Have you decided to put your baby up for adoption? You may be concerned because you think it means you’re telling your child “goodbye” forever. That’s not the case, though. You have a right to choose open adoption.

Through open adoption in West Virginia, you have an opportunity to secure a bright future for your child while preserving your bond.

You may be asking, “What’s open adoption in West Virginia?”

Open adoption involves an agreement between birth parents and the adoptive family that creates an open line of communication between after placement in the adoptive home. Open adoption gives you a chance to build your relationship with your child through continued contact.

Open adoption has become so common because it offers many benefits. You can learn about a few of these benefits by clicking here.

In the meantime, read here to find out about what differentiates closed adoption, semi-open adoption, and open adoption in West Virginia. We’ll also talk about how each type of adoption can influence your relationship with your child and the adoptive family.

What is an open adoption in West Virginia?

Open adoption can be beautiful because, at the center of every open adoption in West Virginia, there’s a shared love between the birth parents and adoptive parents founded in the child’s wellbeing. Open adoption facilitates direct contact for birth parents, which is one reason open adoptions in West Virginia are routine now. Simply put, everyone involved benefits from them.   

Consider some of these open adoption benefits:

• Your child will grow up understanding their heritage and history.
• 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 provide critical information about family medical history in the event your child needs care.
• You won’t have to gain access to adoption records for your child to learn details about their life.
• You’ll be able to have contact with your child that can even include in-person meetings.
• 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.

Does Open Adoption in West Virginia Have Any Drawbacks?

There may be a few of the perceived drawbacks attributed to open adoptions, and it’s not right for every birth mother. However, most open adoptions in West Virginia are positive for everyone involved. The benefits of open adoption are now almost universally recognized in the adoption field, though each adoption scenario is unique.

When you choose open adoption in West Virginia, you remain in control of your choice. You get decide your own open adoption terms, including things like how much information is shared, what information is shared, and how much contact you have with your child.

Open adoption agreements can be tailored to your personal situation and wishes. There is some common information shared between birth parents and adoptive parents in an open adoption, however. That can include:

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

You have a right to choose the right family to raise your child regardless of the type of adoption you’ve selected. If you think an open adoption arrangement is right for you, seek open adoption agencies in West Virginia that work with families that welcome open adoption.

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

• American Adoptions
• Bethany Christian Services
• Burlington United Methodist Family Services
• KVC West Virginia

If you want to have a relationship with your child and see them grow, open adoption in West Virginia can give you an opportunity to do just that. It may not be the best arrangement in every situation, but the overwhelming positives lead many birth mothers to choose open adoptions when placing a child.

What is a semi-open adoption in West Virginia?

Semi-open adoption is similar to open adoption in West Virginia, but it’s more limited in scope. There is a degree of communication between the birth parents and adoptive parents. However, most of the time there’s less contact between the parties. The information exchanged in semi-open adoptions is often more restricted in scope.

Sometimes, the communication between birth parents and adoptive parents in semi-open adoption isn’t direct. Some semi-open adoptions use a mediator, such as an adoption agency, to act as a go-between in communication. The information exchanged may be limited and 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

Maybe you want to watch your child grow and develop from afar without direct contact. If that’s the case, semi-open adoption in West Virginia may be your best option.

What is a closed adoption in West Virginia?

Though not as common now, there are birth mothers who want no contact with a child or their adoptive family following placement. They may just prefer to move forward. In those cases, closed adoption in West Virginia offers an avenue for such an arrangement. In closed adoption, no information is exchanged. The birth mother may allow for the child to find her when they turn 18, however.

Open vs Closed Adoption in West Virginia

The primary difference between open and closed adoption in West Virginia is the amount of communication between the parties. Open adoption allows for any kind of contact the parties agree upon, but in a closed adoption, no information is shared at all. There’s no post-placement contact between the parties.  

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

• Birth parents don’t know if their children are growing up happy and healthy.
• Adoptees have no family medical history in the event of an emergency.
• 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.

In the past, closed adoptions in West Virginia were routine, but because the benefits of open adoption are well documented, open adoptions are the new norm.  Also, the supposed benefits of closed adoptions have been thoroughly rejected, making open adoption the choice of most birth mothers. 

Birth mothers still have a right to choose closed adoption in West Virginia if they decide it’s the best option, especially when continued contact may create safety issues for the child.

Are Open Adoptions Enforceable by Law in West Virginia?

West Virginia does legally enforce open adoption agreements, also known as post-adoption contract agreements or PACAs. The court may hear a petition to enforce the agreement and must determine whether enforcement of the agreement would serve the best interests of the child. The court may, in its sole discretion, consider the position of a child of the age and maturity to express such position to the court.

In most cases, legally binding agreements aren’t necessary because the parties in the open adoption triad share a commitment to the adoptee’s best interest. 

Open adoptions are rooted in a spirit of cooperation that grows from the birth parents’ and adoptive parents’ shared interest in the child’s wellbeing. Adoptive parents and birth parents in an open adoption in West Virginia aren’t co-parenting, but that doesn’t mean they can’t work together to make sure their child’s needs are met.

If you’re interested in open adoption in West Virginia, you should speak to licensed adoption professionals to learn how the law applies to your situation.

Learn More about Open Adoption in West Virginia

Open adoptions in West Virginia are the new norm for good reason. Such arrangements are beneficial for all parties. For birth mothers like you, there are few (if any) drawbacks in maintaining contact with your child and watching them grow within their adoptive family.

Open adoption in West Virginia may not be right for you, and you get to make that choice. The type of adoption you select is profoundly personal, and the impacts of your choice will resonate for you and your unborn child in the future.

Again, it’s important to seek guidance from adoption professionals before deciding the type of adoption arrangement you would like. To speak with a professional about open adoptions, click here today.