One of the more important decisions you will make in an adoption in Arizona is whether or not you want an open or closed adoption. What does open adoption mean? What is a closed adoption? Consider this when weighing open vs. closed adoption. 

• Open adoption gives you and the prospective family the chance to build a relationship. 

• Closed adoption keeps your decision private and anonymous. 

• Open adoption keeps you in control of your adoption journey. 

• Closed adoption limits your decision-making. 

It is up to the prospective birth mother to determine what type of relationship she wants to have with her baby and the adoptive family during and after the adoption. In this article, we’ll explore your options for open, semi-open and even closed adoption in Arizona, so you can decide what is right for you, or you can reach out to an adoption specialist to get the information you need now.

In the meantime, here’s what you need to know to know about your options for open adoption in AZ.  

To learn more about open adoption in Arizona, you can call 1-800-ADOPTION any time to speak with an adoption specialist. Or, get more free information online. 

Prospective adoptive parents interested in an open adoption and looking for more information on how to adopt a child can contact online here. 

What You Need to Know About Open Adoption in Arizona [You Can Stay Connected to Your Child] 

Many people wonder what is involved in an open adoption. What is an open adoption, exactly? What does open adoption mean? What does it look like? How involved is the birth mother? The short answer is that an Arizona open adoption is anything you want it to be. These adoptions lie on a scale of openness. 

For example, “semi-open” adoptions lie somewhere in the middle of the scale. These adoptions usually involve exchanging basic information, such as: 

• First names of the birth and adoptive families 

• Medical history of both birth parents (if known) 

• Basic communication through American Adoptions, such as letters, emails, photos, or whatever you feel comfortable with. This can be facilitated by American Adoptions without having to share identifying information. American Adoptions provides this service for up to 18 years. 

More open adoptions in Arizona may include: 

• Sharing both parties’ contact information, such as email addresses, mailing addresses and phone numbers. This will help everyone stay in touch easily. 

• Direct contact through phone calls, texts, video chats, photos and more. 

• Visits on special occasions, such as holidays and birthdays. 

• Whatever else you both feel comfortable sharing with each other. 

All families we show you are ready to enter in an open adoption. This means they are willing to exchange contact information for direct contact, share photos and letters for the next 18 years, arrange an in-person visit with you and your child after placement, and more. Ultimately, it is up to you and the adoptive family to decide how open you want your Arizona adoption to be. 

If you are ready to start searching for the perfect adoptive family, contact one of our adoption professionals for free at 1-800-ADOPTION, or fill out our online contact form here. 

What You Need to Know About Closed Adoption in Arizona [Privacy and Anonymity for your Adoption] 

In Arizona, a closed adoption is when very little to no identifying information about the birth family is given to the adoptive family and vice versa. This was once thought to be the best option for everyone involved in an adoption. For many years, it was common to believe this was beneficial for all parties, but that belief has since been disproven, except when the child’s safety is at risk. 

When closed adoptions were common, birth parents were left never knowing if their child was growing up happy and healthy with a loving family. Adoptees were left with no medical history and no knowledge of why they were placed for adoption. With no identifying information, it was very difficult for the child and birth parents to meet up later in life, if desired. Thankfully, closed adoptions are not very common today. Actually, almost 90 percent of adoptions in Arizona are now open to some extent. 

Jen, Director of Social Work at American Adoptions, is one of our very own adoption stories. She was an adoptee in a fully closed adoption but, later in life, found her birth mother. While the relationship after many years was a slow growing process, the openness they now share is something she’ll cherish forever.  

“My recent experience only confirms my belief in the positive power of open adoption. While my closed adoption wasn’t a negative experience by any means, knowing what I know now would have helped solve the unknowns and alleviate the feelings of shame I had at times growing up. Having contact with my birth mother now is an unexpected step in my adoption story, but I’m looking forward to whatever new relationship we may develop from here on.”   

While closed adoption is an option for you, and it could be the right choice for your unique circumstance, we highly recommend considering the benefits of open adoption before making this decision. 

What Is Open Adoption in Arizona? [How Open Adoption Can Benefit You and Your Child] 

There are many misunderstandings about what open adoption in Arizona is. Here are some of the truths: 

• Open adoption isn’t co-parenting. The adoptive parents have all parental rights. 

• Open adoptions are a wonderful way to watch your child grow up happy and loved. 

• Open adoptions allow you to share personal and medical history with your child, as well as information about their adoption and heritage. 

• Open adoptions can create a lifelong bond with your child and the adoptive family. 

Arizona open adoptions have many benefits for everyone involved. Many birth parents find that choosing open adoption in AZ helps them heal post-placement. They can watch their child grow up healthy and loved and ease the worries they may have about their adoption decision. Through open adoption in Arizona, birth and adoptive families remain connected and a part of each other’s lives. 

Randi is one of the many birth mothers having placed a child with American Adoptions and is grateful for the openness she has with the adoptive family.  

“I love still being able to have that connection with Juniper,” she said. “I get all jittery thinking about it because it’s going to blow my mind when she’s five and she starts talking, and I can actually talk to her and have a conversation with her.”  

“Every picture, it brightens my day. There are two things I check every day, the blog and my Facebook,” Randi said. “When I see a random picture that she puts on there, it just makes me feel like she’s not forgetting about me, and keeping up with what she said she was going to do.” 

American Adoptions agrees with the recommendation of experts that greater openness in adoption benefits all parties involved, especially the adoptee. Whenever possible, we recommend open adoptions in AZ. 

American Adoptions counsels both birth and adoptive families on the importance of following through on the open adoption agreement. If, for some reason, the families lose contact and one family is unable to reach the other, American Adoptions will hold all correspondence meant for them for up to 18 years, should they contact us and request the communication. 

Start Your Adoption Today

Michelle, a birth parent specialist and a birth parent herself, is ready to answer any questions you have about adoption. 

“I am available to answer any questions that arise, particularly from birth moms, as I have been in your shoes and know how you are feeling,” Michelle said. “It was most helpful to me when I had someone to talk to who would just listen to me without making any judgments or conclusions about who I was as a person.” 

You can ask Michelle questions about the Cape Coral, FL adoption process online. You can also call us toll free at 1-800-ADOPTION, or get free information with our online contact form for prospective birth mothers considering adoption here. Adoptive families wanting more information on adopting a child can click here to get more information.

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