| There are varying laws and jurisdictions regarding | | | | toddlers or older children. They also seek children of |
| adoption. A closed adoption prevents contact | | | | the same race. So agencies, as a result, seek families |
| between the biological parents and the adopted | | | | who are interested in older children and those with |
| person. An open adoption allows varying degrees of | | | | special needs.The cost to adopt varies between |
| contact however, they are not legally enforceable | | | | countries. Adoption charges are illegal in some |
| and may be closed at any time.If a child's parents are | | | | countries while in others, the adoption must be paid |
| no longer able to adequately care for them or single | | | | on a non-profit basis. Financial assistance is offered |
| motherhood is considered unacceptable, as is the | | | | by many adoption programs. International adoptions |
| case in some countries, then plans for adoption are | | | | include additional costs such as travel expenses and |
| made. Children are also abandoned near an orphanage | | | | legal document translation fees.However, the increase |
| in order to be adopted. Some parents involuntarily | | | | in legalized abortions and single parenthood has |
| lose their rights because of child abuse or neglect due | | | | reduced the number of available children for adoption |
| to alcohol or drug abuse. The child is then placed in | | | | in the Western nations.Many parents and adopted |
| foster care. If the parents cannot resolve the | | | | people have the desire to reunite. This has led to the |
| problems, their parental rights may be terminated by | | | | opening of sealed records in countries where |
| the court and the children may be adopted. Death of | | | | adoption is confidential. For example, in the US, |
| the parents accounts for only a small percentage of | | | | organizations such as the Adoption Reunion Registry |
| orphaned adoptions.For neglected of abused children, | | | | allows adopted children to access their sealed |
| adoption can ensure an opportunity to bond with a | | | | records.There are variations in the traditional adoption |
| new family. In the past, these children were kept in | | | | methods. In Arab cultures, an adopted child is |
| foster care while the birthparents resolved their | | | | considered a ward of the household. The child does |
| issues with addiction, domestic violence, or mental | | | | not receive the adopting parent's family name. |
| illness. The Safe Families Act of 1997 is a law that | | | | In Korea, adoption takes place when another family |
| prevents children from drifting from one foster home | | | | member gives a male child to the first-born male heir |
| to another.When applying to adopt, the potential | | | | of the family. In Asian societies, traditional Western |
| parents may be required to be interviewed and | | | | adoptions occurring outside the family are rare. |
| undergo financial, medical, and criminal record checks. | | | | However, in Africa, the regular exchange of children |
| This can be carried out by either the adoption | | | | among families is common. This form of adoption is |
| agency or by an independent or state authority.Many | | | | meant to create an enduring social structure among |
| parents look to adopt infants more often than | | | | families and lineages. |