Thursday, October 30, 2008

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD?

Recently I read a blog about employers paying some of the adoption expenses for adoptive parents. There is concern about the nation's economy affecting this benefit. It was stated that an adoption expense benefit for employees helps employers to be more competitive. Another statement that saw me see red was that adoption benefits increase employee's attachment to the company and creates positive perception about the company in minds of the consuming public.

Innocent babies placed for adoption due to various circumstances result in companies offering a fringe benefit that helps to make the company more competitive. Are the best interests of the child being thought of or is a company being competitive and the adoptive parents receiving money more important?

I believe that Internal Revenue still allows a tax deduction for adoption expenses. I do know for a fact that IRS did back in the late 1970's when I knew an adoptive mother who could not wait to write off the expense of obtaining their son. It was not too long after that the adoptive parents divorced. I don't know what happened to the son but am guessing that the adoptive mother must have kept him in order to take advantage of any other benefits she might receive from having the son.

If adoptive parents need help with paying the expenses of adopting a child, can they afford to raise the child and provide all the necessities. Are they truely going to care for the child as one of their own or are they going to be looking for ways to benefit financially?

Is making it easier financially to adopt a child one of the reasons why we read in the news about adopted children being abused and sometimes killed?

2 comments:

Triona Guidry said...

Employers paying adoptive parents' expenses really ticks me off. Nobody offered me any money to help pay the expenses of trying to track down my closed adoption records--no tax deductions, no special treatment, just money out of my own pocket. If they're going to pay one way, they should pay the other. Are these companies going to fund these adoptees in gaining information as adults? I doubt it.

Another thing that really bothers me is the church fundraiser to help the happy adoptive couple "rescue" that poor adoptable waif. These would be the same churches and parishioners who turn their backs on mothers in need of resources so they can keep their children, or adoptees/birth relatives wishing to search. One of the biggest opponents to open records is the Catholic Church.

Talk about hypocracy!

Grannie Annie said...

What you are saying is spot on, Mary.

The situation you describe is one more way in which children are being used as a commodity. buying and selling babies still goes on. That certainly is not in the best interests of the child!

Anita