Running Head: ADOPTION AFFILIATIONS 1

Adoption Affiliations

Marisa Ribera

Arizona State University

Abstract

Throughout society many families have been introduced to a social worker in order to

gain information on adoption. Adoption is an act or process for acceptance; processes for

adoption can vary between children and adults. In many cases, adoption can typically involve

children and can even include newborn babies. Adoption can be an option for many adults but

requires an intensive amount of time, money and dedication. Many of which are not entirely all

taken into consideration while going through the process of adoption for yourself.
ADOPTION AFFILIATIONS 3

Adoption Affiliations

Many of experiences dealing with adoption are completely different. There are different

situations that can cause a person to take the opportunity to pursue adoption themselves. Having

the information that was discussed introduces the question of how the effects of adoption can

interfere with a child or adults mental processes. Discussing how children mentalities are

changed after they discover they’re adopted. These are situations that are not easily discussed or

shown by many people. The basic adaptation within a new home that a child goes through. The

basic information what can change the overall agencies and how they run their corporations. Not

many families decide to adopt children. Many of which choose to try and continue to have kids

on their own without having to think of adoption becoming an option. If more families would

decide to adopt there would be many homes found for kids in need of one. Having a clean

background can be extremely beneficial when adopting also, which is why social services want

to ensure that your home is safe and productive. Adoption agencies can be very judgmental

because of the main priority of finding a suitable home for different children.

As said before, adoption can be a tedious process but are there any disadvantages to

adoption? There are so many cases of adoption all over the world but is there information

gathered after a family completes the process of it all? There are many aspects that occur within

this process that are never brought to attention when speaking about adoption agencies. Some of

which can include the mental and physical effects that an individual goes through while going

through the experience of adoption. These aspects can ensure that a family knows the

experiences of others who pursued adoption themselves which can be extremely beneficial.

Discovering the effects of adoption and how they can change the outcome of a family or child is
ADOPTION AFFILIATIONS 4

extremely important. There are many experiences from around the world that have been

expressed and the details shared can introduce a change in the adoption program.

Children who come to understand that they are adopted learn to gain support from many

clinics if they ever feel out of place in their new home. Not many organizations show how

difficult it can be for a child going through adolescence to discover they are adoptive. Macgregor

an author who believes that children who have experienced this process should learn to speak

about their feelings and understand others have went through the exact situation. “Adoption was

discussed with each adolescent. A significant feature of it was its outreach. The health clinic

provided an excellent opportunity to meet with several parents and to encourage the support of

their adolescent. With adequate support and counseling more of the young parents can combine

the task of parenting and adolescence” (Macgregor). Support from the adoptive parents can

ensure that the mental stability of the child is highly acknowledging their emotions. Not many

take this aspect into consideration and parents all over the world still don’t understand what their

child’s mentality really is. Adopting a child is ideal for a person who is willing to actually

understand the fundamentals of raising a child and being extremely supportive. This is why

adoption agencies are so strict on the understandings and processes of figuring out who is

actually dedicated to raising a child. The basic knowledge of being supportive can be different in

many families but their emotions should always be a priority.

Although, learning the process of understanding an adolescence teen going through

changes in their life can be difficult, there are some with other personal issues. Children with

disabilities become very unique, challenging cases for social workers. Reason being that children

with disabilities require more attention and observation. Understanding of taking care of a child

with disabilities can be extremely difficult and stressful. Learning to adapt and make such a
ADOPTION AFFILIATIONS 5

change requires constant dedication within a person. As Wood stated in their writings, she

explains how all disabilities should be treated equally. No matter the situation or disability your

mindset should always be on treated your child equal.

References

Bausch, Robert S., and Richard T. Serpe. “Negative Outcomes of Interethnic Adoption of

Mexican American Children.” Social Work, vol. 42, no. 2, Mar. 1997, pp. 136–143.

EBSCOhost, [Link]=97040916.

FOLI, KAREN J., and GREGORY C. GIBSON. “Sad Adoptive Dads: Paternal

Depression in the Post-Adoption Period.” International Journal of Men’s Health, vol. 10,

no. 2, Summer 2011, pp. 153–162. EBSCOhost, doi:10.3149/jmh.1002.153.

Hall, R. E., & Whipple, E. E. (2017). The complexion connection: Ideal light skin as vehicle of

adoption process discrimination social work practitioners. Journal of Human Behavior in

The Social Environment, 27(7), 669-677. doi:10.1080/10911359.2017.1321511

Heinrich, Carolyn J., and Grant R. Cummings. “Adoption and Diffusion of Evidence-Based

Addiction Medications in Substance Abuse Treatment.” Health Services Research, vol.

49, no. 1pt1, Feb. 2014, pp. 127–152. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1111/1475-6773.12093.

Holbrook, Sarah M. "Adoption, Infertility, and the New Reproductive Technologies: Problems

and Prospects for Social Work and Welfare Policy." Social Work, vol. 35, no. 4, July

1990, pp. 333-337. EBSCOhost,

Howe, David, et al. “Age at Placement and Adult Adopted People’s Experience of Being

Adopted.” Child & Family Social Work, vol. 6, no. 4, Nov. 2001, pp. 337–349.

EBSCOhost, doi:10.1046/j.1365-2206.2001.00215x.

Knowles, Alan James and Tarsem Singh Cooner. "International Collaborative Learning Using

Social Media to Learn about Social Work Ethics and Social Media." Social Work

Education, vol. 35, no. 3, Apr. 2016, pp. 260-270. EBSCOhost,

doi:10.1080/02615479.2016.1154662.
ADOPTION AFFILIATIONS 7

Koh, Bibiana D., and Martha A. Rueter. “Contributions of Parent–Adolescent Negative

Emotionality, Adolescent Conflict, and Adoption Status to Adolescent Externalizing

Behaviors.” Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, vol. 40, no. 6, Nov.

2011, pp. 825–836. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1080/15374416.2011.614579.

Lloyd, Margaret H., et al. “Parental Drug Use and Permanency for Young Children in Foster

Care: A Competing Risks Analysis of Reunification, Guardianship, and Adoption.”

Children & Youth Services Review, vol. 77, June 2017, pp. 177–187. EBSCOhost,

childyouth.2017.04.016.

MacGregor, Janet, and Betty J. Newlon. “Description of a Teenage Pregnancy Program.” Journal

of Counseling & Development, vol. 65, no. 8, Apr. 1987, p. 447. EBSCOhost,

[Link]/[Link]?direct=true&db=aph&AN=4980211&site=ehost-live.

McCrary, Donna Gibson. "A Study of Homophobia among HBCU Undergraduate Students

toward Gay and Lesbian Adoption." American Journal of Sexuality Education, vol. 9, no.

3, Jul-Sep2014, pp. 257-275. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1080/15546128.2014.916645.

Pace, Cecilia Serena, et al. “Late adoptions in Adolescence: Can Attachment and Emotion

Regulation Influence Behaviour Problems? A Controlled Study Using a Moderation

Approach.” Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, vol. 25, no. 2, Mar. 2018, pp. 250–

262. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1002/cpp.2158.

Rosenthal, James A., et al. “Adoption Outcomes for Children with Handicaps.” Child Welfare,

vol. 70, no. 6, Nov. 1991, pp. 623–636. EBSCOhost,

[Link]/[Link]?direct=true&db=aph&AN=9202104368&site=ehost-

live.

Staiano, Fulvia. “Good Mothers, Bad Mothers: Transnational Mothering in the European Court
ADOPTION AFFILIATIONS 8

of Human Rights’ Case Law.” European Journal of Migration & Law, vol. 15, no. 2, Apr.

2013, pp. 155–182. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1163/15718166-12342029.

Wood, Kate. "Families beyond Boundaries: Conceptualizing Kinship in Gay and Lesbian

Adoption and Fostering." Child & Family Social Work, vol. 23, no. 2, May 2018, pp.

155-162. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1111/cfs.12394.