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I am Pregnant Want to adopt

What is Open Adoption?

Open Adoption = Child-Centered Adoption

Child-centered Open Adoption is when birth parents and adoptive parents spend time together and work out a method of on-going contact that is in the best interest of the child. It can be the joining of two families based on love and trust for the benefit of a child. Developing a child-centered adoption takes time, thought and effort and is a unique process for each birth and adoptive parent match; no two open adoptions look the same. The adopted child and his/her family have the opportunity to develop a relationship with his or her birth family. It is not about the adoptive parents merely offering birth parents the "privilege" of contact, nor is it about birth parents merely being "available" to provide medical information over the years. A goal of child-centered, open adoption is to help the child to sustain a positive whole self identity by receiving love and validation from both the birth family, who gave him/her life and from the adoptive family who are the sole parents raising the child. Open Arms Adoption Network believes that Open Adoption is truly a child-centered healthy approach to adoption, as it refocuses the process and relationships around what is best for the child's development over the years.

Open Adoption Is NOT:

  • Co-parenting
  • Temporary
  • Confusing for the child

The Benefits of Openness

For the child:

  • A more complete sense of identity
  • A complete history to help him/her understand and know their adoption story
  • Knowledge that they are loved by birth family
  • Medical and social information
  • Honesty, truth, compassion

For the birth parents:

  • Empowered to make decisions you will feel good about
  • Ability to grieve in a productive, healthy way
  • The chance to form a connection (via letters, phone calls, and/or visits) with the child reaffirms love of the child, reducing feelings of anxiety

For the adoptive parents:

  • Ability to answer the child's questions
  • Share love of the child with his/her birth parents who gave them life and chose you to be the parents

What if a birth parent does not want to maintain contact?  Open Arms acknowledges that many birth parents teen, woman or couple may not want to "stay in touch". This is a decision that will be respected and honored by Open Arms. However, the opportunity to reconnect with the adoptive family over the years is available to them. Open Arms will mediate this process for you the birth parents so that you all feel supported.

We look forward to helping you consider open adoption. To arrange a meeting to learn more about our program please call us at 1.888.OPENARMS (1.888.673.6276) or contact us.