Intercountry Adoption: Where Do I Start?: Determining From Which Country to Adopt

This information was taken directly from Child Welfare Information Gateway

Determining From Which Country to Adopt

Parents consider many issues when deciding from which country to adopt and often find it helpful to compare adoption programs in several countries before making a final decision. The following considerations may be helpful when selecting a country:

Eligibility requirements for adoptive parents.

In addition to U.S. immigration rules, each country has its own requirements for prospective adoptive parents based on characteristics such as age, marital status, sexual orientation, family size, parents’ health, religion, and others. Each State also has its own requirements. Requirements also may differ based on whether the country of origin participates in the Convention. To view a list of Convention countries, visit the State Department website at http://adoption.state.gov/hague_convention/countries.php.

Ages of available children.

The ages of children needing adoptive families vary widely, from 6 months to 16 years, depending on the country. The Convention and laws in some countries require that due consideration be given to placing an infant or toddler with a family in that country where appropriate and in the child’s best interest before making a determination to proceed with an intercountry adoption. In those countries, infants younger than 6 months to a year old may not be available for intercountry adoption. Also, some countries have regulations prohibiting the separation of siblings.

Ethnicity/Race/Culture.

Depending on the country you select, your child’s ethnic, racial, and cultural background might be different from your own. Resources for transracial or transcultural families are available on the Information Gateway website at https://www.childwelfare.gov/adoption/types/families/trans_info.cfm.

Child’s placement setting: Institution or foster care.

In many countries of origin, children who need permanent families are cared for in institutions or orphanages. Spending time early in life in institutions can cause harmful and sometimes permanent effects in children, such as higher rates of developmental delays and behavior problems and decreased motor development and growth than in children who were not institutionalized or who spent less time in institutional care (Groza, Ryan, & Thomas, 2008; Johnson & Gunnar, 2011; Levin, Zeanah, Fox, & Nelson, 2014; Merz & McCall, 2010). The age a child enters an institution, the length of time in institutional care, and the quality of institutional or foster care are important factors to consider when adopting.

Some countries place children waiting for permanent families with foster families. Research suggests that children placed with foster families may have better cognitive and health outcomes than children placed in institutionalized care (Nelson et al., 2007; Miller, Chan, Comfort, & Tirella, 2005). Travel requirements. Nearly all countries require prospective adoptive parents to travel to the country to complete the adoption process. The number of trips (generally one or two) and the required length of stay in the country vary. Traveling to the child’s country of origin may offer the additional benefit to parents of learning about the child’s culture. (For more information about adoption travel, read the the Adoptive Families magazine article “The Top 10 Secrets of Successful Adoption Travel” at http://www.adoptivefamilies.com/pdf/10_tips.pdf.)

Cost.

Costs also vary widely depending on the country, service provider, and the needs of the child available for adoption. They can range from $15,000 to $45,000 or more (Adoptive Families, n.d.; Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2011). Accredited adoption service providers should provide a comprehensive schedule of expected fees. For more information about the costs of intercountry and other types of adoption, read Costs of Adopting at https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/s_cost/index.cfm.

Each country has different intercountry adoption guidelines. For country-specific information about Convention participation, eligibility requirements for prospective adoptive parents and for children to be adopted, and alerts and notices, visit http://adoption.state.gov/country_information.php. The countries from which children were most frequently adopted internationally in 2013 include China, Ethiopia, and Ukraine (U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Office of Children’s Issues, 2014).

Finding Support

Talking with other adoptive parents about their experiences in different countries can help you with your decision. You can meet other parents through a support group for families who have adopted from certain countries or regions. To find a listing of adoptive family support groups in your area, refer to the National Foster Care and Adoption Directory at https://www.childwelfare.gov/nfcad. If you cannot find a support group that meets your needs, there are message boards and online support groups for adoptive parents and those considering intercountry adoption.

Additionally, adoptive families, including those who adopt from other countries, may at some point need to access postadoption services. Prospective adoptive families should begin working with their adoption services providers to determine potential service needs before the adoption is finalized. Examples of postadoption services include support groups; therapy or counseling; respite care; camps, social events, and heritage activities; educational resources; and openness, search, and reunion (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2012). The availability of services may vary depending on your State or locality; however the Federal government encourages States to provide postadoption services to any family that needs them, including those that adopted from other countries (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, 2014). To view more information on potential postadoption services by State, visit Child Welfare Information Gateway at https://www.childwelfare.gov/adoption/adopt_assistance/questions.cfm?quest_id=7.

The following are additional resources for postadoption services:

Post Adoption (U.S. Department of State) http://adoption.state.gov/adoption_process/how_to_adopt/postadoption.php

Finding and Using Postadoption Services (Child Welfare Information Gateway) https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/f_postadoption.cfm

Selecting and Working With a Therapist Skilled in Adoption (Child Welfare Information Gateway) https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/f_therapist.cfm

Continue to Finding an Adoption Services Provider

Return to International Adoption (Glossary)

Resource

Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2014). Intercountry adoption: Where do I start? Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.