Your thoughts on adoption screening?

Spotty

I think an extensive screening process should be in place for each and every adoption that takes place. In-person homestudies by a well-trained caseworker are just the beginning. I see the YouTube, FB stuff as harmless. It doesn't make or break a case.

Tempe, the asker specifically targeted SUPPORTERS of adoption. But since you chimed in, why do you think a kid would be traumatized over hearing their parents used YouTube? I'm curious. If you'd be traumatized by that, you'd be positively institutionalized by the inhumane treatment that is bestowed upon some children who are nto fortunate enough to be adopted out.

P.S. After carefully reading the article, I do not see where it says that the couple was chosen BECAUSE the guy danced around his kitchen. Get a grip.

THOSE OF YOU WHO THINK that that CHILDREN are being advertised on YouTube, please learn to read. Adoptive parents are showcasing their strengths; birth parents are not parading their kids around the camera trying to sell them. Geesh.

And those who are adopted but do not support adoption, what if you had been kept by parents who could not adequately raise you?

DevonChaos

I think that no matter what, no matter how the adoptive parents are found, there should be screening. There should be standards in place that everyone who adopts has to go through. I don't think its right that someone can just find parents on youtube and be done with it. I think that these things need to happen in a uniform way so that there is a protocol to use every time.
I think every parent who adopts should have to be screened the same way. It shouldn't ever fall down to who has a cute puppy or who does the best dances. That isn't reason enough to date someone, let alone give them your child. It is disgusting.

ETA: I have read it. I was using those points as an example.

I would be traumatized if I found out I had been adopted because of YouTube because I am a human, not a commodity. I shouldn't be advertised. Parents shouldn't advertise. They aren't a commodity either. Think of other things that are sold via commercials like that. Those are "things" not people. If someone is able to parent, and they feel as thought they should adopt, then they should go through the proper channels to do so. Seeing anyone doing this raises a huge red flag for me. It makes me think that something about them is so wrong that they are unable or unwilling to go through the normal processes to find a child.

* from the Great White North*

If I was a young mother giving up my child I too would want to see videos and meet the family...not sure youtube is the right place for it tho.. It is not the same as looking for a new puppy.

We had to go threw several interviews and home visits from social workers before and after the adoptions. I believe it is key to have a professional third party who is not emotionally involved to screen the the potential new parents.

kateiskate

I'm not a supporter of adoption but am and adoptee and generally the process of vetting potential adoptive parents means homestudies, criminal background checks, personal references, parenting classes, and oh yeah, financial information. This youtube crap is ridiculous and preys on already emotional pregnant moms. Children aren't commodities to be won by clever advertising. They are people.

BLW_KAM

I don't see a problem using YouTube. It's a passive form of "advertising" and no one is forced to watch it if they don't want to. I agree it's a better way to get a feel for what people are like that the standard "Dear Birthmother" letter.

Besides the criminal, financial, and health screening, I believe psychological profiling and training should be mandatory. Adoption carries with it complex emotional experiences. Potential parents should be screened to determine if they are secure enough and mature enough to address their children's needs in an open and honest way.

Many adoptive parents make critical errors because they are insecure, refuse to be honest with their children, hide the truth, deny their pain, or cause conflict when their children want to search for their natural parents.

Perhaps some of the angst of adoption could be minimized if parental physiological factors were more important than money.

HappyMomAnna

A Social Worker spends time and compiles all the relevant information about the interested parents and creates a Home Study which is certified by the State and meets all criteria for training, home safety, background and history.

A baby or child is born and is or will soon be a Ward of The State following voluntary relinquishment or court ordered termination of parental rights.

The caseworker for the Baby or Child accepts Home Studies from the Social Workers representing the qualified parents and selects several to be considered.

The case workers and social workers Meet face to face and present their clients situations, home study and recommendations to an Uninvolved Panel of people who work together in order to determine which Parents will be the Best Advocates for the Needs of the baby or child being placed for Adoption.

red elephants

i don't disagree with the videos but wanted to point out to some others that connecting on the internet is a very acceptable way to meet people now days. I don't see how this is any different than internet dating services that match men and women. My uncle actually met his wife that way and they are completely perfect for one another. People get involved with charities through community message boards, etc too. We make many connections via the internet and it really takes a large part in most peoples lives and really its no different than meeting through a print ad or agency.

I do think that there should be a process (home studies, background checks etc) after connecting through any means to check everyone out and make the adoption legitimate.

Sophie

I don't see anything wrong with it because this is *hopefully* just one of the many ways (out of many) to screen a couple or a person to be their child's adoptive parents. It makes it a little bit easier for the expecting parents to look and talk about them together without having to be face-to-face in the beginning.

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