Adoption has changed over the years. Today, birth families and adoptive families can keep in touch with one another through phone conversations, the Internet and social media, letters or pictures, and in-person visits. Birth mothers can be a part of their child's life as he or she grows. Birth families can choose the adoptive parents for their child. These relationships can blossom over the years, and create positive outcomes for everyone involved. Today, 94% of adoptive mothers, 85% of adoptive fathers, and 84% of adopted children are satisfied with their levels of contact in an open adoption plan. To learn more about open adoption or to make a plan today, visit adoptionswithlove.org/open-adoption.

1. only 16% of the public believed that it
was acceptable for birthmothers to
occasionally send cards or letters to
adoptive families.
76-100% of birth parents choose the
adoptive families for their children.
In 90% of infant adoptions, the
adoptive and expectant parents
considering adoption meet each other.
68% of privately adopted U.S. children have had contact
with their birth families following the adoption.
There is always room
for change: 33% of birth
mothers express the
desire for more openness
at three to six months
post-placement.
43% of birth fathers have
been found to want more
openness during that
same period.
After 2 years, 59% of adoptive
families still maintained contact
with the birth family.
After 4 years, 46%
continued contact
4 years after the adoption:
7.4 contacts per year
14 years after the adoption:
25.6 contacts per year
After 14 years, 39%
continued contact
Adopted children who meet in person with their birth mothers have
been found to express the highest levels of satisfaction when
compared to those who never met or eventually stopped contact.
67% of private adoptions include pre-adoption visits or
phone calls with the birth family and post-adoption
contact (such as an exchange of letters, emails or visits
after the adoptive placement). This is compared with
32% of children adopted from foster care.
After 8 years, 60%
continued contact
Self and Identity
Genealogy
Family History
Choosing a Family:
Meeting & Developing a Relationship:
Maintaining Contact:
Open Minds, Open Hearts,
Open Adoption
Adoption Has Changed:
TODAY
IN 1997
95% of the adoption agencies
now offer open adoptions.
Adoption is no longer something to hide: Today, 99 percent of
adopted children ages 5 and older know that they were adopted.
The Stages of Open Adoption
For A Successful Open Adoption:
Open Adoption Is a Positive Experience:
Using an Agency to Make Your Open Adoption Plan:
Putting Your Child First:
The Benefits of Open Adoption on Adopted Persons.
Adopted children in open arrangements have a better understanding of:
69% of pregnant women who chose an adoptive family for their baby
reported lower levels of grief, regret, worry and sadness, and higher
levels of relief and peace than those who did not make this choice.
Levels of satisfaction with openness were highest for fully disclosed
adoptions when the adopted persons were adolescents or emerging adults.
Levels of satisfaction concerning
contact in open adoptions:
Using an Agency can facilitate on-going contact.
84%
Adopted
Persons
94%
Adoptive
Mothers
85%
Adoptive
Fathers
Why they were placed
for adoption – they are
more able to empathize
with their birthmother
who made the brave
decision to give them a
better life.
Birthparents and adoptive parents should have a
mutual understanding about what open adoption
is and what it is not:
A written adoption agreement, facilitated by an
adoption agency, will identify clear-cut roles and
expectations for all parties involved. This contract
will also establish a set plan for future contact.
Both families should be open to adaptability:
relationships may change over time, and
the levels of contact may change with
them, as the child grows older.
The heart of the adoption plan needs to be the child. What ever is
in the child’s best interest will bring about the best-case scenario.
There should be a mutual respect among both families, as well as
a great sense of trust, honesty, empathy, and commitment to the
adoption plan.
Our Promise to You
We understand that everyone has unique challenges when facing an unplanned
pregnancy. At Adoptions With Love, you will never be alone. Do not hesitate to call us
at any stage of your pregnancy. We have the resources, experts, and love necessary
to help you navigate through this journey now and in the future.
For more information about Adoptions With Love, please call us toll-free, 24/7 at
1-8OO-722-7731. You can also confidentially text us at 1-617-777-OO72.
Sources:
http://adoptioninstitute.org/old/publications/2012_03_OpennessInAdoption.pdf
https://www.americanadoptions.com/pregnant/adoption_stats
http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/09/nsap/chartbook/chartbook.cfm?id=31
https://www.adoptivefamilies.com/openness/study-birth-parent-perspective/
https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/f_openadoptbulletin.pdf