Pros and cons of open adoption
Growing in popularity throughout Canada and the U.S., research on open adoptions began in the 1980’s with the groundbreaking work of Kathleen Silber and Patricia Martinez Dorner. As adoption professionals further understand the dynamic, open adoptions are becoming the norm in the private process and many adoption agencies expect some level of openness.
Definition of Open Adoption
Openness in adoption is often viewed on a spectrum with closed adoptions at one end, open adoptions at the other, and semi-open adoptions along the middle of the spectrum. In his book The Spirit of Open Adoption [CWLA Press, 1997], James Gritter states there are four factors that need to be present for a true open adoption.
The birthfamily selects the adoptive family
The families meet each other face...