Adoption websites, is this normal?

Question

I was browsing online looking for some sites that explain the adoption process and laws in IL (I'm not adopting, just curious). and i came across a site that actually has pictures and little bios of children waiting to be adopted. This really struck me as disgusting, i mean these are children, not dogs on petfinder.com. Is this a normal thing? How is that ok?

Here is the site http://www.adoptinfo-il.org/

Answer 1

That's just one of the many sick and sad things that going on in American adoption - keep studying, it gets even MORE appalling.

Answer 2

Good call the only thing it's missing under the picture is:

FOR SALE

Most adoption sites use this tactic even though most laws state you can not place a child's face in the media and the child's identity or anything that could be used to identify a child in state or provincial care. But since they are above the law they do what ever they like

Most these place brake all the rules constantly it's a business like any other. Keep that in mind.

Answer 3

keep browsing. most children, in the ward of the state, have bios online. keep educating yourself.

Answer 4

Quick psychology lesson:

People do not respond to text. We just don't. The most impassioned, eloquent plea for adopting kids out of foster care means almost nothing...unless you were already considering it, you will be unmoved.

But a picture is worth a thousand words.

We respond to pictures. We see another human being, and suddenly we want to help. Even people who *never* before considered adopting a foster child will pause when they see a child's face.

A few years ago, some desperate social workers (who just wanted to get the children placed in good, safe environments) wondered if they could convince the local newspaper to do a story on the situation. Those kinds of stories had been done before, with little success, but they had too many kids and not enough placements for them. The paper agreed to do the story, but the reporter suggested doing a sidebar to give the personal story of one kid. And they put her picture in. The next day, the paper and the CPS department were flooded with calls asking about that girl. Even when the callers were told that she had already been placed, they started asking if they could help other kids.

I notice that you all are feeling distaste towards this, but do you want to feel good about making the morally unambiguous choice or do you want to help children? Because those pictures make it many times more likely that those kids will get adopted.

Answer 5

Children ads are all over the place, it hurts my heart.

Some places have even have child auctions where they put children on TV and people call into adopt them.

thumbs down!

Answer 6

children listed on the photolists are kids desperately needing homes. They provide a face to families considering adoption...there are thousands upon thousands whose faces are unseen.

It really humanizes the need to adopt..these are real children.

Answer 7

Absolutely, positively DISGUSTING.  I find it even more disgusting to think  that some of those kids might not even belong in foster care (parents wrongly accused, state keeping kids to make money).

Yeah, I thought it was illegal to post the identity of a minor, especially one in state care.....

Answer 8

I'm sorry.  I can't even look.  I'll take your word for it though.

Yes, this is human adoption in the U.S.  in 2008.

Very scary.

Answer 9

OMG. How sick. I think the only thing missing is an order form!

Answer 10

Yep!  It is the norm.  And it is not OK.

This is why the general public needs to be educated about real adoption issues.

Answer 11

You see this a lot even adoption through Foster Care system which I believe the link the person posted is through. It only even gives the child’s name, age, what gender they are and what race, what sort of disability they have if they have one.  A small biography about the child.  They don’t give the child’s last name or what part of the state /country  the child is in.

Anyone who is not “100% white” is deemed special needs, so are kids who are around 4 ½  - 5 or older.

Answer 12

It IS disgusting

Was there a pricelist also.  Did you know healthy African American kids are described as "special needs"

The whole thing is revolting

Answer 13

Yes, unfortunately it's the norm.  It's like a catalog of merchandise.  Pick out what you like or go elsewhere if you don't see what you're looking for.

Pardon me while I reach for the barf bag.

Answer 14

WOW I can't believe they have them posted on there. Maybe they are just trying to show us that there are real kids that need our help? I found the glossery of terms a little disturbing though. Don't you just wish you could bring them all home? I feel so bad for those children.

Answer 15

Well, after all, you can't decide on one if you don't know what they look like, can you?

The 'glossery of terms' is especially helpful.

ETA:  This is more repulsive than anything  I could ever imagine.  I had no idea this kind of thing is going on.