Explore the Option

Open Adoption is an arrangement where you maintain direct contact with your child and the Adoptive Family after placement. This is the most common type of adoption today, and it’s what Abiding Love Adoptions specializes in.

In an Open Adoption, you have the opportunity to:

• Communicate directly with your child and the Adoptive Family through phone calls, texts, emails, and video chats
• Receive photos and updates about your child’s milestones and growth
• Visit with your child and the Adoptive Family in person
• Maintain an ongoing relationship as your child grows

The specific terms of an Open Adoption are personalized to your comfort level and agreed upon by both you and the Adoptive Family. Some Open Adoptions include monthly updates, while others might involve quarterly updates and annual get-togethers. You work together with your Advocate, Adoption Attorney, and the Adoptive Family to create the plan that feels right for everyone.

Benefits of Open Adoption: Many Birth Mothers find that Open Adoption provides peace of mind and helps with the grieving process after placement. It also gives your child the opportunity to know you and understand their adoption story from the beginning, which is beneficial for their emotional development and sense of identity.

Semi-open Adoption offers a middle ground between open and Closed Adoption. In this arrangement, you maintain some contact with your child and the Adoptive Family, but it’s typically mediated through a third party, such as the Adoption Agency or Attorney.

In a Semi-open Adoption, you might:

• Exchange non-identifying information (first names only, no addresses or phone numbers)
• Send and receive updates through the Adoption Agency
• Communicate through email addresses set up specifically for adoption correspondence

Semi-open Adoptions can sometimes transition to more open arrangements over time as trust and relationships develop between Birth Mothers and Adoptive Families.

Closed Adoption is a traditional form of adoption where there is no contact or exchange of information between you and the Adoptive Family after placement. All identifying information remains confidential, and no communication occurs.

In a Closed Adoption:

• No identifying information is shared between the Expectant Mother and the Adoptive Family
• The Adoptive Family does not know your identity or how to contact you
• There are no updates, photos, or ongoing communication

While Closed Adoptions were once the standard, they are much less common today. Many adoption professionals now recognize that some level of openness can benefit everyone involved—Birth Mothers, Adoptive Families, and especially the children themselves.