AAAA knows no two children or families are alike - similarly, no two adoptions are exactly the same.  Thus, AAAA's private adoption model hinges on flexibility and case-by-case consensus building.

The 'openness' of an adoption refers to the degree of contact and amount of information biological and adoptive families will share before, during and after adoption.

In a closed adoption, basic medical and social history is shared through an agency or other third-party.  Generally, contact or communication after adoption is prohibited.  All statutes of Minnesota state law are followed in AAAA's closed adoptions.

On the opposite end of the continuum, open adoption involves full disclosure of information and may include direct meetings, phone calls or contact with extended family before and after adoption.

In between closed and open adoption is a wide range of options for information sharing and levels of contact - a trained AAAA adoption resource worker will help both biological and adoptive parents identify expectations.  In all cases, the cooperative agreement specifies the degree of openness.