AS A SOCIAL WORKER, WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON THE ADOPTION OF
CHILDREN. WHAT ARE THE PROS AND CONS DISCUSS. GRP ASSIGNMENTS
It's difficult to express in words the benefits of choosing to adopt a child because every parent is
different, different families will experience different advantages. The benefits of adopting a child
are incalculable, ranging from the sense of fulfillment that comes from knowing that you are
giving a home to a child in need to the delight of becoming a father. Making the choice to adopt
takes time. It's crucial to conduct your homework whether you're thinking of adopting a kid or
placing a child for adoption. Each person will have their own adoption pros and disadvantages
list to weigh because adoption is not suited for everyone. What's on yours is entirely up to you.
However, generally speaking, there are several adoption-related benefits and drawbacks that are
frequently mentioned. Learn more about them in the discussion below.
One advantage of adopting a child can be realizing a longtime desire to be a parent. Raising a kid
is, for many single parents and couples, the greatest dream or aspiration in their adult lives. You
become a parent when you adopt a child. When you become a parent, all of the times you spent
as a youngster playing with dolls and the daydreams you had about playing catch with your child
in your front yard may come true (Howe & Weber, 2023). It opens up a whole new universe of
experiences and memories for you.
The excitement and blessing of adopting a child into your home is another advantage of adopting
a child. Even though the adoption process might be difficult at times, the benefits are enormous.
The thrill is the same whether you are welcoming your first child into the family or expanding
your brood. When you bring a new bundle of joy into your life, your days will be a bit brighter
and your future a little more hopeful.
Another benefit of adopting a child is creating new, important relationships. Being able to
establish a relationship with the birth parents of their future child is frequently one of the
adoption processes in California's most satisfying aspects for prospective adoptive parents. This
is a genuinely unique friendship. According to Howell (2022) it could add even more feeling to
your adoption experience if you are lucky enough to get along well with your future child's birth
mother or birth parents. On the other hand, some birth parents would to put the pregnancy and
adoption behind them and have little contact with the adoptive parents. Regardless, knowing the
biological parents and the environment your adopted child comes from will help you gain
perspective and preparedness to create a loving home environment.
The influence that adoption may have on the birth mother is another benefit that is occasionally
neglected. While you provide a warm welcome to the newest member of your family, she could
be getting a second opportunity at achieving her objectives or getting an education. Knowing that
her kid would be raised by a caring family who will treat her baby as their own will give her
peace of mind.
Moreover, another benefit of adopting a child is the opportunity to engage in many cultural
practices. International adoption frequently meets the demands of adoptive parents and fits their
schedules the best. If you decide to adopt overseas, you will take on a number of special
obligations. AdoptiveFamilies.com asserts that for a child to grow in self-worth and pride, family
members must integrate "elements of the child's original culture, including friendships with
people of the child's ethnicity" into their daily life (Howell, 2022). This can entail introducing
your family to a variety of novel and fascinating cultural practices as well as immersing yourself
in other subjects of study and information about the history of the nation where your child was
born. This is a fantastic chance to give your entire family a culturally enlightening experience.
One of the advantages of adopting a child should not be overlooked is the chance to discover
new hobbies and interests. No of their age, height, or gender, children all share the same trait:
they all have huge dreams. Recall what you envisioned yourself doing when you "grew up";
perhaps a firefighter? an artist? A spaceman? A whole new set of hopes and dreams are adopted
when a child is adopted. The greatest method to help children discover their own abilities and
interests is to expose them to a wider variety of activities.
In light of (Parents.com) the potential of unstructured play among children should not be
underestimated. You will need to think creatively and attempt new things if you want to adopt a
child. Long-term benefits can come from stepping beyond your comfort zone for both of you,
and letting your child witness you attempting something new may encourage him or her to do the
same. So, on your child's quest to discover their talents and interests, you could find yourself in
the ballet class, watching from the sidelines at the soccer field, or listening to a piano
performance while seated in the auditorium. And as a result of that, you will develop along the
road.
One of the benefits of adopting a child is the opportunity for ongoing growth and learning. There
is merit in having a fundamental set of beliefs. However, adopting a child and include a new
family member can challenge those perceptions and frequently need modifications. Helping a
child learn and develop may teach parents a lot about themselves, especially when it comes to
expanding their understanding of what they are capable of. This is so because they think their
accomplishments are the result of natural abilities, people with fixed mindsets are typically
hesitant to face difficulties. And also, they think about acquiring new abilities constantly, people
with a growth mindset are typically more motivated to tackle obstacles with tenacity
(Parents.com).
Adopting a child can also teach you more about your own learning preferences. Everyone learns
differently, thus we must be accepting of the possibility that your new child may learn differently
from you. There are many various learning styles, including auditory, visual, musical, and
kinesthetic. According Howe & Weber (2023) one will undoubtedly face some obstacles
(particularly when it comes to assisting with schoolwork) when a person adopts a child whose
learning style is likely to be very different from your own, but they will also discover a lot about
both themselves and their child.
Having said that, not everybody should adopt. For some people, the road to domestic adoption
may be challenging due to a few obstacles. To ensure they are prepared to proceed, organizations
like American Adoptions, for instance, work closely with both potential birth and adoptive
parents from the start. Here are a few possible drawbacks of adoption that you should be aware
of when you choose if it is the best option for a certain individual.
It is important to note that a potential birth mother will feel sadness and sorrow. Even if a mother
can make every effort to be ready for the adoption of her kid, there will still be some sadness and
loss on her end. The prospect of regret or loss can make this one of the scariest drawbacks of
adoption, and it's perfectly natural for some women to choose an alternative route. Many
psychologist and social workers are aware of this and thus will never force a woman to make a
choice she is not emotionally prepared to make. Grief is a non-linear process, and it could never
completely go. Our objective as social workers is to assist potential birth parents in coming to a
place of comfort with their sadness and confidence in what they have done for their child.
Additionally, adoptive parents incur significant expenses, which should be kept in mind. The
expense of adopting a kid through a private agency is one of its drawbacks. Many stages and
services are necessary for an ethical, successful adoption, and they are not inexpensive. It's
typical for prospective adoptive parents to object to the average adoption expense. But when it
comes to domestic adoption, as with other things in life, you get what you pay for (Howe &
Weber, 2023). Adoption is expensive, which is one of its drawbacks, but if you want to securely
expand your family via adoption and ensure that the birth mother of your child is supported
rather than coerced, be ready to pay for such services. Foster care adoption may be the best
option for you if you're seeking for a less expensive route, but bear in mind that this trip has its
own difficulties as well.
Furthermore, it should be noted that both open and closed adoptions have their own set of
difficulties. Professionals in adoption strongly advocate open adoption, although prospective
birth moms can always opt for a closed adoption if they'd like. Parties frequently have to wait
until the child is 18 before getting in touch when a potential birth mother chooses closed
adoption after placement. This implies that the birth mother won't receive an updated medical
history, answers to her child's adoption-related inquiries, or confirmation that her child is healthy
and happy. However, open adoption isn't always trouble-free (Howell, 2022). It is a lifelong
commitment from both parties that requires effort and respect on both sides but overcoming any
challenges that pop up along the way is worth it, due to the benefits open adoption provides.
Given the facts above, it is clear that giving a child in need a warm, lasting home is ultimately
the most fulfilling aspect of adoption. Being able to offer a secure home with devoted parents is
already an advantage. However, the advantages always go hand in glove with the disadvantages.
REFERENCES
American adoptions. (2023, January). Retrieved from advantages_of_adoption:
https://www.americanadoptions.com/adoption/advantages_of_adoption
Howe, C. J., & Weber, L. F. . (2023). Adoption. In The Role of Child Life Specialists in
Community Settings. IGI Global, 341-354.
Howell, S. (2022). The kinning of foreigners:. Transnational adoption in a global perspective.