Outline of Informative Speech

ADOPTION
Informative Speech Outline
By Matthew Zwicker

Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about adoption overall. 

Central Idea: Adoption – What it is, what the adoption process looks like, and the benefits that come with it.

Introduction

I.                   Mother Teresa, Moses, President Clinton and Steve Jobs all have this one thing in common:

A.    They are all adopted.

II.                Likewise, my friend Dakota is adopted.

A.    In his earlier years, his mother put him and his younger brother into foster care, due to circumstances.

B.      After years of moving from foster home to foster home, a generous couple adopted both him and his little brother, to be a part of a loving and permanent family.

III.             After having a deep motivation to learn and understand what Dakota went through, I have done in-depth research on adoption.

IV.             Today, we will uncover a greater understanding of what exactly adoption is as a whole.

V.                In these next few minutes, I would like to show you what adoption really is, what the adoption process looks like, and some of the significant benefits of adoption.

(Transition: First off, let’s look at what adoption is.)

Body

I.                   Adoption comes in many different shapes and sizes.

A.    As defined in an Adoption publication by the Department of Social & Health Service, “Adoption is the permanent, legal transfer of all parental rights from one person/couple to another person/couple.” (DSHS, pg. 1)

B.     Now, you’re probably thinking to yourself “Why would the birth parents put their child up for adoption?” Here are some factors of why they do, and not all reasons are bad: (Kidshealth.org, pg. 1)

1. Sure, there is the stereotype that the birth parents simply didn’t want their child.

2. But some birth parents put their children up for adoption because they decide that they want a better life for their child than what they could provide

                                                                                i.            Such as having insufficient housing, income, or living status,

3. Others believes their child would be better off in another country by means of international adoption,

4. And sometime, parents simply cannot take care of their children due sickness or ailments.

C.     In a recent study in 2008, there were about 500,000 foster children in the United States.

D.    Adoption is a huge need in our world.

E.     Adoption is one of the greatest honors a person/couple may have.

1. It shows that you rescued a child from partial isolation

2. And brought him/her under your wings of tender, loving care.

(Transition: Now that we know what adoption is, let’s understand what the adoption process looks like)

II.                There are 5 steps in the Adoption Process

A.    The first step is to select an agency through which adoption occurs

1. This may be done through public/state Adoption agencies, private agencies, independent adoptions, or step parent and adult adoptions.

B.     The second step is to complete a Home Study

1. A Home Study is basically learning about Adoption and the conduction of background checks.

C.     The third step is to Engage in the Placement Process

1. If pursuing adoption through foster care, agencies have different ways to show the different children waiting for an adoptive family.

2. If pursuing adoption through a private agency, expectant parents may pick a certain family that they feel may fit their child’s need best

3. If pursuing adoption through independent adoption, an attorney may locate a child waiting for adoption.

D.    The fourth step is to file various, yet necessary legal documents.

E.     And the fifth step is to parent the child

1. To be the parent in his/her life, to be the mother and the father that he/she  would have never had.

F.      According to adoption.com, the projected cost of adoption varies from $5,000-$40,000

1. Depending on services provided, travel and birthmother expenses, state requirements, ex cet terra.

2. However, there are many ways to help pay for adoption,

1.      Through tax benefits, loans and employer benefits.

(Transistion: Keeping in mind the Adoption Process, no matter how many financial benefits one gets from adoption, there is no wait to great nor price too much to how many blessings and benefits are shared in adoption)

III.             Adoption is a huge benefit to everyone involved.

A.    “The Adoptive families are granted an opportunity to become parents.

B.     “A child is provided a two-parent home with a stable income.

C.     “A woman, who may not be ready to raise a child, can select a family that she knows will raise her child as she would like to.

D.    Psychological benefits of the child is that her/she may have

1. The love and support of adoptive parents

2. A desirable home and family life

3. Two parents, with the possibility of brothers and sisters

4. And a chance for better education

(Transition: The largest benefit of all is the opportunity to love and to grow with one another)

Conclusion

I.                   Today, we’ve looked at adoption, what it is, what the process is to adopt a child, and a few of the many benefits of adoption.

II.                For Dakota, his dream is to play professional football. He probably wouldn’t have the goals and aspirations that he now has if it wasn’t for his father and mother who adopted him into a home of love and care.

III.             By amazing grace, a child may finally find the security, hope and love that he would have never had had otherwise, through adoption.

Bibliography 

"The Adoption Process." American Pregnancy Association. American Pregnancy Association, 2012. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. <http://www.americanpregnancy.org/adoption/adoptionprocess.html>.

"Benefits of Adoption." American Pregnancy Association. N.p., 2012. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. <http://www.americanpregnancy.org/adoption/benefitsofadoption.html>. 

"Child Poverty and Inequality." Directory for Child Welfare: Adoption / Child Abuse / Child Welfare /child Support / Child Development / Child Care /  Foster Care / Children / Destiny Child / Child Book /  Child Abuse / Child Welfare /child Support / Child Development / Child Care /  Fo. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. <http://www.childwelfare.com/>.
 

"Adoption in Washington State - A Lifelong Developmental Journey" Washington State Depoartment of Social and Health Services. Pg. 1-2. n.d. Article. 15 Oct. 2012. 

"Adoption Costs." Adoption.com. Adoption Media, 2012. Web. 18 Oct. 2012. <http://costs.adoption.com/>.

"Adoption." Kid's Health. Nemours, 2012. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. <http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/families/adoption.html>.

"Why Do People Place Their Children for Adoption?" Adoption.com. Adoption Media, 2012. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. <http://faq.adoption.com/questions/why-do-people-place-their-children-for-adoption.html>.

Kovacs, Jason. "Orphan Statistics." ABBA Fund Blog. Abba Fund, 2009. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. <http://abbafund.wordpress.com/2009/10/16/orphan-statistics/>.