only 16% of the public believed that it was acceptable for birthmothers to occasionally send cards or letters to adoptive families.

76-100% of birth parents choose the adoptive families for their children.

In 90% of infant adoptions, the adoptive and expectant parents considering adoption meet each other.

68% of privately adopted U.S. children have had contact with their birth families following the adoption.

There is always room for change: 33% of birth

mothers express the desire for more openness

at three to six months post-placement.

43% of birth fathers have been found to want more openness during that same period.

After 2 years, 59% of adoptive families still maintained contact with the birth family.

After 4 years, 46% continued contact

4 years after the adoption: 7.4 contacts per year

14 years after the adoption: 25.6 contacts per year

After 14 years, 39% continued contact

Adopted children who meet in person with their birth mothers have been found to express the highest levels of satisfaction when compared to those who never met or eventually stopped contact.

67% of private adoptions include pre-adoption visits or phone calls with the birth family and post-adoption contact (such as an exchange of letters, emails or visits after the adoptive placement). This is compared with 32% of children adopted from foster care.

After 8 years, 60% continued contact

Self and Identity

Genealogy

Family History

Choosing a Family:

Meeting & Developing a Relationship:

Maintaining Contact:

Open Minds, Open Hearts,Open AdoptionAdoption Has Changed:

TODAYIN 1997

95% of the adoption agenciesnow offer open adoptions.

Adoption is no longer something to hide: Today, 99 percent of adopted children ages 5 and older know that they were adopted.

The Stages of Open Adoption

For A Successful Open Adoption:

Open Adoption Is a Positive Experience:

Using an Agency to Make Your Open Adoption Plan:

Putting Your Child First:The Benefits of Open Adoption on Adopted Persons.

Adopted children in open arrangements have a better understanding of:

69% of pregnant women who chose an adoptive family for their baby reported lower levels of grief, regret, worry and sadness, and higher

levels of relief and peace than those who did not make this choice.

Levels of satisfaction with openness were highest for fully disclosed adoptions when the adopted persons were adolescents or emerging adults.

Levels of satisfaction concerningcontact in open adoptions:

Using an Agency can facilitate on-going contact.

84%AdoptedPersons

94%AdoptiveMothers

85%AdoptiveFathers

Why they were placed for adoption – they are more able to empathize with their birthmother who made the brave decision to give them a better life.

Birthparents and adoptive parents should have a mutual understanding about what open adoption is and what it is not: A written adoption agreement, facilitated by an adoption agency, will identify clear-cut roles and expectations for all parties involved. This contract will also establish a set plan for future contact.

Both families should be open to adaptability: relationships may change over time, and the levels of contact may change with them, as the child grows older.

The heart of the adoption plan needs to be the child. What ever is in the child’s best interest will bring about the best-case scenario.

There should be a mutual respect among both families, as well as a great sense of trust, honesty, empathy, and commitment to the adoption plan.

Our Promise to YouWe understand that everyone has unique challenges when facing an unplanned

pregnancy. At Adoptions With Love, you will never be alone. Do not hesitate to call us at any stage of your pregnancy. We have the resources, experts, and love necessary

to help you navigate through this journey now and in the future.

For more information about Adoptions With Love, please call us toll-free, 24/7 at 1-8OO-722-7731. You can also confidentially text us at 1-617-777-OO72.

Sources:http://adoptioninstitute.org/old/publications/2012_03_OpennessInAdoption.pdf

https://www.americanadoptions.com/pregnant/adoption_statshttp://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/09/nsap/chartbook/chartbook.cfm?id=31

https://www.adoptivefamilies.com/openness/study-birth-parent-perspective/https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/f_openadoptbulletin.pdf