Could some of you give me some facts about the adoption process in america?

Question

I do alot of reasearch work for my social worker that involved me traveling to london to try and get adoption introduced into schools (hence the discussion about adoption in schools.) I would like to know about american adoptions. Just curious. thanks

Answer 1

It takes a really long time. You have to get a criminal check and you have to be visited many times over a period of months by a social worker.  You have to get a psych evaluation, and your work history is carefully checked.  They check out your friends and family members very carefully.  However... fair or not... if you are willing to take an older child, a troubled child, a minority child, or one with severe mental or physical handicaps, they shortcut the process a lot, doing just the minimal checks.  To adopt a newborn baby takes 4-5 years in most cases.

Answer 2

when somebody gets knocked up and they dont want there baby they give it to people who want the baby (or money form the gov.)

just watch the movie juno

Answer 3

Heather is right, adoption in North America is big business-- demand far outstrips supply.  The last statistic I heard was 90:1 (90 couples per one baby), so this has created a feeding frenzy.

While there are plenty of children in foster care, the holy grail remains the 'healthy infant' that's most desired.  With few infants available for adoption,  many Americans & Canadians go to other countries to adopt.

There hace been so many problems with adoptions in Guatemala (the #1 exporter of their children) for example,  babies are being stolen from their familes, and bought from very poor, desparate familes. A newly discovered supply chain is 'baby farming' (girls impregnated for the sole purpose of delevering product to agencies) for eager adopters waiting to pay for their little 'miracle'.

This is what endless, hungry demand, with little or no regulation has created.  Privledged, infertile adopters stimulating a growth industy of humans in a poor country with little or no birth control available.

In this country it is illegal to buy a kidney, but you CAN by a child.  Go figure.

Answer 4

Gershom,

Abstinence Only programs in this country are not working.  There has been a rise is STD's and teen pregnancy since the federally funded program began..  Get a grip and realize that no matter what you say to these kids, their hormones are screaming at them.  First, teach them about s*x including all the dangers.  Then, teach them it's best to wait.  Finally, teach them that if they don't wait to be protected.

Answer 5

what kind of facts are you looking for? and why on earth would you introduce ADOPTION into SCHOOLS??? are you working for the govt.?

why not introduce, a family focused program that encourages parenting and pursuit of education. Ending the myth that its not possible to do both.

why not introduce an abstinence program?

just separation ?

Answer 6

Adoption in the US is not as "horrible" as many people would like you to believe.  Yes, there are some sad stories regarding adoption, but there are also some very joyous stories about adoption.  In every aspect of life, there are going to be things that are seen as "good" to some and "bad" to others.  Adoption is the same way.

For us, adoption has been a blessing in many ways.  I think speaking about adoption in schools has a positive impact on teaching children that there is nothing wrong or different about children who were adopted.  It helps to remove a "stigma" that many adoptees may feel gets labeled onto them.  I feel that by teaching children tolerance of others at an early age, we can make this world a much better place.

I wish I knew what types of "facts" you were looking for.  Please feel free to email me thru my profile if I can be of any assistance.

Answer 7

No, adoption is not "horrible" if you are not the one who's rights are being trampled with sealed records, discrimination, coercive tactics, and one-sided (and often misleading) "counseling" that offers only ONE "solution" - adoption.

Usually the people who call adoption a "miracle" are the ones who are benefitting...the adopters who's dreams of becoming a parent are fulfilled.  

But when adoptees start asking for a few more rights in the process, we are beat down at every turn.  Nobody wants to listen, we are labeled as "bitter" (sound familiar Sarah?), angry, maladjusted, the list goes on.

And why should we not want access to our own records?  Why should we sit silently and allow others to dictate what is in OUR best interests for us?  

NOBODY is entitled to another person's child for ANY reason.  But the US's adoption program has people thinking just that...that infertility, money, privilege all add up to being "entitled" to taking the children from the poor, the single, the young, from anyone who is deemed "unfit".  And once grown, these adoptees are treated as second-class citizens, we are seen as suspect, capable of "doing harm", when all we want are our RIGHTS.

You want bitter?  Try living your life under that label for a while, I've had 34 years of it, and I'm getting rather sick and tired of it all.

Answer 8

really long process, really long

Answer 9

There's money involved and profits being made off the backs of babes.

It's obvious that it's a 'business' and people have no business making babies a commodity

The marketing strategies money-making agencies use are coercive and not in the best interest of mother or child.    The American adoption industry is in the business of providing babies to paying customers; who are often impatient and demanding (of course, 'cos they're paying).  They have strategies of persuading and 'counselling' mothers into relinquishment and guiding them away from other options

People are legally allowed to solicit babies on the internet in newspaper ads

The UK does not permit private adoption for the very reason that it is unethical, coercive by it's very nature and, of course, prone to corruption like anything that involves money.

Adoptees birth certificates are sealed and unaccessable to the very people they belong to (yes, even in so-called 'open' adoption)

If you would really like to lear about the American Adoption Industry and the urgent need for reform read here:

http://www.nationalinfantadoptionreforma...