Where can I find out more about adoption?

Question

Is it the right thing to do?

Answer 1

Adoption is a personal choice that only you can decide what is best for you.  I would highly recommend contacting a local reputable adoption agency for more information about the different types of adoption available in your area and what the requirements are for your state.

Good luck to you if this is what you choose.

Answer 2

What do you want to find out?  

There are a number of people here who occupy all three positions of the "triad."  So this place is a start.  

I would do some reading.  A number of books talk about the experiences of different people affected by adoption.  Of course, since the child is at the center of adoption, books about adoptee experiences are a must.  I would read "The Primal Wound" by Nancy Verrier and "Journey of the Adopted Self" by Betty Jean Lifton.  Those would both be good starts for learning about adoption.

Answer 3

adoption.com, americanadoptions.com, adoptionhelp.com, and lots of other good sites.  Also you can contact your local social services office and they can give you free info and counseling.

Answer 4

I was addoped and that was nice to have a family that cares.

Answer 5

"Is it the right thing to do?"

The subject is way too wide to answer simply - and it would depend if you're coming from a prospective adoptive parent point of view - or that of a possible relinquishing parent point of view.

For me - as an adoptee - in many cases - especially the way it is done in the USA today - I do not think it is the right thing to do.

If a child has the opportunity to grow up with his/her own mother/family - then this should be encouraged & embraced above ALL.

I only really agree with adoption - if it is to adopt a child already in the foster system - a child that truly does NEED a loving family and home to live with.

Otherwise - adoption is usually about separating a mother and a child - changing a child's name to suit the adopters - filing the child's original birth certificate away forever (yes - forever - in most US states) so that the adoptee can NEVER know where they came from & who their bio parents are - too often not allowing the adoptee to know of the family they came from - too often placing the adoptee inbetween two families - FOREVER - instead of allowing the adoptee to love BOTH families - which they are forever tied to.

Too often - adults make choices for children - without thinking of the ramifications to the child once they have grown to adult-hood - and can fully feel the pain of growing up in the family they were not meant to grow in.

And far too often adoptees are told to be grateful for those choices - no matter the outcome.

Adoption should be about the best interests of the child - and being separated from one's family (unless the child is in harm's way) is not - in my humble opinion - the 'right' thing to do.

If it HAS to happen - then it should be done with great compassion and empathy - and reading blogs from adoptees and relinquishing parents is a great way to gain knowledge - which is needed to understand what it is like to really 'live' adoption.

Adoptee blogs -

http://www.adultadoptees.org/forum/index...

First mother blogs -

http://www.adultadoptees.org/forum/index...

Answer 6

http://www.adoptioncrossroads.com

http://www.origins-usa.org

http://www.babyscoopera.com

The Primal Wound by Nancy Verrier

Answer 7

Check out the web site www.informedadoptions.com

Answer 8

Wow. The subject is so vast that it covers volumes. Here are some online places to get you started:  www.davethomasfoundationforadoption.org

www.adoptioninstitute.org

www.childwelfare.gov/adoption/index.cf...

http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~adoption/

The last one is a really good place to start I think, gives a good historic overview.