Effects of Single Parent Adoption on a Child

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The modern society of the United States has recently exhibited a rise in the numbers of single parent adoption. The most extreme increase lies in the Hollywood sector of social media that can be commonly observed on nationwide celebrity news channels such as TMZ, E-TV, and Access Hollywood. The big question brought forth to most tabloids and dinner tables across the country inquires whether or not these adoptions are morally acceptable and if the law should permit them. However, the government has already allowed this type of adoption. Therefore, it is not as important to debate this issue, as it is to take into consideration the effects of the standard that has been set forth and determine a course of action that should be taken in response.

Single parenthood has been known to bring certain statistics with its existence. For example, more than fifty percent of the prison population and sixty three percent of suicides in the U.S. are associated with individuals raised by a single parent (Wall). After stumbling across these steep figures, my interest was sparked and an even greater questioning of this trend was engendered. For a country that once deemed single mothers as outcasts, what could shift the eyes of the criticizer and open the doors of an adoption agency that places children by choice under the care of a single parent? The research of this essay will be concentrated on the effects of single parent adoption on the child. Will the adopted child face the same issues as the children who are raised in a single parent home by circumstance or will their upbringing be different based on the fact that their parent chose to take on parenting alone?

Donaldson 2

Single parent adoption has existed for decades, but was under parti...

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...e Association, n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2014.

"Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Foster Care." Kentucky: Cabinet for Health and Family Services. N.p., 10 Nov. 2013. Web. 12 Feb. 2014.

Herman, Ellen. "Adoption History: Single Parent Adoptions." Adoption History: Single Parent

Adoptions. University of Oregon, 24 Feb. 2012. Web. 12 Feb. 2014.

Wall, Kathryn. "Statistics Reveal Stark Challenges for Children Raised in One-parent

Households." Springfield News-Leader. Gannett, 24 Nov. 2012. Web. 12 Feb. 2014.

Vandivere, Sharon, and Karin Malm. "Adoption Expenses." Adoption USA:. U.S. Department of Health and Family Services: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, 18 Nov. 2009. Web. 18 Feb. 2014.

United States. US Census Bureau. Adoptive Single Parents and Their Children:2000. By Rose M. Kreider. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Google. Web. 19 Feb. 2014.

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