Is adopting an older child (who was removed due to neglect) out of foster care always a closed adoption?

Question

I am looking into adopting a child out of the foster care system. I want to adopt an older child and (except in rare cases of parental death) these children are usually removed due to due neglect at home. Are these types of adoptions usually closed? I would prefer a semi-open if it is in the best interest of the child to be in some contact with the birth parents. Except, obviously, if that is not the case and the child was abused in some way and contact would only due further damage.

Answer 1

It could be open, closed or semi-open depending on the child, the circumstance and what your desires are.

Unless continuing contact with the birth parent will put the child at risk, it's a good thing to keep the past connections alive.  So many people want to adopt & just pretend that this child has no past, has had no connections that are important to him/her and should just draw a line in the sand and move on.

Our daughters were adopted internationally as 7 & 10 year olds two & a half years ago.  We frequently (several times a week) talk about their birth parents and their two foster mothers.  Almost always it's the girls bringing it up & we just let them take the lead in how often they want to talk about them and how in depth.

It's important to honor past connections, even if those connections were dysfunctional because that is part of where the child came from...part of what made him/her who they are.

SG

Answer 2

I think it totally depends on the individual case. And what you as the adopting parent want.  I am adopting this way and the Mom does visit but cannot take them anywheres.  But when the adoption is final, I can choose to not allow any contact but I wouldn't do that in our case.

Answer 3

In most cases the parents rights are taken away so then it would be closed however if the parent signs the papers then yes it is possible to have it open you need to speak to the social worker