Evening star., 1945-05-01
Adopting a Baby?
By Betty Miles

children spring from good back
grounds, with a heredity of 'eonsid.
cradle intelligence. Others. come
from average families, and still a
third group from families in which
conditions are not ideal. When the
children are placed, an attempt is
made to place them in home that
contains the factors comparable
with their own background and in
telligence, In so far as it may be
judged.
The natural mother is the third
prime factor involved. AS Mrs. Nor
ton pointed out, accredited agencies
discourage the mothers relinquish-
ing the legal right to her child
until sufficient time has elapsed
after its birth for her to get back
on her two feet emotionally. She
has right to think her problem
out carefully, from all angles. This
is essential for the well being of
all concerned, and vital if the
adoption is to be a success.
At one time it was necessary to
wait nine months after the birth of
a baby before placing it, then it
was reduced to six months, and now
it is possible to complete the pro-
lcedure in three. The workers study
the fathers background, as well as
| the mothers, and after birth place
the baby in foster home of an in
telligent woman, SO that its develop
ment may be studied, and, if pos
sible, psychologist may observe
the child. Actually, breathing
spell after birth is important. 1t
gives the agency time to study the
child'S background, to see if the
baby is developing properly, and it
also gives the mother a chance to
evaluate her problem carefully.
The workers also talk with the
home number of times; they talk
with friends suggested by the par
ents. And on the basis of what
they have determined about the
child, and about the couple in
volved, they make their decision
as to the pairing off of couples
and children SO that the greatest
happiness will be achieved for both
This method of placement, of
course, makes it impossible to place
children in the order of the adopt
ing parents application.
Why, We asked, are there more
adopting parents than there are
babies? The answer was simply
this: Into the Baby Pool" as it
were, there go: those who are going
to be taken by relatives, those who
are not normal, mentally or physi-
cally, and those who are normal.
Of these three categories, children
are generally drawn from the third
only, and the care exerted in place
finely drawn.
We learned a few other things
about the beliefs of the council
Couples are advised TO ascertain
definitely their inability to have a
child of their own before taking
steps for adoption. We learned that
if couple is considering adoption,
the odds favor a happier adjust
ment for both the adults and the
child if they adopt while they
! themselves are still young We
learned that subterfuge practiced
in hiding from a child the fact
that he is adopted rarely pays off
Mrs. Norton declares that when
.. he discovers the truth-as he in
: evitably Will-his basic faith in
! his adopted parents is shattered
:. The truth can be explained to him
, so that it becomes part Of his
! store of knowledge, not some bogey
: to haunt him in later years.
, Information concerning licensed
agencies, both public and private, il
the District and surrounding coun-
, ties, may be secured by calling the
: Council of Social Agencies, Metro
, politan 1884, and asking for tn
Family and Child Welfare Divi
sion