Nobody’s Children

Series

Series Name

The March of Time 12th Year

Issue

Issue No.

5

Date Released

14 Apr 1947

Length of issue (in feet)

1535

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1Nobody’s Children

Story

Story No. within this Issue

1 / 1

Summary

The March of Time synopsis: In dealing with the problem of child adoption, this month’s March of Time - "Nobody’s Children?" - shows that while thousands of unwanted babies are born each year in the United States conversely there are thousands of couples who, unable to have children of their own, crowd the social agencies of the country with demands for babies to adopt. But there aren’t enough babies to go round, for the demand is about ten times greater than the supply and it often takes two years before a baby is available.

One of the main reasons for this is the extreme care exercised by the social agencies in seeing that adoptive babies are placed with the proper parents - a process demanding time and trained personnel.
Following the interview at the agency, the home environment of the applying couple is thoroughly checked by the social worker, for while the ideal home need not be luxurious it must offer the child a promise of adequate care, security and affection. Alternatively the agency also takes every precaution to ensure that applicants shall get a baby who will be a source of happiness and a credit to his adopted parents. Not only must the child be sound in body but he must meet mental standards appropriate to the home he is expected to enter. To achieve this the physical condition of the children is studied closely over a period of time, during which their growth and behaviour are under constant supervision, and, when possible, the medical histories of their families are examined for any sign of hereditary weakness or disease so that it may be treated or reckonde with in determining the kind of home in which they will be placed. But whether the child and the adoptive parents are ultimately right for each other can only be gauged by months of living together. For this reason the first year is regarded as a trial period, during which time the parents may give up the child, or, if the arrangement should not be working well, the baby may be taken away by the agency. When the adoption has proved successful it is made legal and binding by court action, giving the child all the rights of one born to the family, including the right of inheritance. Many couples, the film points out, fail to realise that no hurried decision should be made in a matter destined to have so deep and lasting an effect upon at least three lives. Resenting the safeguards devised for their own protection, too often they turn to the dubious baby "black market" frequently with disastrous results to all concerned.
This situation, says the film, could be changed if more people can be persuaded to adopt older children who, bereft of relatives, are in the truest sense nobody’s children.

Researcher Comments

This story was included in Vol.13 No.5 of the US edition.

Keywords

Children; Social welfare

Written sources

Monthly Film Bulletin   Vol.14 No.160 April 1947, p57.
The March of Time Promotional Material   Lobby Card, Used for synopsis

Credits:

Production Co.

Time Inc.