A Better Way to Adopt: How Open Adoption Builds Stronger Families
Imagine an adoption experience rooted not in secrecy, but in connection—where your child grows up knowing their story, and where both birth and adoptive families are united by trust and compassion. That’s the heart of open adoption.
We know that for many hopeful adoptive parents, the idea of openness can feel unfamiliar—even a little overwhelming. But more often than not, openness becomes a source of strength, creating lasting bonds and a deep sense of reassurance. In this guide, we’ll walk you through what open adoption really means, clear up common misconceptions, and show you how American Adoptions makes the process feel local, approachable, and deeply human.
Explore the Open Adoption Process
What Is Open Adoption?
Open adoption is a type of adoption where birth parents and adoptive families stay connected in ways that feel natural and meaningful to them. That connection might look like phone calls, video chats, text updates, social media exchanges—or even occasional in-person visits.
What Makes It Different?
In an open adoption, everyone agrees to ongoing communication and shared information. This helps children grow up with a clear understanding of their roots and identity, while providing birth parents with peace of mind and adoptive parents with support.
In a closed adoption, there’s no exchange of personal details, and contact typically ends after placement. While some families may initially consider this path, many later wish they’d had the option to stay connected.
The beauty of open adoption is that it’s flexible—it can look different for every family. The key is mutual respect, shared intention, and a commitment to the child’s well-being.
Why Open Adoption Can Be a Gift for Everyone Involved
Open adoption isn’t just a legal process—it’s a relationship, and like all good relationships, it’s built on communication, care, and shared understanding.
For Adoptive Parents
Many adoptive parents feel a sense of calm knowing they can talk openly with their child about where they came from. Having a relationship with the birth family means fewer unknowns—and often, more support. Some families describe their child’s birth relatives as an extension of their own, enriching their lives in ways they never expected.
For Birth Parents
Choosing adoption is never easy—but open adoption allows birth parents to remain a part of their child’s life. Seeing their child grow, thrive, and flourish can bring comfort, healing, and ongoing reassurance that they made a loving, thoughtful decision.
For the Child
Children in open adoptions tend to have a strong sense of identity and emotional security. They don’t have to wonder about their story—they live it. Knowing they are loved by both their adoptive family and their birth family can be deeply affirming and empowering.
How Open Adoption Works with American Adoptions
At American Adoptions, we offer a warm, hands-on approach that centers everyone’s needs—especially the child’s. Here’s what the journey might look like:
- Birth Parents Choose the Family: Birth parents look through profiles filled with letters, photos, and videos to get a feel for who you are. This allows them to make a deeply personal and informed decision.
- Initial Contact: With the help of your adoption specialist, you’ll connect through a phone call. This first conversation is designed to be easygoing, respectful, and full of mutual curiosity.
- Hospital Meeting: The first in-person meeting often happens when the baby is born. A carefully crafted birth plan ensures everyone feels supported and respected during this emotional milestone.
- Post-Placement Communication: The relationship doesn’t end with placement—it continues in ways that feel right for both families. Updates, photos, calls, and even visits help nurture the bond and support the child’s emotional growth.
We’re here for all of it—guiding, encouraging, and offering resources to help every connection thrive.
Why Work with an Open Adoption Agency?
A healthy open adoption depends on having the right support system. Here’s how we make a difference:
- Realistic Timelines: On average, families wait about 12 months to be matched—and we’ll always be open and honest with you about what that timeline could look like based on your preferences, goals, and unique circumstances.
- Financial Security: If an adoption doesn’t move forward for any reason, we make sure your financial investment is fully protected. This means you can move forward in your journey with peace of mind, knowing that your trust—and your resources—are in caring, capable hands.
- Full Licensing: We’re a fully licensed, full-service agency with a presence in dozens of states—bringing together the professionalism of a national organization with the personal touch of a team that truly cares. Whether you’re adopting from across the country or just a town over, we’re here to guide you every step of the way, so you never feel like you’re navigating this journey on your own.
- Nationwide Connections: With a network that spans across the country, we help connect adoptive families with more birth parents—giving you a better chance of finding someone whose values, hopes, and vision for the future closely align with your own. Whether you're in a small town or a big city, our reach allows us to support you like a local agency with the resources of a national one.
There are many paths to parenthood—but not all agencies provide the same peace of mind. We believe in honesty, local expertise, and standing by your side every step of the way.
Ready to take the first step? Click here to get started and explore what your adoption journey could look like
Step-by-Step: What the Open Adoption Journey Looks Like
Step 1: Reach Out
Fill out our free information form, and we’ll connect you with a kind, experienced adoption specialist who understands the emotions and questions that come with this journey. You’re not signing up for anything—you’re simply opening the door to a conversation where you can get honest answers, compassionate guidance, and a clearer sense of what your future could look like.
Step 2: Complete Your Home Study
We’ll walk alongside you through each step of the home study—from background checks and paperwork to interviews and home visits—ensuring your home is safe, welcoming, and ready for a child. While it may feel daunting at first, many families find it to be a meaningful opportunity to reflect, organize, and feel even more confident about the path ahead.
Step 3: Create Your Family Profile
Your family profile is one of the most meaningful ways birth parents get to know who you are. With our support, you’ll create something heartfelt and honest—woven with your personal stories, letters that speak to your values, and photos that show the warmth, stability, and love you hope to share with a child. It’s more than a profile—it’s an invitation to imagine a shared future.
Step 4: Match with a Birth Parent
When a birth parent sees your story and feels a genuine connection—whether it’s in your values, lifestyle, or the kind of love you want to offer their child—a match is made. It’s a heartfelt moment filled with hope, courage, and possibility, marking the beginning of a shared journey built on trust, compassion, and mutual respect.
Step 5: Build the Relationship
Before placement, you’ll take time to connect with the birth parent through calls, messages, or video chats—whichever feels most comfortable for everyone involved. These early conversations help lay a foundation of trust, compassion, and mutual understanding, giving both families the chance to share their hopes and values for the child’s future.
Step 6: Adoption Placement at the Hospital
Meeting your child for the first time is one of the most powerful and emotional moments you’ll ever experience—a turning point filled with wonder, relief, and overwhelming love.
Our team will be right there with you, making sure everything feels supportive, respectful, and grounded in what truly matters: compassion, connection, and the beginning of your family’s next chapter.
Step 7: Post-Placement Support & Communication
Open adoption is a lifelong connection that continues well beyond the moment of placement. Whether it's sharing photo updates, celebrating birthdays, or simply checking in during meaningful moments, these gestures help maintain a bond that supports your child's sense of identity and belonging.
Our team is here for you at every stage, offering compassionate guidance as you nurture a relationship that evolves with care and intention.
Is Open Adoption Right for You?
If you’ve made it this far, you probably care deeply about doing what’s best for your future child—and for everyone involved. Open adoption may not have been what you imagined at first, but it might just offer more clarity, connection, and peace than you thought possible.
This process is about love—expanding it, honoring it, and making sure every child grows up knowing where they came from and how deeply they are loved.
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