What exactly is adoption? It is defined as the legal process by which a child becomes a lawful member of a family different from his birth family. Once an adoption is finalized, it gives the adoptive parents the same legal rights and responsibilities as biological parents. It also gives the adopted child the same legal rights in regards to inheritance, child support and other legal issues. One of the major reasons a couple considers adoption is the fact that they are unable to conceive a child on their own. Infertility is not the only reason a couple considers adoption. A child in need of a family also bears heavily on a couple’s decision. No matter how a family is started, a family is forever! One of the very first steps any couple should take before beginning their adoption journey is to decide which type of adoption best suits them. There are many factors to consider when choosing adoption. There are three primary ways to adopt in the United States: foster care adoption, private domestic adoption and international adoption. Adopting a child can be a very rewarding experience for both the child and the adoptive family.
Foster care adoptions occur when children have been placed under the care of child protective services. These children are removed from their birth families due to abuse or neglect. Usually, foster care adoptions involve older children. According to the most current Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS), there were approximately 423,773 children in the United States in foster care on September 30, 2009. Because of the abuse and neglect issues, a family needs to be educated about the issues that the child has faced. Finding out about these issues and getting valuable resources can help the adoptive family deal with them better. This will help assure that the welfare of the child is put first.
If a family wants to adopt a child and are flexible about the age and...