In 2005, according to the Child Trends Databank, there were approximately 513 thousand children in the foster care system. You might think that the lifestyle of single adults would be unsuitable for adoption; that these men & women would be too busy for or less financially capable of raising or taking care of a child. But single-parent adoption has actually been found by many to be a positive, and can offer a stable living condition for many kids who may otherwise not be adopted. The benefits of single-parent adoption are that it (1) gives kids in the foster care system steady, stable homes; (2) allows potential adoptive parents to fulfill their desire to raise children; and (3) offers just as stable a living condition as a two-parent household.

First, allowing single-parent adoption gives kids in foster care steady homes and stable living environments. Single adoptive parents have more attention to focus on the child and those who adopt are more mature and well-situated in their professions, according to the findings of a 10-page questionnaire mailed out to 131 single adoptive mothers. The living situation can be more beneficial than a two-parent household, as it gives the child only one set of rules to follow, and has no potential for divorce and the emotional trauma associated therewith. According to , children adopted by single parents “compare favorably” with children otherwise adopted, in healthy involvement with family and friends, as well as in involvement with activities with their own age group.

Secondly, single-parent adoption allows potential parents to fulfill their desire to raise kids. Even without a significant other, some single adults (both men & women alike) feel the desire to share their lives with children. According to , some believe they can provide a better life for the child than can institutions, foster care, or other countries where the child’s needs may not be met. Single adoptive parents are also ideal for handicapped children, who need more love, support, and patience than other children.

Lastly, opening the door to single-parent adoption helps to reduce the stress on the foster care system. Single adoptive parents usually adopt older children whom are less likely to be adopted otherwise, who subsequently “age out” of the system and generally suffer psychological effects later in life. The Washington Post reported in 2004 that about $5 billion of federal funding was going to just part of the cost of foster care. For each child that is adopted out of the foster care system, the less strain the system will put on the federal budget.

In conclusion, I believe single-parent adoption should be encouraged and approved of by our society. It can present a positive for foster care/the government, the potential adoptive parent, and, most importantly, the children who are in foster care.