International Adoption: A Global Problem or a Global Solution?

It was referred to at one point as a “forced migration” by Dr. Pate. Someone suggested the adoption narratives obscured the reality that is, international adoption. There were horror stories of the adoptions after the Ebola outbreak in Africa, and the destruction in Haiti from the hurricane. There was also information presented on the different manner the government reacted after the Tsunami in Indonesia by severely restricting child adoptions after the tragedy. This was meant to protect the children and secure the cultural heritage that is lost by adoptions that are driven by imperial motives or profit. If we continue to speak, learn, and become advocates for the process we may see more governments acting against the practice of large scale, for profit international adoption. We as social workers must become more knowledgeable and sensitive to the plight of the people, children, and cultures involved.

Now, let me elaborate on that first point I referred to in the introduction, the history of international adoption.

2. “Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection” (United Nations, 2012).

Understandably, the welfare of children is a sensitive topic to many and a subject that it much more complicated than one person’s opinion. It seems like everyone has something to say about it and for good reason. However, with all the input, not all ideas will be the same. There are extremes and then there places in the ‘middle’ where opinions can fall. One of those opinions seems to be the most widely believed: parents have no right to give up their parental rights when they were the ones who decided to have them in the first place, except in extreme circumstances.

Since the 1950s, the United States and other countries started a new way in the de-institutionalize the care of vulnerable children which is, close down orphanages in favour of substitute care and accelerated adoption. Besides, western countries started to give up their children without placing them for adoption, and thus, the need to operate large orphanages has decreased. These issues have resulted in a dramatic reduction of local orphans available for adoption, requiring many adoptive parents to orphanages in the Third World.

According to us statistics/history and adoption there is 135,000 children adopted in the U.S alone each year that is significantly growing each year. Out of those 135,000 59% are from welfare and foster systems, 26% from other countries and 15% are voluntarily relinquished meaning a child parents ask the local authority to place their child for adoption. Also shown that the increase in international adoption is "attributed to war, poverty, and the lack of social welfare in sending countries and, in the United States, to increased infertility rates, perceived difficulties associated with domestic adoption, preference to adopt infants rather than older children, and a disinclination toward foster care adoption" (R. M. Lee,

There is no place in the world that is without children who are in need of assistance, whether they be adoption or not. In China any child that is abandoned or lost is considered an orphan (Andrew 124). In Russia nearly every mentally or physically handicapped child is sent to “baby homes”, an orphanage for newborns to three year olds (Characteristics of Children). In Guatemala political, social, and economical forces have prevented many biological parents to care for their children (Yemm). Everywhere the predicament of children, who have no control over their own lives, has been brought to many figures of authority to plead their cause. The United States has a particularly strong bond with China, when it comes to adoption. This is because

In today's society, the idea of adoption is an open and welcome one. However, the biggest decision in adoption today is whether to adopt domestically or internationally. There is a very large growing trend in international adoptions today. Compared to adoption rates in 1987, in 2004 international adoptions had risen over 200% as compared to an 8% rise in domestic adoptions. After World War II, international adoptions began to rise because Americans began adopting European and Japanese war orphans. However, this was not the only reason for international adoptions. Desperate poverty and social upheaval such as the one child law in China, are factors that have led others to adopt from Latin America and China. Also, after the Child

Many people believe that international adoptions are a positive thing, and help provide a brighter future for the children they adopt. However, many countries have strict laws on international adoptions. The article Home Alone ventures to say that, "poor countries should fix their adoption systems so that, once domestic possibilities have been exhausted, foreigners can step in" (Home Alone). International adoptions can sometimes be tricky. Many countries have constantly changing laws on international adoption. "Adoption laws change from year to year, and from country to country. Changes in intercountry adoption bans and regulations in different countries may cause unexpected challenges for prospective international adoptive parents." (Child Welfare Information Gateway). Often times many international adoptions can become corrupt. Children are sometimes smuggled across borders. "If the children travel through an official border the adult who accompanies them needs to have paperwork, but in its absence a bit of money in an envelope does the trick"

This is likely correlated with Australia’s overall decline in intercountry adoptions. Since the Hague convention was implemented, adoptions from Australian citizens declined by approximately 74%. In addition to this, 94% of adoptees that came from overseas were from Asia, 6% were from South/Central America, and there were no finalised adoptions from Africa or other regions. This distribution reflects the number of countries in each region with which Australia has an adoption program, and the characteristics of these programs. As well as this, the typical waiting period for families who adopted a child from overseas in 2014-15 was a period of over five years. It would undoubtedly be beneficial not only to Australian citizens desiring to adopt, but also to an immense number of orphaned children, if the Hague convention reached African countries, or made it easier to adopt from those countries that are not under the convention

After World War II, the dissolution of European families resulted in the significant increase in the number of adoptions of foreign born children. This began America’s active participation in what is currently known as international, or intercountry, adoption. Every year for the last six decades, Americans have adopted thousands of foreign born children. It is the process by which the prospective adoptive parent adopts a child from a country other than the parent’s own, through permanent legal means, and brings that child to the parent’s country of residence to live with the parent permanently. Like domestic adoption, it is the legal transfer of parental rights and responsibilities from a child’s birth parents, or guardian, to a new parent.

It is not only the involvement of two families but two countries. I think before any international adoption should proceed, the adoptive parents must make the effort to know the child’s homeland. They must also demonstrate that they are willing to protect the rights of the child against any threat. I think in that way the child won’t lose part of his cultural and ethnic identity. The sending country should make sure the international adoption is the last option after visiting the other options such as extended families that might be able to take care of the child or orphanage agencies or even domestic adoption. Only after these options have been exhausted, only then international adoption should be considered. Once it is done, they need to assure the child is guaranteed to have a better future. I don’t think it should stop at a simple background check or to check if the adopters are good citizens. It should go beyond that; like take for instance the case of Carleton Gajdusek; he was an extraordinary scientist and he received a Nobel prize for his research. Given his background and how he was perceived in society, Gajdusek was given the opportunity to bring back with him in the US 56 children from New Guinea. Parents trusted the scientist and believe that he will offer those kids a higher education. However, he was later accused of molesting those kids. Shouldn’t this be a lesson to society? Therefore, I

Why would anyone care if a child is adopted from another country? Does the care of adopted children from another country really matter? Since the last couple of decades, couples have been able to adopt children from other countries including the United States. Ethnic adoption can ruin a child’s life. It can ruin a child’s life just because love is not enough. There are many factors that need to be emphasized in regards to ethnic adoption. The factors include: the child becoming culturally deprived, the child having weaker family bonds, and that there are other children in America that need

In the beginning, International adoption programs in poor nations like that of Ethiopia, started with a few honest humanitarian adoptions, rescuing orphans from hopeless circumstances. However, once the news of an overflow of healthy adopted children out a specific country reach Western countries, expectant parents that desire healthy children begin to sign up for more children than the small, poor country can adequately supply. As a result of these demands,

Although some people argue that people should not be able to adopt international because of money. Despite this idea, That reason is absolutely not valid because people can always get a loan and if the adoption caretakers only care about money, then they don’t need to sell children. For example, article “Overseas Orphans.” claims that children who get adopted learn love. “Providing a loving and safe environment.” (Green,, n.p.) In other words love from a family is greater than a lot of things. Additionally, according to article “The Evangelical Orphan Boom.” claims that children who get adopted are cared for. Adoption also embodied a more holistic "pro-life" message -- caring for children outside the womb as well as within. (The Evangelical Orphan Boom,, n.p.) Basically adoption is spectacular for a caring home. Lastly, according to “Acting Out the Role of Single Mom.” claims that adoption is great for cultural. “Wanted to bring people into our lives and thought we needed a cultural medium to accomplish that.” ( Hyung-sook,, n.p.) What this means is parents want to bring children into their culture. Therefore, It is clear to see, It is very important to have a family because of love, care, and culture in a