Closed Adoption
April 19, 2011 The choice of an open vs. closed adoption is one of the most important decisions a mother can make during the adoption process. For both processes an agreement is crafted to detail the rights of the birth parents in the life of the baby following the adoption. There are many pros and cons to both options. Both can be seen and evaluated in the following articles that clearly explain and discuss these two options. Also, another form of clarification is the textbook, Marriages and Families by John DeFrain. The first article goes over the advantages of a closed adoption. Closed adoption refers to an adoption process where there is no interaction of any kind between the birthmother and the prospective adoptive families. There
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is no transferring of identity information between either family, such as physical characteristics or medical history. Some potential benefits associated with closed adoption are a sense of closure, privacy, and reduced fear. Birth families usually state that a closed adoption provides them with a sense of closure and enables them to move on with their life and continue to build their family. Having privacy with this adoption reduces extreme sensitivity or for the family to be vulnerable. And lastly, it helps reduce the fear of having to explain their choice to the child and helps prevent confrontation. More positive attributes with closed adoption are that the adoptive family is free to have their family time without disruption or visitation restraints. They are free to act like a complete family unit without complications from the birth family, creating their own traditions and expectations. There is also no confusion on who is truly the more important parent or danger in the child choosing who they want to be their sole parents. Closed adoption also closes the door to emotionally unstable or inexperienced parents trying to intrude on the new family structure or disrupt the peace with problems or legal battles. With closed adoption, all problems seem to be shut down and dealt with, besides the long lost questions the child might have about their birth family. The next article, by Kathleen Silber, discusses the benefits of open adoption.
Open adoption refers to the legal agreement that each side has the full names of the other, plus their information to be able to get in contact with one another. An open adoption is usually formalized with a detailed agreement with rights granted by the birth parents to the adoptive parents. With an open adoption process it seems that the birthparents demonstrate a positive attitude towards their decision by being able to make a plan for the baby instead of abandoning the child. They also exhibit better mental health with an easier grief process. Being able to contact the birthparents provides the adoptive parents with photographs and makes it easier for trust to develop. With this type of adoption the birthparents are able to pick which family will be most suitable for the child, giving the adoptive parents a sense of entitlement to parenthood. Another great factor with open adoption is the ability to seek medical information that may be needed down the road. Having this type of adoption erases most questions asked by the child and takes away most of the confusion. The adoptive parents are able to communicate with their child instead of having unknown information. It is much easier for children of open adoption to understand their adoption, knowing information about their birthparents, and knowing that they were put up for adoption out of love. Yes, all families face issues and everyone has their own experiences with adoption, and with open adoption issues and questions are
answered. The textbook Marriages and Families also goes over the topics of open and closed adoptions. In this book they discuss how in the past, confidentiality in adoption was the norm; However, today the trend leans toward openness, which means that there is contact between adoptive families and birth parents. The textbook seems to prefer an open adoption. DeFrain professionally argues, “that fully open adoption should be standard practice and that the secrecy of confidential adoptions has been harmful to all those involved” (336). More statistics are shown that couples who have greater openness in the adoption process have a better family communication. I believe that both forms of adoption are effective in their own way, but I would have to agree with the attributes of an open adoption. I like the concept of both sides being able to exchange personal information and contact one another if necessary. I also like that the birthparents have the ability to choose whom they are going to be giving their child to. Being able to review, interview, and select the parents can give the birthparents comfort and set their mind at ease knowing that their child is in a perfect home. I believe this is necessary for a child to be able to have answers about their birthparents even if it is only medical information and exchanges of small characteristics. An open adoption is a way to reduce hurt feelings and the feeling of neglect or being unwanted. In some situations birthparents have no choice but to give up their baby, maybe for financial reasons or they are unstable. In this circumstance, they are still able to have a small part in their child’s life. I believe open adoption is the best choice because it allows for the distribution of healthy communication about wishes, desires, and expectations between the families.
is no transferring of identity information between either family, such as physical characteristics or medical history. Some potential benefits associated with closed adoption are a sense of closure, privacy, and reduced fear. Birth families usually state that a closed adoption provides them with a sense of closure and enables them to move on with their life and continue to build their family. Having privacy with this adoption reduces extreme sensitivity or for the family to be vulnerable. And lastly, it helps reduce the fear of having to explain their choice to the child and helps prevent confrontation. More positive attributes with closed adoption are that the adoptive family is free to have their family time without disruption or visitation restraints. They are free to act like a complete family unit without complications from the birth family, creating their own traditions and expectations. There is also no confusion on who is truly the more important parent or danger in the child choosing who they want to be their sole parents. Closed adoption also closes the door to emotionally unstable or inexperienced parents trying to intrude on the new family structure or disrupt the peace with problems or legal battles. With closed adoption, all problems seem to be shut down and dealt with, besides the long lost questions the child might have about their birth family. The next article, by Kathleen Silber, discusses the benefits of open adoption.
Open adoption refers to the legal agreement that each side has the full names of the other, plus their information to be able to get in contact with one another. An open adoption is usually formalized with a detailed agreement with rights granted by the birth parents to the adoptive parents. With an open adoption process it seems that the birthparents demonstrate a positive attitude towards their decision by being able to make a plan for the baby instead of abandoning the child. They also exhibit better mental health with an easier grief process. Being able to contact the birthparents provides the adoptive parents with photographs and makes it easier for trust to develop. With this type of adoption the birthparents are able to pick which family will be most suitable for the child, giving the adoptive parents a sense of entitlement to parenthood. Another great factor with open adoption is the ability to seek medical information that may be needed down the road. Having this type of adoption erases most questions asked by the child and takes away most of the confusion. The adoptive parents are able to communicate with their child instead of having unknown information. It is much easier for children of open adoption to understand their adoption, knowing information about their birthparents, and knowing that they were put up for adoption out of love. Yes, all families face issues and everyone has their own experiences with adoption, and with open adoption issues and questions are
answered. The textbook Marriages and Families also goes over the topics of open and closed adoptions. In this book they discuss how in the past, confidentiality in adoption was the norm; However, today the trend leans toward openness, which means that there is contact between adoptive families and birth parents. The textbook seems to prefer an open adoption. DeFrain professionally argues, “that fully open adoption should be standard practice and that the secrecy of confidential adoptions has been harmful to all those involved” (336). More statistics are shown that couples who have greater openness in the adoption process have a better family communication. I believe that both forms of adoption are effective in their own way, but I would have to agree with the attributes of an open adoption. I like the concept of both sides being able to exchange personal information and contact one another if necessary. I also like that the birthparents have the ability to choose whom they are going to be giving their child to. Being able to review, interview, and select the parents can give the birthparents comfort and set their mind at ease knowing that their child is in a perfect home. I believe this is necessary for a child to be able to have answers about their birthparents even if it is only medical information and exchanges of small characteristics. An open adoption is a way to reduce hurt feelings and the feeling of neglect or being unwanted. In some situations birthparents have no choice but to give up their baby, maybe for financial reasons or they are unstable. In this circumstance, they are still able to have a small part in their child’s life. I believe open adoption is the best choice because it allows for the distribution of healthy communication about wishes, desires, and expectations between the families.