What is open adoption and what are the benefits?

Open Adoption is when a birth parent voluntarily consents to open contact between themselves, their child, and the adoptive parents. This contact can include visits, phone calls, emails, and exchanging pictures. In Virginia, all adoptive placements are handled through a court process. Adoptions can be open, partially open, semi-open, or closed. The benefits of open adoption are numerous. Open adoption is beneficial to the birth parents as it provides them a connection to their child and allows them to be involved in their life. Open adoption can help birth parents to feel a sense of closure in the adoption process. It can also benefit the adopted child by allowing them to gain insight into their background and heritage. The adoptive parents can also benefit as open adoption allows for additional support and guidance from the birth parents. Open adoption also provides numerous benefits to the child as they can stay informed about their health history and maintain a connection to their family. There are numerous studies that show that open adoption can lead to higher self-esteem and improved mental and emotional health for the adopted child. Open adoption also assists in developing a sense of identity for the adopted child by allowing them to stay connected to their biological parents and their heritage. Additionally, it allows them to gain a sense of security and stability by having two families to rely on.

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