Explaining Adoption to Your Children and Family

by Child Welfare Information Gateway

Children are growing up in many different kinds of families today. Race, religion and sexual orientation are all blending together and changing the "traditional" family structure. There are stepparent families - children being raised by a biological parent and his/her spouse. There are single-parent families - children being raised by one parent. And, there are kinship families - children being raised by a grandparent, aunt/uncle or other extended family member. Adoption is often one of the links bringing families together.

Adoption is an issue of extreme importance to the persons most directly involved in the adoption triad - the child, the adoptive parents, and the birth parents. However, there are the siblings, extended family members, neighbors, teachers and doctors who are indirectly touched. Occasionally, there are also casual acquaintances who will take any opportunity to talk about "their" adoption experiences - whether it is invited or not.

This factsheet addresses the complicated issue of adoption, defining it, explaining it to others, and dealing with the feelings that arise. A complete bibliography, resource list and resources for adoptive families are included.

What is adoption?

Adoption is defined as "the permanent legal transfer of parenting rights and responsibilities from one family to another." The word adoption, however, has different meanings to the people touched by it. To an adoptee, the word implies that a choice was made with the forming of his/her family. To an adoptive parent, it describes a parental relationship that was made legally, not biologically. And to a birth parent, it recognizes the loss associated with giving up parental rights.

How are children being adopted?

There are several different types of adoptions:

Public - Children in the public child welfare system who are placed in permanent homes by public, government-operated agencies or by contracted private agencies.

Private agency - Children are placed in non-relative homes through the services of a licensed (non-profit or for-profit) agency.

Independent - Children are placed in relatives and non-relative homes directly by the birth parents or through the services of either a medical doctor, a member of the clergy, an attorney, or a licensed or unlicensed facilitator. (Independent adoption is illegal in some States.)

Kinship - Children are placed in relatives' homes, with or without the services of a public agency.

Stepparent - Children are adopted by the spouse of one birth parent.

Why are children being adopted?

The simple answer is that children are being adopted because their birth parents were unable to care for them. But, adoption is more complicated than that. Adoption may be the result of the direct wishes of the birth parents. It also may be the result of abuse or neglect, poverty and abandonment, or the death of the birth parents. Whatever the circumstances surrounding adoption, the most important point to convey is that the child's birth or behavior did not cause the adoption. The birth parents were incapable of being successful parents to any child at that time.

Who are the children being adopted?

The most recent and complete findings on adoption come from the National Center for State Courts in Williamsburg, Virginia. Researchers Victor Flango and Carol Flango reviewed court records, bureaus of vital statistics, and social service agencies and found that in 1992, there were 127,441 children adopted in the United States.

The Children's Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, collects data from the States semi-annually through the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis Reporting System (AFCARS). This federally mandated data collection program provides the most complete data on children in foster care. Based on the 2000 estimates, there are approximately 520,000 children currently in foster care in the United States. Of these, 117,000 are eligible for adoption. In 1998, 36,000 children were adopted from the public foster care system - 83% were under 10 years old, 52% were male and 48% were female, and 61% were of minority background.

In 1998, there were 15,774 children adopted from a foreign country (intercountry adoption). Of these 15,774 children - 89% were under 4 years old, 36% were male and 64% were female.

Where are the children being adopted from and going to?

The Demographic Statistics Branch of the Immigration and Naturalization Service tracks the number of immigrant visas issued to orphans coming into the United States, therefore providing the source of data for intercountry adoption. In 1998, 15,774 visas were issued compared to 1992, when 6,536 international adoptees were brought to the United States. The top five sending countries in 1998 were Russia, China, South Korea, Guatemala, and Vietnam. The primary receiving States were New York, California, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and New Jersey.

Within the U.S., the States with the highest number of adoptions (all types) are generally the States with the greatest populations. In 1992, California led with 14,722 adoptions, followed by New York with 9,570, Texas with 8,235, Florida with 6,839 and Illinois with 6,599.

About the Author

www.childwelfare.gov
Formerly the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information and the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse, Child Welfare Information Gateway provides access to information and resources to help protect children and strengthen families. A service of the Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.