What is your opinion: Domestic or foreign adoption?

Sophie

I chose to adopt a child from Guatemala (I live in the USA).

grapesgum

I agree with you but please educate yourself on the facts of international adoption - "The Lie We Love" is a good place to start (link below). Adoptive parents usually have no idea if the children who they take out of their culture and transplant to the US are truly orphans. I strongly feel that the money spent on adoption in the US would be more ethically spent on improving conditions for children in their own country.

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

I admire your motive but fear that it is misdirected at addressing a myth.

Looney Tunes

Oh my...LEARN MORE, you are misinformed

US kids ALSO live in poverty, no food, no shelter, abuse, neglect, no medical help, etc.

Have you ever seen Applachia on the East Coast of the US? No running water, no electricity, poverty beyond belief.

Many foster kids have not been given food or medical care. They steal food because they are STARVING. They suffer from poor hygiene and many have not had a check-up in awhile.

You should delete this question because it shows your ignorance of the problems in the US.

http://www.nccbuscc.org/cchd/povertyusa/tour2.htm
http://www.strength.org/
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/1005-02.htm
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Welfare/bg1713.cfm
http://www.ddcinc.org/Project%20HELP%20First%20Page.htm?gclid=CMayj-zzr5cCFSMeDQodDQj_iQ

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ETA: At this point, your lack on knowledge about the public health issues in the US is a concern, let alone your lack of knowledge about adoption. Before you make blanket statements, you should understand the cultures, the lifestyles, etc of foreign nations and ESPECIALLY 3rd world nations, before trying to make statements as you have.

sweetjane

Perhaps this is a dumb question....but why adopt based on "Lack of food, clean water, unsuitable shelter, disease, poor to no means of medical help, etc."? Why not actually DO something to help change the conditions in Africa....so that fewer children have to live in these conditions and so that fewer mothers have to give away their children because of poverty and disease? There are millions of ways to help these and other people in need. I mean, if you think about it....what is 'right' about taking ONE child from a life of poverty, when you leave his/her mother, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, and entire community in the same condition? Poverty is not a reason to adopt. All mothers SHOULD have equal access to basic food and medical care for their children. If they do not, it is a problem with our world, not a problem with the mother specifically. Instead of forever removing her child from her....why not get involved and do something so that no more women are forced to choose between starvation and adoption for their child. I've worked in S Africa for several years.....and, you're right, it is horrible in many ways......which is why I am there....to help make it better for ALL children and their parents who love them and want them. I hope you will do something about it as well.
<<Aid worker; foster to adopt mommy

anastasia beaverhausen-the real1

holy cow. you have done ZERO research. shame on you.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4371749.stm

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/centralamericaandthecaribbean/guatemala/2461557/Guatemalan-mother-reunited-with-baby-stolen-and-sold-for-adoption-by-US-couple.html

http://fleasbiting.blogspot.com/2007/10/chinas-stolen-children.html

Mei-Ling

I'd say domestic, considering I'm a transracial adoptee.

Domestic adoptees are discriminated against simply because of their adopted status which means they are denied access to their birth certificates in 44 states

But transracial adoptees have a lot other layer of complexities: language, cultural barriers, and identities.

I honestly don't have the energy to type out my usual 1 page essay on what transracial adoption is really about, so here you go. My links can do far more justice to my perspective than anything I could ramble about on here.

http://sisterheping.wordpress.com/2008/12/01/the-burden-of-authenticity/

http://sisterheping.wordpress.com/2008/09/03/struggling-with-language/

http://sisterheping.wordpress.com/2008/08/19/its-just-not-that-simple/

Gaia Raain

ALL children deserve warm, loving, caring, safe homes, preferably with their own families. If that is not possible due to abuse and neglect, then they should be kept within their own nation. We should be helping children where they are, not shipping them halfway across the world to deal with a foreign culture - while leaving behind so many other children who aren't getting any help. This includes India...it's not practical to adopt every single child from India...how about we make it safer for them to stay there, fund programs, get them food, clean water, loving caregivers...? If the issue is war, then they should be moved to a safe area as close to home as possible, with their own people if possible. Whatever the issue is that is causing children to be without families, let's fix the problem...instead of heaping adoption issues on top of it.

Mapache

I would adopt a domestic older child because these seem to be the ones that are overlooked the most.

As for international adoptions,orphanages are used in foreign countries (some, not all) more as a boarding school. The kids live at an orphanage and then sometimes go and visit their parents. (I read a book about it in my anthropology class)

The brain

Have you ever been to Africa?

Before you spout generalizations about "saving a child," I suggest you travel to Africa and immerse yourself in the culture and the native customs and living standards of the area you wish to "save a child" from.

Your "European/US" views don't fit well there and the standards of living and customs are very different.

Britney M

Adopting in America is cheaper. And believe it or not you may not know this but there are many children in America also living in unbearable conditions but you don't get to see it as much because its not acceptable and its not as common as it is in other countries.

Obias

First of all, I'm not going to jump down your throat. However, I think your, as you so boldly stated, 'opinion' is very, very one-sided. Research has very little to do with it. Common sense does. Are you an adopted child? Your only coming at this mentality from one angle.
There are many people who oppose American couples (especially European-American couples) adopting foreign children as it usually does lead to serious identity issues for the adoptee, no matter how loving and nurturing the adoptive family. And it's not just races such as African and Asian; do some research on the controversial adoptions done by American parents from Russian orphanages. I've seen this stuff first hand, within my own family.
But this is just one of the problems that occur in both legal and emotional battles.

Yet, I understand where you're coming from when it comes to adopting children in need from poor countries. I'd urge any parent to do so, only if they were well prepared and willing to do it right from the start.
But just to check yourself, what you should not do is look down on those who choose to adopt within their own country, such as the US. Because if you do, you need to overcome some grievances you may have.

Randy B

I've adopted both internationally and domestically so I think I have some insight into both methods but I don't think that I need to "justify" my answer to you or to anyone.

Personally, I think that anyone should be able to adopt internationally or domestically as long as they qualify. I believe we are all citizens of the world and therefore to exclude international adoptions for the sake of a "domestic only" policy is both closed minded and unfair to those needing families, where ever they are. Everyone has their own reasons for adopting internationally and/or domestically but regardless of the reason it's the child that comes first.

With that having been said though it sounds more like you are interested in "saving" a child then adopting and that just doesn't sit well with me. If you want to save something, go to the SPCA and save a homeless kitten. Thats just my opinion and I don't expect you to agree or disagree with it.

Beehaus

People get into really heated debates on this topic. I agree it is a red button issue. I would rather do a international adoption. There are many reasons for this and I'm not going to list them all here,but it is right for many families due to the state of the foster adopt programs in the states. Also as the person above me stated, I think all children everywhere have a right to a loving home and parents who care for them.

Zoei A

i am not going to be mean like many of the others on here...however you do need research before making such big accusations. however like you said it is just your opinion....
i would adopt from the US because it is not such a huge hassle...my foster mom#14 and foster dad#14 just adopted from guatamalla and the applied and choose their little girl when she was just 2 years old...well they just got her last week at age 5!!! all becase it took so long to fill out forms, send forms, phone calls, aproval, aranging the meet, arranging the pick up, more forms, and one last aproval before actually pickng her up and bringing her home...they so badly wanted to re-name her Josephine but because she was 5 they could not do so....so now we call her Jinny but her realname is Jezaliyn (jez-ah-lin)

i am also partial to adopting older kids due to the fact i know what it is like to be an older child wanting a home but knowing you wont get one because of your age!

but that is just my experiance and opinion!

Twice the Momma

I understand your motives. It's great that you would consider adopting a foreign child, especially one in Africa. I have done volunteer work in Ghana and Chad before and honestly anything you see on television pales in comparison about what it is in real life.

But also consider, adopting overseas is much more expensive and the child (depending the age) could experience intimidating culture shock and have severe identity issues as they grow older. But if you are willing to put in the work and dedication to adopt a foreign child, go for it. If you are truly wanting to better the child's life, that is.

:)

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