Hi, welcome to the forum! Here's a quick introduction to how it works: As you may have seen, when you first arrive to the forum, you are awarded an Observer Badge. This means that you have not yet contributed to the forum, but that's okay! Take your time :) To post in any other forum, you must first introduce yourself. It can be brief. Just say hi and give us an overview of who you are and/or what you're hoping to find here. As you contribute, you will gain different badges. As you gain badges, you will gain access to more categories in the forum. When you receive the Newcomer Badge (1-3 posts), you will be able to access the general adoptee discussion, legislation and policy discussion, and meanings discussion. When you receive the Member Badge (more than 3 posts), you will be able to access the adoptee support, adoption options, all the feels, and adoptee art and writing discussions. When you receive the Regular Badge (more than 10 posts), you will be able to access the my adoption story discussion. Happy posting! Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns. -The Openly Adopted Team

This forum was created by adoptees with the explicit intention of being an openly adopted adoptee-centered support forum. The goal of the forum is simple: provide a space for adoptees to give and receive support with other adoptees, all of whom are in the process of understanding and dealing with their adoption - whatever that may mean to them. Wherever you may be on your adoption journey, please know that this space was made with you in mind. ​ This forum acknowledges that we are all coming to the table with different experiences, different feelings towards adoption, different ways of dealing with our adoption, and different depths at which adoption has impacted us. Here, we are able to acknowledge the trials and triumphs of adoption: the breaks and repairs between family members, the flat out wounds we may have endured as adoptees, and the journeys of healing that we may just be beginning - or, are in the thick of. The expectation of this forum is that all adoptees are welcome and all adoptees in the forum respect their fellow adoptees by meeting them where they are at in their stages of processing, understanding, and growth. ​ All members of the forum must remember when they post, that the foundation of this forum is built on support, compassion, and empathy. This means that members who enter the forum should not enter the space with a mindset to determine which experiences are better or worse, which beliefs are right or wrong, or to press political issues that are not related to an adoptee's lived experience. Members should enter this space with the mindset that all experiences, feelings, and perspectives on adoption are valid and come from the internal wisdom we possess through our lived experience.

This forum, and membership to this forum, is for adoptees only. Members who violate the Terms of Use may be denied access. Forum posts in violation of the Terms of Use will immediately be removed. Members who violate the Code of Conduct will be given a warning, but if violations continue, they will be banned. No advertisements or solicitations for products or services are allowed. Everything that is posted here, stays here. No writing, information, images, or any other media in this forum shall be used outside this forum without permission from the poster, in writing. Anyone who violates this, taking media without permission of original poster, will be banned. This is a non-partisan space focused on the adoptee's experience. Do not express political views that are not related to an adoptee’s experience.

This is not a professional therapy or counseling group, we are a peer to peer group that is here to support each other. We speak from our own experiences only. When posting, share feelings and experiences. Use empathy and reflection. Share advice only if it is asked for. Everything shared here is only seen by fellow forum members and shall not leave the forum. If individuals would like to share something from a post, permission may be given for a specific post only. All members accept members just as they are and where they are. Approach members with a sense of curiosity to avoid making judgements. Sharing is encouraged, but not required. This is a community - all members share a responsibility in making this forum a positive space.