From Publishers Weekly
Mintzer, a journalist and writer of nonfiction books for all ages (Everything Kids' Baseball Book) is also the parent of an adopted daughter and is the co-president, with his wife, of the New York City Chapter of the Adoptive Parents Committee. In this very useful compendium, he combines research with anecdotes from adoptive parents to present a highly detailed guide to all types of adoption. One of the strengths of this guide is the author's objectivity and non-judgmental attitude. He believes that "there is no one-size-fits-all approach" and covers many kinds of adoptions including domestic, international, single-parent, gay and lesbian and adoption out of foster-care and adoption by relatives. The current trend in adoption literature is to favor open adoptions, where the adoptive parents and the adoptee maintain communication with one or both of the birth parents over closed adoptions, where there is no contact. Mintzer presents the arguments for both sides, but maintains that both open and closed adoptions have worked well for families and believes that the decision should be based on what is right for all the individuals involved. Anyone interested in adopting a child will find in this valuable resource a wealth of practical information, such as legalities, costs, useful Web sites, adoption fraud and home study interviews.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
Product Description
As co-president of the New York City chapter of the nations largest adoption support group, co-editor for an adoption newsletter, and former host of a weekly adoption-related radio program, Richard Mintzer is an expert in the process of adoption. This comprehensive and reassuring book combines Mintzers own expertise with anecdotal advice from adoptive parents to help anyone who is considering adoption to make well-informed decisions. It also discusses how to best evaluate adoption agencies and attorneys, and goes through the home study process and the finances needed to make adoption work. Mintzer provides essential information and takes readers through the questions potential parents face when choosing to adopt, including: choosing between a domestic or international adoption, choosing a newborn or an older child, and working with an agency or adopting through independent placement. Many key questions are answered: For which families is open adoption the right choice? Where can a child be adopted by gay parents? What costs and fees are associated with adoption? How can adoption fraud be avoided? How will adoption affect a familys finances? These questions and many others are answered with the credible information every potential parent needs when approaching this challenging process.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.