When I meet with anyone who is interested
in adopting, I am looking for a person who can provide a nurturing, secure,
stable and loving home for a child. I want to be certain that they are prepared
to meet all of the child's medical,
psychological, social, academic and
recreational needs. I want to assess their potential for parenting, including
their ability to be flexible and resilient. I want to be sure they understand
that adoptive parenting is different; that it adds a complexity
to their own and their child's lives and to their family. LBGTQ families are no
different. Whether there is one mom or dad, or a male or female couple.
In fact, how an LGBTQ individual or
couple have handled their "coming out" and integrated into their family and community is
a good indication of how they will handle another personal and family life
event.
Many LGBTQ families and
heterosexual couples who are blending families (including the adoption of one
another's children) choose to pursue a Second Parent Adoption to legalize the
parental relationships of both adults in the family. WHAT'S A SECOND PARENT
ADOPTION first appeared in the American Fertility Association
(now known as Path2Parenthood) Annual Guide.
I am honored to have been part of
so many adoptions of children in LGBTQ and blended families and look forward to
many more to come.
Kathy Ann Brodsky, LCSW is a New York and New Jersey licensed social worker, adoptive mom and advocate for ethical adoption practice. She has prepared thousands of adoption homestudies, counseled adoptive parents and parents-to-be, and has trained professionals to work with adoptive families. She was Director of the Ametz Adoption Program from March 1992 to March 2015. She is Head Writer for Adoption.net, member of the Adoption Advisory Board of Path2Parenthood and has a private practice in New York City. She was a member of the Advisory Board for POV’s Adoption Series and named an “Angel in Adoption” by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption in 2001. Follow or reach her at ADOPTION MAVEN BLOG or EMAIL.
Kathy Ann Brodsky, LCSW is a New York and New Jersey licensed social worker, adoptive mom and advocate for ethical adoption practice. She has prepared thousands of adoption homestudies, counseled adoptive parents and parents-to-be, and has trained professionals to work with adoptive families. She was Director of the Ametz Adoption Program from March 1992 to March 2015. She is Head Writer for Adoption.net, member of the Adoption Advisory Board of Path2Parenthood and has a private practice in New York City. She was a member of the Advisory Board for POV’s Adoption Series and named an “Angel in Adoption” by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption in 2001. Follow or reach her at ADOPTION MAVEN BLOG or EMAIL.
