online resource guide

 Birthparents: in open adoptions typically demonstrate positive self- esteem related to responsible decision making and feeling in control of their life -- making a plan for the baby, instead of abandoning him/her. Birthparents with open adoptions work through the normal feelings of grief much more quickly and easily. As a result, they exhibit better mental health than those with closed adoptions.  Adoptive Parents: contact with birthparents provides adoptive parents with a real image of the birthparents. Trust and understanding of one another is allowed to develop. Fear and insecurity (typical for adoptive parents in closed adoption) dissolve as birthparents consistently confirm that the adoptive parents are the parents of the child.  Adoptees: through open adoption, the adoptee knows he/she was placed for adoption out of love. He/she is aware, on an ongoing basis, of his/her birthparents' love. As a result, the adoptee is able to feel good not only about where he/she is, but also where he/she came from. He/she is freed from the frustrations of the unknowns and feelings of rejection that are inherent in closed adoption. provided by Independent Adoption Center

Members of the adoption constellation involved in open adoptions face unique challenges and could benefit from support and guidance through their adoption journey. Openness is becoming the more common choice in adoption and many professionals may not fully be prepared to work with individuals and families on issues related to openness in adoption. The following are web based resources ranging from community to professional information, support and guidance for every step of the open adoption journey……………………………………….

 Adoption.com provides direct information on adoption and links to other adoption related websites. This site acts like a search engine for almost all adoption related websites from informational sites to adoption agency sites. The link above is a direct link to the websites section on open adoption. This section provides information on openness from it’s history, to definitions, to advice on how to determine if open adoption is for you. The site also provides forums for all members of the adoption constellation to discuss adoption related issues.

 Adoptive Families is a national award winning magazine that offers current articles addressing many needs of adoptive families throughout their adoption journey. The magazine’s website offers a section specifically geared toward openness in adoption. The section includes “ask the open adoption expert” to help families navigate their way through their open adoption journey.

 AdoptionOpen.com is an online meeting place for birthmothers and adoptive parents created by an adoptive parent couple in California. They created this website as they realized through their adoption journey there was a lack of resources available for adoptive parents and birthmothers in open adoptions. This is more of social and non-professional informational site. However the site does offer links to other adoption resources as well as links to adoption agencies.

 This website is for all members of the adoption constellation and professionals supporting openness in adoption. The website was created by an adoptive mother in a fully open adoption. The website’s main purpose is to offer what they call “community wisdom” also know as a forum for members to ask and answer questions on adoption related issues. The author of this website encourages professionals to read and comment on forums to gain insight and for readers to gain a professional perspective. This website was the only ad free website found.

 About.com provides a brief overview and tips of coping strategies for birthmothers and adoptive parents in an open adoption. The website then provides links to further assist individuals in gathering information on openness and dealing with issues related to openness in adoption.

 The Child Welfare Information Gateway connects child welfare and related professionals and individuals to comprehensive information and resources to help protect children and strengthen families with the latest topics from prevention to permanency, including child abuse and neglect, foster care, and adoption. This specific link is to a power point which provides extensive information on openness in adoption and helps the reader to determine if openness in adoption is for them.

 The goal of the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute is to better the lives of all who are touched by adoption by providing leadership that improves adoption laws, policies and practices. The institute does this through research, education and advocacy. The above link directs you to information the website offers on open adoptions. The information is provided mainly through scholarly articles.

 This link provides a brief overview on laws relating to openness in adoption throughout the United States of America. It is important to know what your state laws say about open adoptions as the laws vary from state to state.

This link to tapestry books provides a list of books and description of the books about openness in adoption Adoption-Domestic/lm/R39YT8U1DES9KVhttp:// Adoption-Domestic/lm/R39YT8U1DES9KV This link to Amazon provides a list of children books about adoption

Amy Vasilko SASS 505: Adoption Practice and Policy (Amy pictured with her birthdaughter, Amanda)