I do not disagree with the goal, SO. But I do think that it is an absolute necessity that if we are going to offer adoption as an alternative, we also need to make very sure that what we are offering is ethical, uncoerced, and does not cause lifelong damage to either mother or child. We need to make sure of several things. In no particular order: 1) Open adoption needs to be made legally enforceable in all states. If a woman is promised an open adoption, it needs to remain open for the duration of the child's eighteen years as a minor. This will require some changes in the laws of many states. At this time, open adoption is not a legally enforceable arrangement in most states. 2) We need to make it a legal requirement that the mother-to-be receives neutral counseling from an individual with no financial interest in the outcome of her pregnancy. Anything less than fully informed consent should invalidate an otherwise legal adoption. Adoption consent should be held to the same standard as consent for medical procedures. That's only common sense. Fully informed consent would include a comprehensive listing of all the sequelae of surrender, including but not limited to severe recurrent depression, secondary infertility and a PTSD like syndrome which may haunt her for the balance of her natural life. She should also be informed of the sequelae of adoption on her child. 3) We absolutely MUST take the profit out of adoption by subsidizing it. I hate to even suggest it, but do you see another viable alternative other than government subsidy? 4) The adoption records must be opened for several reasons, not the least of which is to force agencies into transparency and accountability in the process. Where large sums of money change hands under conditions of secrecy, corruption is sure to follow. 5) Father's rights need to be more protected. 6) The public needs to be educated about the realities of adoption, the recent history of adoption in America, and the suffering of women who lose children, rather than simply wallowing blindly in the popular mythology.