Why do so many people adopt from other countries when there are so many in the US who need loved too?

Question

There are so many children here in the United States who need loving and caring homes. So why do so many people go to other countries to adopt child? I realize it brings a cultural impact to those around the child, but not only is it more costly, but that leaves so many children in orphanages and foster homes just longing for someone to love them too. I understand the desire to help someone, but why can't American's help those in their own country first?

Answer 1

Because  demand far outstrips supply.

Because they want infants.

Because as many here have used this term, they don't want 'baby mama drama', it's easier to pretend adoption is 'as if' if your child's family is poor with no chance of popping up in the future.

But with the advances in DNA, they will all find their families someday, too. ;-)

Answer 2

Most go to other countries because the US makes it so hard to adopt.  Its a bureaucrat's dream and a citizen's nightmare.  The cost to go overseas isn't really that much greater compared to dealing with the US system.  Plus, in the US, the adoption laws change at the drop of a hat (or court decision).  If you adopt a child in the US and a birth parent reconsiders the decision a few years down the road they can show up on your doorstep and get the kid back.  Who wants that kind of heartache?

Answer 3

I am not sure about the US, in Canada adopting locally can take years and ultimately the birth parents have priority so can, later in life, reclaim their child if they prove in court they are capable.  Also, unfortunately, many of the children in the system are special needs cases, and new parents do not feel ready to take that on as their first child.  And rightly so - special needs kids require greater attention and resources and it can very quickly overwhelm a new parent - clearly not in the best interest of the child.

Third world adopting offers a defined timeline and the ability to adopt a new born child.  It also allows the parents to become "experience parents" who, as studies show, are more likely to adopt a second time and more likely to adopt locally.

So, back off, allow them to create the family that they want, and they are likley to stay close to home for future children.

Answer 4

Great question!  I was wondering the same

I'm sure you'll get loads of answers justifying these actions - of course these adopters are heavily invested in justifying their actions.  Most have a savior complex.  But there are ways of helping children in dire need from foreign countries without taking them from their country - lots of ways . . . .

ps. artisag's answer just goes to prove that adoption is all about serving the needs of adopters rather than providing a social service for children - yuk!

Answer 5

I have never adopted but wish I could.  My daughter would be thrilled if I adopted.  I have talked to so many people who have adopted both american children and children from other countries.  And they told me that the reason they adopted from other countries is that the processs in America is so long and drawn out and if something is just a little bit out place you can get turned down.  You can get turned down because of a old arrest charge where you were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. And you did nothing wrong.  That is the reason why.  I do agree that we should help our own country first but the government has made it almost impossiable if you are not rich to adopt.  Or if you are not the perfect person.  Hope this answers your question.

Answer 6

Because that some people realize that while the US foster care system is far from perfect, there are thousands upon thousands of children starving to death in other countries because there is not enough money to feed and clothe them. Not to mention the way that the little girls are treated in countries like China.

As for America's helping American's first, what do you think that all of our tax dollars do?

Answer 7

Because sometimes it is easier.  It may cost more money, but the us has crazy restrictions.  If you have any health problems, even something that is under control like high blood pressure, you can be denied adoption, if you are over weight you can be denied adoption, if you are over or under a certain age you can be denied adoption.  in the us the bio parents have the right to choose who adopts their child, so if they don't like what you do for a living, or how you look, or that you smoke, or anything like that they can choose not to give their baby to you.  Over seas adoptions take time too, but in some cases there is less yellow tape to cross.

you questions comes along with my age old question.  you see the commercials for children in forign countries right, pay this much money a day and this child you have sponsored will be able to eat and go to school and have medical care.  

What about the starving children in America??? Why are we sending our money over seas when there are children living on our own streets here in our own country???

A woman that i know very well told me that our starving children aren't near as bad off as the ones over seas!

WHO FREAKING CARES THEY ARE STILL STARVING!  

Sorry for the rant, but i completely understand what you mean.  just because you can sent 20 dollars over seas and feed a child for a month, and you can keep 20 dollars for a child in the us and it will feed them for two days, doesn't mean you should worry about America's children first.  I would expect all countries to feel that way about their own.

Answer 8

First its mainly bc they want babies. Most of the kids here are older. Its sad but true.

Answer 9

This seems to be a really popular question, it gets asked every week!

We choose to adopt internationally because we wanted to be parents to a child that really needed parents and not be a part of the screwed up system that is adoption and foster care here in the US.

I was moved by the abandonment of girls in China and decided I wanted to give a little girl (or boy) the chance to be somebody, anybody they wanted.

And just so you know we do help kids here, we work with the local Boys & Girls Club and donate to local charities that support children and families.

Answer 10

Actually the screening on adoptive parents overseas adoptions are low. there is no law to protect the child and their family.  I mean Cambodia the adoption process over there was halted for sometime because come to find out some of the birth mothers didn't consent to adoption. they thought they were putting the kids in a boarding school of some kind. these mothers were told "oh we will take care of your child and when you get yourself ready, just come and get them." most cases these parents would go back only to find their child gone. this is so true!! I watched it on dateline, elizabeth vargas did a whole show on it! it was quite distrubing on how this adoption agency lied to these parents on both sides. because the adoptive parents paid them money to get a kid and come to find out the child shouldn't of been up for adoption. If you really want to help, then open your home to kids thru foster care or donate money to charities that go over to these countries so provide schools and meals. but don't adopt overseas because it's the quickest and easiest way to get a child.

Answer 11

Because there aren't enough babies available in the U.S. and people want babies not older children. Most kids available for adoption in the foster care system are over the age of 5. And people don't like the fact that a woman considering relinquishment has the right to change her mind - so they go to a country where that's not an issue.

Answer 12

I think the answer is that there just aren't enough newborn babies available in the US.  People are afraid to adopt older children because you don't know if they've been abused or anything else that could be big baggage later on.  

I also think that more single mothers in the US are raising their kids instead of giving them up.  There are more resources out there for them than there were in the 60's.

Answer 13

THIS IS A HORRIBLE, SELFISH COUNTRY!!!!!  People adopt children from other countries because they have less of a chance to survive if they don't get adopted, it IS CHEAPER, children can't get taken away, there arn't orphanages here so they atleast have somewhere nice to live, and they want to.  You should do research before telling people to go and adopt here.  Kids get taken away here.  How would you like it if you adopted a baby 4 years ago and then one day you are doing laundry and the doorbell rings and the next thing you know, your child is gone.  Plus, the US makes it so much harder to adopt.  I hate it when people try to force others into adopting here.  People always give me dirty looks, rude remarks, and nasty gestures when I'm out with my chinese adopted brother.  Good Luck changing the adoption world...not

Answer 14

Simple. People think it is cool to adopt a child from a foreign country. First celeberties (sp) started doing this, and now it is a fad. It is like buying an expensive dog when you can get one at the pound. Don't take this the wrong way. I was adopted and plan on adopting soon, but people are sheep!

Answer 15

Many people who adopt want infants.  Most women in the US now choose to keep their babies.

And a few selfish (insecure?) and entitled people admit that they get babies from another country so they will never have to deal with or think about the birth family.  In their struggle to erase one family, they take a child out of its family, culture, language, continent.  

I don't mean to say international adoption is always wrong, only that doing it for selfish reasons is wrong.

And Brianna, give me one case.  Just one case in which an adoptive couple whose adoption was legally finalized had to surrender the child at age four.  You can't.  It does not happen.

Answer 16

Many american babies that are put up for adoption are from drug atticks.  When you get a baby oversees, the parents are generally poor. So I believe health reasons are a big issue.

Answer 17

There are several reasons, different for different people.  There are a lot more couples waiting to adopt infants than there are infants being placed for adoption in the U.S., so that could be part of it, although a lot of times when you adopt foreign you don't get an infant anyway.  

I think some people feel that children from 3rd world countries are the ones that can benefit the most by being adopted by people in the US.  Even the people in US who are considered to be living in "poverty" have  A LOT more than people in 3rd world countries.  At least in our country there is welfare through the government, foster care programs, etc.  Other countries don't have all that in place.

I also think some people can't exactly put a specific reason on it, but have just always wanted to adopt from a foreign country.  A lot of the kids being adopted from foreign countries such as Romania ARE in orphanages and adoption gives them an actual home and family.

Answer 18

The process of adoption in the US is long and drawn out and excludes prospective parents for various reasons.

Adoption from other countries is usually easier, faster, less expensive, and uses a more permissive scale for approving parents-to-be.

Hope that helps.

Answer 19

This question has been asked many times.  I'm not going to answer it again.  If you want more answers, look at the last 100 times this holier than thou question has been asked.

Answer 20

I cannot believe some of the selfish, RACIST answers on here! A child is a child  and deserves a loving home and family no matter what country they are originally from.