Intro Many adoptees involved in closed adoptions have begun the search for their birth parents and even fight the closed adoption procedure. Due to the increasing number of problems resulting from closed adoptions a new practice, open adoption has been adopted in the United States. Open adoption is the practice when both the adoptive parents and the biological parents share information regarding the child. In many cases the birth parent may be able to have contact with the child. However, when an adoption is legalized, the biological relatives no longer have rights to the adopted child's life. In terms of an open adoption many believe that it works out more when the adoptive parents feel comfortable with the level of openness (Carp, 2002). …show more content…
This form of adoption can mean different things in regards to each adoption plan (Baran, Pannor, Sorosky, 1976). Typically, when an adoption plan is being made the birth parents, adoptive parents, and in some cases the adoptee will make a plan that identifies that type and amount of contact the child and the birth parents are going to have. Overtime it is possible that the terms of the open adoption can change (Carp, 2002). Contact between the adoptive family and the birth family can vary in how much information is shared, its frequency, and how many members of birth family are involved. The open adoption process not only affects the parents of the child but also the adoptee. Meetings between the adoptive family, the adoptee, and the birth parents can happen in their homes or at a public place (Baran et al., 1976). Some families are involved in each other’s life everyday, while others may choose make contact only once a year. Typically letters and photographs are exchanged between the birth and adoptive families. While open adoptions are very helpful to the adoptee and the transition problems can occur if either party no longer makes contact or moves. Open adoption plans are often affected by different life occurrences, but the outcome of an open adoption tends to be more positive for the adoptee than closed