Should Single Parents be allowed to Adopt?

Millions of children are living without parents around the world and they need help. Over 153 million youths around the world are without one or both parents, and 7 million of them are in institutional care (qtd. in “Children’s Statistics”). Worldwide, minors are suffering from living without a family and a stable relief system. International adoption, although often in the limelight, is on a slight decline and domestic adoption is increasing. Despite the fact that the percentage of people considering any form of adoption has decreased from 2007 to 2013, the percentage of foster care adoptions has experienced more growth than international and private adoptions (“BAAF Adoption

4). In the scope of adoption, it is evident that child welfare agencies use the majority of their available resources for placing children in foster families, investigating child-abuse cases, and providing other family services. “As a consequence, they do not possess adequate additional resources for efficiently placing children in adoptive homes once they are available for adoption, depriving many children of the benefits a stable, permanent home provides” (Snell, 2000, p. 2). The current government operated child welfare system is detrimental to the children involved due to its inability to ensure their safety and

The authors of this journal issue discuss their research findings on the effects of adoption on children through open and closed systems. In this article there is perspectives from all three parties involved with the adoption process and research from years later showing what has affected them through out their lives. Also in this article there is some historical information about how the open and closed systems were formed and how open adoption is a more effective than closed adoption.

Design/Methodology: This exploratory design hopes to attain valuable insight on what types of post adoption services are available to families. This design is qualitative as it seeks to explore the types of services that are offered and if any have a positive influence in providing the necessary support to assist in the preservation of adoptive families. It is hoped that this results can provide a deeper understanding of which post adoption services are vital in aiding new adoptive parents to safeguard their forever family against possible challenges that lie ahead. Sampling: This study will utilize non probability convenience and purposive sampling as current or former foster parents of the Los Angeles child welfare system will be recruited through various post adoption service agencies. Eligible participants are individuals who have received post adoption services and finalized adoption with at least one child. According to Acharya et al. (2013), convenience and purposive sampling is beneficial when participation of individuals is needed to meet a certain criteria; individuals will also be easily located for the study. Two hundred former consumers of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, Post Adoption Services Unit (PAS) department will be invited to participate in the study via U.S. mail. The PAS unit offers post adoption services such as referrals and counseling to families to avoid family dissolutions which will return the child in the child

“When children enter foster care, the initial plan is for children to return to live with their families once they have adequately resolved the problems that made their children unsafe and made foster care necessary.” “While a little more than half of children who enter care return home to their birth families, the rest will need other plans to end the temporary placement of foster care.” (childrensaidsociety.org) Even with foster care some children hope to find a permanent family to live with but according to research, today adoption is viewed as a last resort, even for couples with fertility problems. (Reed, Leslie,) Today people have fears of bonding with the child, unknown health issues and behavioral issues. (Patricelli, Kathryn). In the future adoption will revolve around securing information with international adoption, getting more access to original birth certificates and other legal

Approximately five million Americans alive today are adoptees. Having the opportunity to adopt has given many families the chance to have a family on their own that they may not have been able to have before. Although it benefits the parents who are adopting it also helps the birth mother tremendously. There are several ways to adopt. Parents who want to adopt should choose the best option for them while birth mothers should be more educated so they can be sure to make the best decision for herself and her child.

When a baby is born their birth parents keep the new baby. In some cases the birth parents cannot or will not keep their new baby. Some children later in their young lives are without parents. These babies and children can be put in foster care or can be adopted. Adoption is when another family legally becomes their new parents. There are appropriate ways to let a child know they are adopted and to answer their following questions as well as address their feelings.

The necessity of adoption in the world is astounding. Currently, there is an estimated 143 million orphans worldwide (Wingert, vol.151). As of 2007, there were 513,000 children living in foster care within the United States alone (Rousseau 21:14). International adoption in the United States was jumpstarted post World War II as a way of helping those children who were left homeless, after war had taken their parents. Although there are thousands of healthy children awaiting adoption in the United States, several American couples still turn to foreign adoption when seeking potential children. Americans often fail to realize the need for intervention within their own country and their duty to take care of domestic affairs before venturing to

In the last four decades, the concept of the American family has undergone a radical transformation, reflecting society¡¯s growing openness. Among all segments of society, there is a greater acceptance of a variety of family structures ¨C from single parenting to blended families to same sex parenting of children. The introduction of openness into the process of adoption offers new opportunities for children in need of a parent or parents and prospective parents wishing to create or expand their families. Meeting the requirements to become eligible to adopt no longer means being constrained by the conventions of an earlier generation.

Have you ever changed your mind about a life altering decision? This is something many young couples and mothers are facing after the adoption of their children. So, what if they change their minds by law what are their options? This topic is possibly the worst fear that adoptive parents can face. There is no law nationally that pertains to giving back parental rights to a mother, or couple after giving up them up for adoption, instead it is decided on a state law to state law basis. When adoption is decided it is key for the mother to be giving up her parental rights voluntarily. In many states there is a waiting period for a mother to change her mind, and regain the parental rights. For example, according to Indiana Code 31-19-2-10 the mother has five days to file a petition after the adoption has been filed. When a mother gives up their child for adoption they are warned through rigorous amounts of paperwork that they only have a certain amount of time to retain the child. An issue that is often brought up during this topic is the disruption it could have on a small child’s wellbeing if the court were to rule in the favor of the birth parent. In most cases the ruling is in favor of the adoptive parents due to the best interests of the child. An example of this is in the case Bidwell V. McSorely “where the care and custody of a child were concerned, the paramount issue was the best interests of the child.” Bidwell V. McSorely. 194 Va. 135, 72 S.E.2d 245 (1952) The stable

Many adoptive parents are searching for more affordable ways to adopt. Private adoption is where the birth and adoptive parents connect through some private means and then hire an attorney for the legal process. With today’s technology, adoptive parents are networking through the internet using social media, advertisements, and personal websites to blog their interest in adoption. They also share their interest with their friends, relatives, co-workers, church, and neighbors. Some also talk with their obstetricians and other office staff in hopes of finding a pregnant woman interested in pursuing adoption plans for her child. In essence, the adoptive parents are doing a great deal of the work but can save a considerable amount of money

Further, applicants for adoption should be accepted on the basis of an individual assessment of their capacity to understand and meet the needs of a particular available child at the point of adoption and in the future (Rosario, 2006, p.8). The United States is facing a critical shortage of adoptive and foster parents. As a result, hundreds of thousands of children in this country are without permanent homes. These children deteriorate for months, even years, within state foster care systems that lack qualified foster parents and are frequently faced with other problems.

Although adopting can be very extensive and pricey, it has plenty of positive outcomes. An adopting family will adopt for many reasons, as I have previously stated. Adoption gives families a chance to thrive and grow as they expand their family. Not only do families help themselves but they help the child and birthmother. The child will grow up in a safe environment and have better opportunities. Not only will the child have better opportunities but so will the biological mother.

Since 1776, the United States of America has had a growing problem with orphans and childhood adoption. Orphanages become overpopulated while foster homes shelter up to 3 children on average. The foster care system has been viewed as positive reinforcement for American homes; yet the point of fostering children is consistently overlooked. Adoption is necessary for orphans, foster children, or children in abusive homes. The act of adopting a child comes with positive benefits and fiscal responsibility, such as government assistance and wiser spending. Children obtain a healthy childhood with a familiar sense of belonging. The drawback of this is the long governmental process of petitioning for adoption. Seeking the birthparents, if they are alive, retrieving consent, being fiscally responsible, and having a safe environment for the child to grow up in are all responsibilities to look forward to when adopting a child. The adoption rate in the United States of America needs to increase dramatically, as there are social benefits, mental health improvements, and economical advantages for families who adopt.

    With the battle of same sex marriage still continuing, it has yet aroused another subject similar to the matter: should same sex couple be allowed to adopt. Throughout the 21th century, this topic has been controversially debated whether or not same sex couples adopting is a negative or beneficial right. With this being said, homosexual couples should be allowed to adopt because kids with homosexual parents are more open-minded, shown the same love by parents and show love to others, however children are believed to face social stigmatization.