PLATTSBURGH,
N.Y. -- Adoption is a family affair! November marks National Adoption Month
across our nation. Do you know anyone looking to bring an addition into their
family? Whether it be regular or foster-care adoption, there is an overwhelming
amount of children looking for a loving home.
Tasia Tedford, a 28-year-old female,
explains that adoption does not have to be a result of failed pregnacies. Tedford
has been contemplating adoption for several years now and is often faced with
the question, why adoption and not natural birth? It is simple, there are so
many loving little children that are in need of a good home environment and for
Tedford rescuing and possibly changing a child’s life is the most rewarding
factor of all.
After deciding to adopt the next
step is to choose how you want to adopt. There are two types of adoption;
traditional-adoptions and foster-adoptions. Almost always, traditional-adoption
is much more expensive than foster-adoption. Generally, the main reason for
this is that the child is less likely to have been exposed to abuse or neglect.
Paul Rascoe explains, the regular-adoption process is a lot cleaner as well
because the birth parents have waived their rights as legal guardian.
Interestingly enough, adoption prices vary based on ethnicity. Rascoe, a case
worker for Clinton County Child Protective Services, deals with a lot
foster-adoptions and foster-children.
Foster-children tend to have some
adjustment problems as a result of neglect, abuse, or addiction. To be sure
that people wishing to go through with a foster-adoption really know how much
work not only a child, but a child with a violent or questionable past is Child
Protective Services mandate that potential parents attend 10 week training
course. In addition to the course they are given a thorough background check.
“There is such a need for foster
care that they make it more accommodating.” Tyler Wilson, the parent of two
successful foster-adoptions explains, “The process is much cheaper than
traditional-adoption, which can cost anywhere for, 20 thousand dollars to 40
thousand dollars.”
Wilson experienced the heartache of
foster-adoption when he cared for his first child, Elias, who was eventually
given back to his legal guardian for good behavior. However, this did not deter
him from trying again. Now Wilson and his wife are the proud parents of two
brothers, Lance and Hudson. While Wilson eventually used foster-adoption to
mold his family into the unit it was always meant to be, for some people the
pain of losing a child you have become attached to is to much to bare.
Holly Price is a mother of a
successful traditional-adoption. Price originally looked into foster-adoption
only to have the child she was fostering get reinstated to a former abusive
father after good behavior was proved on his end. It took Price almost two
years before she was ready to consider adoption again.
“How could Child Protective Services
give this man a second chance, then a third? Where is the line drawn?” Price
says, “I want to believe these people are really changed but why did they have
to take my boy out of a great home with me?”
Price’s thoughts on the experience
she had with foster-adoption is the exact reason traditional-adoption is the
preferred method, if you can afford it. Once she had enough money she completed
her adoption and added a new member to her family, this time forever.
Adding a new member to your family
is something that should not be thought lightly of. Children need constant
attention and care. Child Protective Services does their best to prepare
parents for what they have in store for themselves. However, even the best
parents struggle sometimes. Adoption is about new beginnings for both you and
the child. National Adoption Month broadens the horizon of family to outside
the womb. Wherever you may be in your life right now, the time may come when
you want to expand your family. When that day comes, don’t rule out adoption,
in fact, think about it first.
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