When a parent, young or old, finds themselves in the unfortunate position of not being able to raise their child; the weight of this reality can nothing less than crushing. Some at-risk parents don’t have the where-with-all or the courage to make the decision to place their child for adoption. Some parents, due to addiction, neglect, or lack of capacity spiral out of control until their children are abused, neglected, and in the care of the State.
When parents do turn to adoption, how do they find adoptive parents that will raise their children like their own and love children with every fiber of their being? Sometimes prospective placing parents turn to family to raise their children. Often times an aunt, uncle, cousin, or grandparent is the most likely and most fitting landing place for an at-risk child to find a permanent home.
For many would-be placing parents, however, placing a child with extended family is simply not an option. Where does a placing parent turn in these situations? The most important thing going through a placing parent’s mind is the burning question, “Am I making the best parenting decision for my child?” Where will a would-be placing parent turn, when they don’t have family, to find the kids of adoptive parents to love and nurture their child for the rest of their lives?
For many would-be placing parents and would-be adoptive parents, the matching process is happening on Instagram and Facebook. However, both prospective adopting and placing parents should take caution … the process of transferring legal rights from one parent to another can be laden with many legal hurdles. At the risk of sounding self aggrandizing, helping families navigate this process is what we do … and we love it!
