Adoption laws vary from state to state and carry different requirements and options for adoptions. Independent placement does not use an agency as an intermediary; adoptive and birth parents make their own arrangements. Private and public adoption agencies may provide one or more of the types of placements depending on their funding and state laws. Some agencies specialize in one type of placement.
Closed adoption agencies
Closed adoption agencies provide complete confidentiality and the adoptive and birth parents never meet. Records are usually sealed in closed adoptions so that the adopted child has a more difficult time finding birth parents in the future should he desire to do so. The agency makes all the arrangements and chooses the babies for the adoptive parents, revealing only superficial information about the birth parents. Counselors at the American Pregnancy Association report that closed adoptions give both parties closure
on the issue while maintaining each person's privacy.
Open adoption agencies
Open adoption agencies encourage the birth and adoptive parents to form a relationship as early as possible. Adoptive parents may meet the birth parents during the pregnancy and remain in touch as they child grows. They share information with each other and often share the child in an extended family relationship. Consultants at the American Association of Open Adoption Agencies report that open adoption is not co-parenting, however, and boundaries must be taught to the parties by the agency staff prior to the adoption. Open adoptions are not enforceable in all states either, so prospective birth parents should check with an attorney before considering the option. Open adoption agencies are advocates for the process and do not always educate parents in the possibilities they might encounter.
Semi-open adoption agencies
Semi-open adoption agencies provide some semblance of privacy although the birth parents and adoptive parents do meet. Ongoing communication typically is handled through the agency and the parents do not interact on a regular basis. Children adopted through an agency that offers semi-open adoptions can contact the agency at any time for information about their birth parents. Communication and information is kept on file at the agency for that purpose.
