Adoption
Adoption
Birth Parents & Open Adoption
Openness in adoption is now common within public adoptions. The Children’s Aid Society of the District of Nipissing and Parry Sound honours the birth parents’ right to be involved in the choice of the adoptive parent and when in the child’s best interest to have an ongoing role in the child’s life. Prior to an adoption, the birth parent(s) may provide input about the kind of family they would like for their child and may in some cases even select the adoptive family from profiles. The values, lifestyle, education, religion, cultural heritage, and other characteristics which are important to the birth parents are considered carefully when choosing the child’s adoptive parents.
Open adoptions:
In certain circumstances it may be in the best interests of an adoptive child to maintain contact with their birth parents or someone else with whom the child had a meaningful relationship. Research shows that an open adoption can:
In certain circumstances it may be in the best interests of an adoptive child to maintain contact with their birth parents or someone else with whom the child had a meaningful relationship.
Preserving positive relationships, such as with a birth parent, sibling, grandparent, foster parents, or aunt and allowing a child a clearer understanding of their identity and past are the cornerstones of openness. The degree of openness a child needs, a birth parent wants, or an adopting family can accept, is carefully considered early in the adoption process. The goal of openness is to support continuity of relationships, community, and culture for the adopted child. We are looking for adoptive families who value and will maintain these connections for the adopted child.
An open adoption does not necessarily mean access visits. It does allow for some form of contact between the child, new family and the agreed upon significant individuals from the child’s past. The degree of openness a child needs, a birth parent wants, or an adopting family can accept, is carefully considered early in the adoption process, and will depend on the best interest of the child. It could range from a photo, a letter or to face-to-face contact between birth families and children.