Adoption
Today
As a birthparent considering adoption, you might
be wondering what choices are available to you.
Thankfully, adoption today is much different than
it was years ago. You may look through a selection
of adoptive parent profiles and choose the parents
that best fit your desire for your child. In addition,
you now have the right to request what type of
adoption you would like. You have three basic
choices.
Closed Adoption
One option is a closed adoption. It is an adoption
with total confidentiality and sealed records.
You have the choice of deciding whether or not
your child may search for you once he or she is
18 years old. How you go about making your adoption
decision should be based on what you feel is best
for you now and also how you may feel in the future.
Degrees of Openness
Adoption with degrees of openness is another option.
"Openness" refers to some degree of contact, whether
it is a one-time meeting between the birthparent
and adoptive parent or yearly pictures and letters
exchanged. In this kind of adoption, you may be
able to choose the adoptive parents for your baby.
Open Adoption
Your other option is an open adoption. It involves
some amount of initial and/or ongoing contact
between birth and adoptive families, ranging from
sending letters through the agency, to exchanging
names and/or scheduling visits. We have adoptive
parents who are willing and understand the importance
of an open adoption.
Alliance for Children requires all adoptive parents
to send us pictures and letters at one, three
and six months, one year and annually until the
child reaches 18 years of age even if the birthparents
have not requested it. If you are not sure if
you are ready to receive correspondence from the
adoptive family, the agency will hold it for you.
At any time you may request what we have to be
sent to you. Some states have post adoption contact
agreements that can be legally enforced and our
counselors can advise you on this. Adoption has
changed and has given you more rights and choices
than ever before. As you review the materials
on this web site, keep in mind there are counselors
willing to support you.
|
