Adoptioin fees?

Question

With all this talk about prices and fees for adoption being used almost as a cover for the buying a selling of children, then should adoption be free...if not then what can be done when as harsh as it sounds it is about supply and demand.

Answer 1

I know my adoption agency used the majority of my money to take care of my son's birth mother. They paid her apartment rent for several months, they paid for her laundry, cell phone for emergencies, etc...  They helped her get to work and to her doctor's appointments because she didn't have a car. They also set her up with a place to live even after my son was born. The best thing they did was to pay for counseling before and after the adoption. I am sure a lot of agencies are scandalous but mine was great. They took excellant care of my son's birth mother. My son was born 6 months ago and they are still helping to take care of her. They also had a birth mother who didn't end up placing her baby and they still helped her. I think this should be what adoption is all about.

One other thing, my son is biracial. Some agencies discount biracial babies because they are harder to adopt out. My agency refuses to do that because they believe it's degrading to the child. I think this is great as well!

Answer 2

I think that the cost is getting out of control.  I undertstand the reason for costs.  I have seen the breakdown and undertsand the total cost of an adoption and I know that the one lump sum is not for just one recipient.  I know there are many flaws with this system which is why I think the cost is getting out of control, however, I think that the mere fact that money is involved may have some advantages:

1.  Helps reduce illegal baby exchanging. (I call it exchanging for lack of a better word since money would not be involved).

2.  There would be more demand for babies.  You think the demand is high now?  Imagine adopting at no cost.

3.  Helps weed out the adoptive parents that are serious about adopting.  These days with adoption being so costly Adoptive families make this decision with a lot of thought.  It is not a decision made lightly.

4.  Having a no cost adoption may "encourage" more Lawyers to get more involved with "finding matches" and charging a finders fee.  They may not call it a "finders fee", and in some states it is illegal,  but I can assure you it will be called something else!!!

5.  Imagine if adoption was no cost.  The demand would be astronomical therefore encourageing women to have children so they can "sell" them themselves.  Think about it. couples desperate to have children who make a good living might run into a birthmom who is making babies for her own profit (under the table).  If they could afford it and are desperate enough, I can assure you money would change hands!

6.  Adoptions at no cost may also encourage more kidnappings so they can illegally sell the child.  Happens now believe it or not.

Professional and ethical adoptions as they call it now should not be called "baby selling".  It is simply NOT!  Yes you are obtaining a chld for a price, I know that, but babyselling (as I see it) is when women have children purposely knowing they dont want them and then they turn around a sell it to the highest bidder.  Ebay would be overloaded with it.  

A woman contacted me not too long ago asking me for 12k for her baby.  When I asked her what this "fee" is for she simply replied, "my baby".  I advised her that what she is doing is illegal in our country (and most others) and she said that she got pregnant for a woman who has since backed out and now she is stuck with this child.  I told her she cannot charge people for her child.  DO I blieve she didnt know that.....not for a second.  She was either not pregnant and hoping I was without a brain or she did get pregnant and thought she could scam someone that way.  

Sorry, but I think having a "pricetag" on adoption can be beneficial in keeping this "more controlled".  I also feel that the cost is climbing and there should be better regulations on it.  I am not sure if our Government really has a clue (well that can go for a lot of issues) how to approach this situation.  I do hope that with the new election coming that the adoption issue will be discussed.

Answer 3

I am sorry LC, but I think you missed the point.

Answer 4

Are you willing to work for free?  You REALLY should do at least a little bit of research on your own before spouting off with this garbage!  I would like to see a single piece of evidence that a recent adoption has had a single dollar paid for something that is not justified.  And please make sure that it is from a reliable source without a hidden agenda.

The costs of adoption are not a payment for the child, they are payments to the people that arrange the adoption.  Attorneys are not cheap, and there is at least one, and usually two or more associated with each adoption.  There is some money that goes to the birthmother, but those must be itemized and approved as realistic (lost wages, transportation, lodging for a short period of convalescence, etc.) before they are paid.