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About Adoptions |
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Adoptions occur when the birth parents are unable to raise their children
for a variety of reasons. Another family steps in and takes on the legal responsibity to love, teach and raise
the kids.
There are two types of adoptions - Domestic and International. A Domestic adoption is one
where a child is placed in a new family within their birth country. An International adoption is one where
a child is comes to a new home outside of its birth country.
There are many reasons why a child is placed up for adoption. In general, these reasons revolve around
the biological parents being unable to care for
the child. Deaths occur, of course, but the most common reason a child is available for adoption,
in the United States and the United Kingdom, is mistreatment of the child. Another frequent reason is
financial
hardship. This is often
the case with teenage pregnancy or single parenthood. Even gender preference can lead to a child being
placed elsewhere.
Internationally, financial hardships and loss of the biological parents are the two most
common reasons children need new homes.
Why do people want to adopt? The answer varies from situation to situation. Some couples can
not have children. Some want to help out by adopting. Some are same-sex couples that would rather adopt
than to try for a biological child.
The rules for applying to adopt differ from country to country, and occasionally within a country.
Standards for eligibility can include one's ethics as well as the ablity to support the child.
Certain age limit maybe imposed. And different standards maybe applied to a single person trying
to adopt as well as the eligibility for same-sex couples to adopt.
What is the cost of adoption? In the United States, the cost of a kinship adoption (where the child is
related) ranges from $1,500 to $2,500. Other types of adoption can cost from $8,000 to $30,000 due to
birthmother expenses,
state requirements, travel expenses, and other fees. Internationally, these expenses can go from $11,000 to
$30,000. Note that in the United States, you are allowed a $10,000 tax credit for adoptions.
There are many issues that surround adoption beyond the adoption requrements themselves. You will
need to deal with: Guarding a child's
ancestry. Whether to keep the adoption a secret as is possible for very young adoptees. Dealing with
disabilites or other heatlh issues of the child is another issue. Sibling rivalry or other family
adjustments to a new member must be faced.
The challenge that comes from adopting and the joy of
helping to raise a child, can more than compensate for all the potential problems
and paperwork you might face! Unfortunately, there are too many children who do not get
adopted and age out of the foster systems at age eighteen.
The history of adoptions can be traced back to the Hammurabi Code of 18th century BC. Adoption was
very common during these ancient times, and often involved adults, not children! These adopted adults
where used to carry on a family heritage or to protect property rights. The adoptions
were merely a way of saying you wanted someone to follow in your footsteps.
During the Middle Ages, the adoption process became focused on children and some good
ground rules were set. Specific laws were put into place to protect the child. And all adoptions
during this time period where handled by the court systems.
The first state adoption took place in 1851 in Massachusetts. In 1853, Rev. Charles Loring Brace
founded a children's aid program to help orphaned and abandoned children. His solution was to get
the children off the streets and then sent to strong Christian homes. These children where gathered
up and placed on trains bound for the mid-west. At each stop, the children where displayed for all to
see - whoever was not chosen for adoption then, was placed back on the
train to go to the next stop.
Things have certainly changed since then. But one thing has remained the same, society continues to
pursue what's best for the children. Even though sometimes it's hard to know what's best.
Adoption is wonderful thing for both the new parents and the child without a home.
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