Mon.: Noon - 6pm.
Tues.: Noon - 6pm.
Wed.: Closed
Thurs.: Noon - 6pm.
Fri.: Closed
Sat.: Closed
703-354-7272
Assist@AssistCPC.org
5101-D Backlick Road
Annandale, VA 22003
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Adoption Works!
We have recently received some encouraging information from
The National Council for Adoption regarding adoptive children
and their mothers. There is an important conclusion in the
research on adopted children and women who made an adoption
plan for their children. Research indicates that adopted
children and birthmothers fare much better than their
single-parent counterparts. The fact is that adoption works,
and it works well.
What do the studies say about women who choose adoption for
their babies?
Most of the research has been conducted on teenage women who
relinquish their child to adoption. Compared to their
single-parent counterparts, women who choose adoptions:
- Are more likely to finish school and have higher
educational aspirations;
- Are more likely to be employed 12 months after giving
birth and are less likely to be welfare dependent;
- Are more likely to delay marriage and more likely to
eventually marry;
- Are less likely to engage in risky sexual behavior and
repeat a premarital pregnancy; and
- Are no more likely to suffer any significant negative
consequences and have equally high levels of self-satisfaction
regarding their decision.
What do the studies say about children growing up in
non-related adoptive homes?
Compared with a national sample of all families:
- Adoptive parents are less likely to divorce;
- Adopted adolescents scored higher on indicators of
well-being such as: self-esteem, social compentency,
school performance, friendships, feelings of support
from others, and low levels of anxiety;
- Adopted adolescents scored lower on indicators of
high risk behavior such as depression, use of alcohol,
drinking and driving/riding, vandalism, theft, police
trouble, weapon use; and
- Adopted adolescents are slightly healthier
psychologically than adolescents in general.
In other studies, which yielded similar results:
- Adoptive parents tend to be well above average
in terms of education, income, family stability, and
other characteristics that indicate favorable
outcomes for children;
- Adopted children are more likely to have
better-than-average and proactive medical care;
- Adopted children are among those with the most
favorable overall health status; and
- Adopted children are less likely to repeat
a grade or be suspended or expelled, and do
better in educational attainment than children
living with unmarried mothers or grandparents.
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