Do you want to retain your bond with your child following adoption? It’s understandable if you believe adoption means the end of your relationship with your child, but please know that’s not always true, thanks to open adoption in Florida.
What’s an open adoption in Florida? The formal open adoption definition in Florida involves an agreement among the parties in an adoption that establishes contact after placement in an adoptive home. But open adoption in Florida can also mean different things for everyone involved, too.
Open adoption in Florida lets you offer your child a bright future while seeing them grow and thrive. Open adoption in Florida is the norm in modern adoption, thanks to the benefits it offers, and you can learn more by connecting with an adoption professional through our online form.
Now, you can read on to learn the differences between closed adoption, semi-open adoption, and open adoption in Florida and how each may shape your future relationship with your child and their adoptive family.
Why Should I Consider Open Adoption in Florida?
Open adoption in Florida is a wonderful thing for the parties in adoption because it’s good for everyone. Open adoption in Florida grows out of a mutual love for the child among the birth parents and adoptive parents and is done in the best interest of the child’s wellbeing. That’s why open adoptions in Florida are the norm now.
Wondering about the benefits of open adoptions in Florida? Here are just a few:
- Your child will know about their heritage and history.
- You can watch your child grow and flourish and know they’re loved and supported.
- You can share family medical history details if your child ever needs medical care.
- Gaining access to adoption records is simplified so you can learn about your child’s life.
- You can remain in regular contact with your kid, and that includes in-person meetings.
- Your child is insulated from feelings of abandonment that typically stem from closed adoption.
- Your child gets a supportive extended family to love them throughout their lifetime.
Are There Any Significant Drawbacks to Open Adoption in Florida?
Some people think there are supposed drawbacks that come from open adoptions in Florida, but those myths have been debunked for the most part. Birth mothers like you can opt for closed adoption if it feels right to you, but many find open adoptions in Florida are positive for everyone. That’s why open adoption in Florida is generally recommended by adoption professionals.
What does open adoption mean in Florida? Choosing open adoption in Florida is empowering because it gives you complete control over your post-placement experience. You set the terms of your open adoption, such as the amount of information shared, the type of information shared, and the frequency of contact among the parties.
You can shape your contact agreement to meet preferences through open adoption in Florida. In most open adoptions in FL, birth parents and adoptive parents exchange basic information like:
- Contact information for birth parents, adoptive parents, and the adoptee
- Family medical history for both birth parents
- Occasional in-person visits on special occasions, such as holidays
- Free, direct contact between the involved parties
You get to choose the best family for your child regardless of the type of adoption you’ve selected. If open adoption in Florida is the way you want to go, be sure to look for an agency that handles open adoption in Florida.
Below are some agencies in Florida that work with birth mothers to facilitate open adoptions in FL.
- American Adoptions
- Beacon House Adoption Services
- Gift of Life Adoption
- Adoption By Shepherd Care
- Heart of Adoption
- Adoption Star of Florida
What is semi-open adoption in Florida?
Semi-open adoption in Florida is a lot like open adoption in Florida, but the primary difference is the amount and type of contact that’s agreed upon. While there is some communication between the birth parents and adoptive parents, the details shared in semi-open adoption in Florida may be more general, and contact is often less frequent.
Sometimes, the communication between the parties in semi-open adoption in Florida is moderated by an adoption professional who acts as a buffer between the parties and preserves a degree of privacy. The information exchanged may only include information such as:
- First names of the people involved in the adoption
- Limited medical information and family medical history
- Details about birth parents, such as biographical information or geographic location
If you want to see your child grow and thrive from afar without direct communication, semi-open adoption in Florida could be right for you.
What is a closed adoption in Florida?
It’s okay if you want no contact with your child or their adoptive family following placement. The choice is yours alone to make. Closed adoption in Florida gives you that type of arrangement. Closed adoption features no shared information, but the birth mother can allow her child to find her at the age of 18.
Open Adoption vs. Closed Adoption in Florida
Are you wondering about the differences between open vs. closed adoption in Florida? If so, you should know that the primary distinction is the volume of contact and information the parties share. In open adoption in FL, there are few limitations on contact, unlike closed adoption, which allows for no information sharing or post-placement contact.
If you’re weighing closed adoption vs. open adoption in Florida, you should know some negative consequences of closed adoption can shape the relationship between you and your child, like:
- Birth parents don’t know their children are healthy and happy.
- Adoptees lack family medical history.
- Adoptees experience feelings of abandonment.
- It’s difficult (or impossible) for birth parents and children to bond in the future.
In the past, closed adoptions were common, but the benefits of open adoption in Florida have made closed adoption less frequent. In addition, the supposed benefits of closed adoptions have been roundly rejected by adoption professionals, making open adoption in Florida the right choice for most birth mothers.
You can still choose closed vs. open adoption in Florida if you want, especially when ongoing contact creates safety issues for the child. But it’s important to consider all the potential effects of a closed adoption before opting for one.
Are Open Adoptions in Florida Enforceable by Law?
Agreements for open adoptions in Florida, also known as post-adoption contract agreements or PAFLs, are not addressed in state adoption law, so they aren’t legally enforceable in Florida. However, it’s important to note that PAFLs legal enforcement isn’t usually an issue because the parties in the open adoption in Florida dedicate themselves to the best interests of the adoptee and voluntarily maintain contact.
Open adoptions in Florida arise from mutual cooperation between the birth parents and adoptive parents. The parties in open adoption in Florida aren’t co-parenting. Still, they share a love for their child and wish to cooperate to give the adoptee the life they deserve. To learn more about open adoption in Florida, please speak with a licensed adoption professional to learn how the law could impact your situation.
Learning More about Open Adoption in Florida
Are you still wondering, “What is open adoption in Florida?” It means different things to different people. Open adoptions in FL are routine now because they’re beneficial for all parties. For birth mothers, there are few (if any) negative aspects of retaining your bond with your child and watching them grow within their adoptive family.
Open adoption in Florida isn’t the perfect option for everyone, and you get to decide that. It’s a profoundly personal choice, and its impacts will influence the relationship you and your unborn child share in the future.
To get advice from adoption professionals when selecting an adoption arrangement, please complete our online form when you’re ready.
