Types of Domestic Adoption
Types of Domestic Adoption “Learning the difference between an adoptive child and a foster child is important for couples looking to adopt as are the facts regarding various kinds of adoption and the process involved in adoption.” (“Adoption Foster Care”)
The main types of adoption include domestic and international adoption; domestic refers to within your country and the latter, to adoption across international borders. We focus on the former type here: for US citizens, it is important to understand that once the procedure for adoption has been rightly followed through, the adoptive children will be deemed as having the same legal rights as biological children as they are regarded as equal members of the American family system. (“Adoption Foster Care”)
“Besides this, adoption can be further classified as Open, Semi-Open, Closed and Foster Care adoption.” (“Adoption Foster Care”) In the first case, it can be of two kinds: in the US, it refers to the process of adoption where the child’s birth parent(s) is(are) involved in the process from start to finish and this includes meeting the couple looking to adopt to determine the caregiver’s commitment to looking after their child.
Many a time, this meeting between birth parents and prospective ones is conducted before the birth of the baby and in certain cases, both set of parents may decide to let the birth parents stay involved with the child, though conducting non-parental roles e.g., postal, and telephonic communication or even in-person kinds. (“Domestic Adoption Types – How to Determine the Best One”)
This sort of arrangement is common and allows the adopted person to access personal records too; the UK allows those under eighteen this privilege.
“The second scenario of semi-open adoption involves a limited interaction of the birth parent(s) in the life of the adopted child leave for the initial meeting at the time of processing the legal matters, after which stage, there is usually no in-person contact maintained by them except for infrequent correspondence or photo-exchange.” (“Domestic Adoption Types – How to Determine the Best One”)
In the case of minimal information exchanged between both sets of parents, the closed adoption type is believed to have occurred; it typically suggests a complete breaking away from information exchange of any kind once the formalities are completed. It is especially evident in cases of neglect or child abuse with birth parent(s) often suggesting a clean break.
“The last type of adoption procedure involves taking in a child for looking-after for a certain period, though legally they are not adopted.” (“Domestic Adoption Types – How to Determine the Best One”) At times, foster parents can choose to get legal custody of a child in their care but usually they function as guardians till the time adoption is legal and official.
The Differences Between Open and Closed Adoptions
Open and Closed adoptions offer different opportunities. Open adoptions are not for everyone. Learn about the options available and decide which situation is best.
Once the adoption process starts, there are two ways it could go down. It will be either a closed adoption or an open adoption. Closed adoptions are the way adoptions were traditionally done. There is no contact between the prospective parents and the birth mother. All information, the limited information, is given through the adoption agency. In an open adoption, both parties have an open line of communication. The birth mother picks the family she wants her child to go to and then spends time learning about the family.
There are advantages and disadvantages to both scenarios. The prospective parents must know how they are going to be most comfortable. Parents might get the jitters of knowing the birth mother and have an issue with knowing who she is. Others want to know exactly where their child is coming from.
The term open adoption might seem misleading. Just because it is open does not mean anyone is privy to the information regarding the adoption. Only the birth mother and the prospective parents are allowed to know details. An adoption agent will pair a mother and a potential family and exchange information about the parties. If it progresses further, the two clients will meet and exchange contact information.
This way the two families can stay in touch with each other. Prospective parents need to be cautious in dealing with this type of adoption. While there have been loads of successful cases, there have been horror stories associated with open adoptions. The birth mother uses this to get extra money from the parents. More money than was initially agreed upon. Be cautious and vigil.
The key to a good open adoption is having excellent communication. Ask as many questions as possible and do not be afraid to answer any questions. Being honest will go a long way in open adoptions. Another thing to consider in open adoptions is the future of your child. When the child learns that they were adopted, they might want to meet the birth mother. In this case, it will be easier to find the birth mother.
Some prospective parents might feel uncomfortable in this situation. The parents are desperate for a child; they do not want to do anything to scare away the birth mother. They fear saying or doing the wrong thing. They worry the birth mother will not like them. If this type of situation is too much too handled, closed adoptions might be a better fit for prospective parents.
Closed adoptions offer limited information about the parties. Historically, such limited information led to problems between the clients, but that is not the case anymore. Adoption agencies manage the situations with utmost care. The agencies are there to make both parties happy with the least number of complications. In this situation, it is usually left up to the adoptive parents to let the child know they were adopted. It is also usually harder for an adopted child to find his birth mother, which could lead to problems down the line.
There are many things to consider when deciding on either an open or closed adoption. Go through the list of options and decide what situation you are going to be most comfortable with to make the adoption process as painless as possible.
Best Wishes, Coyalita
See Tomorrow: “Deciding Between Open and Closed Adoptions”
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