Programs: The Need for Education
A lack of current information
Many people do not understand how adoption works in the US today; it has changed SO much in the last 25 years. Open adoption is now the norm across the country. Many States are working on getting post-adoption contact agreements (PACAs) in place and court-enforceable. They give birth parents the chance to stay in contact. And that is a huge change from the “old days” of traumatic, secretive, closed adoptions.
Misconceptions; it’s NOT foster care!
Many people confuse voluntary infant placement with foster care. Making a truly voluntary, informed adoption plan is entirely different from having your children removed and placed in foster care. In today’s open adoption, the birth parents choose the adoptive parents; and even meet them. They can choose parents who will honor their values.
Social pressures to parent
Crisis pregnancy centers and women’s health clinics often don’t know enough about adoption to speak confidently about the topic. While most people in general society do view adoption favorably, actually placing a baby in an adoptive family is entirely different. It can be an uncomfortable conversation, mostly about shame, embarrassment, and timing.
All of this contributes to the still-prevalent stigmas against adoption.