Why do many Americans adopt children from places like China rather than some American-born minority children?

Question

It would be much less hassle to get an American kid, no? I'm trying to understand the mindset, that's all.

Answer 1

There are very few "American-born" children available for adoption.  Most of the few that ARE available are older children with serious physical and/or emotional problems.  (And no, minority children are no more widely available.  I believe that minority women with unplanned pregancies are even less likely to opt for adoption than are caucasian women.)

So if a couple want to adopt a baby, they usually have to look outside the U.S.  

Answer 2

Sometimes it's easier to adopt from overseas.  For instance, I know two different single women who have adopted from China because in the US they have trouble adopting without being married.

Answer 3

People in the US don't know how bad the system in the US is and feel that children from poorer countries would benefit more by being brought here.

Answer 4

My husband and I have a strong desire to adopt a child from another country.  The reason why we want to adopt from another country is because we feel we have been so blessed and so fortunate to live in our country, we would like to share that blessing with another.  Our country has freedoms that some other countries do not have and if a child in another, less fortunate country, needs a home, we feel it would be a great blessing to that child (and to us!) to share our life with him/her.

We would be totally willing to adopt a child in our own country who is in need of a loving home.  If the opportunity came available to us, we would take it.  We just feel like the child in America has so many more opportunities of adoption than a child from another country so that is why we would pursue it more from another country.

Not all will agree, but that is OUR reasoning.

Answer 5

All kids need homes, it shouldn't matter where they come from, and its easier to adopt from over seas than here in the US, and it gives them a chance for a better life too.

Answer 6

I have been told it's because domestic governments make it take far too long to adopt a baby at "home". If people want an older child, say 3+ it take 9-12 mos, where I live. Babies(less than 2yrs) and infants take way longer unless you do private adoption and well we know that can cause problems. I would think when you have been TTC for years and you decide on adoption the shorter the time frame the better. It might take about 15-18 mos to get a baby from Africa or China. In U.S or Canada 2yrs plus minimum..pretty lame I think.  

Answer 7

from what i hear its actually easier to get a baby from a different country.  here in america you usually have to get an older child

Answer 8

I don't understand it either and it aggravates me to no end that american born children don't have a loving family with a home, but kids from other countries do. That's total BS IMO

Answer 9

loopholes in foreign countries' systems, shorter wait times, less strict application requirements in some cases.  Oh, and China's 1 child limit law in effect until at least 2010 is a BIG factor.  So many 'illegal' babies that the biological parents can't afford the high fines for and 'underground dealers' waiting to profit from it. Saw a special on HBO a couple weeks ago about China.  SO upsetting, many 'only-children' going missing because of the demand.

Answer 10

I am an adoptive parent of children born overseas.  

There are a few misconceptions here that should be corrected.  First of all, infants in the US are not languishing in foster care hoping to be adopted.  For every infant adoption that occurs, there are something like ten couples waiting to adopt an infant.  Some children in the foster care system are available for adoption.  Many, however, are not.  The goal of foster care is not adoption, but rather reuniting the family.  The US foster care system gives the biological parents numerous chances to get their lives together, putting a child back in the home, removing them and sending them to different foster homes, then back with their family, etc. By the time a child is legally free for adoption, there is often some significant needs, emotional/mental trauma and not every adoptive family is capable of meeting those needs.

Fact is, there are children all over the world that need homes.  US and abroad.  I get irritated at the comments "Why go overseas because children here need homes?"  First of all, how many school-age or teenage foster kids have THEY adopted?  Second, why do they feel that the US children should take preference over foreign-born children?  Don't ALL children deserve a home?  Or do the US children just deserve it more than others?

In our adoption journey, we researched every avenue of adoption very carefully (domestic infant, foster adoption and international adoption).  After serious investigation and soul searching, we decided that international adoption was best for our family.  We are not prepared to foster-adopt children at this stage of our lives.  Because of our actions, two children in this world who needed homes, now have one.  

Answer 11

Actually, it's really hard to get an American baby. Then, if you want to adopt an older child (even as young was 2) it's really hard first of all. A TON of legal work. You also need to be able to deal with emotional, physical, and developmental problems the child may have.

It's really not as easy as it looks. But in my opinion, out of country baby is fine. I understand how hard it is. If you are adoption an older child out of country, might as well adopt in the country. They will have the same problems, and possibly worse.  

Answer 12

It's too difficult to adopt an American child, and the ones available are usually damaged older children that are too much stress.. Would you want to adopt an older child who has a history of sexually abusing other children, or starting fires, or who beats his head against the wall? It takes a very dedicated person to deal with that. On top of that, a birth mother can rescind the adoption after you've already started to bond with the child - who wants to go through that trauma?