When you choose open adoption in Massachusetts, you can have contact with your child and their adoptive family.

If you would like to start your open adoption process today, or if you have more questions, contact an adoption professional online at any time. This article will answer some of your questions about open adoption vs. closed adoption in Massachusetts.

There are several benefits of open adoption in Massachusetts, like:

• Building a relationship with your child’s adoptive family
• Building a relationship with your child as they grow up
• Coping with grief and loss after adoption
• Having peace of mind that your child is living their best possible life

Many prospective birth parents are nervous or unsure about communicating with the adoptive parents that they choose for their baby. Keep these three things in mind when you think about open adoption communication:

• Adoptive parents have been dreaming of bringing a child into their home.
• Adoptive parents are grateful to you for choosing them to love and care for your child.
• Adoptive parents get to share your child’s life with you — your child will always be your child.

On the other hand, closed adoption in Massachusetts means that you choose not to have any contact with your child or their adoptive parents, and that’s OK, too. Some birth parents find that working with a closed adoption agency gives them the space they need to heal and cope with life after adoption.

What Does an Open Adoption Mean in Massachusetts?

Open adoption in Massachusetts means that you choose to communicate with your child and their adoptive parents before, during and after adoption.

If you feel comfortable sharing your personal information with your baby’s adoptive parents in an open adoption, then you can agree on a communication plan together.

Your personal information shared in an open adoption can include:

• Phone number
• Email address
• Home address

You can also get this information from your child’s adoptive parents in an open adoption, as well.

Let’s talk about reasons why you would want to share your personal information in an open adoption.

Build Trust with Your Baby’s Adoptive Parents in an Open Adoption in Massachusetts

When you choose an open adoption vs. closed adoption, you can do the following:

• Ask each other questions
• Share important information
• Get adoption support when you need it

Many prospective birth parents who choose open adoption in Massachusetts have found that they can truly count on their baby’s hopeful adoptive parents when they need someone to talk to or are struggling with adoption emotions.

Your Child’s Adoptive Parents Want to Get to Know You in an Open Adoption in Massachusetts

These are a few things that your child’s adoptive parents would like to know about you:

• What opportunities you want for your child
• What you like to do for fun
• Expectations for religion
• What your children enjoy doing, if you are raising children
• Preferences for education

Your child will likely enjoy some of the same things that you do, and your child’s adoptive parents want to be prepared to give your child the life that they deserve, and the opportunities that you want for them.

Give Your Child a Connection to Their Heritage Through Open Adoption in Massachusetts

Your child’s heritage will be important to them as they form their self-identity in a healthy and supported way in an open adoption.

You and your child’s adoptive parents can talk to your child together if you feel comfortable doing so.

Keep in mind that your open adoption communication plan is not a legal document in Massachusetts. Here are three things to know about your open adoption communication plan:

1. This is an agreement made between you and your child’s adoptive parents.
2. If there are issues maintaining the level of communication that you agreed on, you can always get help from your adoption specialist.
3. Your communication plan is a part of your adoption plan and kept on file with your adoption agency.

How Does an Open Adoption Work in Massachusetts?

When you choose an open adoption, the process may be easier than you think.

There are three steps to having an open adoption:

Step 1. Let your Adoption Specialist Know That You Want an Open Adoption

Your adoption specialist will show you profiles of waiting adoptive families that also want an open adoption.

Here are a few facts about having an open adoption in Massachusetts:

• Approximately 90% of adoptions today are open adoptions.
• You could have hundreds of open adoption options when you work with a national adoption agency.
• You can have a successful open adoption even if your child’s adoptive family lives in another state

Step 2. Choose the Adoptive Parents That You Want for Your Child

Your adoption agency will have profiles for the families that they work with. In an open adoption, an adoption match means that you choose the parents that you want your baby to have, and they accept the adoption opportunity.

Here is the basic information that can be found in many adoptive family profiles:

• Where they live —in Massachusetts or in another state
• If they have other children
• What type of job they have
• If religion is important in their lives
• Meet extended relatives and close friends
• If they have dogs, cats or other pets
• What they do for fun

Step 3. Meet Your Baby’s Hopeful Adoptive Parents [Your Adoption Specialist Can Help]

Your adoption specialist can facilitate your first phone call with your baby’s adoptive parents in an open adoption if you are comfortable with that.

• You can meet in person, but you don’t have to
• Your adoption specialist will coordinate travel so that you can meet in person if you agree to do so
• The adoptive parents will always travel to you.

Much of your open adoption planning is based on what you and your baby’s adoptive parents agree on. The only limits to your open adoption plan are what you and your child’s adoptive parents agree to establish.

Open vs. Closed Adoption in Massachusetts

The main difference between open vs. closed adoption is the sharing of personal information.

• When you choose open adoption in Massachusetts, you and your child’s adoptive parents may exchange contact information.
• In closed adoption, you still choose your baby’s hopeful adoptive parents but they don’t have access to anything but your medical history.
• Semi-open adoption allows you to receive updates about your child, but your adoption agency will manage those updates — adoptive parents won’t have your contact information

Closed adoption is not a bad option, but it does eliminate the option of your child and their adoptive parents contacting you.

The process of closed adoption is similar to open adoption as far as adoption matching.

1. Your adoption specialist will let the hopeful adoptive parents know that you have chosen them to adopt your child.
2. They will give the family information about the baby’s race, due date and other medical information.
3. The hopeful parents won’t know your name or any of your personal contact information.

After adoption placement in a closed adoption in Massachusetts, you still get adoption counseling and support if you are working with a full-service adoption agency, but you won’t get any updates about your child.

This is what some birth parents want because a closed adoption gives the space they need to move forward with their future.

Open Adoption Agencies in Massachusetts

An open adoption agency chooses to work with hopeful adoptive parents and prospective birth parents who want an open adoption. Communication throughout the adoption process can create the best possible adoption experience for you, your child’s adoptive parents and your child.

Open adoption agencies understand that when prospective birth parents and hopeful adoptive parents are willing to accept open adoption, then they accept the benefits of communication on the child’s growth and development.

The more support that birth parents and adoptive parents can give each other, the more the child will learn to understand their identity as an adoptee.

Here are a few national and local open adoption agencies in Massachusetts:

• American Adoptions
• Gladney Center for Adoption
• Bright Futures Adoption Center
• A Full Circle Adoptions
• Alliance for Children

Contact the open adoption agencies of your choice to learn more about their open adoption services.

Disadvantages of Open Adoption in Massachusetts

Open adoption satisfaction is based on what you and your child’s adoptive parents make of it.

It is important to know that if you are ever unsatisfied or disappointed with your open adoption communication plan, it is best to talk to your adoption specialist.

Open adoption is so widely chosen because of the many benefits, so if you’re having trouble coping with the grief and loss of adoption you may need to contact an adoption counselor.

Disadvantages aren’t very common with open adoption because of the benefits of communication, but they do happen. It can be helpful for you to keep in mind why you chose open adoption for your child — you want your child to live their best possible life.

You can contact an adoption professional today to learn more about open adoption in Massachusetts.