What does open adoption mean in South Carolina?
An open adoption in South Carolina is one in which a birth mother has a relationship with her child after adoption. Open adoptions are becoming much more popular, as society realizes and accepts the benefits of this kind of relationship.
Regardless of whether a prospective birth mother elects to have an open, semi-open, or closed adoption, she will always decide this before an adoption is completed. It is up to her and the prospective adoptive couple to agree on what their relationship will look like in the future — before placement even occurs.
South Carolina open adoptions hold great benefits, but a prospective birth mother will always have the option for a semi-open or closed adoption, as well.
What is Open Adoption in South Carolina?
There is no exact open adoption definition in South Carolina. However, a general definition of open adoption might be:
“An open adoption in South Carolina is when a direct relationship exists between a birth mother and her birth child during that child’s upbringing. An open adoption can include, but is not limited to, phone calls, physical visits, gift and letter exchanges, and any other form of communication that a birth mother has directly with her birth child. The frequency of communication is different for every open adoption, whether it’s yearly, monthly, or daily.”
Choosing an open adoption in South Carolina occurs prior to a prospective birth mother giving her adoption consent. The prospective birth mother and prospective adoptive couple, with help from their adoption professional, will sit down and come up with a post-placement agreement together.
What is Closed Adoption in South Carolina?
For the prospective birth mother who does not want to have any contact with her child, there is the option of a closed adoption. Closed adoptions used to be incredibly common, because adoption was a taboo and shameful subject. However, experts in the field have been able to show how beneficial open adoption is, and society is starting to catch up.
Closed adoptions no longer hold the weight for society as the recommended post-placement relationship. This is because open adoptions in South Carolina and across the country have revealed how beneficial such a post-placement relationship can be for all parties involved.
What is Semi-Open Adoption in South Carolina?
A semi-open adoption in South Carolina is an option for any prospective birth mother who wants a more private post-placement relationship with her child. In a semi-open adoption, the adoption agency mediates the relationship between a birth mother and her child’s adoptive parents while holding all personal information private.
In a semi-open adoption, letters and pictures are sent through the adoption agency, and there is no direct contact between a birth mother and her child. A semi-open adoption in South Carolina is an option for a prospective birth mother who doesn’t want contact with her child during his or her upbringing but still wants to be a part of her child’s life in some capacity.
The Benefits of Open Adoption in South Carolina
There are many benefits to choosing an open adoption in South Carolina for all parties of the adoption triad — which includes birth parents, adoptive parents, and the child who was placed for adoption.
Birth mothers in open adoptions with their birth children enjoy many benefits. These women are blessed with a relationship with their child while he or she is growing up. While there may be ups and downs, and it may take some work (just like any other relationship), it’s worth it. Adoptive parents who have an open adoption with their child’s birth mother are honored to have her in their life and be able to discuss adoption openly with their child, avoiding secrets and confusion. Adopted children are blessed by a better life and more love from both their adoptive families and their birth families.
The benefits to open adoption are not exclusive to the ones mentioned, but the joy that can come with it is indescribable. If you have questions about open adoption facts in South Carolina, please fill out this contact form. An adoption specialist will reach out to you, offer you post-placement agreement options and information, and even help you begin your own adoption journey. Remember that no matter what post-placement agreement you choose, the decision belongs to you and no one else. Any prospective birth mother can always choose an open, semi-open or closed adoption for her and her baby.