Should you Adopt Internationally or

Domestically?

(The NEST Alliance)

By: Abbey Nord

1/7/2020
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Statement of Topic:

Foster Care in the United States was derived from the English Poor Law of 1562, which

was centered in England and Wales. The overall duty of it involves the state taking orphaned

children, or those that may be in trouble, and placing them with a safe family until either

adoption occurs or they come of age and are no longer a ward of the state. The act of adopting a

child internationally was not officially legal until 1851 when the Western world passed the law.

At first the people disagreed that biological bonds could be severed, but overtime it gradually

became a norm. Two decades later, the rate of international adoption increased rapidly, mainly

due to the decline in birth rates in the United States (History of Foster Care). Since then it has

become more known to people but has remained steady in the amount of adoptions being

completed. When adopting a major decision that must be made is the choice to adopt within the

country or outside of it. There are several benefits to both, but which is more successful has been

an ongoing debate.

Purpose:

​ I want to bring awareness to the differences between domestic and intercountry adoption, as

there is a lot more to it than where the child is being adopted from. There are several benefits in

both cases, but the debate of which is going to do more good is ongoing. Although it is a

personal preference it does affect our country and other countries, and it is important that people

are fully aware of these effects before making any final decisions of choosing where to adopt

their child from.

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Scope:

In this essay I will be covering the benefits of both domestic and intercountry adoptions. I

will be covering closed/open adoptions, costs, and emotional effects. I will not be covering the

governmental adoption issues regarding other countries or the conditions of the Foster Care

System in the United States.

Research Section:

Viewpoint #1: Domestic Adoption

In regards to the adoptions in the United States about 75% of them are domestic and is

increasingly becoming more as international adoptions have decreased due to governmental

difficulties and even some countries cutting off adoption to the United States, such as Russia

(Adoption Network). In any form of adoption it is a long process with several issues and effects

on everyone involved, but for multiple reasons domestic may be the smarter choice when looked

deeper into. It is going to be a lot more cost effective, it will allow the family to have more

background information on the child, and keeps open adoption as an option.

The cost of domestic adoption ranges from $30,000 to $40,000, depending on which

agency it is through. Foster care will be less

expensive compared to private adoption.

International adoption will typically be the base

cost of a domestic plus travel time, extra

paperwork, and fees, which add up very

quickly and can result in an extra

$10,000-15,000. Depending on the country, the

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parents will most likely have to visit the international site a variety of times, to assure they are fit

to adopt, throughout the course of several months (How much does Adoption Cost). There are

also multiple fees when crossing international borders such as visas, medical exams, clearance,

etc. Another potential extra cost that could be taken into account is the travel back to the country

in the future. A majority of children adopted from a foreign country have a strong desire to go

back to where they are from so they can learn of their culture and history, which is important

because it is one of their few ways of figuring out where they really came from. Adoption is an

investment, so cost may be a deciding factor. It is also important to look into the emotional and

mental effects on everyone involved.

A majority of adopted children are interested in where they came from once they get

older. If they are adopted internationally there are most likely not able to receive this

information, leaving them wondering and questioning about their past life. While this can be

important to the kids themselves, it is also very important to many adoptive parents they have all

information possible about the child, which involves health records, education, etc. This can be

beneficial in ensuring the child is properly cared for, and if issues arise the parents have more

information to solve it in the best way possible. Without this information a parent is less likely to

be lost and confused and can hinder the care of the child. In the case of an international adoption,

in depth information is not often issued since there are no records of it. Although it may not seem

as crucial on the surface it has been shown to reduce the effects of adopted child syndrome,

which involves emotional and behavioral issues in an adopted child. If a child is provided with

knowledge of their life prior to adoption they are going to have a stronger sense of themselves,
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allowing them to heal easier from the other effects all adopted children tend to feel (History of

Foster Care).

Although not apparent in all families, openness with the birth family is much easier if

done domestically; it is nearly impossible to have a relationship with the birth family

internationally. It may not be a deal breaker for all as some wish to have no contact with the prior

family whatsoever. However, for those that are adopting infants may be interested in hearing of

the pregnancy process such as the health of both the baby and mother. After the adoption process

is complete, about 65% of adopted kids wish to meet their birth parents (Adoption Network).

There are several benefits to an open adoption. For the birth parents it can reduce guilt and fear,

give them a sense of control in deciding who their child goes to, and can improve mourning. For

the adoptive parents, it can also reduce fear of any intentions the birth family may have, gives

them a better background of their newly adopted child, and can provide them with more

confidence in raising the child. For the child, it may protect them from feeling a sense of

abandonment, boost their self-confidence, and provide them with a larger support network

(International vs. Domestic). Although this does not apply to families wanting a closed adoption,

a majority of adoptions are now open, around 60%-70%. This is important to consider when

deciding between domestic and international.

Overall, the choice between domestic and international adoption is an important step

when deciding to adopt. It is a very personal decision and will be based on what the family is

looking for. If a family is wanting an open adoption, an infant, information on the child, or

contact with the birth family then domestic is going to be the better option.
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Viewpoint #2: International Adoption

Any form of adoption is indimitating and it can be a very difficult decision. One of the

biggest decisions an adoptive family must make is whether to do it internationally or

domestically. Although domestic may seem easier on the surface, international can benefit you

and others in numerous ways. If you choose to adopt internationally you will be helping a child

out immensely, you will be guaranteed a closed adoption, and getting approved to adopt the child

will be a much simpler process. It is not an easy decision and is one you must look at very

closely.

Often times when a family decides to adopt internationally they are taking a child out of

horrible conditions of being orphaned and giving them a second chance of life. Based on

international laws the children eligible for adoption are under the age of 15, and for those that are

16 or 17, they can be adopted to the United States if one of their siblings has been adopted. A

majority of the children are on the older side though, it is extremely difficult to adopt an infant

from overseas, which is typically a major reason people choose domestic. However, the child

you are adopting has most likely been a victim of poverty and many hardships. Many have been

left by their families. For those looking to adopt to save children and improve lives international

may be the better option and will provide the adopted family with a feeling of satisfaction as it is

a very rewarding experience (DeGarmo). It can be a very difficult situation with a lot of

emotional and mental stress on the parent, but anyone that has or is going to take on this role will

potentially live a very fulfilling life.

Similar to the open aspect of a domestic adoption, not everyone wants an open

relationship with birth parents, with international it is a guaranteed closed adoption. A majority
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of times the children being adopted have been orphaned, so the birth parents have no say in who

they are being adopted by, which can make some adoptive parents feel more comfortable that

they don’t have to be selected. As a result, the birth parents are removed from the process and

have already signed off all rights, whereas with domestic adoptions, even if it is closed, the

parents still have to terminate their rights, which may not happen until the end of the process.

Similar to an open adoption there are benefits to a closed adoption too (Riben). In the case of

international adoption the birth parents are often not involved and do not choose to give up their

children, but they are either taken from them or they are orphaned. For the adoptive parents, it

can be beneficial as they are allowed more freedom and do not have to worry about the

boundaries between the child and the birth family. For the child, it can protect them from an

unstable birth family, which may cause more damage in the long run as they may be confused on

what their relationship should be (Person). Overall, a major reason one may choose international

vs domestic could be if they want a closed or open adoption, which is a personal preference.

When many begin the process of adoption they are very eager to bring their child home.

In the case of domestic adoption it can be quite a lengthy task, and can last anywhere from six

months to several years as it is common to have an

abundance of legal issues regarding the birth parents.

However, when dealing with international adoptions, since

the parents rights have most likely already been signed

away, the process is typically around a year long. It is

likely there will be a lot more paperwork and travel in that

time, but very rarely will the adoptive family have to

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spend their time fighting for custody or getting approval to adopt a specific child. A brief

overview of the process involves finding an agency, finding the child you would like to adopt,

which does often times mean travelling to said country, and then getting clearance to bring the

child across borders to become a US citizen (Bartholet). It is going to cost the adoptive family

more, but if they are wanting to bring home their child as quickly as possible with little issue of

attaining kid then international is going to be the better option.

Children are in need of homes everywhere, so when one decides to open up their home to

a child from a foreign country so many opportunities open up for them. It is a very unique

experience as you are giving a child another chance at life they never thought they would

receive. Although more difficult in some circumstances the process of adopting internationally is

quite short with very little chance of it falling through. Whichever form of adoption one chooses

it is important to look at the positives and negatives of both sides.

​Personal Perspective:

Personally, if I were to adopt a child, I would do it domestically for two major reasons.

There are already so many children in the US Foster Care system and I believe there are more

efficient ways in helping children in developing countries. There are currently around 500,000

children in foster care, which is quite low based on past years of 7-800,000. Having this

information and knowing the poor conditions of the system itself I would want to help the

country I live in first, which to many will sound selfish, but there are so many children that need

homes, and I believe it is more realistic to think that as a country we need to ‘save’ the children

we have here before we can truly help others outside. However, I am fully aware of the
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conditions the orphans in other countries are enduring, which makes it a very difficult decision

because they need help just as much, if not more, as the children in the US.

By no means am I against international adoption, but I think we are going to help more

children and adults as well the countries themselves if we focus on doing work in-country and

providing them with the resources they need rather than just taking people out of the situation

and leaving millions of others to suffer. The United States is very well off compared to many

developing countries and we have the ability to provide assistance to these countries, but it is not

a part of life that is often taught to a majority of Americans.

On a more situational based note, I personally would prefer to have knowledge of my

child’s past as I think it would help me parent better and would allow my child to feel a higher

sense of belonging. Several children struggle with the idea of being placed up for adoption and

will ponder on the reasons why. Although most children never get the full story or even part of it,

I think knowing even a sliver of their past and having the choice to reach out to their birth

parents would allow them more closure than not having any option to do so. However, in a way

going against this belief, I would not want an open adoption with the birth parents. I think it

works in some cases, but in a majority I believe it would be very difficult for everyone to fully

understand what the relationships should be and how they should go about it. I would be

supportive if, as the child got older, wanted to meet their birth parents though.

If given the chance to adopt it would be difficult at first to decide where I should adopt

from, but I would be set on domestic in the end. It would be extremely important to me I know of

my child’s past and I am able to inform them of their history as they get older and ask questions.

As a country I believe there are other ways we can assist developing countries in advancing their
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ways, which is going to be more useful to them. I still think intercountry adoption is beneficial

and should continue, but it is not a decision I would make for myself.

Proposal of Action:

There are several incredible organizations regarding adoptions and helping children in

need, such as Save the Children or UNICEF. They all have a similar goal of stopping child

trafficking and providing children all over the world with homes. Save the Children is one of the

most well-known non-profit organizations that focuses a majority of their efforts on international

child welfare. The goal of the community gathering is to bring awareness of this non-profit to

those that are not involved heavily in the foster care/adoption society because although it is one

of the most successful and known, it is not necessarily known to those outside this specific

society, so their work and knowledge can only go so far without the aid of this community.

During the gathering or lecture the mission statement and goals of the organization will

be explained, as well as all of the work they have completed. This includes the countries they

have served, adoptions they have completed, and an overview of what their plan is to continue

their work. The most important piece of knowledge the audience should recall is the reality of

intercountry adoption. It is not as simple as just adopting a child from overseas, but it is a very

long process with several factors that should be done a certain way in order for it to continue as it

has in the past. For example, there have been times where the adoptive parents did not complete

the process the correct way and the child was sent back home, which allowed the country to

question their laws regarding the US adopting their children. These situations will be explained

to bring awareness to the difficulties and cancel out the stereotype of intercountry adoptions.
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The event will last only about an hour and will be held in large community centers where

the population is high like California or Washington DC, as well as Louisiana and Connecticut,

which is where Save the Children is very well known. A worker of the organization will be

speaking as well as other advocates that are not being paid. There will also be other volunteers

there. The main part of it will be a lecture, but then after the fact it will turn into more of a

convention where the volunteers will be able to explain their history with the organization and

specific examples of cases or work that has been done if people are interested.

In order to promote this event the main source will be social media. Since it wouldn’t be

a consistent event there would be no major advertisement video or billboard. The cost would run

from $7000-$10,000, depending on which state it was held in. For an event in California it would

be closer to $10,000 as you must deal with renting out a banquet hall, paying the workers, travel

cost for the speaker of the event, printing fliers or advertisements to hand out during the event,

and the materials for the booths. Angelina Jolie will be funding this event as she has an extensive

background in the adoption community, and has a lot of experience in these types of

organizations. It will start off with one event, and based on the turnout, will potentially expand to

the locations listed above.

Conclusion:

Choosing to adopt is one of the biggest decisions a person can make, but it can be one of

the most rewarding experiences. There are countless children in this world that need homes, and

with the help of those adopting and non-profit organizations these children are receiving the help

they need, at least some of them. When you choose to adopt you must decide if you wish to do it

domestically or from another country. There are benefits of both, from having a well-known
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background of your child to giving someone a second chance of life. Although some believe one

form outweighs the other it is a personal decision and preference.

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Works Cited:

“Adoption Network.” ​Adoption Network​, Adoption Network Law Center,

adoptionnetwork.com/adoption-statistics.

Bartholet, Elizabeth. “Adoption Council.” ​National Council for Adoption​, 2009,

www.adoptioncouncil.org/images/stories/documents/IntercountryAdoptionAdopt

onAdvocateApril2009.pdf.

DeGarmo, John. “Let's Make 2018 The Year of Children in Foster Care.” ​Kids in the House​, 5

Jan. 2018,

www.kidsinthehouse.com/blogs/dr-john-degarmo/lets-make-2018-the-year-of-children-in

-foster-care.

“History of Foster Care in the United States.” ​The National Foster Parent Association

History of Foster Care,​ nfpaonline.org/page-1105741.

“How Much Does Adoption Cost?” ​Adoption.com,​ adoption.com/how-much-does-adoption-cost.

“International vs. Domestic Adoption: Key Benefits, Pros and Cons.” ​International vs.

Domestic Adoption | Key Benefits, Pros and Cons,​ 26 June 2018,

www.araglegal.com/individuals/learning-center/topics/family-and-relationships/internatio

nal-vs-domestic-adoption.
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Person. “The Dilemmas of International Adoption.” ​The New Yorker,​ The New

Yorker, 20 June 2017,

www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-dilemmas-of-international-adoption.

Riben, Mirah. “The Intercountry Adoption Debate.” ​HuffPost,​ HuffPost, 7 Dec. 2017,

www.huffpost.com/entry/the-intercountry-adoption_b_8174088.

“The NEST Alliance, DSS, Crossnore School Sponsor Foster Care Initiative.” ​AsheCounty's

Independent Online News Source,​

ashecountyline.com/the-nest-alliance-dss-crossnore-school-sponsor-foster-care-initiative

-p1478-95.htm.
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