Introduction
Child welfare is an important concern in modern society, both among politicians and future parents. Many people believe that children make people’s life more fulfilling, and starting a family is an essential goal for them. Despite these views, there are over 428,000 children in foster care in the United States (Adoption Network, 2019). Many of these children are taken away from their birth parents by Child Protective Services due to poor living conditions, domestic violence, and other issues (Barth & Berry, 2017). Still, some parents give up their children for adoption willingly, and it usually happens shortly after birth. Parents who decide to give up their child for adoption often face pressure from their family and close ones to keep the child. Although giving up a child for adoption may have negative consequences, it is crucial to understand that, from the viewpoint of child welfare, adoption is a positive choice in certain circumstances.
Main body
There are several negative consequences of giving up children for adoption, and economic concerns are among them since the foster care system in the United States is financed by the government. With almost half a million children in foster care, the share of the 2016 budget devoted to foster care and associated programs was $8 billion (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2015). If more and more parents decide in favor of giving their child up for abortion, this figure will increase further. This could lead to increased taxes or reduced spending on other areas of social welfare, including healthcare, education, and housing.
People who oppose placing children in foster care also stress the adverse effect of the experience on children’s wellbeing. This is particularly true for children who spend a long time in foster care or never get adopted. Deutsch et al. (2015) report that living conditions and social environment in foster care often fail to meet children’s needs, leading to developmental and behavioral issues in future life. Moreover, even children who have been adopted face mental health risks. These children may find it more difficult to form attachments and connect with adults and peers (Carnes-Holt & Bratton, 2014). This could impact children’s relationships with adoptive parents, siblings, and peers, leading to poor mental health outcomes.
Although both of these arguments are valid, there are a number of situations where giving up a child for adoption is beneficial for both parents and children. For instance, Barth and Berry (2017) note that the main reason for birth parents to place children in foster care is poverty. Significant class distinction in the United States means that there are many families who earn far less than required to provide adequate living conditions for children. In these situations, living with birth parents can have an adverse influence on children’s life, health, and future because low-income families often cannot afford high-quality healthcare and education (Barth & Berry, 2017). Conditions in foster care, on the other hand, are strictly monitored to ensure that children’s needs for healthcare and education are fully met.
There are also cases where foster care placement is the best option for mothers’ mental health. This is because unintended pregnancies may result from rape, and abortion may not be allowed due to legislative or health reasons (Barth & Berry, 2017). Raising a child who had been conceived as a result of rape is extremely stressful for the mother and may intervene with her mental health, resulting in posttraumatic stress, depression, and anxiety. Moreover, negative emotions experienced by the mother often impact her emotional attachment to the child (Barth & Berry, 2017). This can be psychologically damaging for both parties, making foster care placement a preferred option.
Additionally, having the option of giving up a child for adoption is beneficial to underage mothers and those living with abusive partners. In the first case, raising a child would have an impact on the mother’s educational attainment and her ability to provide for the child. In the second case, having a child with an abusive partner could prevent the mother from leaving due to financial insecurity. As a result, domestic abuse would affect the child mentally and physically, leading to negative consequences.
Conclusion
Personally, I believe that giving up a child for abortion is a positive thing because it ensures that children’s needs will be met. Both in foster care and adoptive families, living conditions are better than in families that experience poverty, domestic violence, and social inequality. Additionally, the option of placing the child in foster care means that mothers have the autonomy to choose what is best for them and the child. This is particularly important in cases when the unintended pregnancy is a result of rape or when women currently live with an abusive partner. Even if birth parents could afford to raise a child, they might not be ready for parenthood and should have an option to place the child in foster care. This would give the child a chance to find a loving family that will provide for their needs while also allowing birth parents to start a family when they feel ready. All in all, raising a child is a great responsibility, and I think that people should have the opportunity to give a child up for adoption if they do not want to or cannot accept this responsibility at the time.
References
Adoption Network. (2019). Adoption statistics. Web.
Barth, R. P., & Berry, M. (2017). Adoption and disruption: Rates, risks, and responses. New York, NY: Routledge.
Carnes‐Holt, K., & Bratton, S. C. (2014). The efficacy of child parent relationship therapy for adopted children with attachment disruptions. Journal of Counseling & Development, 92(3), 328-337.
Deutsch, S. A., Lynch, A., Zlotnik, S., Matone, M., Kreider, A., & Noonan, K. (2015). Mental health, behavioral and developmental issues for youth in foster care. Current Problems in Pediatric and Adolescent Health Care, 45(10), 292-297.
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2015).HHS FY2016 budget in brief. Web.