Boston College Law School Faculty Papers

Title

Adoption Laws and Practices in 2000: Serving Whose Interests?

Document Type

Article

Comments

Printed version appears in Family Law Quarterly 33 (1999): 677-689.

Abstract

After enactment of the first modern state adoption statute in 1851, adoption in the United States evolved as both a state judicial process and a specialized child welfare service to promote the best interest of children in need of permanent homes. This essay reviews developments during the last quarter of the century that force us to ask whether U.S. adoption is meeting the needs of children, its original child welfare intent, or serving the interests of adults.

Date of Authorship for this Version

January 2000

Keywords

adoption, Interethnic Adoption Provisions, child protection system, private adoption, Adoption 2002 Initiative, Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, intercountry adoption, transracial adoption, Adoption and Safe Families Act, Holt International, MEPA