statistics.adoption.com/open_adoption.php Adoption Statistics: Ope...

Adoption Statistics: Open AdoptionsOpen Adoptions What is Open Adoption The term open adoption refers to the sharing of information and/or contact between the adoptive and biological parents of an adopted child. This can occur before, during and/or after the placement of the child. (Baran and Pannor, 1993) Want to adopt Pregnant click here The Continuum of Openness (Grotevant and McRoy, 1998) < > ConfidentialMediatedFully Disclosed Confidential: Minimal information is shared between adoptive and birth family members and is never transmitted directly; any exchange of information typically stops with the adoptive placement of shortly thereafter. Mediated: Non-identifying information is shared between parties through adoption agency personnel, who serve as go-betweens; sharing could include exchange of pictures, letters, gifts, or infrequent meetings at which full identifying information is not revealed. Fully disclosed: Involves full disclosure of identifying information between adoptive and birth families; may involve direct meetings in each others homes or in public places, phone calls, letters, and sometimes contact with the extended family. How Many Open Adoptions Take Place Each Year In 69% of public and private agency adoptions, the birth parents had met the adoptive couple. (Berry, 1991) What is the History of Open Adoption in the United States The origin of statutory requirements in the early 20th century, that adoption be confidential and that birth certificates and adoption records be sealed, began with early laws such as the Minnesota Act of 1917. By the early 1950s almost every state had amended its adoption statues to create complete anonymity for the birth parents. Beginning in 1974, research demonstrates that some of the psychological problems observed in adolescent and adult adoptees, birth parents, and adoptive parents appeared to be directly related to the secrecy, anonymity, and sealed records of adoption. Open adoption...