[Archive]

Originally Posted By ralph berger

Can anyone provide answers and sources for the two following questions:
1) how long have open adoptions been done in the US?

2) approximately how many open adoptions have been done since then?

Many thanks for your help

ralph

ralph@tsoft.com

[Archive]

Originally Posted By Sabra

Hi Ralph:

Thanks for your question. I work with adopting.org and throught I would give you some info to read at the National Adoption Clearinghouse Link. This is the statistic for the number of birth parents that have met the adoptive couple.

In 69% of public and private agency
adoptions, the birth parents had met the adoptive couple (Berry, 1991)

Meeting each other is different than an open adoption. Perhaps by reading more at this link you will be able to learn more. There are some good books to read as well. I know of some open adoptions that are going well. The success is really up to each couple and birth mother and how well they bond, trust and communicate with each other. Really being wise to use your support groups and becoming educated on the many aspects of learning how to love the child's birth mother is very important.

Best to you, Sabra Here is the link: http://www.calib.com/naic/pubs/s_open.htm The History of open adoption is discussed there as well.