Closed Adoption : A New Home

The first step is a notice of the adoption proceedings that is given to all parties involved. If the child is illegitimate, which means the parents of the child were not married when he or she was born, both natural parents should be given a notice if they are able to be located. The next step is to file a petition in court that gives information about both themselves as well as the child that they wish to adopt. The petition includes the adoptive parents names, the child's name, and the natural parents names if they are known because it some cases they are not. It will also include basic information about the child such as their birthday and gender. The third step in the adoption process is written consent by the adoption agency or the natural parents that is attached to the petition turned into the court. There are certain instances where the natural parents consent is not necessary and that is when their parental rights have been involuntarily terminated. This occurs in situations where courts have found sufficient and clear evidence that there are justifications for terminating the rights and that doing so is in the best interest of the child (T.C.A). After the previous documents have been turned into the courts, a hearing is granted. During this point of the process the courts review the information to ensure the potential adoptive parents meet the qualifications necessary and will

Three books and authors dealing with the subject of adoption are Beating the Adoption Odds by Cynthia D. Martin, Adopting in America by Randall Hicks, and Twenty things adopted kids wish their adoptive parents knew.

One of the most important reasons why open adoption is a better choice than closed adoption is that the adoptive child will already know the truth. The child will know why he or she was put up for adoption. They will also know who their real parents are. Lastly the adoptive child wouldn’t really feel the need to wonder the truth. One of the reasons open adoption is about it’s openness and honesty.

If you are currently entertaining the thought of adopting a child, you also need to think about what type of adoption that you would like to have. The type of adoption you choose will determine if and what type of relationship you have with your child’s birth parents. The three main types of adoptions are closed adoptions, semi-open adoptions and open adoptions.

Design/Methodology: This exploratory design hopes to attain valuable insight on what types of post adoption services are available to families. This design is qualitative as it seeks to explore the types of services that are offered and if any have a positive influence in providing the necessary support to assist in the preservation of adoptive families. It is hoped that this results can provide a deeper understanding of which post adoption services are vital in aiding new adoptive parents to safeguard their forever family against possible challenges that lie ahead. Sampling: This study will utilize non probability convenience and purposive sampling as current or former foster parents of the Los Angeles child welfare system will be recruited through various post adoption service agencies. Eligible participants are individuals who have received post adoption services and finalized adoption with at least one child. According to Acharya et al. (2013), convenience and purposive sampling is beneficial when participation of individuals is needed to meet a certain criteria; individuals will also be easily located for the study. Two hundred former consumers of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, Post Adoption Services Unit (PAS) department will be invited to participate in the study via U.S. mail. The PAS unit offers post adoption services such as referrals and counseling to families to avoid family dissolutions which will return the child in the child

When a couple cannot conceive children naturally, they may look to adoption to start a family. In the past, adoption was shrouded in mystery. Closed adoptions were the norm, and many children grew up not knowing they were adopted. Recently though, open adoptions have gained popularity. Adoptive families and birth families maintain contact in any way that they feel comfortable. I feel open adoption is a better choice than closed adoption because children may have the opportunity to meet their birth parents, the transition is easier for the birth family, and the benefits outweigh possible complications.

The sorrowful events that came with opening our adoption proves that if a closed adoption is chosen, it needs to stay that way. Adoptive children need protected from unhealthy lifestyles. Closed adoptions need to remain closed to protect children from experiencing a life they were supposed to be taken away from. Children need to feel loved and should be able to live life as a child instead of fearing situations out of their control. They can contact their biological family if they chose at the legal age, until then closed adoptions should remain just

In the 1960s, adoptees began The Adoption Reform Movement to make sealed adoption records accessible. Before then, traditional or closed adoptions were thought to be the best option for everyone involved in the adoption triangle. This triad consists of the adoptee, adoptive parents, and biological parents. In a closed adoption, the adoptee is not allowed access to medical records and does not know their birth parents. Prior to the reform, people did not consider the ethical or moral problems that would arise from these kind of adoptions. The belief was that sealed records would protect everyone, but this is not the case. As adoptees grew into adults, the demand for more information on their birth parents increased. This led to the debate of whether or not adoptees were entitled to know the identity of their biological parents. The opposition from birth mothers appeared almost immediately after the reform set about. These mothers were not ready to give up their own rights to make the decision between open or closed adoption. Even though biological parents have the ability to choose, adoptees have the right to know their biological parents because of the search process being emotionally damaging, their need to access medical records, and their development as a child.

“I want to be like my adoptive mother, but my birth mother says I’m like her. I don’t know what to do or who I am. My whole life is messed up. It’s not my fault. It can’t be fixed,” said a girl adopted into an open adoption (Byrd). An open adoption is a process in which the birth parents and the adoptive parents know each other and are involved in the adopted child’s life. A closed adoption is when there is no contact at all and no identifying information is given between birth and adoptive parents (Byrd). While both are common to today’s society, closed adoptions allow opportunities for the adoptive parents to raise their kids without the interference of birth parents (Bender).

There is also a choice that parents can take for adoption which is open adoption. There are three types of contact in open adoption: direct contact, where there is face-to-face or telephone contact between the birth family and adoptive family; indirect contact, which refers to the exchange of materials such as letters, cards and gifts between the adoptive family and birth family; and links, which involve information being provided by the adoptive or birth families to the adoption agency to be passed on, if asked for by a relevant person. Critics often argue that adoptees should not know who their biological parents are because it is an invasion of a parent’s privacy. However, adoptees should have the right to know who their biological parents are because in a lot of cases it is more of a health issue than anything else, it can help many people find who they are along with their identity, and a lot of the times knowing their biological parents can answer many questions that may come

Many factors are given weight in the decision to allow a child to be adopted such as socio-economic status, marital status, age, health and the ability for a child to integrate in to the perspective parent’s life (The Free Dictionary, n.d.). Within the adoption process there are two primary types: closed adoptions and open adoptions (Family Education, 2016). A closed adoption is where there is no contact between the adopters and the birth parents putting the child up for adoption. Also known as a confidential adoption it is performed through an intermediary who is responsible for all communication such as an attorney (Family Education, 2016). There is also no contact between the adopted child and his or her biological parents later in life without court intervention. The other avenue of adoption perused more commonly now is an open adoption where the adopters and birth parents are in full communication through out the process (Family Education, 2016). Adoption has gone through an evolution where previously closed adoptions were heavily favored; open adoptions are now becoming more common practice. In the United States on five states currently give adoptees uninhibited access to their adoption records (Fair, 2008:

Recently, a Utah judge ordered a child be removed from their same sex foster parents. The child has lived with the family for three months as a foster child. The parents desire to adopt the one-year-old girl, but must get approval from the courts. Judge Schott Johansen ruled against the couple, citing that the child should be in a “traditional home” (2015). Utah Division of Child and Family Services made the initial decision to place the child in the household, after the couple passed several requirements, including home inspections. The agency believes the home is suitable for the child; therefore disagree with the judge’s ruling. In addition, the couple has support from the child’s biological mother. The foster parents are waiting for

you live in, public adoption agencies but they have little relation to independent adoption, private adoption agencies which will have knowledge of local attorneys, physicians may be familiar with adoption attorneys in their community, and adoptive parent associations this is an association formed by adoptive parents which they share information about adoption. Networking is important it refers to “getting the word out” to make as many people aware that you are interested in adopting. When done correctly, it can work effectively. A photo-resume letter is a way to network to birth mothers. This should be done in no formula because you want the birth mother to

Closed adoption is almost the polar opposite to open adoption. Closed adoption is when the birth parents seal their personal information and have no personal contact with the adoptive parents or the child. The adoptive parents and the child cannot gain access to any personal identifying information unless the biological parents unseal the records or the child meets the age required. This form of adoption is extremely restrictive and often leaves the child wondering about their past and why they were adopted. Most children are left with various questions that cannot be answered due to maintaining the privacy of the birth parents. Although closed adoption can keep the adoptee and the adoptive parents safe, if the birth parents were dangerous in any way, most children have to wait until they are adults to search for information that may still be restricted. Some birth parents eventually unseal the adoption files but request to not be contacted. Closed adoption can have as many restrictions as the birth parents decided.

Open adoption actively involves the three affected parties ¨C birthparents, child, and adoptive parents. The adoptive parents want a child of their own to care for and to love as their own but on the other hand the birthparents are feeling guilt and sadness at the loss of their child and might want to see their child on a regular basis. There are a lot of things to consider during the process of adoption.