Adoption Reform question?

Question

Aside from the open access of birth records, what are some other areas in adoption could use some reforming and what are your solutions to these problems?

I would like to keep this discussion separate from foster care and limit it to adoptions (or foster adoptions).

Thanks.

Answer 1

Legally enforced open adoptions

Answer 2

I really like esquire's answer.

Birth fathers should have all of the rights that birth mothers have.  In addition, they should be required to provide answers to a basic medical questionnaire, and swear before a court representative that the answers are true to the extent of his knowledge.

I have a decent amount of medical information about my child's birthmom, but almost nothing about the father (who wanted nothing to do with the child).

Answer 3

Independent counseling for perspective first mothers.

enforceable open adoptions.

non-profit adoptions

better physiological back ground checks for paps

better education for paps

Answer 4

Mandatory education for PAP's that includes (somehow) what it feels like to be an adoptee.  There are a lot of good books out there that talk about life from the adoptee's perspective that really need to be included in the education people receive before they bring home someone else's child to raise.

Answer 5

Something must be done about the Putative Father registries and the legality of state jumping to deny fathers their parental rights.  

I say to do away with these registries altogether.  Fathers shouldn't have to register in every state with a registry, just in order to have a right to say what happens with their children.  Their parental rights should be a given in EVERY state, until they have actually signed the papers relinquishing those rights or had them terminated by a court for an legitimate reason.

It should be illegal across the board for a mother to fly to another state to deliver just to avoid having to get the father's permission to relinquish the baby for adoption.  This practice has been allowed to go on for too long, it's abhorrent and the agencies (LDS family services to name one of the biggest offenders) should be brought up on charges.  They have ruined too many lives.

Answer 6

I would like to see more reform with regards to education of Adoption Agency Employees, including State Foster Care Case Workers.  I believe that the money involved with the States as a "bonus" for finding permanent homes for foster children should be removed also.  We had a State Case Worker for NJ Foster Care tell us that our son was a "hot commodity because he was a Caucasian infant".  That would not have been said had the state not been receiving additional bonus funds for moving him from foster care to a permanent adoption that they chose (rather than the bio family choosing a private adoption).

Answer 7

This man has some interesting and curious suggestions I've been thinking about lately:

http://poundpuplegacy.org/node/14894

Answer 8

not sure

Answer 9

medical histories that are truthful.

"the paperwork" that comes with adoptees to be truthful.

the reason given for the child being relinquished to be truthful.

Answer 10

I would like to see post adoption contact contracts made enforceable.

They should include whatever the parents (both sets) find agreeable as a minimum amount of contact.  This could be anything from pictures and letters once a year to weekly visits.

You should not be able to go below that minimum contact without BOTH PARTIES agreeing to change the contract.  (Might involve going to mediation or court to change the contract.)

Penalties could involve anything from fines to removal of the child, and should be graduated.. fines for a first offense, supervision as in a divorce case for later offenses, removal for chronic offending.

Answer 11

No more profit in adoption - which means no more for-profit agencies, no more independent "facilitators" and true not-for-profit status required.   States would only license agencies who could show they met maximum (as in "can't go over a certain amount") income/bonus requirements for employees.

Transparency in the process.  All parties (the entire triad) have the right to ALL of the information.  No more secrets - no hiding of "disturbing" or "unpleasant" facts.

PAPS would have more education requirements - be required to read books from the perspective of adult adoptees and birthmothers.  (In domestic adoption - foster and international PAPs now have quite a bit of training they are required to watch/attend - but it's all about meeting the needs of the child now, not what this might mean to the child when they are grown)