Examines a number of facets of adoption in the United States and recommends that the federal government create an adoption data collection system; states implement a uniform adoption law; and the adoption process be more open, both for adoptees and prospective adoptive parents. Also discusses the adoption of children with special needs, and…

Research on transracial adoption indicates that most minority children in transracial placement adjust very well to their mixed-race environments. Most transracial adoptees have a sense of identity with their racial heritage, but the strength of this identity depends, to a large degree, on the commitment of the adoptive parents to foster it.…

On balance, adoption outcomes for special needs children and adolescents are positive, and the majority of parents are satisfied with their adoptive experience. Predictors of positive adoptive outcome include younger age of the child at the time of placement, the absence of behavioral problems or sexual abuse, and adoption by the child's foster…

Argues that the purpose of adoption is to find suitable parents for children, not suitable children for prospective parents, and that authorized child welfare agencies, not independent adoption agents, should have the responsibility to protect the best interests of the parties involved in the adoption process. (MDM)

The majority of adoptions in the United States are now arranged independent of adoption agencies, between the biological parents and the adoptive parents themselves. Both systems serve legitimate purposes, and independent adoption can provide both adoptive parents and biological parents with more options than many adoption agencies can supply.…

Traces the evolution of adoption from colonial times to the present, discussing the placement of children as servants in the eighteenth century, the implementation of a legal framework for adoption in the nineteenth century, and the present system of private and public adoption agencies. (MDM)

Discusses the history of special needs (SN) adoption, the current status of SN adoption services, and future challenges and directions for reform. Recommends increased provision of postadoption services and offers of financial assistance to families with adopted SN children, and increased emphasis on foster parent adoption of SN children. (MDM)

Most arguments for and against open adoption are based on the legal rights of members of the adoption triangle, but empirical evidence to support either position is sparse. Adoptive parents are generally favorable toward openness, but many feel they were pressured to accept openness to obtain a child. (MDM)

Examines the psychological and emotional effects of confidential adoption on birthparents, adoptees, and adoptive parents. Discusses some of the advantages of open adoption, which allows the birthparents and adoptive parents to have at least some contact before the adoption. (MDM)

Laws regulating adoption are varied and complex in countries that offer children for international adoption (IA), while United States Immigration laws pose additional obstacles to Americans wishing to adopt foreign-born children. Declarations by the United Nations and the development of a convention on IA by the Hague Conference offer some hope…

Discusses how a complex regulatory system, along with a lack of consensus about the functions served by adoption, produces uncertainty on many basic issues, including distinguishing lawful adoption versus illegal "baby-selling." The author recommends passage of more uniform state adoption laws, describes the 1994 Uniform Adoption Act,…

Examined the effects of prenatal drug exposure on adopted children's behavior, temperament, health, and school adjustment by comparing the experiences of 3 cohorts of children: (1) 320 drug-exposed children; (2) 456 children who were not drug exposed; and (3) 620 children whose drug exposure was unknown. Two years after placement no significant…

Provides an overview of adoption statistics and describes data available regarding adoption arrangements and the characteristics of parents who relinquish children, of children who are adopted or in substitute care, and of adults who seek to adopt. Recommends the establishment of a national data collection system for adoption statistics.…

Efforts to achieve uniformity in state adoption laws are confronted by a lack of consensus on six major issues: (1) parental consent and interests; (2) children's interests; (3) the nature of the actual adoption transaction; (4) adoptive relationships as substitutes for biological relationships; (5) confidentiality and anonymity; and (6) the…

The author considers whether differences in genetic endowment may account for racial and ethnic differences in school readiness. While acknowledging an important role for genes in explaining differences "within" races, he nevertheless argues that environment explains most of the gap "between" blacks and whites, leaving little role for genetics.…