Thousands of people bring children into their families through adoption every year. The process provides permanent and loving homes for children in need. Unfortunately, illegal practices are also associated with adoption, and adoption policies are in place, from individual adoption agency policies to international agreements, to protect families considering adoption and the children who are waiting.
Protection
Because adoption is a complicated procedure, policies have been enacted at several levels to help standardize the process. Child adoption policies are in place to protect the children involved and guard against unsafe and illegal practices, such as child selling or trafficking. People wishing to adopt children may contend with agency policies, state laws, federal regulations, international agreements, and policies enacted by other countries. Prospective adoptive parents who care for the future and well-being of their child will adhere to the required policies to safely and legally adopt their child.
Eligibility
Adoption agencies have policies in place regarding eligibility requirements for prospective adoptive parents. These requirements vary by location, but are designed according to state and federal laws as well as agency preference. Some types of policies that an agency may require of potential adoptive parents include attending educational meetings about adoption; general background requirements, such as age, length of marriage and state of residence; and completion of a home study before the prospective parents are considered for adopting a child.
Background Checks
According to the Child Welfare Information Gateway, federal requirements for a background check of prospective parents include a name check against a national crime database, and a fingerprint check of each applicant. Additionally, each state has its own requirements for background clearance. Some states require additional fingerprinting, child abuse history checks or sex offender registry checks. Parents who have been convicted of violent crime or drug-related crimes are not eligible to adopt.
International Adoption
The Hague Convention is a system of international guidelines and policies that it requires participating countries to follow. The policies set forth in The Hague Convention work against child trafficking, child abduction and other illegal activities that may be disguised as an adoption. The purpose of the Convention is to ensure that adoption between countries is a safe and ethical process that protects the best interests of the children involved.
Immigration
All people who are adopting from another country must file a petition to bring an orphan into the Unites States and classify the child as an immediate relative. This allows an adopted child to eventually become a United States citizen. The paperwork required depends on if the child’s birth country is part of the Hague Convention. Parents must provide proof of their own citizenship status and give other background information identifying their eligibility to adopt a child, such as age and marital status.
References
- Child Welfare Information Gateway: Criminal Background Checks for Prospective Foster and Adoptive Parents: Summary of State Laws
- U.S. Department of State, Office of Children’s Issues: Intercountry Adoption: Eligibility to Adopt
- Families Through International Adoption: Frequently Asked Questions
- Nebraska Children’s Home Society: Step by Step Process
