Why We Love Open Adoption

Here are some of the positive results of open adoption:

For the Birth Mother

- Peace and comfort knowing her child is loved and cared for. This can also reduce her uncertainty, fear, guilt and grief.
- Experiencing the growth and maturity of their child through photos, visits, phone calls, emails, etc.
- The opportunity to offer the adoptee background info on her decisions and circumstances regarding the adoption.

For Adoptee

- An opportunity for the child to have an adopted and extended family along with the birth family. Creates safety, security and stability for the adoptee.
- Hearing the birthmom's story increases understanding and decreases abandonment issues.
- Available and immediately accessible medical history.
- Confidence and encouragement regarding their identity and biological family history.  

For Adoptive Parents

- An extended family/community can serve as advocates and a network system for the adoptee
- Having the ability to communicate with all involved to inform, collaborate and celebrate special occasions/holidays. 

Soon, you may be faced with the opportunity to suggest adoption.  ​Learn the basics of open adoption, and how to suggest it when you hear of someone facing unplanned pregnancy. Read more here.    

A Reference Guide for Families  

Here’s a guide to open adoption and how to make it work, from the match period through common post-adoption bumps. It includes tips on how to keep the focus on the child’s best interests. 

Phrase of the Day:  Open Adoption

Open adoption is a form of adoption in which the biological and adoptive families have each other's contact information and varying degrees of contact with each other, by phone, in person and/or through social media.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Fewer than 1% of women facing unplanned pregnancy make an adoption plan?
• When they do, it's because an adult in their life encouraged them to consider adoption?
• There are over one million U.S. couples waiting now to adopt?