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Open vs. Closed Adoption

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Open vs. Closed Adoption
For many people, adoption is the only choice when it comes to having children. Once someone chooses adoption, however, there is always more than one option available. It is important when choosing adoption that each person involved is educated on the topic. There are three main types of adoption: confidential, mediated, and fully disclosed. “In up to 90% of domestic infant adoptions, adoptive parents maintain some contact with birth parents. It's considered best practice because most women want to know what happens to the child and the child wants to know family history” (Koch, 2009). Even though the adoptive parents may not create a strong bond with the child, an open adoption is better than one that is closed because children respond well to open adoptions and the birth parents cope better.
Adoption is a legal process, practiced in front of a judge, which brings together a child or children with new parents. When a child is adopted the adoptive parents receive the same legal rights and responsibilities as if they were the birthparents. Once welcomed into the family the child assumes the emotional and social responsibilities of any other family member. Most judges will use the phrase, “as if born to” (Adoption Media, 1995-2010) to signify the child/parent relationship. Before the process is finished, a judge will converse with each party involved and verify that everyone understands exactly what is about to take place. The rights of the biological parents are severed and the adoptive parents receive all parental rights.
The three most commonly known forms of adoption are closed, semi-open, and open adoption. A closed adoption is when there is absolutely no contact between parties involved once the adoption is finalized. This is the most traditional type of adoption. There is no identifying information shared about the birthparents or the adopted child and they’re new family. Semi open adoption is when some information is shared between the birthparents and the


References: Administration for Children and Families. (2006). Adoptive family structure. Retrieved February 12, 2010, from http://www.acf.hhs.gov Adoption Media (Ed.). (1995-2010). Adoption Statistics: Open Adoptions. Retrieved March 07, 2010, from www.statistics.adoption.com Adoption Support and Consultation Services. (2007). Types of Adoption. Retrieved March 07, 2010, from www.ascsadopt.org Berry, M. (1993). Risks and benefits of open adoption. Retrieved February 11, 2010, from http://www.jstor.org Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2003). Openness in Adoption: A Fact Sheet for Families. Retrieved February 21, 2010, from http://www.childwelfare.gov Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2004). Impact of Adoption on Adopted Persons: A Factsheet for Families. Retrieved February 12, 2010, from http://www.childwelfare.gov Hillside Family of Agencies. (2003). Open vs. Closed Adoption. Retrieved March 17, 2010, from www.hillside.com Koch, W. (2009, May 19). Struggling families look at adoption - USATODAY.com. Retrieved March 12, 2010, from www.usatoday.com Purtuesi, D. R. (1995). Silent Voices Heard Impact of the Birthmother 's Experience Then and Now -. Retrieved March 16, 2010, from http://library.adoption.com/articles/silent-voices-heard-impact-of-the-birthmothers-experience-then-and-now.html Silber, K. (2008). Benefits of Open Adoption. Retrieved March 17, 2010, from www.adoptionhelp.org
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