Child Adoption Is a Process Term Paper

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Gradually, there are lesser desired adoptive kids as society have come to accept single mother who parent their children compared to earlier. The disgrace of giving birth to a child outside marriage has lowered and hence, the bulk of single moms prefer to have their kids with them in place of "relinquishing them" for being adopted. Besides, thanks to advanced technology, "birth control" pills are instantly accessible to the fertile populace, and, as abortion has been legalized, a pregnancy which is unplanned could be stopped. A new dimension to the problem has emerged because of the decrease in the supply of desirable adoptable infants and the rising infertility among Americans. (Infant Adoption is Big Business in America)

It is anticipated that out of every six couples, one couple has problems in conceiving and total infertile couples may number 5.3 million. A lot of adopters who are presently desirous of adoption had postponed child bearing with a view to further their careers, and sometime later, when they ultimately were desirous of conceiving, they discovered to their utter dismay that time has run out for them and they have become infertile. Poverty stricken women are particularly susceptible to the high pressurized strategies of the adoption industry. In the absence of resources and support, they have no other way but to think that their level of sacrifice truly would be of use to their kids. Hardly ever they have the knowledge regarding the long consequences which they a well as their kids are going to face because of the being separated. (Infant Adoption is Big Business in America)

3. What kinds of organizations are involved in this business?

The business of adoption runs through a myriad of adoption agency organizations and individuals. It is not difficult to notice that free enterprise in America has been a hotbed for adoption scams, exploitation and coercions as infant adoptions has come to be a multi-million dollar privatized, entrepreneurial industry. The hodgepodge of legal strictures which differ from one state to another build an arena for dishonest attorneys with some working in conjunction with facilitators, procurers, or "match-makers" giving advertisements to attract those in crisis. There have been reports that because of the handiwork of unethical adoption attorneys of the likes of Maxine Buckmeier, Seymour Kurtz and others, they have become adept of taking advantage of legal shortcomings to their advantage. They start their business in a particular state, release advertisement in another, dispatch would-be mothers in another state and make finalization of the adoption in yet another state. Their modus operandi has been to isolate expectant mothers from their families and make a dependent bond with them through prospective adopters pay for their living and medical expenditures and almost hold them hostage, blackmailing them to surrender or pay back those expenses. (Adoption: The Child Commodities Market is Big Business)

In the opinion of Ann Babb, writer of 'Ethics in American Adoption' no professional association are there, or any academics, certification, licensing procedures, professional recognition as adoption specialists, and no training or educational qualifications. Adoption professionals have not yet shaped any uniform ethical standards or prepared any significant endeavors so as to monitor their own profession. Normally it is observed in other professions and occupations, licensing or certifications in a special subject is mandatory prior to offering his services in an area. For example, a Doctor will not offer any services outside the realm of his profession, but it is strange that individuals with professions as diverse as social work and law, marriage and family therapy, and with medical background are permitted to brand themselves as 'adoption professionals'. (Adoption: The Child Commodities Market is Big Business)

The changing dynamics of adoption over the years has been from adoption being regarded as a private matter to now most often being known as the "adoption triad." Usually, agencies dealing with adoption have licenses available from the State where they are situated and these agencies might be categorized either as 'private' or 'public'. "Public agencies are normally non-profit organizations who are affiliated with a government agency and private agencies might be privately owned and run business or may be affiliated with a religious or other social service organization. Besides, private agencies might be either for-profit or non-profit entities. For public as well as private agencies, state licensed social workers assist birthparents and adoptive families in the process of adoption." (Information on adoption agencies, private, and facilitators) Over the years, adoption facilitators have joined the fray and now comprise a growing tribe in the adoption community.
In majority of the cases, adoption facilitators happen to be adoptive parents themselves who assume the responsibility of assisting others to adopt. However, facilitators, "unlike an adoption attorney or agency, are not trained in the sphere of adoption, but are self-educated. In majority of the cases, facilitators are not licensed or their activities regulated and they do not come under the control of any State or any federal agency." (Information on adoption agencies, private, and facilitators)

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4. Who gets the profit if there is one?

Profits are shared by the various players in the game of adoption business. Children as also their mothers are being exploited on a wide level by the adoption industry in this present era. Adoption professionals more often than not employ coercive tactics to buy infants. Majority of the adoption providers who state to provide counseling which is unbiased to possible biological mothers often focus on amount received from the adoptive parents in order to provide support to their businesses. The coercive characteristics of these types of services are a grim reminder to state "that the system is fueled by the adoptive parents, the paying clients to whom the various agencies as also attorneys provide their service." (Infant Adoption is Big Business in America) Uncontrolled and dishonest facilitators use pressure tactics or simply "bribe the poor as also single women across the world to surrender their babies." (Infant Adoption is Big Business in America)

Innumerable amount of travel annually by the citizens of U.S. abroad to have children with thousand of dollars, since they have decided they want a child above anything else. There are some agencies who engage the services of "bounty hunters to look for babies for adoption, dishing out as much as $10,000 per find, which is considered huge money in the poor regions of the world." (Infant Adoption is Big Business in America) the booty is also shared by child stealers which another angle to the booming adoption business. The baby stealers target are the "poor single mothers who are mostly being isolated from their families as well as support systems and comb poverty stricken neighborhoods in search of pregnant women, most often posing to look after them." (Infant Adoption is Big Business in America) Besides, babies of prostitutes are also sold off by the brothel owners to minimize the downtime of the pregnant ladies. Housewives belonging to middle and upper classes hire the services of would-be mothers as being servants, enable to organize adoption and corner the brokerage fees. (Infant Adoption is Big Business in America)

5) What kind of problems is this business having?

With growing awareness of the nexus between the brokers, adoption professionals and adopting parents; this has impacted the adoption business in more ways than one. Besides, there has been demand from all quarters that the Federal Government must regulate adoption. In its nascent stages, the public perceived adoption to be a "philanthropic, benevolent" endeavor undertaken by "charitable" institutions who donate their services to guarantee improved conditions for the poor and orphans. (Why the Federal Government Must Regulate Adoption) the federal government has adopted tightening measures with regard to "foster care." Further the reality is a strong arguing level for speedy intervention of the federal government in adoption which involves fees. Providing the power of regulation to the state governments, the clients of adoption providing services are now virtually susceptible to corrupt service "providers" efficiently protected by far flung distances from being accountable. (Why the Federal Government Must Regulate Adoption)

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Adoption has since tended to be an industry with stakes in multi-million dollars with some providers garnering revenues close to $15 million every year. Because of the demand for healthy infants far outstripping supply, kids in the U.S. are practically sold away to the person who bids the highest, sometimes to individuals who are not U.S. citizens and are residing in other nations. With the murky side of the adoption slowly surfacing, the business of adoption is faced with problems. Testimony from birthparents, adoptive parents are being taken. These witnesses narrate blow by blow account of touching stories that describes a series of unethical as well as deceiving practices of business, inclusive of kidnapping, by agencies who are dealing in adoption. The accusations are inclusive of the theft as well as selling of children from their biological parents who were badly desirous of keeping their babies with them. There have even been instances where infants….....

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