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Most Adoptions Occur because of Infertility
There are many reasons why people choose to adopt. One of the less surprising adoption facts is that 95% of people who adopt do so because of issues with fertility. Other reasons to adopt may include: compassion, an unwillingness to add to the worldwide problem of overpopulation, health concerns regarding pregnancy and childbirth, and to avoid passing on inheritable diseases.
60% of Orphans Spend up to Five Years in Foster Care before Being Adopted
Adoptions Percent of Foster Kids
One in Three Children Adopted from Foster Care Is Adopted by Parents of Another Race
Percent of Adopted Children by Race
Adopted Families Have More Complex Structures
Children who are adopted from foster care tend to be adopted into families with more complex structures than those experienced by other adopted children. This is largely because 40% of children who are adopted from foster care are adopted into families where there are already at least three other adopted and birth children. This creates a far more complex family structure.
An Adoption Can Cost Up To $50,000
Of all adoption facts, one of the most surprising is that both domestic and international adoptions have similar costs. Any adoption can cost in the range of $25,000 to $50,000. However, there are unique costs attributed to domestic and international adoptions. International adoptions often incur additional expenses, such as the cost of visas. On the other hand, parents who adopt locally often have to pay for the birth mother’s medical bills, and sometimes her rent and other living expenses. Other factors that have been shown to affect the cost of an adoption include the race, age, sex, and origin of the child.
Seven US States Legally Enforce Open Adoption
Adoption Rate by State
LGBT Adoptions Are Not Legal Everywhere
LGBT adoptions are adoptions where the adoptive parents are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender persons. This is one of the more controversial adoption facts, and the legal status of this type of adoption varies between, and within, countries. It is estimated that 65,500 adopted American children have a gay or lesbian adoptive parent. Interestingly, statistics show that same sex adoptive couples tend to be older, more educated, and have more economic resources than other adoptive parents.
New Restrictions in China Slowed International Adoptions
China introduced new restrictions for foreign adoptions in May 2007. According to the new rules, a single woman may only adopt a child if she adopts a special needs child, and if she signs an affidavit stating that she is not homosexual. In addition, you may not adopt a child from China if you are over 50 years old, morbidly obese, have a facial deformity, have taken antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication for a serious mental disorder in the last two years, are blind, have schizophrenia, or are terminally ill. You also have to meet certain educational requirements. Couples who want to adopt must have been married for at least two years. However, if one of the prospective parents has been divorced and is now remarried, the couple has to have been married for a minimum of five years before they can adopt. Lastly, a family has to earn an annual income of at least $10,000 per family member, and have a minimum of $80,000 in assets. Adoption facts show that the number of international adoptions from China fell dramatically after the introduction of these rules.
Adopted Children Experience More Social Success and Happiness
If you thought adopted children were more likely to be damaged, then adoption facts will prove you wrong. On the vast majority of measures that look at social success and happiness, adopted children rate highly compared to other children. Some of these findings include the facts that adopted children are less likely to be delinquent. They are also less likely to live in poverty when compared to children living in single parent homes. In fact, they are more more likely to finish school, have a better job, and to go on to enjoy a stable marriage.
The Phrase Put Up For Adoption Comes from the Orphan Train Movement
The phrase put up for adoption comes from the orphan train movement, which took place in the United States from 1854 to 1929. Orphans were put on trains due for the Midwestern and Western states in the hope that they would find homes. At every stop along the way, these children were put up on the station platforms to see if anyone wanted to take them home, hence the phrase put up for adoption. This practice was heavily criticized, and led to the establishment of agencies and laws to investigate and govern all adoptions.
Science and Social Mores Challenged the Stigma of Adoption
In the late 1800s and early 1900s there were many popular Western ideas about eugenics. These beliefs focused on improving the genetic quality of the human population. Accordingly, families were discouraged from adopting children from unknown origins as these children might be from poor or degenerate stock. This stigma was challenged as the rate of adoptions increased from the mid-1940s to the 1970s. This was due to several factors: the number of illegitimate births tripled in this time, sexual mores were changing and becoming less conservative, and science challenged eugenic stigmas by emphasizing the importance of nurture over nature.
Celebrities Such as Jamie Foxx and Nicole Richie Were Adopted
Steve Jobs was Adopted
Ancient Adoption Was for Economic and Political Reasons
Adoption facts emphasize the fact that adoption is now seen as a means to provide homeless and needy children with a stable family structure and family life. However, this was not the case in ancient times. On the contrary, adoption in the West was seen as a legal and political tool that was used solely to serve the political and economic interests of the adoptive parents. Adoption was used to create ties between families, and to provide male heirs to manage the family estates. In the East, adoption during ancient times was seen as a way to preserve cultural and religious practices and ensure their continuity.
Animal Communities Also Display Adoptive Behavior
There are several adoption facts pertaining to the animal world. Researchers have observed adoptive behavior in a number of different animal communities. One example is among chacma baboons. Baby chacma baboons that lose their mothers are adopted by young adult baboons in their social group. These adoptive parents carry, groom and protect these adopted youngsters.
Adoption Facts – Facts about Adoption Summary
Adoption Facts
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