Every abandoned child has a tragic story to tell. Because of the harm it inflicts on children, abandonment is a criminal act that may be prosecutable by law—especially in cases when it leads to physical harm. States have laws in place to assist abandoned children and to help them find families who will care for them.
Definition
Abandonment is defined by Adoption.com as "the desertion of a child by a parent or adult caretaker with no provisions for reasonable child care or apparent intention to return." If a child is left alone with with his minor siblings, adults that are not related to him or people that are unfit to care for him, he is considered to be abandoned. Infants who are abandoned soon after birth receive the bulk of media attention, but older children are frequently abandoned as well.
Significance
Abandonment is considered to be one of the most serious forms of physical child neglect. Infant abandonment can lead to serious illness and death. Abandoned children are often taken into state custody and placed in foster care. If the parent does not return, provides no support or does not contact the child for an extended period of time, the state will move to terminate her parental rights and place the child in an adoptive home.
Reasons
Adoption.com explains that many parents abandon older children because of an inability to care for them due to drugs and alcohol, desperate financial situations or serious emotional or personal problems. Infants are often abandoned by teenage girls or young women that can't cope with the shame and fear of a pregnancy.
State Laws
State laws vary widely on the exact definition of abandonment. They also require differing amounts of proof that a child has, in fact, been abandoned before they will take the irrevocable step of terminating a parent's rights. In a number of states, the law requires that the process of terminating parental rights must begin immediately once a child is proven to have been abandoned.
The goal of every court is for families to stay together—if possible. Most states have determined an amount of time they will wait before declaring abandonment. This time frame differs from state to state, but generally falls between six and 18 months. During this time, concerted efforts will be made by the state to locate parents or relatives.
Adoption Process
A child can legally be adopted when both parents' rights are terminated. When parents give up their parental rights voluntarily to place their child for adoption, the child spends little time, if any, in foster care. Sadly, many abandoned children spend several years in foster care before they are adopted.
To adopt a foster child, you must first file the relevant paperwork. You will then have to participate in a home study where a social worker evaluates your home to determine whether you meet your state's criteria for adoption. You will also be required to take preparation courses. It usually takes about 12 months to complete the adoption process.
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