Jerry Regier Child Adoption

Jerry Regier
Adoption occurs when a person takes full parental custody of a child that is not naturally theirs. The natural parent(s) give the adoptive parents full rights and responsibilities of the child(ren) and relinquishes all rights of their own. There are a variety of circumstances that may have occurred and the child was placed for adoption either privately or through an agency. A natural parent may wish to give their child a better life than what they feel they can provide them. The death of the natural parent(s) may also create the need for adoption either by family members or by an adoptive parent.

Whatever the reason for the adoption, the adoptee becomes the legal child of the adoptive parents. There is no real difference between a child who lives with his or her biological parents or with adoptive parents. When adoption occurs the adoptive parents assumes all rights and responsibilities when it comes to the care and well-being of the child(ren)

Why do people adopt?

The reasons people choose adoption vary a great deal. Some people may choose to adopt because they cannot conceive a child of their own with either natural or medical methods. This is probably the most common reason that a couple chooses to adopt a child. Some older couples will seek adoption after their own natural children have left home because they loved raising children and want to help another child.

Another reason many people choose to adopt is out of the goodness of their own hearts. Many people who have children or have the ability to have children naturally still seek adoption because there is such a need for adoptive parents in the world.
Jerry Regier
What are the different practices of adoption?

There are three general categories of adoption, private adoption, public adoption and international adoption.

Private adoption occurs when the natural parent decides to place their child up for adoption, however, they want the choice of who the adoptive parents are. Typically, the adoptive parents place an advertisement and the natural parent will respond. This type of adoption generally includes the adoptive parents taking care of all costs and possibly the medical costs associated with the birth of the child.

Jerry Regier

A public adoption is performed through an agency. In general, older children and those with disabilities are placed with a public adoption agency. These children very often have some emotional, physical, or mental disorders that will need attention.

An international adoption takes place outside of the country where the adoptive parents live. Many people are choosing this type of adoption more and more. While it is a little more expensive and requires a lot of extra work, the adoption of an international child is a loving choice. Many of these children do not have enough food to eat, medical attention or families for one reason or another.
Article Author: Heather Colman

Jerry Regier
There are varying laws and jurisdictions regarding adoption. A closed adoption prevents contact between the biological parents and the adopted person. An open adoption allows varying degrees of contact although they are not legally enforceable and may be closed at any time.

If a child’s parents are no longer able to adequately care for them then plans for adoption are made. Some children are also abandoned near an orphanage in order to be adopted. Some parents involuntarily lose their rights because of child abuse or neglect due to alcohol or drug abuse. The child is then placed in foster care. If the parents cannot resolve the problems, their parental rights may be terminated by the court and the children may be adopted. Death of the parents accounts for only a small percentage of orphaned adoptions.For neglected or abused children, adoption can ensure an opportunity to bond with a new family. In the past, these children were kept in foster care while the birthparents resolved their issues with addiction, domestic violence, or mental illness. The Safe Families Act of 1997 is a law that attempts to prevent children from drifting from one foster home to another.

When applying to adopt, the potential parents may be required to be interviewed and undergo financial, medical, and criminal record checks. This can be carried out by either the adoption agency or by an independent or state authority.

Many parents look to adopt infants more often than toddlers or older children. They also seek children of the same race. So agencies, as a result, seek families who are interested in older children and those with special needs.

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The cost to adopt varies between countries. Adoption charges are illegal in some countries while in others, the adoption must be paid on a non-profit basis. Financial assistance is offered by many adoption programs. International adoptions include additional costs such as travel expenses and legal document translation fees.

Many parents and adopted people have the desire to reunite. This has led to the opening of sealed records in countries where adoption is confidential. For example, in the US, organizations such as the Adoption Reunion Registry allows adopted children to access their sealed records.

There are variations in the traditional adoption methods. In Arab cultures, an adopted child is considered a ward of the household. The child does not receive the adopting parent’s family name. In Korea, adoption takes place when another family member gives a male child to the first-born male heir of the family. In Asian societies, traditional Western adoptions occurring outside the family are rare. However, in Africa, the regular exchange of children among families is common and in this culture this form of adoption is meant to create an enduring social structure among families and lineages.

Article Author: Michael Russell