After years of steady growth, the number of international adoptions has dropped nearly 50% since 2004. This is despite several high-profile adoptions by celebrities including Angelina Jolie and Madonna, and a media explosion concerning adoptions from China in the 1990’s. Researchers say that the decline is not due to fewer orphans worldwide. Rather, it is attributed to rising regulations and growing sentiment against sending orphans abroad in countries that are commonly adopted from, such as China and Russia.
The U.S. is the number one location for adopting children. In 2004, over 22,000 children were adopted from other countries, finding loving parents in an American household. In 2012, that number had dropped to 8,668. Traditional adoptions grew in the U.S. following World War II. After the opening of Russia and China in the 1990s, international adoption rates exploded. Over 400,000 children were adopted by families in 27 different countries between 2000 and 2010. The sheer number of children in need of loving homes was due to the breakup of the Soviet Union in Russia and the one-child policy in China.
Single, working American women fed the trend of adopting these international orphans. Laura Blitzer was one such woman. She had never been married and devoted much energy to her successful career. Blitzer decided to adopt a child, and months after completing her paperwork, found herself cradling a young Chinese infant whom she named Cydney. The girl, once abandoned at a market as a few days old infant, has attained much success in school and in the performing arts.
Blitzer decided she would like to adopt another child from China in 2007, but this time the response was quite different. She was informed she would not be able to receive a healthy infant until sometime in 2017. The situation grew more dire several months later, when China passed a rule prohibiting people over the age of 50 from adopting. Blitzer, at age 55, knew her success was unlikely.
China has since continued to pass restrictions, prohibiting single women from adopting any children except those with special needs. Single women must additionally sign an affidavit stating they are not homosexual. Couples must be married at least two years and need at least $80,000 in assets.
China asserts these rules are necessary to protect the best interests of the children, but as regulations increase, the number of children in orphanages is climbing. Over 92,000 children are currently in Chinese orphanages, up over 50% from 2004.
Meanwhile, Russia has taken even more drastic measures, passing a ban on adoptions to the U.S. by 2014. Several other states, including Ghana, Guatemala, and Rwanda have suspended international adoptions.
Globally, there remain more children in foster care or institutions than are being adopted. UNICEF estimates that over 18 million children worldwide have lost both parents and another 151 million have lost at least one parent.
Laura Blitzer has not given up on her dreams of adoption, but has elected to take a different route—she is considering adopting a special needs child from China, for which fewer restrictions exist. It is still unclear whether she will be approved, but she faces fewer obstacles with this route and feels a special needs child will bring just as much joy to her household.
For those in Kansas considering an international adoption, the tightening of the overall international adoption market will significantly impact your decision and the adoption process. Potential adopters should consult with a knowledgeable adoption attorney early on, as international adoption laws shift on an almost daily basis, with some countries re-opening adoptions while others shut their doors. The international adoption process is complex, but traveling home with a child that needs you as much as you need them is well worth all the time, energy, and formalities.
McDowell Chartered is a Kansas adoption law firm of prestige. Our qualified team of Kansas Adoption Attorneys has assisted families wishing to adopt both domestically and internationally since 1992. Our compassionate attorneys have an in-depth knowledge of adoption laws and the various issues surrounding the process. Call us today at (316) 633-4322 for an initial consultation.