When most people think about adoption, they have an outdated sort of arrangement in mind. They might picture an adopted child growing up with no information about with their birth parents, or a birth mother without contact with her child after delivery.

In reality, most modern adoptions allow for the continued, loving relationship between birth mother and child.  Open adoptions are recommended by nearly all adoption professionals in most cases because they are shown to benefit all involved: birth mother, adoptive parents, and adopted child.

Open adoption allows you to:

• Continue a relationship with your adoptive family after choosing them for your baby.
• Determine the kind of interactions you want to maintain with your child and their adoptive family and the frequency which you want to communicate with them.
• Foster a loving relationship with your child throughout their adolescence.

When you choose to place your baby for adoption in Oregon, you will oversee the process and get to make the choices that are right for you and your baby. Most women want to have some contact with their child after adoption, but there is a lot to consider about how this arrangement looks. How much interaction do you want? What type of communication is best for you? Will you see your child on special days or communicate solely via phone and email? You get to answer these questions and decide what kind of open adoption agreement is right for you.

If you are ready to consult with an adoption specialist about your adoption agreement, you can contact a professional today.

What is Open Adoption in Oregon?

An open adoption in Oregon is any adoption agreement that involves some type of continued communication that maintains a relationship between the adopted child and the birth parents. This relationship begins when the birth mother chooses the perfect adoptive family for her baby, and it continues throughout the baby’s childhood in whatever way that the birth mother decides is best for her and her child.

An open adoption in Oregon can include:

• Pictures and letters (mediated or not)
• Annual updates
• Emails and text messages
• Phone calls and video calls
• In-person visits

Maybe you want an open adoption but you are left wondering, “Where can I find an open adoption agency to work with in Oregon?” You are in luck. Open adoption is a very common choice by both adoptive families and birth mothers, so nearly every private domestic agency facilitate the adoption relationship that is best for you and your baby. 

You can pursue an open adoption at the following agencies:

• American Adoptions
• Adoptions of Southern Oregon
• Open Adoption & Family Services
• Journeys of the Heart
• Tree of Life Adoption Center

What are the Benefits of Open Adoption in Oregon?

The benefits of open adoption are numerous, and they apply to everyone involved in the adoption process. You might be surprised that your preference to enter an open adoption agreement will be not only supported but encouraged by the professionals who you work with. Many hopeful adoptive parents across the nation are looking for an open adoption too.

Continued contact benefits each person in the adoption triad: birth parents, adoptive parents, and adopted children.

• Birth Parents: Open adoption allows birth mothers to maintain a loving relationship with their child. It gives them the chance to watch their child grow up ant thrive in their adoptive home. Establishing a post-adoptive agreement – especially one that allows the birth mother some contact with their baby – can also help a birth mother find peace after the period of grief that is often experienced after placement.
• Adoptive Families: When an adoptive family is willing to enter an open adoption, the waiting period that they face is oftentimes shorter. This is because this one choice makes them a more attractive choice to many birth mothers. The bond that can be fostered between them and the birth parent is also a huge gift and advantage.
• Adopted Children: Open adoption is perhaps most beneficial to the adopted child. Having an open adoption allows them to grow up with knowledge about their history that some adopted children do not grow up having. The relationship they can have with their birth parents permits them to ask questions about their family, their adoption, and their identity. This can ease some of the uncertainty that can cause an adopted child to have challenges.

Can I Choose a Closed Adoption in Oregon?

Yes. The adoption agreement that you enter is totally up to you. If you see the need for a closed adoption, you may choose one. A closed adoption allows for little to no identifying information to be shared between birth parents and adoptive parents, and it ends the relationship between the child and its birth parents after adoption.

As you think about adoption vs. closed adoption, it is important to remember that birth mothers choose closed adoptions for valid reasons, and there is no “better choice” – only the right choice for you.

Some of the reasons birth mothers choose closed adoption are:

• The woman requires emotional closure after placement.
• The woman is dealing with circumstances that could make an open adoption unsafe.
• The woman needs privacy and anonymity.

How Will I Find Adoptive Parents Who Want an Open Adoption in Oregon?

While you may feel like it is a daunting task to find adoptive parents who will enthusiastically enter an open adoption agreement with you, it is not. There are countless couples who are looking for a birth mother who is willing to agree to the same thing.

Of course, some hopeful adoptive families begin the adoption process with some hesitancy about a continued relationship with their child’s birth mom, but after learning about the many benefits of open adoption, they are often persuaded to change their preferences. Increasingly, families are hoping for birth mothers who desire to maintain a long-lasting relationship with the baby and with them.

Agencies are open adoption agencies unless they state otherwise (which is very rare), and they will help you to facilitate and plan an open adoption agreement. Adoption specialists will provide you with adoption opportunities with families who share your desire for an open adoption and let you choose the family that fits your needs best.

After choosing the perfect family for your child, you will develop a postadoption contact agreement (PACA), which outlines the details of the contact you will have after placement. Often called open adoption agreements, they can be as informal or formal as you want, and they can include as much detail as you want.

The right agency will advise both birth mothers and adoptive families to stay loyal to their commitments when agreeing to an Oregon open adoption. They will also inform you that changes can be made to the agreement when the two parties can mutually agree on them.

What are the Cons of Open Adoption in Oregon?

While some level of openness is generally recommended in modern adoptions – either with an open adoption or semi-open adoption – there are some disadvantages to open adoption you will want to consider. Of course, no relationship is perfect, and this is the same for the continued relationship with your child’s adoptive family.

Some of the cons of open adoption can include:

• Dissatisfaction with the loyalty given to the agreement: While it is the case that most parents stay true to their word and live up to their open adoption commitments, there are rare instances when there is disappointment with the loyalty of some parents to their promises.
• Disappointment with the adoptive family: Even the people you love the most do not always live up to your expectations of them, and it is possible that you might have some disappointment with your adoptive family’s personalities, lifestyles, or behavior. You will be given a good amount of time to get to know the adoptive family before placement, will have good advice from adoption specialists and – more often than not – this is not an issue.
• Emotional challenges. While for some birth mothers, having the open adoption agreement can be healing, for others it is can be difficult to manage emotionally. Because these are not circumstances that you can anticipate, it is important that you stay open and honest with one another to work through any changes to the open adoption collaboratively.

You are in control, and you get to decide what kind of relationship is best for you. You are not alone, though. You will receive support, counsel, and empathetic advice from adoption professionals throughout your adoption process.

If you are ready to speak with an Oregon adoption specialist about the type of adoption that is right for you, contact an agency today.