If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy and considering adoption in Alabama, you’ve probably come across the term “open adoption.”
But what is an open adoption in Alabama, and how exactly does it work?
There is no singular open adoption “definition,” but the phrase generally refers to any adoption in which a birth mother continues to have a relationship with her birth child and the adoptive family after placement.
There are different degrees of openness in adoption in Alabama, and no two open adoptions are the same. Communication between the birth mother and her child can come in the form of letters, phone calls, emails, or even visits. This communication can be as frequent as every month to once a year.
Open adoption is always an option for a woman considering adoption in Alabama. Curious? Keep reading to learn more and decide if it’s right for you.
What is Open Adoption in Alabama?
An open adoption in Alabama occurs when a prospective birth mother voluntarily places her baby for adoption with an adoptive family, and the parties involved agree on a level of communication after placement.
Open adoptions in Alabama vary in their terms of agreement. The level of communication between the birth mother and adoptive family will be agreed upon before placement, so everyone involved is on the same page. Their post-placement agreement will often include the types and frequency of communication. This will all be determined by the preferences of the prospective birth mother, as well as the developing relationship between the adoptive and birth families.
It is important to remember that your relationship with the adoptive family can evolve as situations and circumstances change. For example, you may initially decide you want to exchange picture and letter updates with the adoptive family every six months, but as your child grows older, you may find that you develop a closer relationship with the adoptive family and exchange more frequent updates directly through text messages and phone calls. This is completely normal, and you will always be in control of what your open adoption means to you.
Whatever you are looking for in your Alabama open adoption relationship, your adoption professional can help to make it happen.
What is Closed Adoption in Alabama?
A closed adoption is the opposite of an open adoption in Alabama. In a closed adoption, there is typically no contact between the birth mother and her birth child after placement and throughout his or her upbringing, and adoptive families and birth parents may have very little information about each other.
For many decades, closed adoptions were very popular. Experts promoted the belief that contact between the birth mother and birth child could be harmful and confusing, especially for the child. However, recent research has shown contact between the birth mother and birth child has continued benefits that outweigh the previous stereotypes regarding open adoptions. Today, closed adoptions in Alabama and throughout the U.S. are increasingly rare. In fact, more than 90 percent of modern-day adoptions involve some level of openness.
But what if you’re not sure that a fully open adoption is right for you? Is there a way to maintain the privacy and boundaries of a closed adoption, while still enjoying the many benefits that come with choosing an open adoption in Alabama?
Yes. If this is what you’re looking for in your adoption relationship, there is a third option that might be right for you: semi-open adoption.
What is Semi-Open Adoption in Alabama?
In a semi-open adoption agreement, personal information is kept confidential, and post-adoption contact is usually handled by an adoption professional. If a birth mother wants to protect her privacy but have some level of contact with her child, this can be done through a semi-open adoption. An adoption professional can mediate the relationship, providing the birth mother with pictures and updates of her child but keeping details like her identifying contact information private.
Like an open adoption, the exact details of a semi-open adoption in Alabama will depend upon the desires of a prospective birth parent. We encourage you to reach out to an agency or attorney to learn more about what this post-adoption relationship may look like.
The Benefits of Open Adoption in Alabama
There are so many benefits of choosing open adoption or semi-open adoption in Alabama. Some of these benefits include:
- The birth mother can still have a relationship with her child and watch him or her grow up in a happy and healthy environment.
- The adoptive child will openly know his or her own story, and there won’t be any secrets about their personal or family history.
- The adoptee will be loved by and have a relationship with two sets of parents — his or her adoptive parents and birth parents.
- The adoptive family can encourage the birth child to get to know where he or she came from.
Open adoption is an option for any woman considering adoption in Alabama. If you’re unsure of what is best for you, please fill out this contact form. A professional will soon be in touch and walk you through your options for post-placement contact, whatever your desires may be.