Adoption: The Created Family

Abstract

Adoption is the most advantageous solution of the problem of the dependent child for whom no home with its natural parents is possible. As well as the soundest plan for the unmarried mother, it also serves the interest of couples who could not otherwise achieve parenthood. As a child wel fare practice, it is more advanced socially and in law in the United States than in any other country. Preventive mental- health considerations are furthered by the rehabilitative processes which many emotionally upset married mothers are enabled to begin after this experience and by the opportunity for children to be raised in a constructive family environment. There is much evidence that adoption through authorized agen cies offers psychological and legal safeguards which inde pendent adoption cannot assure. Furthermore, the black market is an abuse of independent adoption. Agencies, how ever, need much more public moral and financial support to encourage and enable them to achieve adoption for the Negro child, the interracial child, the physically disabled child, and the older child. That it can be done has been amply demon strated.