Adoption as a controversial topic

1. ADOPTION
"Both the courage and trust of those who place their babies for
adoption and the enthusiasm of those who adopt them are
overwhelmingly vindicated by the tens of thousands of
successful adoptions that take place in this country every year.―
- The New Yorker, Editorial

2. Outline
 Definition of adoption
 Types of adoption
 Legal conditions in Belgium
 Facts and figures in Belgium
 Famous advocates for adoption
 Famous adoptees
 Famous adoptive parents
 Flemish press
 Public perception of adoption
 Conclusion
 Questions

3. Definition
“A person transfers all rights and responsibilities from
the original parent to the adoptive parent.”
 Permanent
 Comprehensive statuses and regulations
 ≠ guardianship
 Always existed in history Western World
 Open or closed adoption
 Reasons
 Infertility, genetic disease, gay couple,
single parent, general aid

4. Types of adoption
 Private domestic adoption
 Foster care adoption
 International adoption
 Difficulties
 Hague Conference on Private International Law 1995
 Embryo adoption
 In vitro fertilization
 Common law adoption
 No legal process after voluntary co-habitation for certain
period

5. Legal conditions in Belgium (1)
 Adopting a minor child
 Minimum age: 25
 Minimum difference in age with adoptive child: 15
 Adopting a related child or stepchild
 Minimum age: 18
 Minimum difference in age with adoptive child: 10
 Single, cohabiting couple, married couple

6. Legal conditions in Belgium (2)
 Procedure
 Preparational programme
 Psychological aspects of child education
 Juridical aspect of adoption
 After-care
 Approval of Youth Court
 Similar for inland and foreign adoption

7. Facts & Figures in Belgium
 1940 – 1950
 229 adoptions
 2008
 831 adoptions, 239 recognized by an adoption service
 In the Flemish part of Belgium
 an average of 25 Flemish children a year to adopt
 2/3 foreign adoptions

8. Advocate for Adoption
 Oprah Winfrey
 Recently discovered a half-sister was placed for adoption
 Bruce Willis
 ―Too many children in foster care are falling through
cracks… Be a hero—and take the time to learn about
adoption today.‖

9. Famous adoptive parents
 Angelina Jolie
 Maddox, Pax, Zahara
 Nicole Kidman & Tom Cruise
 Isabella & Connor
 Sandra Bullock
 Louis Bardo born in New Orleans
 Hugh Jackman
 2 miscarriages, adopted 2 kids
 Madonna
 David & Mercy

10. Famous adoptees
 Steve jobs
 orphaned as a baby
 Nelson Mandela
 after his father died when Nelson was 9
 Aristotle
 after his parents died
 Nat King Cole
 adopted Carol and Nat Kelly Cole
 Jesus
 Joseph was not biological father, God was

11. Recently released in Flemish press
―Since it became clear that people have to wait eight to
ten years to adopt a child, there is less interest in
adopting. The waiting lists are long because last
year 600 people were given the permission to
adopt, only 120 children were available‖ – De
Standaard
―A study has shown that only a small amount of the
people who are giving their child up for adoption
through a certified adoption agency, eventually really
give their child up for adoption‖ – De Standaard

12. Public perception of adoption
 Survey Evan Donaldson Institute – America
 33% surveyed population:
 adoptees less-well adjusted, more prone to medical issues,
predisposed to drug and alcohol problems
 40% surveyed population
 adoptees have more behaviour problems and trouble at school
 90% surveyed population
 adoptive parents are lucky, advantaged and unselfish
 72% surveyed population
 media give positive impression about adoption

13. Conclusion
 Adoption already exists for centuries
 Advantage
 people who can not have children
 children who are not been taken care of
 Disadvantage
 procedure takes long
 illegal adoptions in the past
 Public perception is wrong
 famous people who are successful, not troubled and
adopted

14. Questions?
 My question 1: “Do you think that you would ever
adopt a child?”
 Infertility
 Single parent
 Gay couple
 Aid
 Genetic disease
 My question 2: “Do you think that you would ever
give your child up for adoption?”
 Your question?