According to a new study by the Donaldson Adoption Institute, the internet is transforming adoption by opening up the way prospective parents and birth mothers meet. By using the internet to facilitate connections leading to adoption, those looking to adopt or place a baby are given a much broader reach.
The web is also making things complicated for many families; it is now easy for children to reconnect with their adoptive parents via Facebook, which is especially troubling when the former parents were abusive — or when the child was never told they were adopted in the first place. The lack of privacy created by the internet is troublesome, as is the number of online adoption scams.
Why Online Adoption?
While many parents believe the Internet will facilitate faster adoptions, no research either proves or disproves this. The Donaldson study notes that just because online adoption is becoming largely available doesn’t mean it’s the best way; it is not growing because research proves it is successful — it is growing because technology allows it to. And while there have always been issues with adoption scams — information being withheld from either party, lack of legal advice being given, issues with birthfathers’ rights, etc. — the internet can make this problem bigger, with even less regulation.
Tips for Protecting Yourself in an Adoption
If you do chose to pursue an adoption online, the Adoption Institute recommends several things to protect adoptive parents, birth parents, and adoption agencies:
- Go through a reputable, licensed agency. If the website you are using ends in “.org,” chances are higher that you are dealing with a non-profit, non-commercial organization.
- Check that credentials for those offering services are consistent with commonly recognized training in their field — the words “counselor” or “specialist” don’t necessarily mean a person has been to college or has a license.
- Find out whether the service is accredited or recognized by appropriate groups such as the Council on Accreditation or the Child Welfare League of America.
- See that information about your financial obligations are clear and straightforward; this is a place where you may really want a lawyer to help you sort things out.
- Determine what services are provided after placement — can adoptive parents get medical information from birth parents if a medical issue arises with the child? Can birth parents receive financial help from adoptive parents if problems arise?
- Carefully read the site’s privacy policy. What information is collected — and is it secure?
The internet certainly makes it easier to search for adoptive parents or birth parents, but the risks are also greater. Always know your rights and make sure you’re not doing anything illegal before adopting online.
