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Rahel Hartman

Cosmin Ritivoiu

English 102

7 May 2015

The Importance of Adoption

Many people have mixed feelings on whether adopting a child is beneficial or not. There

are a great number of people that consider adopting children, but very few actually follow

through and adopt. Some people have heard awful stories of adopted children not fitting into

their new home and ruining the home atmosphere. Stories have even been circulated of adoptees

poisoning their new families. But despite all the negative information that is commonly heard,

there are plenty of reasons that adopting children can not only be enjoyable, but also be a

positive contribution to society.

There is a great need for loving families in this world. According to SOS Children's

Villages, "It is estimated that 153 million children worldwide, ranging from infants to teenagers,

have lost one or both parents" ("Children's Statistics"). Many children do not have loving parents

and relatives to care for their everyday needs. Sadly, some of these children do not even have

enough food to eat. They live everyday barely surviving, searching for nourishment and love.

Often people in America think that these situations happen in far off lands and that it

really has no relation to them. However, this is not true, there are many children in need even in

the United States of America. Even though people often do not realize that there are many

orphans, that need help all around; The SOS Children's Villages states the following about the

situation of American orphans: "There are over 120,000 orphans in America, while another

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400,000 children live without permanent families" ("Children's Statistics"). Needy children are

all around, even if they commonly go unnoticed.

It is easy to think that 400,000 is just a large number and not to realize that it is

representing children with real feelings and needs. Jon Hamilton wrote a story of a Romanian

orphan boy. He shares the hard times that the boy went through in the following paragraph:

When Ruckel was 6 months old, he got polio. His parents left him at a hospital

and never returned. When he turned three, he was sent to an orphanage for

"irrecoverable" children. But Ruckel was luckier than many Romanian orphans. A

worker at the orphanage "cared for me as if she was my mother," he says. "She

was probably the most loving, the most kindest person I had ever met." Then,

when Ruckel was 5 or 6, his surrogate mother was electrocuted trying to heat bath

water for the children in her care. Ruckel was on his own in a place where

beatings, neglect and boredom were the norm. ("Orphans' Lonely Beginnings")

Ruckel was in a very bad situation of which he could do nothing about, but even one kind

woman made a great impact on his life. Just the care and love showed to him for a short amount

of time meant so much to him. Fortunately, he was able to be adopted later, but not all orphans

are provided with that opportunity. Many other orphans need that love and care, they have no one

to protect them and many times no one even cares about them.

The enormous need for loving homes is not a hidden fact. If people look they can find

children in need anywhere. But there are many challenges that discourage people from wanting

to actually follow through and adopt a child. Many orphans have had extremely hard

backgrounds have emotional, as well as, physical challenges. These unfortunate situations can

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cause many difficulties when attempting to raise adopted children. But those that are facing these

challenges are not alone. According to the article titled "The efficacy of child parent relationship

therapy for adopted children with attachment disruptions," "There are more than 1.5 million

adopted children in the United States, with approximately 127,000 new adoptions

annually" (Carnes-Holt, Kara, and Bratton). There are also many therapies that are being created

to help adoptees settle into their new environments and to deal with their past difficulties.

One of these therapies that has been found to be helpful is Child Interaction Therapy. In

the article "Parent-Child Interaction Therapy as an attachment-based intervention: Theoretical

rationale and pilot data with adopted children" authors Allen, Brian, Timmer, and Urquiza found

the following: "Results demonstrate significant improvements in positive parenting techniques,

reductions in parenting stress, and reductions in externalizing and internalizing concerns among

the children" (Allen et al.). Therapies such as this can help both the parents and the children to

cope with the stress and make the change easier.

The experiences of young children are very important to their future health and success.

As a result those adopting have the challenge of helping their new child to settle into their home

with as little stress as possible. This can be very challenging when considering what the child

may have gone through in the past. However, even when considering the enormous challenge of

helping them to settle in comfortably Fisher gives great encouragement in his article titled

"Review: Adoption, fostering, and the needs of looked-after and adopted children." He states the

following:

There is extensive evidence that early adverse experiences affect psychological

and neurobiological development in looked - after and adopted children . There is

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also evidence that some looked - after and adopted children show remarkable

resilience in the face of adversity; intervention research provides evidence of the

ability to reduce risks and promote positive outcomes in this population. The

intervention studies have revealed not only the potential for improved behavioral

trajectories but also the plasticity of neurobiological systems affected by early

stress. (Fisher)

Even though the process of adoption may sometimes be stressful on the child there is hope that

through loving care the damage of the stress can be undone. Young children can easily adapt to

new situations with fairly little stress hopefully preventing major emotional or attachment

problems.

But emotional and attachment problems are not the only problems that those adopting

children face. Often the children may have health problems to deal with, as well. Many of them

have inherited diseases that the new parents may know nothing about. Leighton addresses this

challenge in his article titled "Accepting Adoption's Uncertainty: The Limited Ethics of Pre-

Adoption Genetic Testing." He states the following:

An increasing number of children are adopted in the United States from countries

where both medical care and environmental conditions are extremely poor. In

response to worries about the accuracy of medical histories, prospective adoptive

parents increasingly request genetic testing of children prior to adoption.

(Leighton)

There are more and more children being adopted from outside of the United States of America by

parents living in America. With the increase in foreign adoptions there is also an increase in

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unknown genetic backgrounds which could possibly bring unexpected diseases. This could cause

increased stress on the part of the new parents if sickness occurs their child could have a disease

of which they know nothing about. Sometimes parents do have the opportunity to do genetic

testing so as to be able to know what type of genetic diseases could possibly be passed down to

their child.

Even after considering the many challenges of adopting the great need for loving homes

is undeniable. Adoption is a great way to help children that need love, food, and homes.

Furthermore, God calls Christians to do their part and to minister to those in need, especially

helpless children. In the gospel of Matthew it says the following: "And the King will answer

them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me"

(Matthew 25:40). This is what the King (God) is saying to His people. It is the responsibility of

God's people to care for those less fortunate than themselves. How people help others in need

shows how they would treat Jesus if He were among them. If they are not willing to give an

orphan a home, they are denying to help Jesus in the form of His creations.

There are circumstances in which adopting is a great opportunity for Christian families.

Ellen White writes the following: "Let families of our faith who in the churches can do so, adopt

these little ones, and they will receive a blessing in so doing" (White 232). For those who have

the means and have a strong relationship with God adopting can benefit the children greatly. As

they live their life for God the children can be inspired to do the same in their lives. Godly

parents will receive the blessing of God and also may receive the reward of seeing their children

grow up following the Lord. The blessing will be two fold. God provides a blessing to both the

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parents and the children of those who selflessly sacrifice to adopt needy children into their

homes.

The goal of the Christian life is to be like Christ in every way possible, to be a

representative of God on the earth. While Jesus was on earth He cared for the widows and the

orphans that came to Him for help. When His disciples tried to discourage the children from

coming to Him, He said, Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such

belongs the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:14). Jesus did not make the children leave because

they would disrupt Him or be inconvenient for Him. He went out of His way to reach out and

bless the children. Christians should do the same; they should not be discouraged from adopting

just because of the inconvenience or hassle children cause but they should go out of their way to

bless the children God has put in their way.

One thing that the Bible encourages in many different places is caring for orphans. The

book of Psalms presents a great example of this in the following verse: "Give justice to the weak

and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the

needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked" (Psalm 82:3-4). This passage calls for people

to care for others, not to be caught up in making money and pleasing themselves. Christians are

to help the fatherless who cannot support and care for themselves.

Caring for orphans can be beneficial to the spiritual life of the children, and also to the

life of the parents. It is easy for people to get caught up in their own world; going to work,

earning money, going to church, and enjoying their hobbies. But God calls Christians to do more

in life than to serve themselves. When God's people care for orphans it helps them to learn to

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care for others and not just to focus on their own comfort and wellbeing. Ellen White explains

more on this topic in the following passage from her book titled Adventist Home:

Fatherless and motherless children are thrown into the arms of the church, and

Christ says to His followers: Take these destitute children, bring them up for Me,

and ye shall receive your wages. I have seen much selfishness exhibited in these

things. Unless there is some special evidence that they themselves are to be

benefited by adopting into their family those who need homes, some turn away

and answer: No. They do not seem to know or care whether such are saved or lost.

That, they think, is not their business. (White 167)

Christians should not think of their personal benefit when considering adopting children. God

provides children for them to train for His kingdom and they should willingly work for Him by

reaching out to the children He has put in their path.

God has provided for each and every individual and what he has given Christians should

be willing to share with those less fortunate. As Christians make their homes they should

consider how to help others, and adopting is one way that they can help. Ellen White says in her

book Adventist Home:

As far as lies in your power, make a home for the homeless. Let everyone stand

ready to act a part in helping forward this work. The Lord said to Peter: Feed My

lambs. This command is to us, and by opening our homes for the orphans we aid

in its fulfillment. Let not Jesus be disappointed in you. (White 170)

Jesus wants His people to care for those around them. In response to His desire all those who are

capable should carry forward God's command by caring for needy children.

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Christian parents can make a strong positive impact on their children. Especially for

adopted children a strong relationship with their parents can have a great impact on their

successfulness in the future. There are programs which are set up to help establish the important

bond between the adopted child and their parent because this bond is so important for the child's

wellbeing. More is presented on this topic in the article titled "The efficacy of child parent

relationship therapy for adopted children with attachment disruptions." It states the following:

Together, international adoptions and foster care-based adoptions compose

approximately one third of adoptions each year. Ignoring the unique mental health

needs of this population can have long-term negative consequences. Thus,

researching and identifying evidence-based, early mental health interventions for

adoptive families that target the parent - child relationship is critical to the long-

term welfare of this population of children. (Carnes-Holt, Kara, and Bratton)

The parent with child relationship is very important for the future of the child and cannot be

ignored. For those that are adopting it is no less important and must be well cultivated.

There are many ways that the essential, parent and child relationship can be built, but one

way that has been used for adopting families is Child Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT). The

article continues, informing the reader of this therapy that helps build the relationship between

parents and their child. It says,

CPRT is a developmentally responsive counseling intervention that is grounded in

the belief that an attuned and secure parent - child relationship is essential for

children's well-being. Thus, the relationship is the focus in treatment and viewed

as the vehicle for change. The findings of the present study are noteworthy

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because they indicate that CPRT can significantly reduce adoptive children's

problem behaviors and increase parental empathy, thus offering hope as an

intervention for adoptive families who are struggling to connect and create a new

family. (Carnes-Holt, Kara, and Bratton)

The relationship between the parent and child is extremely important and this is one of the means

through which adopting parents can make a great impact on their children.

There are many challenges that come with adopting a child but despite the many

challenges there are many reasons why it should be considered. But even once the decision to

adopt children has been made there must be much care in assuring the right timing and planning.

The gender and age of the child being adopted is important when considering the essential parent

child relationship. In the article titled "Adopted children's country of origin and post-adoption

parent-child relationship quality: Findings from the United States National Survey of Adoptive

Parents (NSAP)" the author states the following:

Our findings showed that the unique circumstances that fueled the availability of

children from different countries to become available for adoption played some

role in parent - child relationship quality. However, the adopted children's gender,

age at placement, age, and special healthcare needs were more predictive of post -

adoption parent - child relationship quality. (Tan et al.)

Their study found that there were certain things that were correlated with parent - child

relationship strength. They found gender, age and the child's specific healthcare needs were

important.

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Other studies also found results that give evidence that planning before an adoption is

necessary. Kieron Barclay wrote the following in his article titled "Birth order and educational

attainment: evidence from fully adopted sibling groups:" "I find that there is a negative

relationship between adopted birth order and both educational attainment and the likelihood of

entering tertiary education in fully adopted sibling sets" (Barclay). Birth order may also play a

significant role in the educational success of the adopted child. These studies are note worthy for

parents considering adopting children. Prior to adopting it is advisable for parents to research

what age and gender will fit into their home the best and plan their adoption process accordingly.

There is a great need for people to reach out and help those around and not to be self-

focused; to follow Christ's example and serve the unfortunate orphans. Countless numbers of

children are without love and care. Every person can make a difference most likely each in a

different way, but some are called to leave their comfort zone and adopt a child in need. There

are many disadvantages in adopting children. It is not a hidden fact that there are many

challenges when adopting, but there are also great rewards and blessings that can come from

reaching out and adopting children that need a loving home. With the research that is now

available the process of adopting a child and helping them to fit into their new environment is

possible. In his article "Review: Adoption, fostering, and the needs of looked-after and adopted

children" Fisher continues: "Foster and adopted children face many challenges, but scientific

knowledge also provides reason for hope and information about how to maximize positive

outcomes" (Fisher). There are challenges for all parties involved in an adoption, but it is possible

and it can prove to be a blessing not only to the family but to society as a whole. Adopting a

child does not have to end up with hard feelings and dangerous situations like the many stories

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that are circulated. God's blessing will rest on those who follow His counsels and care for others

in every way possible.

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Works Cited

Allen, Brian, Susan G. Timmer, and Anthony J. Urquiza. "Parent-Child Interaction Therapy as an

attachment-based intervention: Theoretical rationale and pilot data with adopted

children." Children and Youth Services Review 47 (2014): 334+. General OneFile. Web.

11 Mar. 2015.

Barclay, Kieron J. "Birth order and educational attainment: evidence from fully adopted sibling

groups." Intelligence 48 (2015): 109+. General OneFile. Web. 11 Mar. 2015.

Carnes-Holt, Kara, and Sue C. Bratton. "The efficacy of child parent relationship therapy for

adopted children with attachment disruptions." Journal of Counseling and Development

92.3 (2014): 328+. General OneFile. Web. 11 Mar. 2015.

"Children's Statistics." Worldwide Orphan Statistics. Web. 1 Apr. 2015.

Fisher, Philip A. "Review: Adoption, fostering, and the needs of looked-after and adopted

children." Child and Adolescent Mental Health 20.1 (2015): 5+. Academic OneFile. Web.

11 Mar. 2015.

Leighton, Kimberly J. "Accepting Adoption's Uncertainty: The Limited Ethics of Pre-Adoption

Genetic Testing." Journal of Bioethical Inquiry 11.2 (2014): 245+. Academic OneFile.

Web. 11 Mar. 2015.

"Orphans' Lonely Beginnings Reveal How Parents Shape A Child's Brain." NPR. NPR. Web. 1

Apr. 2015.

Tan, Tony Xing, et al. "Adopted children's country of origin and post-adoption parent-child

relationship quality: Findings from the United States National Survey of Adoptive

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Parents (NSAP)." Children and Youth Services Review 48 (2015): 117+. General

OneFile. Web. 11 Mar. 2015.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV), Containing the Old and New Testaments.

Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2011. Print.

White, Ellen G. Adventist Home. Nashville: Southern Pub. Assoc., 1952. Print.

---. Welfare Ministry; Instruction in Christian Neighborhood Service. Washington: Review and

Herald Pub. Assn., 1952. Print.