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I am a high school student needing information on open adoption. I need to now how it is different from other kinds of adoption.

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Originally Posted By Nanci Worcester

Open adoption usually means that there is some kind of contact between the birth mother and/or birth father and/or their family with the adopting parents and/or the adopted child. You can see from this answer that there are many variations on the theme depending on the people involved in the adoption. Many years ago all adoptions were closed. That means that the birth parents did not know who was adopting their child, and the adopting parents did not know who the biological parents were. Consequently, the adopted child and his or her adopted parents did not know much about the birth family and the child's roots. Also, the birth families did not know how the child was doing. There was no contact between them. Open adoption has changed how adoptions work after the placement. It usually means that there is some ongoing contact between the birth parent(s) and the adopting family. Sometimes it is only the exchange of letters and pictures. Other times it means the birth parent has some occasional in-person contact with the child and his or her adoptive familiy. There are wide variations on this theme. There is no right or wrong way to approach open adoption. All the parties to each adoption decide what is best for them and the child. Best wishes, Nanci Worcester, Adoption Attorney and Adoptive Mom