While there is sometimes a stigma associated with the option of adoption in our culture today, choosing to make an adoption plan for your baby is a very real and wonderful choice that is available to you. Adoption may be an option you choose to consider, among other reasons, if you feel you are in a situation that makes it uncertain for how you would provide care for a child. If you do choose to consider making an adoption plan, you can be empowered in knowing that you have the control to decide how involved you would like to be in your child’s life. There are 3 types of adoptions, as explained here:

  • Open Adoption: In an open adoption, all identifying information is exchanged between birth parents and adoptive parents including Full names, addresses and phone numbers.  Oftentimes, future in-person visits are scheduled regularly and birth and adoptive parents choose not to use a third party to maintain contact.  Birth parents take more of active role in the lives of their biological child & his/her adoptive parents.
  • Semi-open Adoption: In a semi-open adoption, no identifying information is exchanged.  Letters and pictures go through a 3rd party, either an agency or attorney.  While future visits may occur, they are usually designated once per year (or whatever is agreed upon between birth and adoptive parents) and do not occur more than that. Adoptive parents and birth parents may meet before/during and after birth depending on what they agree too.
  • Closed Adoption: In a closed adoption, no identifying information is exchanged and birth parents ultimately choose not to meet the adoptive couple or have any present or future contact with them or the child.

There are many agencies who can work closely alongside you to help make an adoption plan that best fits your needs and the needs of your child. There is not a right or wrong answer when it comes to what type of adoption you should choose.

We are here to help you understand the adoption process, discuss the option thoroughly with you if you feel it is something you may be interested in, and to assist in finding the best adoption agency for you should you choose to go this route.

Come in and meet with one of our professional counselors if you’re unsure about your next step.