Adoption

Adoption has many pros, as well as some drawbacks. Adoption touches people in different ways, depending on their perspective and roles in the individual's life. Adoption is the "social, emotional, and legal process in which children who will not be raised by their birth parents become full and permanent legal members of another family." Adoption is not a simple process, it is a lifelong commitment for everyone involved, with legal and emotional impacts.

Determining one's eligibility to adopt is based on a few different requirements. Most people are eligible to adopt, despite age, income, sexual orientation, or marital status. Also, having a disability does not necessarily disqualify a parent. And there is a "process of mutual assessment and preparation by the prospective adoptive parents and social worker or agency, called a home study." Also, foreign countries may have different/specific requirements and/or restrictions for families who want to adopt from their country. Another more specificity is often Faith-based agencies, they may make different requirements for families adopting through their agency.

There are many things families need to consider before making the decision to adopt a child. For example, many people and or couples consider adoption because of infertility issues. Before adopting a child, a person or the family needs to consider all negatives and positives involved with adoption. One way to better prepare yourself is communicating and asking questions with other families who have adopted. This helps families determine if and what type of adoption is right for their family. Some of the different types of adoption and choices to be made in adoption. are adopting children through a public agency (foster care), adopting children from other States, adopting infants through a licensed agency, independent adoption, and adopting a child from another country.

Despite the fact that all kids are different, kids who wait a long time to be adopted often share similar characteristics. These characteristics include: being part of a sibling group who needs to be placed together within a family, being an older child, being a part of a minority group, or having a disability. These children are often referred to as having "special needs" or needing "special care." However, states often define special needs differently for the children's eligibility to receive adoption assistance when adopted from the U.S. foster care system.

Despite the type of adoption or company/group/agency that assists families in the process (public agency, licensed private agency, attorney or adoption facilitator), virtually all families are required to complete the home study process before going on with the adoption. The main goal of a home study is to make sure that "each child is placed in a suitable home and that good matches are made between children and families." They also help to ensure that the possible future homes agree with/are up to State and local laws for the placement of the child/children and that parents and families are educated about adoption and have the necessary information.

Also, adoptive parents need to be aware that there are certain citations which may require an open adoption. Openness in adoption "refers to the amount of contact among birth parents and relatives, adoptive parents, and the adopted person." The amount of contact and communication may range from little or no contact; "to mediate contact through a third party, anonymous email, or post office box; to ongoing communication with shared identifying information; to occasional in-person contact, holiday visits, or regular communication and visitation" when all parties wish it to happen.

Adoption is not a simple decision, it is a lifelong process. Families often need additional support even after the adoption is finalized. Families may need services as a child develops and as "normal development, adjustment, and adoption-related issues arise." It is important that the adoptive parents know how to deal with the children along with helping them cope with grief and loss, recognize and get help for post adoption depression, find needed services, and get financial assistance.

So, despite the fact that adoption has many pros and cons, it is up to the adoptive family to ensure that the pros outweigh the cons. Adoption touches people in different ways, depending on their perspective and roles in the individual's life. It is a decision to become full and permanent legal members of another family. Adoption is not a simple process; it is a lifelong commitment for everyone involved, with legal and emotional impacts.


Sources
http://www.childsworld.ca.gov/pg1302.htm
http://www.childwelfare.gov/adoption/
http://www.adoption.org/
http://www.adoptionfacts.org/
http://www.adoptionservicesinc.com/facts.html