international adoption

Adoption is the legal act that severs the parental responsibilities and rights of birth parents and establishes those responsibilities and rights for the adoptive parents. Throughout much of history, adoption served to meet the needs of the adoptive parents and not those of the child. Before the Industrial Revolution, children were valued for the productivity they could add to the household. As the structure of the American family changed in the 19th century, so did adoption. Families became more child-oriented and the needs of the adoptee became the primary focus in adoptions. However, there are many controversial issues concerning adoption. Some anti-adoption groups charge that birth mothers are often exploited or coerced into surrendering their children for adoption, while others think open adoption is a solution that can preserve a relationship between the biological and adoptive families. Although some adoptees and biological parents want laws that will open adoption records and provide access to birth certificates for adult adoptees, others want to preserve confidentiality. As more children are adopted internationally, advocates stress the need for government regulation of the agencies that arrange for intercountry adoptions. Some people think that parents should adopt children of the same race, while others believe only two-parent families should adopt. Adoption by gay men and lesbians is another issue that is widely debated because some people think it is harmful for children to be raised by homosexual parents. see terms to know"The days of China sending 7,000 kids into the United States are long gone.... [C]ountries are making it harder to adopt these children."--Chuck Johnson, Vice President for Training and Agency Services, National Council For Adoption
To Adopt, Please Press Hold

"Lack of regulation and oversight, particularly in the countries of origin, coupled with the potential for financial gain, has spurred the growth of an industry around