Adoption has changed in recent decades. What was once a mostly private or closed process is now open in many cases.
Today, many expectant mothers want to meet the adoptive family and sometimes remain in contact after placement. This shift towards openness reshapes how families approach adoption and what they prepare for during the process.
For prospective adoptive parents, open adoption brings new possibilities, responsibilities, and conversations around communication and long-term connection.
While every adoption looks different, it’s helpful to understand how openness works and why it’s becoming more common in modern private adoptions.
What Is Open Adoption?
Open adoption refers to any adoption where there is some level of contact between the birth parents and the adoptive family, either before or after the child is born.
This contact can take many forms, such as:
- Letters
- Phone calls
- Video chats
- Social media updates
- Or occasional in-person visits
The amount and type of communication vary widely and are usually agreed upon in advance. It’s important to understand that open adoption does not mean co-parenting.
The adoptive family is still fully responsible for raising the child, while open adoption creates a space for connection, updates, and mutual respect between families. On the other hand, some families and birth mothers choose closed adoptions, where no identifying information is shared.
Both approaches are valid and depend on what feels right for everyone involved. Open adoption exists on a spectrum, and no two arrangements look exactly the same.
Why Is Open Adoption on the Rise?
More birth parents are seeking continued connection after placement, and many families are open to that. Many birth mothers prefer to meet the adoptive family, share information, and maintain some form of connection after placement. For some, this helps provide peace of mind and a sense of continued presence in the child’s life.
Adoptive parents may also see value in open adoption, whether to preserve the child’s connection to their roots or to have access to important medical and family background. Additionally, adoption professionals now often encourage open communication when all parties are comfortable with it.
Angel Adoption’s newborn agency in Amarillo, Texas, has helped families complete their adoption journeys for 27 years. Their adoption professionals have noticed an uptick in open adoptions, with most involving some form of contact between birth and adoptive families. That contact can look different for everyone, and there’s no single “right” approach. Closed adoptions still happen and are respected. But for many families today, openness offers a foundation for mutual trust and long-term support.
What Future Parents Should Know About Open Adoption
One important part of open adoption is creating a post-adoption contact agreement (PACA). This outlines how much communication will take place between the adoptive family and birth parents after placement. Some agreements are casual; others are written or formalized through court approval. Whether or not a PACA is legally enforceable depends on the state.
The legal evolution of open adoption has led many families to work with agencies or attorneys to clarify expectations early. In some states, courts require formal approval before the agreement is considered legally binding. If a contact agreement no longer suits one party, courts may review it, always focusing on the child’s best interest.
It’s also worth considering how tools like AncestryDNA or 23andMe can affect adoptees later in life. These platforms may uncover biological family connections, which makes it even more important to have honest conversations with children about their adoption from the start.
Finding the Right Level of Contact
Every adoptive family approaches openness a little differently. Together with birth parents and agency staff, they decide what kind of contact works best.
Some families share photos and updates once a year, while others may plan occasional visits or regular video calls. What matters most is that expectations are discussed early and agreed upon with honesty.
Professionals can help outline boundaries in advance, making sure everyone involved feels supported and respected. This might include agreeing on how updates are shared, how often contact happens, or what topics stay private.
In many cases, clear communication improves family dynamics, not just between parents, but for the child as well. As relationships grow, contact may increase, decrease, or shift over time.
When families and birth parents stay open, flexible, and emotionally grounded, adoptive families thrive. Even when things change, that foundation of trust can help everyone feel connected, valued, and part of something intentional.
Open Adoption: What the Future Holds for Parents
As adoption continues to evolve, families today have more options than ever when it comes to maintaining meaningful contact. Some adoptive parents find comfort in ongoing updates; others value the chance to build trust and connection over time.
This flexibility allows everyone involved to make decisions based on what feels right, not just at placement, but years down the line.
Open adoption is one way that adoption is reshaping parenthood, offering space for honesty, respect, and long-term emotional care. No matter the structure, the goal remains the same: to provide a safe and loving home for the child.