An honest look at the history of adoption
The history of adoption covers decades of changing attitudes and approaches — ranging from secret births and sealed documents to open records and the possibility for communication among all family members involved.
Before adoption became a widely accepted life event, many “best practices” came and went. Most of which would not be considered “best” for anyone today, but it is part of our history.
The evolution of adoption: ensuring child safety and honoring family bonds
The early 1920s marked the beginning of a new era of adoption, one that emphasized the safety and well-being of children being placed in homes.
Child welfare agencies were organized to conduct home studies and background checks on potential adoptive parents. Eventually, birth parents were given the opportunity to take part in the process of selecting potential adoptive families and greater emphasis was placed on maintaining connections with the child’s genetic extended family network.
These changes had an overall positive impact and spawned decades of reunions and ongoing relationships between adopted children and their birth families. Over time, millions of lives were touched as all members of families formed through adoption experienced their own unique journey.
Adoption through the years
What’s happening with adoption now?
While adoptions still occur, they’re far less common than they once were. Fewer birth mothers are choosing adoption, partly due to shifting societal attitudes and reduced stigma around single motherhood. At the same time, the cost of private adoption has skyrocketed making the process less accessible.
