Through open adoption in Minnesota, you can stay in touch while giving your child a loving adoptive home.

What’s open adoption in Minnesota?

• Open adoptions involve post-placement contact arrangements that allow regular contact between birth parents, the adoptive family and the adoptee after placement in the adoptive home.
• Through open adoption, you can maintain a relationship with your child through ongoing contact.

Choosing an open adoption carries many benefits, and you can learn more about some of them by clicking here.

Read more to learn the differences between closed adoption, semi-open adoption, and open adoption in Minnesota. You’ll also learn how each type of adoption can impact your relationship with your child and their adoptive family.

What is an open adoption in Minnesota?

An open adoption in Minnesota is a mutual agreement between the birth parents and adoptive parents.  The birth parents can have direct contact with the adopted child in this arrangement. Open adoptions in Minnesota are now the norm because everyone involved in the adoption triad benefits from them.   

Here are a few open adoption benefits to consider:

• You’ll get to watch your child grow and develop, and you’ll get the peace of mind of knowing they’re well cared-for.
• You’ll be able to have contact with your child that can even include in-person meetings.
• Your child will grow up understanding their heritage and history.
• You won’t have to gain access to adoption records for your child to learn details about their life.
• You’ll be able to provide critical information about family medical history in the event your child needs care.
• Your child will be protected from feelings of abandonment that are sometimes experienced in closed adoption.
• You child will have an extended family to provide needed support throughout their lifetime.

While a few perceived drawbacks of open adoptions may persist in society, the large majority of open adoptions in Minnesota result in positive experiences. The benefits of open adoption have been thoroughly documented. That said, every adoption scenario is different, and there may be other factors involved in your decision.

It’s important to remember that no matter what, you’re always in control of your decision if you’re considering open adoption in Minnesota. You determine the terms of your open adoption. That may include how much information is shared, what kind of information is shared, and how much direct contact you have with your child.

Since you decide the terms of your open adoption agreement, every open adoption is different. There is some common information shared between birth parents and adoptive parents in an open adoption, however. That can include:

• Family medical history of both birth parents
• Detailed contact information for all parties so that birth parents, adoptive parents, and the adoptee can stay in touch with one another
• Direct contact between birth parents and adoptive parents as well as between the birth parents and adoptee
• In-person visits for special occasions such as birthdays or holidays

Only you can choose the right family to raise your child. If an open adoption arrangement is something that interests you, find open adoption agencies in Minnesota. These agencies can help you find a family that welcomes open adoption.

Here are a few agencies in Minnesota that work with birth mothers to facilitate open adoptions.

• American Adoptions
• Adoption Minnesota
• EVOLVE Family Services
• Children’s Home Society of Minnesota
• New Life Adoptions
• New Horizons Adoption Agency

If you want to stay in touch with your child and play a role in their future, open adoption in Minnesota is the perfect choice. While open adoption may not be best for every woman facing an unplanned pregnancy, the positives are hard to ignore. That’s why most birth mothers now choose open adoptions when placing a child.

What is a semi-open adoption in Minnesota?

A semi-open adoption is a more limited form of open adoption in Minnesota. The parties do share information, but there’s a reduced degree of contact between the birth parents, adoptive parents, and the adoptee. The volume and kind of contact exchanged in semi-open adoptions is more limited in scope and frequency.

In semi-open adoption, the contact between the birth parents and adoptive parents may not be direct. In some cases, a mediator such as an adoption agency acts as a go-between for the parties. Also, the information exchanged by the parties may only include details such as:

• First names of birth parents and adoptive families
• Basic medical information and family medical history for the adoptee
• Other details about birth parents such as biographical information or geographic location

Some birth parents simply want to watch their child’s development from a distance, and that’s okay. If that’s your preference, semi-open adoption in Minnesota may be the right choice for you.

What is a closed adoption in Minnesota?

For a number of reasons, some birth mothers would rather not have any contact with their child or their adoptive family after placement. They may just want to move forward. For those women, closed adoption in Minnesota is an option. In closed adoption, there’s no information is shared, but the birth mother can let the child to find her when they turn 18.

Open vs Closed Adoption in Minnesota

The primary difference between open and closed adoption in Minnesota is the amount of communication.

Open adoption allows for any kind of contact among members of the adoption triad. In a closed adoption, however, there’s no information is shared, and there’s no post-placement contact among the parties.  

There are some potential outcomes of closed adoption that can negatively affect the child and the birth parents. They can include:

• Adoptees have no family medical history in the event of an emergency.
• Birth parents don’t know if their children are growing up happy and healthy.
• Adoptees may deal with feelings of abandonment.
• With no identifying information exchanged, it may be difficult for birth parents and children to meet in the future.

There was a time in the past when closed adoptions in Minnesota were routine, but that’s no longer the case. The benefits of open adoptions are well-documented, and the supposed benefits of closed adoptions have been rejected. However, birth mothers in Minnesota are still in control of their adoption decisions, and you can still choose closed adoption in Minnesota if you prefer, especially in cases in which continued contact may place the child’s safety at risk.

Are Open Adoptions Enforceable by Law in Minnesota?

Minnesota law does allow for court enforcement of open adoption agreements, but only under certain circumstances. For there to be legal enforcement, the open adoption agreement, also known as a post-adoption contract agreement, must be written into a court order. There may be other stipulating factors, so speak to your adoption professional to learn more.

In most open adoptions, legally binding agreements aren’t necessary anyway because everyone involved in the open adoption is dedicated to the child’s best interest. 

Birth parents and adoptive parents in open adoptions share a spirit of cooperation that’s built upon a mutual desire to see the child thrive. Though birth parents and adoptive parents in an open adoption in Minnesota aren’t co-parenting, but they can work together to make ensure their child’s needs are fulfilled.

If you think you want an open adoption in Minnesota, everyone involved should get advice from adoption professionals. Your adoption professional will explain the importance of meeting contact commitments for the adoptee’s best interest, even though such agreements aren’t enforced by the court in Minnesota.

Learn More about Open Adoption in Minnesota

Open adoptions in Minnesota are common these days, and the reasons for that are clear. Everyone in the adoption triad benefits, and benefits come with few drawbacks. Maintaining contact with your child and watching them grow in their adoptive home can be a great experience for birth parents.

Though open adoption in Minnesota isn’t the best choice for every birth mother, only you get to decide that for yourself. The type of adoption you choose is personal, and your decision can will have long-term impacts for you and your unborn child.

Again, it’s always a good idea to seek counsel from adoption professionals before selecting the type of adoption arrangement you would like. To speak with a professional about open adoptions, click here today.