The Benefits of Open Adoption

Historically, the process of adoption is one that has played out in a cloud of secrecy. The National Council for Adoption (NCA), one of the strongest advocates of confidentiality in the adoption process, has "long championed the important of confidentiality in adoption" and argues open adoptions "prove harmful to all those involved in the adoption cycle" (Weeks 6). Despite this staunch viewpoint, the "closed" condition of many adoptions has significantly begun to change to a more "open" process of adoption that has not wrought the harm predicted by the NCA. As Weeks (6) reports, "It is clear that the secrecy that has been the hallmark of adoption throughout its history is giving way to a new openness."

While research tracking the effects of open adoption is in its nascent phase, completed research is showing evidence of "substantial benefits" of open adoption on children, birth mothers and birth families, and adoptive parents compared to closed adoptions (Weeks 6). Despite some risks associated with open adoption (where degrees of openness vary), there is increasing evidence that open adoption offers a more positive and beneficial process for all stakeholders involved than the traditional closed adoption process.

In the past three decades, numerous changes in society have been reflected in significant change in the adoption population. Postponed childbearing, two-career couples, increased participation by women in the labor force, and rising inciden

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medical history. For instance, an adoptee whose parents were both alcoholics may be prone to alcoholism but have little idea of this in closed adoption. This could lead to drinking problems for the adoptee or other substance abuse issues once the child begins socializing as a young adult. Many closed adoption adoptees suffer from depression or feelings of being unloved or abandoned. The open adoption process helps undermine these potentially harmful feelings or emotions. As Silber (1) notes, "Through open adoption, the adoptee knows he/she was placed for adoption out of love. He/she is aware, on an ongoing basis, of his/her birthparents' love. As a result, the adoptee is able to feel good not only about where he/she is, but also where he/she came from freed from the frustrations of the unknowns and feelings of rejection of closed adoption." Within the open adoption model, the birth family is viewed as an extended family, primarily because of their relation to the adoptee. For some adoptive parents; however, it is difficult to accept the birth parents into their lives as relatives. Even so, research shows that adoptive parents also benefit from open adoption in a number of ways, such as the following:

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