If you’re thinking about placing your child for adoption, you may be worried about never seeing them again. But, fortunately, there’s an easy solution: choosing an open adoption in Iowa.
But, what exactly does “open adoption” mean — and how do you know if it’s right for you?
There is not just one “definition” for open adoption in Iowa. There are many types of open adoption relationships for birth mothers and their birth children, and open adoption will look different for each family.
In general, an open adoption in Iowa includes any relationship in which a birth mother has some form of direct communication with her birth child throughout his or her upbringing. An adoption specialist can help the prospective birth mother create an open adoption plan that works best for her.
Curious? Keep reading to learn more, or contact an adoption professional today to create an open adoption agreement that works for you.
What is Open Adoption in Iowa?
So, what is open adoption in Iowa?
Open adoption describes any adoption situation in which a birth mother has some type and frequency of direct contact with her child after he or she is placed with an adoptive family.
This contact can include any of the following:
- Writing letters and sending pictures
- Speaking over the phone
- Exchanging gifts
- Having in-person visits
- Spending time together for birthdays or holidays
- And much more.
What makes open adoption so appealing is that it can be anything you want it to be! In Iowa, a prospective birth mother can work with an adoption professional to create an open adoption plan that is tailored to her level of comfort for future contact with her birth child.
Open adoptions can also change over time. Relationships naturally ebb and flow over the years, and open adoption gives you the chance to increase or pull back on contact as you deem necessary in your post-adoption period. And, when you work with an adoption professional, they will be there to support that relationship, too.
What is Closed Adoption in Iowa?
In Iowa, the option of having a closed adoption always exists. This is when the birth mother chooses to not have any contact with her child or the adoptive parents after placement. She may choose this path for several reasons: she may feel a “clean break” will be best to help her heal, she may be worried about her safety and the safety of her child, or she may believe that a closed adoption in Iowa is her option.
While closed adoption used to be the norm, this is the least common type of post-adoption relationship in Iowa today.
Adoption experts agree this relationship is the most beneficial post-placement situation for all parties involved. Closed adoptions come with many disadvantages; adoptees don’t know their personal or medical history, and birth parents don’t know whether their child is growing up happy and healthy. For these reasons and more, open adoption stories are becoming much more mainstream in the U.S. today.
You can contact a professional anytime to learn more about why.
What is Semi-Open Adoption in Iowa?
Semi-open adoption is an option for any prospective birth mother who wants to have mediated contact with her birth child with the help of her adoption professional. In this kind of relationship, personal, identifying information is kept private, and pictures and letters are exchanged through the adoption professional. This is a great alternative for a birth mother who desires privacy and space to grieve but still wants some post-placement contact with her birth child.
If you’re interested in a semi-open adoption in Iowa, talk to your professional to learn more about what it may look like for you.
The Benefits of Open Adoption in Iowa
There are so many benefits to open adoption in Iowa for every member of the adoption triad. It’s no wonder it’s now the most popular — and most encouraged — type of post-placement relationship.
So, what are these benefits of open adoption?
- An open adoption allows a birth mother to watch her child grow up. In doing so, she can be confident she made the best choice for her child.
- With an open adoption, the adoptee will have access to their family and medical history and know where they came from. The adoptee will also have the love of more family members — biological and adoptive.
- Adoptive parents will be able to have an open and honest conversation with their adopted child about where he or she came from. They’ll also be able to develop a lifelong relationship with their child’s birth family.
These are just a few examples of the many benefits of open adoption in Iowa. You can read open adoption stories to discover more.
In Iowa, open adoption is always an option. If you want to learn more about this path for yourself, please fill out this contact form so an adoption specialist can answer your questions.
