International Adoption(Didn't explain everything last time!)?

Question

From my last question many people suggested international adoption. My husband and I talked it over and decided that would be best.

We were wondering, what is the best country to adopt from. We want to adopt from a country with a lot of children that need to be adopted and that is going through a lot of rough times. We were thinking about Africa, but what other countries are best to adopt from?

Thanks in advance!

PS: We have tried to adopt from the US for 9 YEARS and we've had a rough time. So now we're turning to international adoption.

Answer 1

Why do I feel like I stumbled on the QVC "get yourself a kid" channel?  I mean, OMG, are we talking about dandy little trinkets here or HUMAN BEINGS???

This is nauseating.  As an adoptee, this question and most of the answers are about as insulting, DEGRADING, and inhuman as I have read today.

KIDS ARE NOT TRINKETS TO BE HANDED AROUND!!!!

Good god I am going to go puke up my pesto now.

Answer 2

i know China gives them away like t-shirts at baseball game!

would be easy to get one from China.

if you want to go to some like poor country, africa is a good start....anywhere in Africa really (Zimbabwea, somalia, south africa) im thinkin maybe Timor-Leste, Yemen, maybe even Cuba??

Answer 3

China does not give them away like t-shirts! Idiots abound....

We adopted from China almost 2 years ago and there are many more restrictions today than there was then. The wait time for a healthy child (we adopted special needs) is over 2 years now and seems to only be increasing.

Guatemala is in an awful mess and personally there is no way I would even consider adopting from there cause of all the corruption going on.

Russia has been shut down in the past but I do believe some agencies have been accredited.

Africa does seem to be the 'easiest' right now. I hate using that word cause nothing about adoption is easy but it does seem to be pretty stable and without issues of child trafficking.

Answer 4

China would be the easiest because of their one child only law. And if you want a little girl, you could adopt from there because more girls then boys are adopted there.

But Africa would be a good place to adopt. It's a VERY poor continent and you would be given a lot of children.

I would also suggest other countries in Asia. They really need help too.

So I would go with China or a country in Africa(perhaps Uganda or Zimbabwe).

Answer 5

Hi Britany:

For a good overview of the international adoption process along with a country-by-country breakdown, check out the book: How to Adopt Internationally.  Make sure you get the most recent edition.

Also the State Department has information listed by country as well.

I'd also recommend the site: Informed Adoption Advocates.

If you're looking at African adoptions, there are several African countries with adoption programs.  We adopted from Liberia.  Feel free to drop me an email if you have specific questions.

Best of luck to you.

Answer 6

"We want to adopt from a country with a lot of children that need to be adopted"

--ok...how about the U.S. FOSTER CARE SYSTEM?

with all respect...

you can't score a kid the "old fashion way" nor wish to wait it out for an american kid (which is most likely because you are looking for a "gerber babe" fresh out the oven, instead of looking into foster care), so now you are schemeing on poor third-world babies???

i'm sorry, how's this about the child, again???

ETA: i can't even comment on the "china gives them away like t-shirts" retort.  and some people wonder why the rest of world think of westerners as uncultured bafoons!

Answer 7

Hi Britney,

I remember figuring out the best way to become parents was overwhelming and the 9 year wait you have already endured must have been very taxing, so believe me when I say I understand how much you wish to be a mom.

As an international adoptive parent myself, it would be extremely hypocritical to try and shy you away from international adoption when that is exactly how I became a mom and frankly, if China had not gone to such a standstill, then I would have done it again in a heartbeat.

As you have already waited 9 years, I don't believe that adopting from China is the right option for you, as currently they have a backlog of about 30,000+ dossiers, so you would be looking at 5+ years. However, if you wished to adopt an older child (over 7) or a child with special needs, then your wait time would be reduced significantly, though it would still be at least a year.

Our IA agency is really pushing people away from their China program and into the South Africa or Ethiopia programs because of the shorter timeframe and the very real need.

Currently we are pursuing our second adoption through foster care. I am only guessing, but I think you may have your heart set on adopting an infant, and again, I understand that as I felt the same way. But I have to tell you that when I went to our first foster care seminar and they showed us all the profiles and we watched about 3 hours of video, I was amazed how my heart was pulled towards the older children. You may feel the same. Also, there were infants (8 months old) , toddlers and kindergarteners.

If you choose to go IA then please do your research on everything from culture to local traditions to language to food. I cannot stress enough how important these things are. They ARE your child. And regardless if you go through foster care or IA, also read up on attachment parenting, RAD, ADHD, the effects of FAS and anything else you can get your hands on.

Good luck!!!!

Answer 8

Ethiopia is probably the easiest and less expensive country right now...

have you tried adopting for the US foster care system?

Answer 9

You'll need to explain how IA adoption would be easier for a child. Losing your heritage and culture as well as language and all that is familiar.

I would suggest investing into an organization trying to help build up communities and or mothers trying to keep their children because the can't get jobs that don't exist.  They don't want some foreigner taking their babies. Come on, step into reality.

Answer 10

Dear Britney,

Here is my advice, you can take it or leave it.

Adoption should be about the children.  What is best for the children.  Finding the best parents for the child and not finding the right child for the parents.  That is why i support foster care.  Some of the healthiest children in foster care are siblings groups.  You could adopt a newborn, 2 yr old, and 4 yr old and have an instant and complete family.  Just a thought.  I think YOU would be awesome as a foster parent.

For the most part i am against domestic adoptions.  

Now we are in murky waters with International adoptions, for me.  If you look at it from the child's point of view, he/she will lose their parents, language, culture, and everything that is familiar to them.  On the other hand, children are actually dying in Africa.  They are dying from starvation, malaria, hiv, etc.  Mainly things that are preventable.  Money you send could make a difference.  For years my husband and myself have sent at least 10% of our income to feed and vaccinate Africa's children.  Its not even a dent.  So i'm out to lunch on a finally decision whether its wrong or not to adopt from Africa.

If you do your research and find foster care is not for you, then do your research into Africa adoptions.

http://www.informedadoptions.com/

This is a great website to start.  I hope i helped and didn't confuse you more.  We have adopted from Ethiopia after being turned away from foster care.  Feel free to email me.