False. Less than 1% of all finalized adoptions are contested.

Many birth parents change their minds and decide to parent after the child is in the adoptive home as a legal risk placement.

False. In 1995 birth parents that worked with a representative agency in an adoption plan followed through in 94% of the cases.

Adoptive parents do not know anything about the child or his/her birth family.

False. You receive the medical and social history completed by the birth parents. Often birth parents will have parents and/or relatives help them in completing the information. In most cases you can meet and visit with the birth parents. Ongoing communication is encouraged so that any pertinent medical information would be available in the future.

Birth parents that place for adoption are usually young teens.

False. Most birth parents that follow through with the adoption process are in their 20s. They have educational or occupational goals and are often parenting another child.

Openness in adoption is confusing to the child, and scary for other participants.

False. Secrecy is viewed as a liability in adoption today. It creates genetic unknowns for children, unnecessary grief for birth parents, and serious gaps in information needed by adoptive parents to raise their children.

Birth families and adoptive families decide the degree of openness with which they are comfortable. In this way their relationship progresses with honesty, trust, and respect.