International Adoption has existed for about 100 years and
the leading country to this new trend in America. American’s started to adopt
children orphaned by the Greek Civil War and World War II in the mid-1940. American’s
then expanded to adopting children in Asia, mostly Japanese, in the late 1940’s
early 1950’s and adopted several thousand Asian Children. American couples
continued adopting children during the Korean War and till today. In 1976,
Americans adopted over 30,000 foreign-born children. Between the years of 1970
to 1978, Republic of Korea was responsible for the majority of adoptions. In
2008, two countries were responsible for the majority of adoptions, Guatemala
and China. These two countries comprise twenty three percent the total number
of children adopted by Americans. The third leading country is Russia with ten
percent and the other forty-five percent being comprised by other countries
such as Vietnam, India, Ethiopia, Haiti, and Kazakhstan.
throughout the years. When a couple or person adopts, they are expecting to
adopt a healthy child. The problem is that there are less healthy children than
the demand. Children are put up for adoptions due to poverty, illness or death
of parents or severe family dysfunction. I believe people are oblivious to the
fact that these factors have an effect on the children and may result in health
issues. I believe that with the correct medical treatment and support from the child’s
new family, it can help solve these health problems. So what if the child you
adopted develops a health problem, are you going to send the child you adopted
back to Russia with a note stating that they are “mentally unstable?” If you think this
is crazy, an American women did just that and now has to pay $150,000 in child
support.
Would you give away a child you adopted for no apparent reason? This happened to
Nora, a Chinese orphan, after a year living with her adoptive family. She was re-homed in a Tennessee with 17 other overseas adopted children.
Nora, a Chinese orphan, after a year living with her adoptive family. She was re-homed in a Tennessee with 17 other overseas adopted children.
International adoption fees are also under scrutiny because
it may be stimulating greed. The large amount of money given to countries for
adoption services is outrageous. When Guatemala closed its doors to
international adoption, Ethiopia became the second largest country that Americans
were adopting foreign-born children. The agencies in Ethiopia skyrocketed from
five to fifty in a few years. Those who source children to these agencies can
earn as much as $5,000 per children. The influence of money can lead to
partnering with children launderers and traffickers.
it may be stimulating greed. The large amount of money given to countries for
adoption services is outrageous. When Guatemala closed its doors to
international adoption, Ethiopia became the second largest country that Americans
were adopting foreign-born children. The agencies in Ethiopia skyrocketed from
five to fifty in a few years. Those who source children to these agencies can
earn as much as $5,000 per children. The influence of money can lead to
partnering with children launderers and traffickers.
A story involving Tarikuwa Lemma (pictured below) from Ethiopia displays the
type of problems involved with international adoption. An Arizona family
adopted Tarikuwa and her two sisters given the information that both parent
died of AIDS. The truth was that their mother died due to complications during
childbirth and their father was alive and well. Tarikuwa’s family believed the
girls were going to the United States on a study program, when they were
scammed and instead adopted. Its stories like these that are unfortunately not so rare.
type of problems involved with international adoption. An Arizona family
adopted Tarikuwa and her two sisters given the information that both parent
died of AIDS. The truth was that their mother died due to complications during
childbirth and their father was alive and well. Tarikuwa’s family believed the
girls were going to the United States on a study program, when they were
scammed and instead adopted. Its stories like these that are unfortunately not so rare.
I believe the safest way of adopting a foreign-born child is
through the Hague adoption process. Through this process, there is a lot of
protection to the children, the birth parents and prospective adoptive parents. This
process prevents abduction, sale and trafficking. The first and I think most
important step is to “Choose a U.S. accredited or approved adoption service
provider.” If the adoptive parents have the right intentions of
adopting, which I hope all do, then they should follow the government
guidelines.
through the Hague adoption process. Through this process, there is a lot of
protection to the children, the birth parents and prospective adoptive parents. This
process prevents abduction, sale and trafficking. The first and I think most
important step is to “Choose a U.S. accredited or approved adoption service
provider.” If the adoptive parents have the right intentions of
adopting, which I hope all do, then they should follow the government
guidelines.
negatives regarding International adoption there are a lot of benefits
regarding international adoption. If done correctly and for the right intentions,
it can have a lot of positive outcomes. International adoption has given homes
to hundreds of thousands children who would have grown up on the streets or in
an orphanage. These children receive love and care from their new family, as
well as a new opportunity at life with a loving family.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/13/us/adopted-child-returned/
http://adoption.com/medical-issues-in-internationally-adopted-children/
http://travel.state.gov/content/adoptionsabroad/en/adoption-process/how-to-adopt/hague-adoption-process.html
https://www.adoptioncouncil.org/images/stories/documents/IntercountryAdoptionAdoptionAdvocateApril2009.pdf
http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/16/world/international-adoption-saving-orphans-child-trafficking/
