Adoption Openness Assessment - Amara
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Adoption Openness Assessment

Where are you on your adoption journey? Chart showing IFSM 4-quadrant model

O·pen·ness (n.):  Lack of secrecy or concealment; frankness

What does this mean for adoption? We define openness as the spirit in which you enter into your relationship with your child where you strive to be emotionally present as they process their adoptedness.

What is Openness in Adoption?

This animated short video provides an easy-to-understand explanation of openness in adoption and the Inclusive Family Support Model (IFSM), the country’s first practice model specifically designed to support adoptive parents in creating a spirit of openness for the benefit of adoptees.

Watch this video for an introduction to our adoption openness assessment and the Inclusive Family Support Model.

Watch the video

A Groundbreaking Tool

Every adoptive family falls within one of the assessment areas: Inclusive, Spirit of Openness, Mediated or Closed. Find out where you fall and gain resources to support you along your journey by completing the Adoption Openness Assessment.

During the assessment, you’ll be asked a series of questions that explore your beliefs about openness. It is meant to help you – there are no wrong answers. It only takes a few minutes and it’s free! You may complete the assessment multiple times to reflect on your openness regarding each adopted child in your family and/or to re-evaluate where your family is on the journey as time passes, life changes, and you learn more from the provided resources. You can also invite your family members to take this assessment to reflect on their level of openness as well!

At the conclusion of your assessment, you’ll receive an individualized report with resources to support your family’s journey toward openness.

Get started:

  1. Watch our animated short video explaining the levels of openness within adoption.
  2. Complete the Adoption Openness Assessment.
  3. Review your results and contact Amara for additional support.


About the Model

What is Openness in Adoption?

Openness is the spirit in which you enter into your relationship with your child where you strive to be emotionally present as they process their adoptedness. We believe that even when physical contact isn’t available your family can still achieve a spirit openness. 

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IFSM Academic Paper

The Inclusive Family Support Model was created by Amara’s former Post-Adoption Director, Angela Tucker, and University of Washington Tacoma Assistant Professor, JaeRan Kim. Check out the full academic paper published in Child and Family Social Work.

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