Open Adoption is an adoption with an ongoing relationship between the birthparents and adoptive family. This means that both parties have exchanged identifying information and have contact with each other either through letters, pictures, phone calls, or visits. The extent of communication in an open adoption is up to those involved.

A birthparent and adoptive family that feel a birthfamily is very important to the development of their child, may want to choose an open adoption. Relationships grow between the two families, and tend to take form as “extended” family. Adoption Services strongly encourages open adoption. Click here to read what others have to say about open adoption.

Semi-Open Adoption is one step down from open adoption regarding contact; the birthparents and adoptive parents meet. However, they do not exchange identifying information. There may be ongoing contact between the two parties, but it's typically less often, and it is facilitated through the agency.

Sometimes birthfamilies and adoptive families feel they need a little distance. This option allows the adoptee to have information about their birthparents, and also allows the birthparents to have information about their child. What it does not allow is direct contact between the two families. Adoption Services will facilitate letters, pictures, and gifts. Items sent to the agency will be reviewed; identifying information will be removed, and then forwarded on to the other party. If one party has stopped contact, Adoption Services will keep all items in the appropriate file, to be redeemed at anytime.

Semi-Closed Adoption allows the expectant parents to look through a number of “profiles” of couples that are waiting to adopt. All couples have been studied by Adoption Services, and are approved to legally adopt. The birthparents choose a couple to raise their child, but there is no contact, and no exchange of identifying information between the two parties.

This option is often the choice of birthparents that desire confidentiality. Sometimes the need for complete confidentiality is needed, but they still want to make sure their child is going to a good home. Being able to see the profile is comforting, but additional contact is not desired.

Closed Adoption offers complete confidentiality. At no time is there any identifying information given to either the birthparents or the adoptive couple about each other. The birthparent allows Adoption Services to pick adoptive parents from their approved, waiting couples, and the baby will be placed with them.

This option is rarely chosen and strongly discouraged. We will allow this option if the birthparents are in an extremely difficult situation, and there are outstanding circumstances that require complete confidentiality.

Independent Adoption occurs when the birthparents and adoptive parents find each other, on their own, without the help of the agency. The birthparents and adoptive parents may find each other through the internet, a common friend or neighbor, a church group, or maybe a personal ad. Independent adoption can also be open, semi-open, or a closed adoption regarding communication.