International Adoption

Through adoption orphans find and receive their dream family and couples have

filled voids within their family through adoption. Overall, in typical cases, adoption has served as an avenue to happiness for both adults and children. However, the adoption system in its entirety is broken, the dream of adoption is not fulfilled for several couples, due to the meticulous adoption process. For this reason, some children are never adopted out, they spend their lives in various foster homes, or remain in an orphanage until eighteen. Although adoption is among one of the most rewarding and positive choices adults can make, it also has negative aspects involving the adoption process and foster care services making adoption difficult.

Predominantly

the adoption system and the act of adopting offers a multitude
of benefits for all. A component of the adoption system that is constantly left out is orphanages. Ultimately, orphanages in America are an overall safe haven for children with parents that cannot or choose not to care for their children. According to Richard McKenzie, his life at the orphanage he grew up in was the best part of his childhood. He endured all forms of abuse as a young child until his mother died, and his father neglected him. He now advocates for orphanages and explains that children do not always benefit from returning to relatives (Antonio 24). Richard refers to himself as being “proud” to grow up in an orphanage and considers himself “blessed,” his life was better than it would be if he lived with his father or other relatives (Antonio 25). Like Richard, many children benefit from being separated from their parents due to neglect or abuse. Orphanages provide safety, comfort, and meet the needs of each child.
It is important to realize, that orphanages are a better alternative than having
children in abusive homes, however, they are not meant to be a permanent placement for children. The longing to be adopted is still present in the hearts of the orphans. When an adult makes a choice to adopt the child is greatly impacted, making this decision comes with great responsibility. For a large number of couple’s adoption is a personal choice or something they feel deeply about. Others seek adoption because it is the only way to obtain a child, referring to the inability to bear biological children of their own (Laningham 5). Lastly, some couples choose to adopt due to religious reasons. Different from contemporary Christian beliefs, older views consider adoption as a form of charity. By adopting a child, it signifies love, a new relationship, and a permanent family, where the child otherwise would not receive one (Waters 422). Not only in Christianity but there are many other theological views on adoption (Waters 422). Whatever the intention, choosing to adopt is an extremely special and important decision.
In a personal interview April 15, 2018, Mike and Leann Brendle referred to their adoption experience as “the best decision they ever made.” Like many other people, Leann was forty-five and unmarried when adoption was placed on her heart.

Shortly after putting thought into adoption, she met her now husband, Mike, neither of which had children of their own, so adoption was the only option to complete their small family. After marriage, they then began the long adoption process. After much consideration, they chose international adoption because it would be possible to obtain a child faster and much cheaper compared to adopting within America. Every country has different adoption policies because they chose China they were required to be married a full two years before they could adopt. Once the two-year period was met Mike and Leann were matched with a child. Because China has a different culture, disabled children are considered unwanted (Brendle). Mike and Leann were allowed to adopt Wade because he was born with a cleft palate (cleft lip). By choosing to adopt him, they would be responsible for paying his medical bills for his lip to be fixed, a medical bill for a lifetime of love is well worth it, according to the Brendle’s. Adopting not only affected the life of their son because they gave him a home life, a loving family, and they were able to fix his medical conditions but adopting greatly affected their life as well. Mike and Leann regarded adoption as having similarities to having biological children, considering risks, costs, and possible problems. In closing, Leann commented that given the opportunity she would adopt more children because it was such a “remarkable experience”

(Brendle).
Although adoption is one of the most fulfilling experiences, the adoption system
in its entirety is broken. The system is referred to as “dangerously dysfunctional” due to many factors (Antonio 25). For example, states in America are required to provide services that keep families together, meaning that a child placed in an orphanage or a foster home will more than likely be returned to the neglect or abuse in their parent’s care (Antonio 25). On the other hand, children not returned to their biological families will be fostered out or put in an orphanage. The foster care system has its own negative aspects along with the adoption system as they coincide with one another. Likewise, countless foster parents are abusive or choose to house foster children for “mercenary” reasons or for their own greed (Antonio 25). In contrast, some orphans like their foster parents only to be shipped from home to home by Social Workers (Antonio 25).
In addition, couples across America that are hoping to adopt are put on
waiting lists that are years long (Crary1). Comparatively, it has been estimated that over one million families are trying to adopt on a constant basis (Crary 1). The long wait is not directly derived from lack of orphans; however, this causes problems as a result of many people’s preference of infants or children under the age of five verses older children (Crary 3). Ultimately, the long wait is caused by multiple reasons. Under-regulated agencies and foster homes contribute to the wait, meaning that government funding and regulations are not always accessible in some situations orphanages are depending on donations to provide for the children. On the other hand, some agencies are heavily regulated and do not receive leniency. Due to the lack of government funding many agencies are forced to fall into bankruptcy causing the orphans to be placed in foster homes or other orphanages. Without funding many employees are not paid for their services contributing to lack of staff (Crary 2). On the other hand, time is not the only aspect invested concerning the adoption process. For several couples, they invest anywhere from ten thousand to forty thousand dollars in adoption. Even after investing a large amount of money the adoption is still not guaranteed and the majority of the time is nonrefundable. Additionally, in their desperation to adopt, multiple couples fall into scams, scammers set up counterfeit agencies and cheat couples out of their money (Crary 1). It is no doubt that multiple aspects need to be fixed within the adoption system, what is best for the orphans should be a top priority. Adoption regulations should remain strict in order to ensure the orphans safety, but guidance and a better organizational setup would not only benefit the orphans and hopeful couples but adoption system workers as well.
In conclusion, Adoption is a wonderful option to consider. Hopefully, further
steps will be taken to better improve the adoption system in its entirety. Nonetheless, the benefits of adopting a child are far greater than the negative aspects making it worth the time and money invested.