Open adoptions have been a new part of domestic adoptions. Previously, adoptions were almost all closed with little to no contact between the birth family and the adoptive family.
*Closed adoption is defined as an adoption where there is no interaction of any kind between biological families and adoptive families. This includes no exchanging of identifying information such as names, addresses, family history and culture as well as medical history.
*Open adoption is defined as an adoption in which both the biological and adoptive families have exchanged, in varying degrees, personal information and have the option of contact.
There are many benefits to open adoption, but a big benefit is having access to medical history. This is very generous on the part of the biological family because it's personal, but when you go to the doctor's office and they ask for medical history for your parents or your grandparents, it matters. Genetics affect your health and it's so helpful to provide the doctor with a history.
Another benefit is that statistics show that adoptive children want to know about their biological background. And an open adoption makes that road more possible.
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