Home > The Basics of Adoption Practice: A Bulletin for Professionals > Openness in Adoption

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The Basics of Adoption Practice
Bulletin for Professionals

Author(s):  Child Welfare Information Gateway

Year Published:  2006

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You are in section: Table of Contents 1 - Types of Adoption 2 - Family Assessment 3 - Child Assessment 4 - Birth Parent Involvement 5 - Openness in Adoption 6 - Matching Families and … 7 - Sharing Information With … 8 - Involving Youth in Their … 9 - Placing Children With Families 10 - Prefinalization Services 11 - Postadoption Services Summary References

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5. Openness in Adoption

Openness in adoption refers to the continuum of relationships that can exist between members of the birth family and the adoptive family, including the child. This continuum runs from closed adoption, in which no identifying information is shared between the birth family and the adoptive family, to fully open adoption in which the child and adoptive family have an ongoing relationship with members of the birth family. Even in closed adoptions, nonidentifying medical information is generally provided, although this may be minimal for some intercountry adoptions.

For more information on openness in adoption, refer to the Information Gateway bulletin Openness in Adoption.

Successful adoption relationships always focus on the needs of the child. Adoption professionals work with birth and adoptive parents to enhance their ability to maintain this focus. Some key factors to consider in facilitating an open adoption relationship include the following:

• What level of openness is appropriate and safe for all parties?
• How will changes in the nature of the relationship be negotiated over time?
• Can the adoptive parents set appropriate boundaries?
• Does the birth parent recognize and support the adoptive parent as the parent?

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You are in section: Table of Contents 1 - Types of Adoption 2 - Family Assessment 3 - Child Assessment 4 - Birth Parent Involvement 5 - Openness in Adoption 6 - Matching Families and … 7 - Sharing Information With … 8 - Involving Youth in Their … 9 - Placing Children With Families 10 - Prefinalization Services 11 - Postadoption Services Summary References

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This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway.

Updated on December 10, 2007