Openness and Contact in Adoption: A Child-centred Perspective

Abstract

This paper reports the findings of a study on the views of birth parents on openness and contact and, in the light of the findings, examines the current trend towards a presumption in favour of direct contact between birth parents, child and/or adopters. It argues for a child-centred approach which must discriminate more clearly between the implications for the child of different post-adoption arrangements. The assumptions underlying a presumption in favour of direct contact are critically reviewed.