Adoption should be considered for
any child who has been permanently separated from his natural parents,
who is or should be made legally free, who needs and can benefit
by family life. No child should be denied a permanent home because
of age, religion, national origin or race. The majority of children
are adoptable and this applies also to children with handicaps. . . .
Community Responsibility for Adoption
“Society in general is concerned with every
adoption and has a responsibility to protect all concerned.”
Joseph H. Reid.
Adoption is still one of the most controversial fields in social
work, though it has become an accepted part of our culture. In order
to extend adoption services to every child who needs them it is
essential that:
(1) there be broader public understanding of the goals and practices
of social agencies.
(2) there be honest self-examination by every community of the
adequacy of its services for unmarried mothers and children in need
of adoption and the strengthening of such services. Community organization
to involve both professional and lay citizens is needed for this
purpose.
Supervision by the State either directly or through social agencies
of every child placed for adoption is a necessary safeguard for
the welfare of children too young to participate in this permanent
decision as to their family life.
Regulation to check unsupervised placement of babies through the
black and grey market is necessary. Such legislation to be effective
must however be accompanied by meeting the need for timely
services to the natural parents, the child and the adoptive parents.
No legislation directed to protecting infants can be effective unless
it is complemented by both adequate and timely services.
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