A Act of Love Adoption Agency was one of the first adoption agencies to offer open adoptions. More than twenty years ago, Act of Love’s founder, Kathy Kunkel, had become close with many birthmothers and learned of the need for openness in their adoption plans. The problem was that not many adoption agencies were offering an open adoption. Kathy decided to create an agency that would allow birthparents to have what they needed. That agency became A Act of Love Adoptions.

The beauty of open adoption through Act of Love is that no two open adoptions are the same. There are so many options for birthparents that they can make a plan that is best for them emotionally. They have the opportunity to talk with a counselor about their plan and come up with openness that feels right for them. As part of their adoption paperwork, the openness is put in writing and then presented to perspective adoptive couples. Adoptive couples have the option to agree to the openness specified in writing or forego having their profile shown to that birthmother. Adoptive parents will know in their hearts when an openness plan is right for them. If the openness plan being presented feels uncomfortable to them, they should pass and wait for an opportunity that is comfortable. This helps ensure the openness agreement will be followed.

Open adoption can consist of adoptive parents mailing birthparents some pictures of the child with a letter talking about what they have been doing over the past year. This happens once a year until the child turns 18. Another open adoption could entail emails being sent back and forth at the discretion of either party. For others, it could mean getting together in person at appropriate times to celebrate holidays or events. And further, another open adoption could be that the birthparents select the adoptive family, they meet before placement, spend time together at the hospital and then go their separate ways. It would be safe to say that not very many open adoptions are the same. Each open adoption usually begins with the birthparents deciding what they want and need from their adoption plan. Then finding a family that will meet those needs. A Act of Love works very hard to ensure that the open adoptions are successful and that both parties are getting their needs met. In Utah, the openness form is not legally binding. But A Act of Love Adoptive couples do make an ethical commitment that they will follow through on their agreement. This makes for happy, successful adoptions for all involved but most of all for the child.

With international adoptions becoming increasingly difficult, and countries banning U.S. citizens from adopting, adoptive parents should educate themselves on open adoption. Act of Love staff members would be happy to talk with adoptive couples about open adoptions. Act of Love is very involved in all its open adoptions unless both birthparents and adoptive couples agree in writing they want it handled directly. All correspondence is sent to A Act of Love and then forwarded. A Act of Love makes copies for the file (in case it gets lost in the mail) of all correspondence then puts it in an agency envelope and sends it to the birthparent. This way, privacy remains intact for both birthparents and adoptive parents. The same method is used for exchanges of gifts. If a phone call is included in the openness, A Act of Love will set up a conference call. This is where an agency staff worker will connect both parties from a work line, allowing them to talk while an agency staff member is on the line. Of course if both parties want to exchange their phone numbers, each can sign a document stating they are making that choice and hold the adoption agency harmless.

Many adoptive parents are so thrilled they took the time to research and learn more about adoption openness. As they hold their newborn in their arms, Act of Love staff often hear words of love and praise for their birthmom. Adoptive couples feel the bond with their birthparents that they can one day share with their child. They often say they are so happy they chose to go with an open adoption because the experience would not have been as wonderful. Open adoptions are a very healthy option for everyone involved. The birthparents have the opportunity to see the child growing happily and enjoying some of the experiences they were unable to provide. The child feels secure in knowing who he/she came from and that he/she has both birthparents and adoptive parents that love him/her. It is a very comforting feeling for a child to know some of his/her biological background. The adoptive parents have the opportunity to tell the child about his/her birth, the first meeting with his/her birthmother, the story of his/her birth and other events that took place surrounding the adoption. In nearly every adoption that is open, a picture of the birthparents, the baby and the adoptive family is taken. What a treasure for all involved! Through adoption, a big happy family has been created!