Open Adoption in New Jersey

When you choose adoption, you’re making a brave  decision. Adoption is one of the kindest choices you can make when it comes to giving your baby a bright future, but there’s a lot to unpack when it comes to understanding the adoption process.

When you’re ready to start crafting your adoption plan, you’ll get to make several choices. One of those decisions is whether you’ll opt for an open adoption in New Jersey.

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Choosing Adoption

If you’re facing an unplanned pregnancy, you may have a lot of questions about your options. Adoption is one of the most loving decisions you can make, and there are many reasons to consider adoption for your baby.

Adoption could be the right choice if:

• You’re not sure you can financially support a child at this time
• You aren’t emotionally ready to parent a child
• You want specific opportunities for your child that adoption can provide

What is Open Adoption in New Jersey?

When considering your adoption choices, you might hear the phrase “open adoption.” But what does that actually mean?

Open adoption can look different for different families, but the goal of an open adoption in New Jersey is to create communication between you, the adoptive parents, and your child. Post-placement contact with adoption can be an emotional subject, but an open adoption encourages you to stay in touch with the adoptive family.

There are many benefits to open adoption for both you and the adoptive family. A few of those benefits include:

• The chance to watch your child grow up, flourish, and succeed
• Access to shared medical information, including your family medical history
• The opportunity to connect over the years, whether this is on a regular basis or for special family events

In addition to these perks for you and the adoptive parents, this type of post-placement contact can protect your child from feelings of abandonment. If your child has questions about you, they’ll be able to find those answers.

The amount of contact you and the adoptive family have can be negotiated prior to placement. You may want to talk with them once or twice a year, or maybe you would prefer more frequent contact. This should be discussed prior to the adoption taking place.

Make sure that both your adoption professional and the adoptive family know what your wishes are, because the level of openness in your adoption is ultimately your decision. When you are the prospective birth parent, you get to make the call about this part of your adoption process.

What are the Pros and Cons of Open Adoption in New Jersey?

Like every decision, there are open adoption pros and cons in New Jersey. Open adoption is meant to ensure that there is communication between you and your child’s adoptive parents.  Closed adoption means there will be no contact between you and the adoptive family.

The Difference Between Closed and Semi-Open Adoption in New Jersey

In the past, closed adoptions were much more common than they are today. Today many adoptions fall under the “open adoption” umbrella which serves to facilitate communication between the birth parents and the adoptive parents throughout the child’s life.

Some birth mothers may still prefer the privacy that comes with a closed adoption, however. This doesn’t mean that open vs. closed adoption in New Jersey are your only choices, though.

So, what is a closed adoption? And is that different from a semi-open adoption?

A closed adoption generally means:

• The adoptive family will not know any identifying information about you.
• Your privacy will be protected.
• You will not contact the family after placement.
• The family will not directly contact you.

Some birth mothers want the experience of a closed adoption because they feel it will help them move forward after placement.

If you like the idea of a closed adoption, but you want some communication, you may want to consider a semi-open adoption. With a semi-open adoption, you and the adoptive parents may communicate from time to time. However, all communication will take place through the adoption agency.

A semi-open adoption typically means:

• You may have indirect contact with the adoptive family, such as sending or receiving cards.
• You will not have the pressure to communicate on a regular basis.
• All communication will take place through your adoption agency.

The type of adoption you choose is entirely up to you. Like every decision, there are pros and cons of open adoption in New Jersey. Consider what you’re comfortable with in regards to communication, as that’s a great starting point for making your decision.

For some birth mothers, the idea of regular interaction and communication is too much to handle. That’s completely OK. Only you can know what you’re comfortable with. If you feel that having no communication after placement will help you move forward, that is your right.

Other birth mothers like the idea that they will be able to see their child’s life and watch them grow up. With a semi-open adoption or an open adoption, you may also have the opportunity to answer questions for your child. This can help them develop a stronger sense of self as they grow up.

Choosing Your Adoption Type

If you’re ready to choose adoption for your child, it’s important to consider the type of adoption you’d like. Whether you choose open, semi-closed, or closed adoption is up for you. For more information on open adoptions in New Jersey, reach out to an adoption professional today.