The term "open adoption" can cause considerable concern among prospective adoptive parents who fear that the process will allow their child's birth family to negatively impact -- or perhaps even someday invalidate -- their relationship with their adopted child.

However, according to a March 25 examiner.com article by Pamela Porter, an open adoption can actually lead to a more fulfilling experience for all concerned parties:

Acknowledging that their wait to become parents might be extended if they insisted on a closed adoption, [Alex and Rachel] decided to do some reading. However, the books they selected about open adoption only seemed to frighten them even more. They found their fears emotionally paralyzing and decided to put their plans for adoption on hold for a while. ...

In 2009, Alex and Rachel met their beautiful baby girl, Hope. ... Without explanation or understanding both Alex and Rachel knew in an instant that open adoption was what their families needed.

During the first few weeks as parents Alex and Rachel sent pictures and emailed Hope's birth mother almost daily. They began to realize and embrace the overwhelming significance of a birth mother's love for her child and soon found some unexpected comfort in the openness of their adoption. As a result of their communications a deep love and respect for Hope's birth family emerged.

Hope's adoption was finalized almost one year later. Alex and Rachel were elated when they finally received the legal recognition of their "forever family". Their joy multiplied exponentially 2 weeks later at Hope's first birthday party when her birth family arrived to celebrate with them.

Labels: open_adoption

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Grant and Susan Grebner enjoy watching Collin and Jac play with their mom, Amanda Holland. Grant and Susan adopted the boys years ago, from Amanda, who is their biological mom. When asked about Holland, Collin answers "she's my birth mother."

"There was a time when Holland was not supposed to know the Grebners, and Collin was not supposed to know his birth mother. In fact, his birth certificate would not have mentioned Holland's name... The trend toward open adoptions is spreading... All of the major national adoption agencies, except the National Council for Adoption, endorse some level of contact between birth parents, adoptive parents and the child."

The relationship between birth and adoptive families ranges from occasional exchanges of cards and pictures to extended visits and even trips together. So far, the Grebners and Holland say their relationship is working out well and that the kids are better off for having more than one set of parents. Source: Peoria (IL) Journal Star

Labels: open_adoption, birth-mothers

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When Patricia Dischler was 21 years old, pregnant and unwed, she knew an adoption plan was the best choice for her baby. But she also knew that she couldn't just let him go, never knowing if he was healthy or happy, so she insisted on an open adoption.

"Keeping the birthmother in the family has become more common since Dischler made her decision more than 20 years ago. But it doesn't mean the concerns - and subsequent scars - aren't difficult to deal with."

Dischler has recently written a book titled Because I Loved You: A Birthmother's View of Open Adoption chronicling her experiences and offering advice to both birthmothers and adoptive families. Her hope is that the book's content will be encouraging to those involved in or considering an adoption plan. Read more at GreenBayPressGazette.com.

Labels: open_adoption, teenage_pregnancy, unwanted_pregancy

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In honor of Michigan Adoption Day on November 20th, seven families agreed to open their court proceedings to the public. Macomb County adoption supervisor Mike Hester said he hoped the open proceedings would draw attention to the needs of the more than 4,000 Michigan children that are currently waiting to be adopted.

"Prior to the proceedings, Michigan Supreme Court Justice Maura Corrigan presented a resolution from the high court commemorating the event. 'In Michigan, we don't want to rest until every child who needs a home has a home,' she said."

Family members and social workers attended the proceedings, offering their support to the adoptive parents.

Labels: open_adoption, awareness, court

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Adopted children should be able to see their birth records and find their birth parents, according to a report from the Evan B. Donaldson Institute, a national not-for-profit organization devoted to improving adoption policy and practice.

The report notes that evidence from the eight states with open adoption laws indicates that the arguments against open adoption records are fallacious. In those states, there has not been an increase or decrease in abortion rates or any evidence that birthparents become distressed when contacted.

"These states' experiences in providing this information make clear there are minimal, if any, negative repercussions," said Adam Pertman, director of the Institute. "The mythology ... is that you should be protecting someone from something. But that's not the reality. Adoptees are not behaving poorly, they're behaving very respectfully, and birth parents do not appear to be a frightened class that wants to hide."

The American Civil Liberties Union and some right-to-life groups have opposed open adoption laws, which are already in place in Maine, Delaware, Alabama, New Hampshire, Oregon, Tennessee, Kansas and Alaska.

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Labels: laws, open_adoption, birth_parents

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In a typical open adoption, birth parents have some contact with the adoptive family. In the case of Ann Belove, she knew the birth mother long before she decided to adopt.

"'Robert's birth mother and I knew each other and were friends before he was adopted... We keep in very close contact. We still after nine years speak very regularly.'"

Robert's younger brother, Carter, has more typical open adoption. He knows who his mother and grandparents are, and the grandparents are somewhat involved in his life. The Beloves chose open adoption because they felt their children had a right to know where they came from. The Beloves also wanted their children to have access to medical records. Read more at Petaluma360.com.

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Labels: open_adoption, families, optons

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Annette Baran was a clinical social worker who, in 1978, published the book that many consider the catalyst for a movement toward open adoptions.

Baran, who challenged conventional mindsets regarding adoption, died July 11 at the age of 83,

“As time went on, she also encountered many adoptees searching for their birth mothers who were in psychological pain, said Betty Jean Litton, an adoption reform advocate… Moved to crusade for open adoption, Baran joined a novel research project started by a University of California – Los Angeles psychiatrist, Dr. Arthur Sorosky, who noticed that his patients who had been adopted tended to have identity problems.” [Source: The Los Angeles Times]

Baran’s book, The Adoption Triangle, was a result of that UCLA study, and was instrumental in shaping people’s understanding of open adoption.
 

Labels: open_adoption, awareness, advocacy

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