There are open, semi-open and closed adoptions.
Open Adoption: The relationship is between the child, birth parent and adopting parents. There can be visits, phone calls, e-mails and or letters and pictures. A common adoption agreement has one to three visits per year with letters and pictures being sent several times. This allows for the child to know that he or she is loved and cared about by the birth family and a chance to know the birth parent. It also gives the child access to family history, stories, medical information. Some adopting families and birth parents agree to more contact.
Semi-Open Adoption: Letters and pictures are exchanged between the adopting parent(s) and the birth parent(s). This keeps the birth parent current with what is happening in the child’s life. These can be exchanged directly or through an agency.
Closed Adoption: No contact of any kind between the adopting parent(s) and the birth parent(s).