Openness

The purpose of openness is the continuation of a relationship that is beneficial and meaningful to the child. It is understood to involve a broad range of contact options.

There are formal and informal ways openness can be achieved. Openness does not always mean contact with the birth parents. It could be with the foster parents, birth siblings, or other family members such as grandparents. Contact can take the form of direct contact such as in face-to-face visits.  It can also refer to indirect contact which would be letters, photos, email or Zoom exchanges. Sometimes this is organized in an Agreement and other times through a Court Order.