?

The process of open adoption can vary depending on the preferences and agreements of the involved parties. Here’s a general outline of how it works:

Initial Contact and Decision Making

1. Deciding on Open Adoption: The journey begins with both the birth parents and prospective adoptive parents deciding that open adoption is the right choice for them. This decision is often supported by counseling and guidance from adoption specialists, ensuring that everyone understands the implications and benefits of this approach.
2. Matching Process: Birth parents review profiles of prospective adoptive families who are open to maintaining contact. This step is crucial as it allows birth parents to select a family that aligns with their values and wishes for their child’s future.

Building Relationships

1. Pre-Placement Contact: Once a match is made, the birth and adoptive families begin to build a relationship. This may involve phone calls, emails and sometimes in-person meetings.  Hopeful Beginnings social workers play a key role in providing healthy boundaries during this sensitive period.  The goal is to establish trust and comfort between both parties, as well as to discuss any wishes for the child’s life post-placement. 
2. Hospital Plan: As the due date approaches, a hospital plan is created, outlining how the birth and adoptive families will interact during the birth. This can include decisions about who will be present during labor and delivery, and how time will be spent with the baby.

Post-Placement Contact

1. Continued Relationship: After the adoption is finalized, the agreed-upon level of contact continues. This can include regular updates, photos, phone calls and visits. The nature and frequency of this contact are tailored to the needs and comfort levels of both families.  While these agreements are not legally binding, Hopeful Beginnings works with biological and adoptive parents to ensure that expectations are clear for both parties. 
2. Flexibility and Growth: Open adoption relationships are dynamic and can evolve over time. Families may start with limited contact and gradually increase it as trust and familiarity grow. It’s important to remain flexible and open to changes in the relationship.

Contact us to Discuss Adoption

Open adoption offers a unique and compassionate approach to building families, allowing for ongoing connections between birth and adoptive families. At Hopeful Beginnings, we are committed to guiding you through every step of the open adoption process, ensuring that each family finds the support and understanding they need.

If you are considering open adoption or want to learn more about how it works, we encourage you to reach out to Hopeful Beginnings. Our dedicated team is here to help you navigate this rewarding journey.