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Adoption Vs Closed Adoption Essay

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Within the United States adoption has been evolved markedly, once it was used to “normalize “ a childless marriage (The Free Dictionary, n.d.) or prevent the shame of an adoptee at their “illegitimate” birth or an unwed mother social staning (Fair, 2008) now the primary focus rather is the child’s best interests, a better life. Adoption is a long-standing social behavior that involves a person other than the biological or legal parents of an individual assuming a parenting role in a permanent fashion in the eyes of the law (Health of children, n.d.; The Free Dictionary, n.d.). Through the declaration of legal paperwork a non-biological parent can adopt a child into their home. It must be acknowledged that there are less formal ways …show more content…

Many factors are given weight in the decision to allow a child to be adopted such as socio-economic status, marital status, age, health and the ability for a child to integrate in to the perspective parent’s life (The Free Dictionary, n.d.). Within the adoption process there are two primary types: closed adoptions and open adoptions (Family Education, 2016). A closed adoption is where there is no contact between the adopters and the birth parents putting the child up for adoption. Also known as a confidential adoption it is performed through an intermediary who is responsible for all communication such as an attorney (Family Education, 2016). There is also no contact between the adopted child and his or her biological parents later in life without court intervention. The other avenue of adoption perused more commonly now is an open adoption where the adopters and birth parents are in full communication through out the process (Family Education, 2016). Adoption has gone through an evolution where previously closed adoptions were heavily favored; open adoptions are now becoming more common practice. In the United States on five states currently give adoptees uninhibited access to their adoption records (Fair, 2008:

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