Adoption is a process whereby a person seeks the parenting of another from that person's legal parents and as such acquires all rights and responsibilities along with filiations from the biological parents of that person. Persons under the age of eighteen are the likely subjects of adoption. Adoptionis different from other forms of child care such as fostering because it is intended to have a permanent effect on the lives of both the child and the adoptive parents. It gives them status and societal recognition. Adoption was done through legal or religious means (Karyn B. Purvis, 2007). However, this is not the case anymore. For adoption to be binding upon both parties, it has to be legally recognized, in that one has to follow the procedure provided by the state for such a relationship to be recognized and be given the status it requires.
Adoption can occur within family members or unrelated individuals. It is perfectly normal to see members with familial affiliations adopting their own. This may be due to the death of the child’s biological parents. When a child is orphaned, family members may feel mandated to adopt this certain child and assume the responsibilities and rights that were enjoyed by the child’s biological parents before their demise. This ensures that the child is sufficiently taken care of by its new adoptive parents. Adoption may be a necessary option when a couple is infertile. This makes it tough for the couple to bear their kids. However, the law and religion comes to their aid and provides a way of having a child that is legally regarded as their own. Mostly impoverished people adopt children that are not related to anyone of them. In fact, there is a lot of international adoptions happening in Canada.
There is a crisis in child welfare in Canada. The lack of permanency continues to affect the lives of those children. Children are transferred from one foster house to another or one group house to another. The idea of maintaining one place is difficult to accomplish. Children are on the move on a daily basis, and nothing is being done about the situation. This subjects the children and the youth in these homes to mental health issues. Children in this program are more prone to suffer from mental disorder than the general public are. It is disturbing to have a young child of seven years live in ten different foster homes or group homes. Children who have the government as their parent end up being damaged by it no matter how good the government’s intentions were. This continuous movement from one foster home to another or one group home to another does not afford the Canadian child any stability and security. Adapting becomes difficult, and thus, you will find most of these involved in criminal activities. They end up be put in juvenile detention.
Children and the youth who have attained the age of the majority and find themselves without help and support from people, often tend to drop out of school, become single parents or even become homeless. This is the trend in Canada. Within two to four years the child leaving foster care, most of the youths without a permanent connection to a family are said to not complete their high school education. This increases the rates of unemployment in the youth. As a result, some of them engage in criminal activities. This is the only sure way that they can fend for themselves. As a result, they end up being arrested and spending their lives as criminal behind bars. It is reported that there were about 15,000 violent crime juvenile cases and 50,000 property crime juvenile cases in the year 2013. As much as the rates have reduced, this number is still alarming.
Currently, it is easier for a Canadian citizen to adopt internationally that it is for him or her to adopt a child in another district. Some provinces prefer to have kids in foster care than to provide then with a permanent home from a different region. If the government can remove these barriers, it would be a lot easier for the children and parents looking to adopt children in need.
Statistically between the years 1999 and 2009, approximately 21,000 children were internationally adopted. Out of this, it is said that about 8000 were from China. In the year 2009, China accounted for 22% of all the international adoptions. Other countries from which children were adopted included the united states of America(12%), Ethiopia and Vietnam(each 8%) and Vietnam which accounted for 7%.Canada adopted 2127 children from abroad in 2009, continuing the trend
Adoption in Canada is currently not transparent. Both the adoptive parents and birth parents do not take part in the decision-making process and are eventually left it the dark when it comes to adoption matters. It is not clear who makes these decisions. The Canadian government needs to be more transparent and ensure that all children acquire the opportunity to have a permanent family.
In addition to the positive side of the adoptive families, it is also correct to say that they are faced with particular challenges. No family is perfect, be it the biological or an adoptive family. Children in adoptive families experience trauma. This condition is not common to biological families. Children from foster homes are mostly damaged, and, thus, this brings some challenges to their adoptive families. This trauma goes on for long and thus this proves to be a bit challenging for the adoptive families that the biological families.
Bonding with the children proves to be a bit of a conundrum. The challenges are when parents openly show that these kids are not their own. This brings a lot of friction to the families. The children may be unable to accept the families that have chosen to adopt them. This brings a lot of challenges to the adopted family.
Discussing the adoption of the child could be a daunting experience for the both the child and the parent. (Schuette, 2010)Parents worry about when and how to start talking about adoption with their child and how the child will deal with the information.
Anger and aggression during adolescence are an enormous challenge for adoptive families. Some of these kids escape from their adoptive families. It catches the adoptive parents unawares as most of them do not know what to do with the aggression.
There are certain community agencies and organization that support adoption and the notion of having adoptive families (Nelson-Erichsen, 2007). For instance, the ministry of children and youth services in Ontario has shown its full support for the adoption process. They have a goal to help more children find permanent homes. One is advised to contact them when one if faced with adoption issues. Their offices are located in MacDonald block. 900 bay street in Toronto.
There is the Adoption Council of Canada. It is the umbrella organization for adoption in Canada based in Ottawa. The organization raises public awareness of adoption, promotes the placement of waiting for children and youth and stresses the importance of post-adoption services. These services include adoption referrals, resources education, and, support. The organization is located in 416-2249 Carling Ave. Ottawa, Ontario. One can contact them using their official email, .
Choices Adoption and Counseling is another organization that supports adoption in Canada. Choices is a licensed, non-profit, non-sectarian concealing and adoption agency that provide services to expectant mothers, birth parents, adoptees and adoptive parents. They provide a full spectrum of adoption services, including adoption reunion counseling. One can get in touch with them through this email address, .
FSGV is an adoption agency situated in Vancouver in Canada. It offers adoption services and counseling for both birth parents and adoptive parents considering adoption as an option. They offer free monthly adoption information services to those interested in adoption in and out of Vancouver. Their offices are located in 301 - 1638 East Broadway Vancouver, BC Canada V5N 1W1.
Christian Adoption Services is an organization that seeks to unite children with adoptive parents. Their goal is to see as many waiting kids as possible be placed into loving, forever families. They work to determine the realistic perceptions of adoption and also assist in encouraging the body of Christ to come alongside adoptive families in practical, loving ways. Their offices are located in #201B, 9705 Horton Road SW Calgary, Alberta T2V 2X5 Telephone: 403‑256‑3224 Fax: 403‑256‑8367.
There are fundamental strategies that an adoptive family may use to promote its characteristics of success (Groza, 1996). These procedures are employed to ensure that the adoptive families that are created are capable. For instance, spending time together is used as a strategy of fostering the unity of the household. One is encouraged to support the others interests. This brings along the feeling of being united and a sense of belonging particularly to the adoptive families.
Effective communication is another strategy that is used to ensure the success of an adoptive family. By putting emphasis on the validity and importance of everyone’s point of view ensures that the families stick together. This shows that the opinions of the children are valued. Such a family will have high rates of being successful than a family that seeks to shun everyone’s opinion.
Appreciation can be used as a strategy for the realization of adoptive family success. It is important to be aware of everyone’s effort in the family and express your gratitude with meaningful words. It is necessary to appreciate other people, not only for what they do but also for who they are. A family that appreciated their adopted children has a higher chance of being successful than a family that does not. It is important to show gratitude where it’s due. Children and parents often get motivated to do good when such an approach is used.
Commitment to a strategy goes a long way to the realization of successful adoptive families. A parent who chooses to adopt should be willing to drop everything for the kid when the need arises. Putting family first seeks to consider how individual actions and decisions will affect the other members of the family. Such efforts go a long way to reassure the kids that their presence in the household matters. It is evident that a family with such a value succeeds more than that without.
Good coping skills go a long way to promoting characteristics of successful families. A family that sticks together during a crisis is a healthy family. For instance, when a couple adopts a teenage child, they should be willing to cope with the tantrums and the drama that is associated with teenagers that are going through adolescence. Instead of threatening to chase the child away, a parent should be able to understand that this is a phase must eventually pass. Thus, it is advisable for families to be understanding of each other when faced with a crisis.
References
Groza, V. (1996). Successful Adoptive Families: A Longitudinal Study of Special Needs Adoption. New York: Praeger.
Karyn B. Purvis, D. R. (2007). The Connected Child: Bring hope and healing to your adoptive family. New York: McGraw-Hill Education.
Nelson-Erichsen, J. (2007). Inside the Adoption Agency: Understanding Intercountry Adoption in the Era of the Hague Convention. Vancouver: Jean Nelson-Erichsen.
Schuette, S. L. (2010). Adoptive Families (My Family). Toronto: Capstone Press.
