When international adoption became common in the U.S. after World War II, “proxy adoptions” let Americans adopt thousands of children in foreign courts–especially in Japan, Greece, and Korea–by designating a representative to act for the adoptive parents. Thus the children entered the U.S. as the legal children of their adoptive parents. While enabling adoptions which doubtless improved the living conditions of many children, this process also left out the standards involved in adopting a child in the U.S. , such as the background checks and social worker visits to prepare and follow up on the adoptive family. By contrast, adoptions … Continue reading →