How do we reduce the "need" (?????) for adoption?

Question

please drown us with your wisdom.

Answer 1

This question is really unanswerable as many women, for one reason or another, are unable to have children. If there is an actual medical reason why a woman cannot have her own child, then adoption is the only way for her to have a child of her own. You ask this question like it is a bad thing, when in actuality, it is a blessing to many, especially some children who might not ever get the chance to have a family, or adults who may never get the chance to be a parent.

Answer 2

In regards to Laurie's question about Australian adoptions:  the single biggest reason the number of babies being given up for adoption is going down is because the mothers get paid such huge amounts by the government these days as single parents.  In fact government handouts are solely responsible for the massive number of sole parent families with 4+ children all with different fathers, mothers are sometimes pulling in $700+ a fortnight plus a pension (approx $350/fortnight)  I personally know 3 women who have had children simply for the government handouts.  Every child born in Australia earns their parent/s over a thousand dollars up front.  Understand, I have nothing against government benefits for those who genuinely need assistance.  I am not saying that all sole parents are rorting the system, far from it!  It is simply a statement of fact that most young women who find themselves pregnant these days have far more incentive to keep their children than to give them up, and quite often there reasons are financial, not because they love or want their child.  A lot of these children are stuck in a cycle of abuse, financial reasons are not the best motivation for keeping a child.  We are raising, here in Australia, a welfare generation, kids who were born to attract welfare payments, whos upkeep was paid for by welfare payments and who are now growing up to repeat the cycle.  This is not an opinion, by the way for all the thumbs downers, this is simply a statement of fact.  The proof is available for anyone to see in every major city in this country.

Answer 3

So far each of the answers you've received has a point that jumps out at me- Laurie's makes me wonder about Australia's rules:  What about the women who become pregnant but simply do not want to parent?  So they are forced to, for at least a month??  And private adoption is illegal??  I have some peace in knowing that I picked the best parents I possibly could to raise my baby,and taking private adoption away would not have allowed that.  

That's not progression to me.

The answer about mandatory birth control is ridiculus.  I was on two types of birth control when I conceived the baby I gave up, as well as when I conceived my daughter.  My sister conceived triplets while on birth control (lost one) and also conceived a daughter 7 years later, while still on birth control.  We are just super fertile.  So... next...

That brings me to the third answer, and what I also thought when I first read your question.  Adoption is not always a bad thing.  There are many happy families out there blessed by adoption, where they would not have become families any other way.  What about them?  For me and the aparents who adopted my baby, it was and remains the best for us all.  Why would there be a 'need to reduce' this?  Reducing the number of adoptions is not the solution to the problems concerning adoption- reform, yes- abolition, no.

Answer 4

I have to agree with Sara.  Increase the "need" for reform and improve the system rather than do away with adoption altogether.  As much as people hate to admit it, in some cases adoption IS necessary.

Answer 5

Mandatory birth control.  People shouldn't be having children out of guilt if they really don't want them, especially if the child was conceived from some thoughtless and careless drunkenness decision.  All teenage girls should be put on some type of mandatory birth control until they graduate either from high school or college, give them  the choice. Men should be considered for this, too. I'm thinking of some type of government implant. I mean, people want implants to let the government to have access to everyplace they go and everywhere they go, why not to stop overpopulation and overcrowding of foster homes.

Answer 6

I am very interested in hearing from the Aussies on this one, as their adoptions have dramatically decreased over the years.  I know they have made many changes regarding adoption procedures.  They do not have pre-birth matching.  Private adoption is illegal.  Women don't make the final decision to relinquish until a month, I believe, after the birth.  

Aussies, if I'm incorrect in this information, please correct me!

Answer 7

Remove the money.  Remove even profit from the Non profit.  

Increase the minimum wage to make it a living wage.  

Make sure that women know that they do have resources.  

Give women support.  Allow them to make their own decisions without coercion.  Make sure that they realize the long term effects of adoption on both adoptees and natural parents

Answer 8

Abolish adoption agencies and private adoptions.

Convert the "houses of shame" of the baby scoop era to housing, day care centers, and parenting education centers for low income families.  Many of the Catholic and Florence Crittenton homes are doing just that.  Those organizations are beginning to make great strides in redeeming themselves for their shameful practices in the 50's, 60's ,and 70's when they physically and emotionally abused young pregnant women and forced them to give their babies away to the unknown.

The cycle can be broken.  I see it every day in the family center that my family supports.  Abortion and adoption are rare because low income families are offered real alternatives.