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What is Open Adoption in Utah? [Q&A]

5 Answers Plus Open Adoption Pros and Cons in Utah

Open adoptions in Utah can bring positive changes to the lives of everyone involved. If you are an expectant mother interested in open adoptions in Utah, you can fill out our online form to get free information and unplanned pregnancy counseling from an adoption professional.

What is an Open Adoption in Utah?

Open adoption in Utah is a type of adoption where birth parents and adoptive parents agree to have contact after the child is placed with the adoptive family. In the open adoption process, the birth parents choose the adoptive family, and after placement they can continue communication according to the agreement they made.

What Does Open Adoption Mean in Utah (How is it Different from Closed or Semi-Open Adoption)?

You probably already know what adoption is—the “open” part of open adoption means that:

  1.  The adoption records are “open” (the adoptive family and adoptive child know who the child’s birth parents are) and
  2. After placement contact continues between everyone based on an agreement they made in the adoption process

This is the opposite of closed adoption. The “closed” part of a closed adoption means that:

  1. Birth parent records are “closed” to the adoptive parents and child (the birth parents are anonymous) and
  2. The birth parents and adoptive parents agreed to have little or no contact after the placement of the child

There is also a third option for adoption, called semi-open adoption. In this type of adoption:

  1. Birth parents and adoptive parents know each other but may keep some identifying details private and
  2. All contact between birth parents and adoptive parents is mediated through an adoption professional

How Does Open Adoption Work in Utah?

Open adoption in Utah is usually set up by an adoption professional working at an adoption agency. The birth parents choose potential adoptive parents. Then, the adoption professional helps the birth parents and adoptive parents through the formal process of adoption where they come to an agreement about contact after placement.

Ultimately, the birth parents have the final say on the type of adoption communication they would like. This is part of creating your adoption plan, which you control.

In an open adoption, contact after placement can include:

  • Emails
  • Photos
  • Letters
  • Phone calls
  • Video calls
  • In-person visits

What is the Process of Setting up an Open vs Closed Adoption in Utah?

With both kinds of adoption (open adoption and closed adoption), your first step will be to get in touch with an adoption professional, who can give you free counseling as you decide whether adoption is the right choice for your situation.

If you are an expectant mother, you can get counseling now by filling out our online contact form. Or you can also choose to talk directly to an adoption agency.

When choosing an adoption agency, it’s best to keep these things in mind:

  • Adoption agencies play a large role in helping you through your pregnancy and adoption, so it’s best to look for one that has an experienced staff and offers 24/7 support.
  • Adoption agencies also play a big role in helping you find the perfect adoptive family for your baby. Bigger agencies will have more potential adoptive families for you to choose from.

Here are a couple of adoption agencies you can consider if you’d like to learn about how to open adopt in Utah:

Once you choose adoption and get in touch with an adoption professional, the process looks a little different for open adoption vs closed adoption in Utah.

For open adoption in Utah, the steps are:

  1. Make an adoption plan with your adoption professional
  2. Choose an adoptive family and get to know them
  3. Give birth and complete the legal steps of adoption
  4. Stay connected with the adoptive family and your baby

In closed adoption, the steps are:

  1. Make an adoption plan with your adoption professional
  2. Choose and get matched with an adoptive family anonymously
  3. Give birth and complete the legal steps of adoption

What are the Pros and Cons of Open Adoption in Utah?

Open adoption can be a loving choice that gives everyone involved the opportunity for meaningful and positive relationships that can last a lifetime. But it is not the choice for everyone. We’ve listed out some of open adoption’s pros and cons in Utah to help you decide whether open adoption vs closed adoption in Utah is right for you.

Pros of Open Adoption in Utah

Cons of Open Adoption in Utah

  • Some birth parents find that the emotional toll is too high, and believe it will be easier to move forward after an adoption if they have less contact or no contact.
  • Failure of either birth parents or adoptive parents to meet the expectations they set in place before placement can cause tension in the relationship.
  • If expectations are not communicated early by all parties, privacy and boundary issues may arise. The best way to combat this is to find an adoption agency that can help you find a potential adoptive family that is on the same page as you.

Regardless of whether you want an open adoption in Utah or a closed adoption, you can get in contact with one of the adoption agencies below:

  • American Adoptions is a large adoption agency that focuses on open adoptions with many potential adoptive family profiles you can view online, and more than 30 years of experience helping expectant mothers. You can call 1-800-ADOPTION to reach adoption support professionals 24/7.
  • Family Connections Christian Adoptions is a faith-centered Christian adoption agency that works with both domestic and international adoption.
  • Adoptions with Love is a Massachusetts-based domestic adoption agency that focuses on closed adoptions.

Adoption in any form can uplift everyone involved. If you are considering adoption, you can also fill out our online form to get more information.