Can anyone name any reasons for international vs. domestic adoption?

HappyMomAnna

~~I think everyone has their own reasons for choosing the method of adoption they choose.

I am Biased in my Answer only because we chose to adopt children from foster care.

I have been hanging around the Internet on forums and other places that talk about adoption for years now and I know that there are some very honest and positive reasons people choose international adoption and there are some I know are viewed less positive.

As one answer has already pointed out many people see the Children of the World as "domestic" in their personal views. International Adoption became "something" for Americans as the Vietnam War came to an end and the tragedy that took place with one of the Airplanes that crashed carrying orphans to the USA. As citizens of an unpopular war many Americans felt the other airlifted orphans should at least have a chance to be adopted and raised in a safe family.

Things really took off during the 1980s with Romaina and later when the USSR became Russia and all the other countries they have become. Back then I think the majority of people who Jumped in to adopt children from the former USSR regions were more like today's foster child adoptive parents. We saw great need and children in horrific situations and--if we are talking about America--we saw a way we thought we could help and make a difference in the World. After the years of the cold war there were some who felt it was an honor and an obligation to care about the children of our former enemy.

I believe things started to change as it became popular to adopt internationally. The more America wanted to help the more organized and business like things became--the more streamlined--the more accessible...and the more possible for fraud and other issues everyone wanted to ignore.

Several years back (maybe 5-6) things were in high gear--and there was an unbelievable number of families adopting internationally. The Media was in full-hype mode about the issues in China and Guatemala and there was a whole new generation of Adoptive Parents who weren't even born when Vietnam ended. While still motivated in many cases by the desire to help children all over the world--there were other things starting to be touted as Why.

Not many years ago it would be common to hear people interested in adopting internationally make statements about their motivations which didn't really seem like a great reason. One that I recall most upsetting to me was the potential adoptive parents who stated they wanted to adopt from another country so--the baby's biological family would be harder to find and far away.

It was actually considered to be an acceptable reason on some adoption forums to choose International IF you just didn't want any kind of Open Adoption or contact... Just makes that whole problem go away--ya know! [eweu]

kimberley RN

I am not unbiased here to be honest.

I feel very strongly that the children lingering in our foster care system deserve to be adopted and are waiting for a forever family while couples pay tens of thousands of dollars for children from foreign countries.

The odd part is that even though informative websites like http://www.adoptuskids.org exist, there is ignorance about subsidized adoptions for legally free for adoption sibling groups or special needs children in our foster care system.

Randy B

Why go international? We are all citizens of the world and while there are plenty of children right here at home (Canada/US) who need families there are also children around the world who need them as well. Many of these children are in countries without suitable domestic adoption programs and without international adoption they would languish in sub standard orphanages till they are of age to go out on their own...if they make it that long.

That is not to say that international adoptions in some countries are not problematic however to paint all international adoptions as bad is not fair or realistic. I've done both, international and domestic and I have no reservations or concerns about it at all. Its just another option that people have like buying an import vs a domestic car. I'm not comparing children to cars but I am saying that the options are there for people to consider.

Melissa G

These aren't my personal reasons, but they are reasons....

Many people choose to go international because they don't want to "deal with" birthparents. (If you ask me, there is a lot to be gained by knowing where and who your child came from!)

Also, it is somewhat "trendy" in big churches right now to rescue orphans via international adoption.

Tennis Girl

Many different reasons. When I was growing up there was a family at church that had a heart for children in Russia. They adopted 4 kids from Russian orphanages (some where siblings). It was alot of money and time, but they felt like they could make a difference in these kids life! When the kids first came to America from overseas they were always soooo skinny!! but after a year they looked very healthy and learned the language very well and loved america!! It was such an adorable loving family I want to adopt international now! :)

Laurel J

There are American children available for adoption. But they are more likely to be older kids in foster care, or the children of mothers who insist on open adoption or no adoption.

Some PAPs still prefer adopting an infant while severing all ties to that infant's original family. They want to be the only parents, or they're scared the mother will "change her mind." Or perhaps they find adopting overseas is cheaper.

But it's cheaper in part because it's very poorly regulated. The reason many countries are closing their doors to American adoptions is the corruption that causes children to be kidnapped and sold. So my sympathy for international adopters is limited, and I hope people will someday be able to resign themselves to helping the kids who really need the help--the kids on our foster care system.

cantstopLinnyG

I cannot name one. There are available domestic adoptions, but not enough newborns, so people go that route. It's less messy for the baby brokers and the ap's, as there is little to no hope of the child ever reuniting with their first families.

You'll have people say they saved an "abandoned" child, but the reality is that there is no way to say that is true, as most foreign baby brokers use that tired line to avoid paperwork. While there may be some "abandoned" babies, there are just as many sold into adoption by corrupt thugs.

My opinion is that if people truly want to parent and help a child, they will adopt right here through foster care...but they will give you a million reasons why they won't.

When people stop paying astronomical prices for babies in foreign countries, the supply will dwindle, ending black market human trafficking and coercion. The ones who want womb wet infants will be forced to reevaluate WHY they want to adopt. For themselves, or for a child who truly needs parents- and the only kids who truly need parents for the most part, are foster kids, right here in their back yards.

Sure, there are the rare cases of babies who have NO ONE in their natural families to raise them, and there are rare cases where babies are neglected- but those cases are overwhelmingly outnumbered by older foster kids. But MOST pap's don't want an older kid. They want a baby.

http://www.youtube.com/user/adoptedthemovie

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/opinions/outlook/2009-01-11/adoption/

http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2004/4/emw117838.htm

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12185524

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27859660

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=4508&page=0

Just because a child is available for "adoption" in a foreign country, doesn't make the adoption legal, or moral.

Helena B

greeeeed

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