| |
Confidential Adoptions |
Mediated
(Semi-Open) |
Open
Adoptions |
| No contact between
birth and adoptive families. No identifying information is provided.
Only non identifying information (e.g., height, hair color,
medical history, etc.) is provided through a third party (e.g.,
agency or attorney). |
Non identifying
contact is made (via cards, letters, pictures) through a third party
(e.g., agency or attorney). |
Direct interaction
between birth and adoptive families. Identities are known. |
| Birth
Parents |
- Less grief resolution due to lack of information about the
child's well-being.
- May encourage denial of fact that child was born and placed
with another family.
|
- Loss of potential for direct relationship with adoptive family
(and/or child).
- Increased grief in the initial years, less later.
- Loss of contact if intermediary changes or leaves (i.e., staff
turnover, policy changes, or agency closings).
- Birth mother may feel obligated to place child due to the
emotional or financial support given by the prospective adoptive
parents.
|
- Full responsibility for setting relationship limits and
boundaries.
- Potential abuse of trust (fewer safeguards).
- Potential disappointment if adoptive family cannot meet all
expectations or needs.
- Birth mother may feel obligated to place child due to the
emotional or financial support given by the prospective adoptive
parents.
|
|
Adoptive Parents |
- Allows for denial of "adopted family" or fertility status.
- Increased fear, less empathy for birth parents.
- No access to additional medical information about birth
family.
- Less control: agency controls information.
|
- Loss of the full relationship with the birth parents.
- Lack of ability to have questions answered immediately.
- Potentially troubling cards, letters, or pictures.
|
- Full responsibility for setting relationship limits and
boundaries.
- Potential pressure: accept openness or no child.
- Potential difficulty with emotionally disturbed birth parents.
- Potential for supporting both child and birth parents
(emotionally).
|
|
Adopted Persons |
- Possible adolescent identity confusion (unable to compare
physical and emotional traits to their birth families).
- Limited access to information that others take for granted.
- Potential preoccupation with adoption issues.
|
- Similar to confidential adoptions, if information not shared
with the adoptee.
- Potential perception that it is unsafe to interact with birth
family directly.
|
- No clean break for assimilation into family, which some feel
is necessary.
- Potential feelings of rejection if contact stops.
- Difficulty explaining the relationship to peers.
- Potential for playing families against each other.
|
