Adoptions Part Of Big Social Problem

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31676, 11 May 1968, Page 17

Adoptions Part Of Big Social Problem

(SpiciaUv writttn for "Th* kV I

K. D. COATES)

The wish of most couples who decide to adopt a baby is Still for a fair-haired baby girl, and today that request has a much greater chance of being granted. Instead of long lists of would-be parents waiting for suitable babies, the situation has changed over the last ave years to a complex operation of matching parents with babies available.

This is becaose during this period, the number of illegitimate births has risen by more than 40 per cent. Not all baVlet born to unmarried mothers are available for adoption by new parents, but approximately half of the total number is. About 16 per cent are kept by the natural mother, about 20 per cent stay with parents or others who are living together, or have some sort Of living arrangement, and 14 per cent are not officially traced.

Although these figures show that illegitimate children are brought up outside the framework of the law which governs adoption, all couples who seek to adopt one or more babies are involved at some stage with the Child Welfare Division of the Education Department. For officers of the department, helping to ensure that these babies ate placed with the right parents has become an increasingly important and complex task. As it is a magistrate who finally decides whether a child can be legally adopted, and he is guided in making his decision by. a report from a child welfare officer, the division is in effect a “gobetween” agency working in the interests of the child between magistrate and wouldbe parents. Qualifications Who can adopt a child? The answer is laid down in the Adoption Act, 1955, and, broadly, the person adopting has to be aged 25 years or over, and at least 21 years older than the child; or to have attained the age of 21 and be a relative. There are other restrictions on adoptions, and as is to be expected anyone with a serious criminal record is not allowed to adopt a child. Subject of course to the Magistrate’s consent, a single person may adopt—the Act refers “an application made by any person Whether domiciled in NOW Zealand or not” The Magistrate must be satisfied that every person applying for his approval to adoption “is a fit and proper person to have custody of the child and of sufficient ability to bring up, maintain, and educate the child.” Child welfare officers work closely with voluntary agenciesin making placements of

babies which come forward for adoption. These include the Motherhood of Man organisation and various church social service organisato ensure babies toe matched with parents as near perfectly as possible. It pointe out that although some adopting couples take the attitude that any baby Will do, this is not the case, and matching personality, intelligence, and background are important in the interests of both child and parents.

Questions as to health, 1 family, personality, education, 1 intelligence, hobbles, Interest 1 in sport, music and reading 1 are asked of both mother and 1 adoptive parents by this par ticular agency. Some of these questions are 1 asked by the Child Welfare ' Division which has to deal . with all babies which become ; available for adoption—not ’ just those of a socially acceptable background. Medical Report It is felt though that there is a duty to give adoptive parents an idea of what they are getting, and there are certain characteristics that can be detected soon after birth—particularly physical ones. In most cases a paediatrician or doctor is requested by adopting parents to make a thorough check of the child. From a human point of view, all children need proper care, no matter what their condition. Some very few are bom doomed to a life of Institutional care, and require this whatever the circumstances of their birth. But as one social worker pointed out, almost any child without a normal home to grow up in deserves adoption and the opportunities and rights enjoyed by others. It can be argued that the handicapped child, because of its special needs, requires adoption even mdre than a normal child. Child welfare officers admit that babies of mixed race are more difficult to find adoptive parents for than others. But the national organisation of a State agency helps in that suitable adoptive parents may be found in Auckland or Wanganui for > baby bom in Christchurch, and vice versa. A sample of Illegitimate babies born in Christchurch showed that nearly 70 per cent were bom to mothers aged between 16 and 20. Away From Home It also showed that many girls travel away from home to have their babies—the sample showed that 49 per cent were of local origin; 25 per cent came from other parte of the South Island; 17 per cent from the North Island to Christchurch; and 9 per cent from overseas. Other samples showed some variation. Many unmarried mothers have no wish to involve the natural fathers of their babies. But it is possible for the father to register the birth, with the mother. One social service agency reported recently that in eases where the natural father had done tills, had been inters viewed and accepted responsibility, he had been most anxious to co-operate. All I asked to contribute financiI ally had done so, although the number was small. I Assistance may be obtained I by the mother from the Child I Welfare Division to establish I paternity of the child in I court, and to obtain a mainI tenance order.

In most cases, the natural father does not figure in the adoption proceedings, and most girls wish it this way. But it must be remembered that the way is open for a baby to be placed in a foster home WH it te l legato adopted by the mother, both parents, or of course adoptive parents. “Testing Time” Built into the law in each adoption is a “testing time” before • Magistrate, providing -all is in order, an interim order is made for at least Six months. and no I longer than 12 mouths. This period allows adoptive I parents to assess their abilities before application for a final order is made. In both I cases, reports are made by a child welfare officer who will visit the home and interview I parents. I According to the Child I Welfare Division in ChristI chureh, the majority of I adoptions work out well, and I most adoptive parents are I delighted.-As with any human I situation, there are difficulI ties with some, but these are I unusual and usually minor. Some people who want to I adopt a child are clearly I unsuitable, especially where I there is disagreement I between husband and wife. I To there the child welfare I officers have to be diplomatiI cally firm. I In giving her consent to I the adoption of her child, a I mother may nominate the | religion it is to be brought | up in. The home selected | must conform to this condi- | tion.

Identity Not Known Neither the unmarried mother, nor the adoptive parents, need know each other’s identity, and fre-

uently this is the care. This i achieved When it comes to signing the relevant forms by using a system of numbers instead of names. Sometimes the mother will insist that she know who the adoptive parents are; this can be arranged, but it narrows the choice of parents for the child, as they too must agree with this. Records of adoptions are treated as strictly confidential.

No adoption is normally approved by a Magistrate without the consent of the mother, although there is provision for this to be dispensed with when a parent or guardian has abandoned or neglected the child, or has persistently ill-treated it Section VII of the Act says that a document signifying consent to an adoption shall not be admissible, unless there is a certificate that a Magistrate, a registrar of the Supreme Court or of a Magistrate's Court, or a solicitor, or a judge, commissioner or registrar of the Maori Land Court has personally explained the effect of an adoption order to the person giving consent In theory, therefore, the explanation and certificate could be supplied by the registrar of the Magistrate's Court. But in practice, this is usually done by a solicitor, and fees charged accordingly. One controversial aspect of adoption In New Zealand is the payment of around $6O in fees—most of Which is involved in payment of solicitor’s expenses. Once a final adoption order is made, the child, to use the legal phrase, becomes as if he “had been born to the adoptive parent in lawful wedlock." At present if adoptions work out well, it is the most effective way of dealing with the most important effect of rising illegitimacy. Preparations But agencies are realising that adoptions have more : chance of succeeding if 1 adoptive parents are properly ! prepared—how should they ; treat the child and what and when should they tell him?; ' the attitude of in-laws and grandparente. These and other questions can well be dis--1 cussed with benefit before a child is actually adopted. As for the rising illeglti- ; macy rate itself—child wel- ' fare officers are hopeful It 1 will decline. The proportion of young women of childbearing age is higher now than in the past, and may not always bo so. i Less optimistically they , point to a permissive society, ■ and in many cases the irresi possible attitude of some ■ youths who “shack up” with ’ young girls at various t addresses or “fiats” in the I city. These are a small pro- , portion of today’s youth, they i admit, but a number of illegitimate births do result from i this sort of situation.

A worrying statistic is that whereas in 1962 we had one illegitimate birth for every 44 single women of childbearing age, in 1966 we had one in 38.

Many unmarried mothers, they say, come from “respectable homes,” but where the relationship between parents and daughter has become remote and unhappy this in turn can be due to tension and breakdown in husband-wife relations. Many young girls become pregnant, it is stated, through being confused, unhappy and worried, and bestowing their affection on the first young man who happens along. Illegitimate births constitute a major social problem in New Zealand, and indications are that the problem will be with us for a long time to come.