Why do people adopt children form other countries when there are children HERE?

Question

There are tons of children and teens HERE in the USA with no parents. Every time people adopt kids they have to go to a different country. And is Pi$$es me off like heck. All the stupid soccer moms at my PREPPY school hate have to go to stupid china to adopt.?? WHY?

Answer 1

Not everyone is allowed to adopt a US child.  Not only are there a lot of rules, paperwork, and time consumption, but other things as well.  Often, if the parents are able to have more children, they can't adopt.  Caucasian parents often cannot adopt children of mixed races due to "cultural" differences, and agencies wanting the children to be brought up according to the minority parent's heritage.

Well, sort of...

My ex-wife and I wanted to, but were unable to for these, among other reasons.

Answer 2

A child is a child no matter where there from. All childeren even around the world deserve a chanse at a good life. I do understand what you mean thow, there are lots of childeren here, but thank  God for them that they will grow up here adopted or not they will have chance to make something of there life like I did, But children in different countrys don't have that same oppertunity.

I hope this helps you understand where those people may be coming from.

:)

Answer 3

There are a lot of people who would like to adopt an INFANT.  Infants are harder to adopt in the US.  Could the fact that abortion is so d**n free and easy have something to do with that? Perhaps!  More and more women are killing their babies instead of giving them a chance at life and love with parents that can care for them properly.  Anyone that opens their heart, lives, and home to a child of ANY culture, race, or nationality deserves respect and admiration---not ridicule!

Wow, it's pretty low to give a thumbs down in this instance, but WHATEVER!!!!!!!

Answer 4

most people want babies and its really hard to adopt a baby in the us.  the waiting list is really long compared to going to china and getting the baby before she is 1 (i believe most babies adopted from other countries are female)

most people find it hard to establish a parent/son/daughter  rltp with a teenager.

i do wish that more people would take in these children.  i would if my husband's background wasn't shady.

yes and our adoption laws here are stricter.  i doubt that its cheaper to adopt from another country though.

Answer 5

Well, you also have to consider the fact that some foster care systems are better than other. Taking a child from a poverty stricken chinese village is sort of doing more good than taking one from a foster care system in the US.

You have to realize that regardless of foster care or not, being in the US does give you a lot of opportunities. We even have school grants for foster kids to go to universities and so on. IN reality a foster child in america can do pretty good in the end. IN china, or in Kenya, that is far far from the case.

Adopting from the developing world actually gives someone who has 0 chance a  real chance to have a normal life. In the american system a lot of kids do have that chance even if they are not adopted.

Now i am not saying that one is entitled to have parents and another is not, i am just saying that solely by being American we have a lot more opportunaties and being a foster kid in america is a lot better than being a foste kid in kenya.

Answer 6

i agree with first answer, it because the US has veyr strict laws for adoption like income and marital status.  in other countries they dont have that and its easier to do.

Answer 7

Actually, there are more children adopted domestically than internationally in this country.

Answer 8

Truthfully, I think it is a race issue. White mothers believe that Chinese daughters will be bright, intelligent and compliant.

It is very sad that children here go without out homes, especially African-American children.

Answer 9

All children regardless of where they live, need and deserve a loving home.  Every family has their own reason for choosing the type of adoption that they proceed with.  

Some of my friends chose international adoption because they were concerned with the biological parents trying to come "take" the child away.  With international adoption, this fear is not as strong.

Also, going through the adoption process is not a "guarantee" that you will receive a child.  With international adoption, since the child is already "available" and usually in an orphanage or foster home, there is not as high of a concern about the birth family changing their minds at the last minute.  

Foster care in the US often gets looked over because people are afraid to "foster" children for fear they will bond and the state will then remove the child from your care.  

I agree that I wish it was easier in the US to adopt, especially our foster children, but until there is much reform on all sides of the adoption process, I think families will continue to look outside the US for adoptions, sadly.

Answer 10

God's children live in the U.S. and in Mexico. and in Russia. And in China. Some are young. Some are old. Some are healthy, some have disease and disability. They are all God's children and they ALL deserve loving parents.

Maybe you don't know how big God's heart really is. There is room enough for everyone. Really really.

Answer 11

sometimes it's quicker to get a child especially an infant if you adopt from another country then trying to get a birth mother to pick you.

Answer 12

There are plenty of people who adopt from the US. My aunt and uncle just adopted a little boy from here, and he's adorable and the most wonderful little boy to be around.

I think people adopt from China because there is a high rate of girls being thrown into the trash due to economical standings. Chinese have been under strict rules for quite some time to have only one child - while more are permitted, it is generally looked down upon, so if the child is a girl they literally just throw her out.

Children all over the world need to be adopted and I don't think it's right to judge based upon which family decides to adopt from wherever.

Answer 13

because the adoption laws here in the us are very strict.other countries laws are not as strict.

Answer 14

It's sad, really, how difficult it is to adopt a child in the U.S.  There are so many families who are willing to adopt, but it's so so expensive and you have to jump through so many hoops.  Sometimes it's easier and less heartbreaking to go elsewhere.

Answer 15

It's because they want babies.  China has a lot of unwanted girl babies because in their culture, boy babies are more valued. In our culture today, women are encouraged to keep their babies, so few healthy white babies are available.

A lot of people don't want to adopt older children for any number of reasons.  My relative just finalized his adoption of an 8 year old who was passed over by many couples since her birth, due to her heart problem.  Very sad and unwarranted in my opinion. The state is paying for her health care until after her surgery and followup.  After that, she won't have any more problems.  At least she now has a happy home.

Answer 16

The person that said other countries are less strict is wrong.  Most other countries are more strict because the parents have to follow laws here and abroad.  Many have age restrictions, marriage requirements, and require visits to that country.

Also, as for cultural or race restrictions - with infants, it's the birth mother that chooses the adoptive family (usually, unless she asks the agency to choose but that is rare).  With children that are already in the foster care system the social workers usually hope to keep the child in a home with similar cultural beliefs but they rarely restrict a family due to race. It would have to be an extreme circumstance.   The only exception I know of is with Native American children.  Agreements with many tribes dictate that social workers must make an effort to find a Native American family before moving on to families of other backgrouds.  

Once a child reaches a certain age (12 in most states), they also have a say in which family they are adopted by.  Otherwise it would never work out.

People adopt internationally for many reasons.  Sometimes it's because they have a link to that country.  Sometimes it's because they feel that a child already in America has a better chance of a good life than a child in an orphanage in another country.  And most often it's because the parents want  a young child.  Most of the children in foster care that are available for adoption are 6 years old and above.

The draw to China specifically is that baby girls are available at very young ages.  China restricts the number of children a family can have so the girls often end up in orphanages and the families try again for a boy.  China does have many restrictions, however, like the adoptive parents must be married and both must be 30 years or older.  

In America, babies and toddlers have no trouble getting adopted.  It's the older kids that stay in the system longer.  

The truth is, the older the child, the more issues they have.  These kids have been through a lot in their short lives and it takes a special type of family to adopt them.  Do we need more parents to step up?  Yes?  But it is far better for these kids to stay with good foster parents than to get adopted by parents who just want to "give it a shot".  If the parents aren't properly prepared to for the needs of that specific kid, then the adoption will not be successful.  And that is the most damaging thing that a child can go through.  

Please try not to judge the parents that are adopting internationally.  Kids are kids are kids no matter what country they are born in.  They all need homes and they all need good families.  The parents are making a decision to include another child in their family.  It's a wonderful thing.

Answer 17

I think that the primary reasons are:

- Racism

- Do not want "birth"parents involved

- Global altruism

- Desire for a child as close to an infant as possible

- Do not want to deal with the corrupt US adoption system

- Have a hero syndrome need to "rescue" a child

- Combinations of the above

Answer 18

I'm sure the thousands of kids in the US foster care system dreaming of having a family would agree with you

Answer 19

Despite your display of pure ignorance and lack of respect for those who choose to adopt I'll answer your question.  I think it's self-centered to see the US as the only place to adopt.  We live HERE in the US but think bigger.  We live HERE in the world.  So, as part of the human race who really cares if someone adopts a child from Louisiana or Kenya?  The important thing here is that they are doing what they feel is best for a child in need--regardless of where that child comes from.

Answer 20

As someone who adopted both my kids in China, I will try to answer this question, by explaining all about the different ways people can adopt in the U.S. and why none of them worked for me.

There are several kinds of adoptions you can do here in the U.S., but

basically they fall into three catagories:

1) Independent adoptions, done with the use of a lawyer, a

facilitator, or just plain old advertising and networking (people

still need a lawyer to finalize and a social worker to write up a

homestudy regardless, but I'm talking about the people who help

with finding a birthfamily who wants to place a child for adoption and

taking care of getting the adoption started.)

2) Infant adoption through a private agency.

3) Adoption through a public agency or a private agency placing

children who are in the custody of the state, regardless of age.

All three of these ways of adopting is difficult in it's own way. The

first two are tough in that they require finding a birth mother,

either through an agency of privately. This can take a long or a

short time, depending on your luck. I never liked the idea of selling

myself, and don't like the thought of not being picked, not since gym

class in high school.

The third option is the one that would "help children in need" since

there seem to be plenty of parents around willing to adopt those

healthy infants being placed privately. I don't like the public

agency option because it is really difficult. I have heard enough

horror stories about people who had a revolving door of children pass

in and out of their lives without completing an adoption due to

family reunification and just bureaucratic red tape.

And what I don't like about all three options is that the adoption is

not final for a long time. In NY State, it can take over a year to

finalize, or even more in some cases. In that time, lots of things

can go wrong, birthparents can re-claim children, or more commonly, a

birth grandparent could turn up who wants to adopt the child, or the

state could simply decide not to allow you to finalize your adoption for some reason. And I also did not like the fact that I would not be my child's mother till the adoption was finalized.

Moreover, I don't like all the unknowns - how long will it take, how

much will all the fees be (this is more true of independent

adoptions, where you are dealing directly with the birthfamily

yourself), or even which adoption route is best for you.

In contrast to all this, I found adoption in China to be coherent,

and easily understood. It was also final the day after I met each of

my children. I liked the fact that I could say "I am your mommy" and

it was true almost immediately. While the wait can lengthen, it is

clear when this happens and why, and there is a consistant course the

waiting follows, one that I could get my mind around. The fees were

also understandable, and I could plan for them.

Lastly, why NOT adopt a child from another country. Sure there are

kids who need families here, but there are also kids who need

families THERE. While it is not nice to grow up in a foster home,

growing up in an orphanage is not great either. Many children in

orphanages would be delighted to be in a foster home! I am not so

parochial as to assume that only a U.S. child deserves a family. And

it is not the best reason to adopt out of pity, anyway, but to adopt

because you truly want to be that child's parent.

I hope this answers your question.

Answer 21

Adoption is very difficult in the US there are home studies, fire inspection, safety inspections. and lots of red tape.   If  you want a younger child there are long waiting list and cost lost of money.  The birth mother can change her mind in 30days after you get the child before it is finalized and get the child back  and you are just out money no reimbursement.  When you go overseas you are more likely to get an infant or a toddler.  Birth parent does not show up later and take the child back and the wait is a lot less.  I have a friend who started the process for a child her and overseas at the same time and the child overseas was available first.

Answer 22

It's more expensive here, and the legal process is more complicated and strict.

Answer 23

hasn't this question been asked and addressed a gazillion times????

oh, and jinxed... adoption is not an alternative for abortion.  women who abort do so because THEY CHOOSE NOT TO BE GESTATING FACTORIES. in simpler terms, they don't want to parent, nor be pregnant. don't like that answer, write your congressman(woman) and ask that birth control and education be provided so that unintended births can be reduced.

Answer 24

You do have a good point.  If I was going to adopt a child I would adopt in America.  I do not want a child from another country because it does not make since too me.

Answer 25

Orphans in this country don't have it nearly as bad in other countries. We have government systems in place to make sure they are taken care of; it doesn't always work, but a lot of third world countries don't have these government programs.

Also, a lot of people view there part of America as all of America and don't realize there are bad parts of it as well.

Answer 26

I don't understand why they do that either.  There are so many, many children that are in need of love right under noses and people go out of the country for children to adopt.

Nope, do not understand at all.

Answer 27

I'm sorry you feel this way and are so prejudiced. I think every child has a right to a safe home and loving family. I hope you can learn to treat "the stupid soccer moms.......to stupid china[sic] to adopt??" better some day. They are also US citizens and deserve the same rights as your child has.

Answer 28

Oh wow.  Some of it is to have to deal with natural parents.  Some of it is some countries are easier to adopt in.  It just depends on the individual.

Answer 29

Okay, there are about 1 and a half million adopted children in the U.S. (under 18 years old). Only about 13% were born in other countries. And some of these are Eastern European (like Russian and so on).  You just notice the Chinese adoptees a lot more because they look different from their adoptive parents.