| Adoption occurs when a person takes full | | | | environment. |
| parental custody of a child that is not | | | | |
| naturally theirs. The natural parent(s) give | | | | Another reason many people choose to adopt is |
| the adoptive parents full rights and | | | | out of the goodness of their own hearts. Many |
| responsibilities of the child(ren) and | | | | people who have children or have the ability |
| relinquishes all rights of their own. There | | | | to have children naturally still seek |
| are a variety of circumstances that may have | | | | adoption because there is such a need for |
| occurred and the child was placed for | | | | adoptive parents in the world. |
| adoption either privately or through an | | | | |
| agency. A natural parent may wish to give | | | | What are the different practices of adoption? |
| their child a better life than what they feel | | | | |
| they can provide them. The death of the | | | | There are three general categories of |
| natural parent(s) may also create the need | | | | adoption, private adoption, public adoption |
| for adoption either by family members or by | | | | and international adoption. Private adoption |
| an adoptive parent. | | | | occurs when the natural parent decides to |
| | | | place their child up for adoption, however, |
| Whatever the reason for the adoption, the | | | | they want the choice of who the adoptive |
| adoptee becomes the legal child of the | | | | parents are. Typically, the adoptive parents |
| adoptive parents. There is no real difference | | | | place an advertisement and the natural parent |
| between a child who lives with his or her | | | | will respond. This type of adoption generally |
| biological parents or with adoptive parents. | | | | includes the adoptive parents taking care of |
| When adoption occurs the adoptive parents | | | | all costs and possibly the medical costs |
| assumes all rights and responsibilities when | | | | associated with the birth of the child. |
| it comes to the care and well-being of the | | | | |
| child(ren) | | | | A public adoption is performed through an |
| | | | agency. In general, older children and those |
| Why do people adopt? | | | | with disabilities are placed with a public |
| | | | adoption agency. These children very often |
| The reasons people choose adoption vary a | | | | have some emotional, physical, or mental |
| great deal. Some people may choose to adopt | | | | disorders that will need attention. |
| because they cannot conceive a child of their | | | | |
| own with either natural or medical methods. | | | | An international adoption takes place outside |
| This is probably the most common reason that | | | | of the country where the adoptive parents |
| a couple chooses to adopt a child. Some older | | | | live. Many people are choosing this type of |
| couples will seek adoption after their own | | | | adoption more and more. While it is a little |
| natural children have left home because they | | | | more expensive and requires a lot of extra |
| loved raising children and want to help | | | | work, the adoption of an international child |
| another child. Couples that are gay or | | | | is a loving choice. Many of these children do |
| lesbian also choose adoption because having | | | | not have enough food to eat, medical |
| their own child naturally is not a | | | | attention or families for one reason or |
| possibility, yet they long to have a child | | | | another. |
| and raise them together in a loving | | | | |