International Adoption Offers Advantages and Disadvantages
Tammy Joiner
CFS 157, 6:00 PM
2 May 2012
International Adoption Offers Advantages and Disadvantages
In April of 2010, an American single mother, Torry Hansen, put her foreign-adopted seven-year-old son on a plane back to Moscow—alone. She cited psychological and behavior issues as the reason for such a drastic measure, “After giving my best to this child, I am sorry to say that for the safety of my family, friends, and myself, I no longer wish to parent this child,” read the note accompanying the frightened Artyem Saviliev to the Russian Education of Ministries (Magee and Netter 2). Intercountry or international adoption is the process of establishing a permanent parent-child relationship with a child from another country through proper and legal channels (Intercountry Adoption). More Americans are opting for this means of adoption, some due to infertility but largely due to the media and celebrities bringing awareness to the mistreatment of children in foreign lands (Knox and Schacht 326-327). Although adopting abroad can be very rewarding for prospective parents, it can often result in startling challenges.
Fulfilling Advantages
There are several benefits to international adoption. Around the world there are numerous orphaned children available to hopeful mothers and fathers. The U.S Department of State, Offices of Children’s Issues—Intercountry Adoption reports in 2011 there were over 9,300 foreign adoptions in the United States most of which were from China, Ethiopia, Russia, South Korea, and the Ukraine, respectively. With this type of adoption, parents have the option of selecting their preferences when it comes to the age (especially infants), gender, and nationality of the child. Transcontinental adoptions are usually handled by an adoption agency, the country’s adoption committee, or thorough an in-country visit (“Pros & Cons of…”).
Another advantage and possibly the most important is the opportunity to give a disadvantaged child a happy
CFS 157, 6:00 PM
2 May 2012
International Adoption Offers Advantages and Disadvantages
In April of 2010, an American single mother, Torry Hansen, put her foreign-adopted seven-year-old son on a plane back to Moscow—alone. She cited psychological and behavior issues as the reason for such a drastic measure, “After giving my best to this child, I am sorry to say that for the safety of my family, friends, and myself, I no longer wish to parent this child,” read the note accompanying the frightened Artyem Saviliev to the Russian Education of Ministries (Magee and Netter 2). Intercountry or international adoption is the process of establishing a permanent parent-child relationship with a child from another country through proper and legal channels (Intercountry Adoption). More Americans are opting for this means of adoption, some due to infertility but largely due to the media and celebrities bringing awareness to the mistreatment of children in foreign lands (Knox and Schacht 326-327). Although adopting abroad can be very rewarding for prospective parents, it can often result in startling challenges.
Fulfilling Advantages
There are several benefits to international adoption. Around the world there are numerous orphaned children available to hopeful mothers and fathers. The U.S Department of State, Offices of Children’s Issues—Intercountry Adoption reports in 2011 there were over 9,300 foreign adoptions in the United States most of which were from China, Ethiopia, Russia, South Korea, and the Ukraine, respectively. With this type of adoption, parents have the option of selecting their preferences when it comes to the age (especially infants), gender, and nationality of the child. Transcontinental adoptions are usually handled by an adoption agency, the country’s adoption committee, or thorough an in-country visit (“Pros & Cons of…”).
Another advantage and possibly the most important is the opportunity to give a disadvantaged child a happy
Cited: Detroit: Gale. 2010. N.p. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 13 Apr Cengage Learning. 2010. Print Magee, Zoe and Sarah Netter Moscow Alone”. ABCNews Dot Com. 9 Apr. 2010. Pag. 1-3 www.abcnews.go.com. Web. 22 Apr. 2012 “Pros & Cons of International Adoption.” Adoption Media LLC www.international.adoption.com. Web. 13 Apr. 2012 Ruggiero, Josephine A State’s Care.” Child Custody. Detroit: Greenhaven Press. 2011. N.p. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. From “When Adoption Isn’t Easy.” Newsweek. 15 Apr. 2010. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 13 Apr. 2012.