Should adoption records be open rather than sealed?
On One Hand: Closed Adoptions Offer StabilityClosed adoptions give privacy to all parties involved, according to the American Pregnancy Association. The birth mother does not have to explain anything, the adoptive parents do not have to deal with birth parents who still want to be involved, and the child has the stability of having only one set of parents in his life.On the Other: Record Access Is Helpful in AdolescenceAdolescence is a time of identity issues for many adopted children, says At Health, a mental health website. They can develop a strong curiosity about their birth and struggle with developing a sense of self. A study on adoption done by Cornell University found that adoptive parents in New York believe that children should have access to limited information that does not identify the birth parents. Access to records could “contribute significantly toward healthy development during adolescence and lessen feelings of rejection and insecurity,” said Rosemary Avery, the Corn
