Open Adoption: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know

More and more adoptions – domestic, foster care and international alike – are becoming open.  What exactly does that mean and why is it important?  Host Dawn Davenport interviewed Lori Holden, author of the new book The Open-Hearted Way to Open Adoption: Helping Your Child Grow Up Whole.

Hit the Highlights
  • What percentage of domestic infant adoptions in the US are open?
  • What do you mean by an open adoption?
  • What does a successful open adoption look like?
  • How to facilitate openness when you don’t live near your child’s birth mother or birth father?
  • What amount of contact and openness is typical when adopting a baby in the US?
  • Does openness always mean contact with birth parents?
  • How to utilize Facebook in an open adoption in the US?
  • Is it possible to have a healthy open adoption relationship when you adopt from foster care? Should you have an open adoption when the birthmother and birthfather have had their parental rights terminated?
  • What is the best way to establish boundaries in an open adoption relationship?
  • What boundaries should adoptive parent set in an open adoption?
  • How much contact with birth parents is ideal?
  • Should you invite the birth mother to your baby shower?
  • In what circumstances should adoptive parents limit openness with birthmothers and birthfathers?
  • How to handle the situation where your children have different levels of openness with their birth families?
  • How to ensure that one child doesn’t feel left out? Is this possible?
  • What to look for in an adoption agency when forming an open adoption relationship.
  • How to choose an adoption agency?
  • What are the characteristics of a healthy open adoption relationship?

Don’t miss an episode. Be sure to subscribe.

Leave us a rating or review.

Image Credit: Tapestry Dude