Adoption Photolistings of Children - Not in a Child's Best Interests

On my computer screen is a picture of a girl, “Pretty and vivacious”. Another girl is described as “very glamorous”. On another page an African American girl is listed as “currently in therapy” and “developmentally delayed”. A boy is described as “on medication to assist him with symptoms of ADHD.” and “does not have contact with any of his family members.” One girl “is very sensitive, can misread social cues and often believes people are making fun of her”. A girl “occasionally exhibits disruptive behavior”. A boy of 16 is described as an “attractive little boy”.

All of the pictures have the child’s first name included. Is this a fraternity boy’s prank? Who would put pictures of children on the web with their names and such descriptions?

The website is one of many on the internet advertising children. Near the listings of older children are listings of couples, singles and gay people who “look forward to expanding our family and cherishing the addition of a new baby”. None of the prospective adopters’ ads says “occasionally exhibits disruptive behavior” or “can misread social cues”, although surely it happens. Even listing their ads seeking an infant shows great insensitivity toward children who have been advertised as available for years.

“This is such an invasion into these kids lives, exposing to the entire world that they are an orphan or making it out that they haven’t got parents that love them.” emailed one woman who had been in an orphanage as a child. “And with these girls it looks like they are advertising their sexuality. It could cause some creep to come forward and adopt these young girls.”

“If it gets children adopted, it’s worth it.” I’m told by a woman at one agency. I imagine her picture on the web with a description like this: Helga, age 22 “Sometimes insensitive, slightly challenged, needs help to learn to consider others feelings.”

One more click and I find myself at the Rodent Adoption Listing website which displays a picture of a 12 month old Champagne Hood and a 6 month old Mink. “These two girls are very sweet, friendly, active and extremely outgoing.”

Several websites caution people not to say children are “put up” for adoption because it brings to mind the time when children were literally placed on raised platform at a public meeting like so much meat. Isn’t the adoption photo listing just as humiliating? Even the rodents get a nicer advertisement than the kids.

Laurie Frisch

Adoption Photolistings - Why are so many kids up for adoption?

Children "put up" for adoption often have family members willing to care for them. The reason the majority of kids are taken into the "system" is for "denying critical care" - factors associated with poverty, rather than child abuse. Social workers terminate parental rights without really giving adult family members a chance to get custody or file for adoption.

"We give relatives ample time to come forward" is the social workers "line". But do they ever actually try to keep kids and their families together? Gevernment funding makes it attractive to "place" a child in foster care rather than "place" her with a relative who is not a foster care provider. Usually the child is "placed" with "fost-adopts" - people who may be desperate to get a child. The social workers make friends with the fost-adopts and want to provide for their needs, rather than the child's needs. A fost-adopt has a choice and may decide not to adopt the child, but the child - who nearly always wants to go home to family - may not get a choice.

Some natural parents may not have the medical benefits they need. In some cases, the only way they can get their children help is by relinquishing them into state care. This is a tragedy.

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• Pro-Life Views - Comparing Adoption and Assisted Suicide