3) Do ongoing research to understand the cultural/economic/political, etc. context in which adoption from these countries takes place.

–Work to understand the role of orphanages within these specific cultures. Do orphanages function as boarding schools for the poor, as temporary social safety nets for children whose families intend to continue to raise them, as repositories for abandoned children, as homes for true orphans, or ????? Do not assume that orphanages are the same kinds of institutions in every culture.

–Build a broad understanding of the reasons why children are likely to be relinquished for adoption in these countries by beginning to understand the country’s’ culture, politics, economics, etc. especially as they relate to poverty, unwed pregnancy, the roles of women, class & family structure, customs related to childbearing & raising etc., etc. etc.

–Understand what part adoption–domestic and international–plays for orphanages. What percentage of children are available for adoption? What percentage is placed domestically? What percentage of children are sent abroad? What is the incentive for sending children abroad? How does the fact that
children are being sent abroad affect domestic adoption within the sending country?

–Examine whether the true need for international placement of children has changed over time.

–Find out all you can about how real orphanages function for children–not just orphanages that place children internationally, but other orphanages. What percentage of orphanages in these countries place children internationally? What is their reputation as compared to other orphanages?

–Monitor news related to these concerns

–Share what you learn with others

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Categories:

Adoption, Guest writer

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