Domestic Vs International Adoption

In today's society, the idea of adoption is an open and welcome one. However, the biggest decision in adoption today is whether to adopt domestically or internationally. There is a very large growing trend in international adoptions today. Compared to adoption rates in 1987, in 2004 international adoptions had risen over 200% as compared to an 8% rise in domestic adoptions. After World War II, international adoptions began to rise because Americans began adopting European and Japanese war orphans. However, this was not the only reason for international adoptions. Desperate poverty and social upheaval such as the one child law in China, are factors that have led others to adopt from Latin America and China. Also, after the Child Citizen Act of 2000, international adoptions became easier. This act allowed foreign-born adopted children to become automatic American citizens when they enter the U.S., eliminating the legal burden of naturalization. However, domestic adoptions have continued to be a steady way for many couples to adopt as well. There are many differences in international and domestic adoption and many factors to consider.

The first factor lies in the age of the child a couple is looking to adopt. It is usually very easy to adopt disabled and emotionally disturbed children, but usually parents want healthy children. Often, healthy children are difficult to get domestically. Many families prefer infants or toddlers in order to minimize emotional and developmental problems associated with long-term abandonment and orphanage care. The limited number of infants and toddlers available from domestic adoptions results in many families focusing on adopting a young child internationally.

The next factor to consider is the previous health of children. In domestic adoptions most children are healthy with medical records typically available before and after birth. Families are often able to visit with the doctor at the hospital. In international adoptions medical records are scarce. However, there is a larger total supply of available children for adoption and therefore, a couple statistically has a lower health risk in international adoptions.

Next, a couple must realize that in both international and domestic adoptions, there is a risk of the adoption not working out. In a domestic adoption, birth mothers can change their mind until they sign the legal paperwork. Each state varies on their time frames a birth mother can sign her paperwork, however most states allow the birth mother to sign 48-72 hours after the baby is born. From that point on, in most states, the birth mother cannot change her mind. In international adoptions countries can and do shut down all adoptions in their country. This means any adoptions in the process are stopped. You could be interested in adopting a certain child and it is not uncommon for the orphanage to promise this child to several agencies. The orphanage's goal is to place the children as soon as possible. On the plus side though, international adoptions are more lenient on who they let adopt. This can be a positive for many couples wanting to adopt that are not allowed to adopt domestically. Specifically, homosexual couples are welcomed in international adoptions, yet in some states are not legally allowed to adopt. Also, there are age restrictions for parents over the age of forty that do not apply for international adoption.

One of the biggest factors couples consider, especially concerning international adoptions is the idea of travel. In a domestic adoption only one spouse will have to travel to whichever state the child is born in. Families will have to stay 3-10 days in the state for the court processes and state paperwork that must be filed. In an international adoption both spouses will have to travel to whichever country the child is located. Families will have to stay an average of 3-4 weeks for processing in the foreign country. The length of the stay will vary depending on the country chosen. In some countries, families are required to travel twice.

In some ways, international adoptions may seem more of a risk. The process of international adoption is often burdened with paperwork and is full of delays and poor medical information. When adopting internationally, one must consider many things. The first thing for a couple to consider is that medical information is sparse and often non-existent. Sometimes the countries of the child's origin have severe drug and alcohol abuse. It should also be known that children from overseas orphanages often exhibit attachment and emotional problems. Poor nutrition can lead to major mental and developmental problems. When it finally comes down to bring the child home, travel can be unpredictable and American citizens are not well received in many countries. Language barriers lead to communication failures, delays, and frustration. There can also be instances of significant and unpredictable delays in foreign countries. Also, couples run the risk of countries shutting down their adoption programs.

However, domestic adoptions are not without risk either. In domestic adoptions,