What is Open Adoption in Illinois and Is It Right for Me?

Name: Heart to Heart Adoptions | Nationwide Adoption Agency
Address: US

An Open Adoption means that you will be able to maintin conntact with your baby in a way that is comfortable to you. Maybe you want scheduled meetings. Maybe you want weekly pictures and videos. Maybe you want less contact. You can decide. You can discuss this with your case manager and they will find a family that meets these needs and all the other preferences you have for an adoptive family.

Women often ask, “If I choose adoption, will I ever see my baby again?”

The answer to that question is, of course, “Yes, you will see your child again if you want to.” Open adoption allows you to stay connected—with photos, updates, even visits. You’re not saying goodbye forever. You’re starting a new kind of relationship.

More Details about "What is an Open Adoption?"

Open adoption means there is some level of contact between you and your child’s adoptive family.

Most of our birth mothers are included on a computer app called Our Hearts Connect. This app can be used on a phone, tablet, computer—whatever you’re comfortable with. It allows for pictures, messages, and videos to be sent between birth and adoptive families. Some birth mothers ask for their family members—like grandparents or aunts—to be added too.

We’ve even had situations where the birth father is in a group separate from the birth mother due to complicated relationships. The system can adjust based on what’s healthiest.

From infancy to adulthood, the child can see pictures, hear messages, and later even participate. Everything can be saved and turned into a book—a keepsake you and your child can share.

The amount of contact is up to you.

Some women want regular communication. Others prefer updates now and then. You get to decide what feels right.

Examples from Women in Illinois

Lexi – Naperville, IL
Lexi chose open adoption for her daughter. “We do video calls every few months,” she says. “I get to see her grow up, and she’ll always know who I am.”

Kendra – Quincy, IL
Kendra meets up once a year with her son’s adoptive family at a park halfway between Quincy and St. Louis. “It’s our tradition,” she says. “I bring a scrapbook, and we just catch up. It makes me feel close.”

Why Do Women Choose Open Adoption?

To see that their child is happy and loved

To answer questions their child may have

To build a lifelong relationship based on honesty

Open adoption isn’t co-parenting. You’re not sharing custody. But it is a way to stay involved, be remembered, and offer your child answers when they’re ready.

Will It Be Hard Emotionally?

Yes, adoption is an emotional decision. But many women find peace knowing their child is safe, loved, and growing up in a supportive home. That peace is powerful.

You don’t have to go through it alone. You’ll have support before and after placement—including free counseling, if you want it.

And if you’re ever in Chicago, you might pass the Chicago Post Office—the only postal facility in the world you can literally drive through. Just one of those little-known facts that make Illinois unique.

Have questions or need more information?
Text anytime: 801-563-1000 | Call 24/7: 877-437-3424
There will be someone ready to listen.

Unexpected Pregnancy Choices in Illinois

– What do I do now?

– Who can I talk to without being judged?

– Is adoption something I should consider?

Is Adoption Right for Me? What Illinois Women Are Asking

– What if I change my mind?

– Can I Choose the Adoptive Parents?

– Can I get financial help?

Choosing an Adoptive Family in Illinois

– Can I Choose the Adoptive Parents?

-How Do I Find a Perfect Adoptive Family?

– What Kind of Relationship Can I Have with an Adoptive Family

How to Start the Adoption Process in Illinois

– First Steps in Adoption

– What do You Need as a Birth Mother in Illinois

– Your Adoption Plan in Illinois