What is Open Adoption?

Open adoption means that (1) information is exchanged between the adoptive and birth families and/or (2) there is some kind of contact between the birth and adoptive parents. Open adoption became more common beginning in the 1970s and has continued until the present. There are still many people who choose closed adoption, but more families and adoption agencies are deciding that open adoption is in a child's best interest.

Sometimes, birth parents participate in choosing the adoptive parents and meet them even before the baby is born. In other cases, open adoption means regular correspondence between birth and adoptive parents. It may include visitation rights on a regular or irregular basis.

Sometimes there is an exchange of photographs or letters as the child grows up. And there are instances when the birth mother (or father) may be a regular part of family life and be invited to holiday celebrations, birthday parties, etc. Different families feel comfortable with different kinds of open adoption.