The Process of Adoption and the Need for Change Essay -- Exploratory E

"I am a 31 yr. old adoptee, I was adopted at birth it was prearranged prior to my birth, my sister who is 3 yrs younger also a prearranged adoption at birth...actually we were picked up by our adopted parents around six to nine weeks but my understanding is I was never with my birth mother I was either in the hospital or at the agency until they came to get us" ("Open Adoption"). Adoption is the process by which people take a child who was not born to them and raise them as a member of their family (Fanshel). Adoption is sometimes used as an easy way to get out of a pregnancy or raising a child. It is a very emotional process that people sometimes spend their whole lives trying to figure more information about the event. Other times it can be used to help the parents who would love to have kids, but are not able. In many cases, this does happen, but doesn't the adoption process need to be a little more difficult? When putting up a child for adoption, there is paper work and money issues and same with adopting a child. Money and paperwork should not be the reason why we have so many children in foster homes, and so many parents who aren't approved to adopt. When putting a child up for adoption, the parent must go through extensive requirement checks that prove to the adoption agencies that the mother can not handle the baby and need to look into adoption ("Wha t is Adoption?"). When adopting a baby, the parents need to be approved, but why are there charges for wanting to take in a kid that would otherwise be forced to live in a foster home? In simpler terms, the process of adoption should be reversed, putting up a baby for adoption and adopting a child. Adoption is a very scary process that many people at all ages might g... ...he World Book Encyclopedia. 1986. Volume 1 Gloria Hochman and Anna Huston "Open Adoption."1993. Adopt. 18 Mar. 2004<http://wwwadopting. org/open1.html>. "Open Adoption". Adoption Forums.com. 8 Apr. 2004 <http://forums.adoption.com/t95498.html>. Pertman, Adam. Adoption Nation. United States-Basic Books, 2000. Stone, Helen. "Foster Parent." The World Book Encyclopedia. 1986. Volume 7 "What is adoption?" Adoption Services. 8 Apr. 2004 <http://wwangelfire.com/mb2/niicca/home/ adoption_services.html>. "What is adoption?". Adoption Story.. 18 Mar. 2004 <http://www.5rocks.com/Adopting/thestory01_what.htm>. "What is adoption?" Family Help Tree.com. 8 Apr. 2004 <http://www.familyhelptree.com/pages/family/family-adoption.htm>. "What is going on with China?" Rainbow Kids.com. 8 Apr. 2004 <http://www.rainbowkids.com/china1196.html>.