Open adoption

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Open Adoption

Open adoption (/ˈoʊpən əˈdɒpʃən/) is a form of adoption where the biological and adoptive families have access to varying degrees of each other's personal information and have an option of contact. In Open Adoption, the adoptive parents hold all the rights as the legal parents, yet the individuals of the biological and adoptive families may exercise the option to open the contact in varying forms: from just sending mail and/or photos, to face-to-face visits between birth and adoptive families.

Etymology

The term "Open Adoption" has been in use since the late 1970s and it is a direct contrast to the traditional "closed adoption" which involves sealed records and typically no contact between birth and adoptive families.

Types of Open Adoption

There are several types of open adoption agreements, ranging from fully open to semi-open. In a fully open adoption, the birth and adoptive families meet and share identifying information. In semi-open adoption, communication usually takes place through a third party, and identifying information is not shared.

Benefits of Open Adoption

Open adoption can be beneficial for the birth family, the adoptive family and the adopted person. It allows for better communication about medical history and other genetic issues. It can also help the adopted person to avoid the sense of abandonment and loss that can come with a closed adoption.

Related Terms

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