Deciding to adopt a child is an important decision. When embarking on that decision, families need to choose whether they will adopt domestically or internationally. Fundamental differences exist when families adopt in the United States versus internationally. There are differences in wait time, costs, legalities, birth parent contact and child development.
Wait Times
Waiting periods vary greatly for domestic and international adoption. There are many preparatory things that families can do while they are waiting to be chosen, such as secure medical professionals for when the family brings the child home and find suitable daycare options. Whatever will make the time bearable is what families should focus on. This could be preparing a sibling for the arrival of the new member of the family.
For domestic adoption, wait times vary from one month to multiple years. International adoption wait times can be anywhere from six to thirty-six months. Most adoption agencies indicate that domestic adoption wait time depends on the efforts of the adoptive families and what they are willing to accept or not. For example, if an adoptive family is willing to accept a child where the birth mother smoked during the pregnancy, the wait time may be less. Sixty-five to 100 percent of birth mothers smoke during their pregnancy.
In an interview with LIVESTRONG, Meryl Buczek, MSW, LCSW, says,"Domestic adoption wait time depends on how frequently we are approached by a birth mother. Sometimes the lightening strikes and families will go into the profile books that birth mothers choose from and suddenly, we are contacted by a birth mother." Meryl is the Social Work Supervisor of Family Options in Red Bank, New Jersey.
Expenses
Adoption expenses also cover a wide range with both domestic and international adoption. Domestic adoption has various types of avenues that include: domestic public agency adoption, which ranges from $0 to $2,500; domestic private agency adoption, which is $4,000 to $30,000; and domestic independent adoption that ranges from $8,000 to $30,000 and higher.
Some states require that birth parents pay for separate legal representation in addition to their own legal representation. Medical conditions with a child can also be additional expenses for birth parents. Depending on how early in a birth mother's pregnancy she chooses an adoptive family, birth mother expenses may be an additional cost.
International adoption expenses can range from $11,000 to $24,000, and each country is different. Other types of fees related to international adoption could include the expedition of the dossier authentication, an orphanage donation and other types of governmental fees that cannot be planned for, as well as travel, if needed, to pick up your child.
Child Development
Children adopted internationally are almost always older (10 to 24 months) and have spent the first year or so of their life in an orphanage. There are some cases where children can be foster parented, so they do not have to live in orphanages while they wait to be adopted. In these case, bonding can be an easier process.
Buczek says,"While their physical needs may have been met, their emotional needs may not have been. This may present challenges to those coming home and having to adjust to a totally new country, culture, food and language."
Children who have been adopted internationally may feel grief or disorientation when first brought back home. However, with work and bonding practices they can make strong and loving connections with their families. Many children adopted internationally show some signs of delayed growth and development by U.S. standards, but they generally catch up within two to three years. Some therapeutic or medical services may need to be put into place for children who need extra help.
When children are adopted domestically, adoptive families are generally adopting infants. Therefore, that infant can be raised with their adoptive family and experience the bonding that is so imperative in the early months of a child's life. For older children adopted domestically through public agency adoption, there can be issues of trust, which may cause initial bonding problems.
Birth Parent Contact
Typically, when a child is adopted domestically, an agreement is made between the birth parents and adoptive parents about contact they will have after the baby is born. When working with an agency, both parties agree to contact through letters and pictures at different time intervals or even in-person visits.
One of the more positive aspects of domestic adoption for some adoptive parents is that the birth parents are a part of the child's life. Some birth parents and adoptive parents agree that no face-to-face contact is wanted and that communication will only exist with letters and pictures that are sent through the agency that facilitated the adoption.
When a child is adopted internationally, the birth parents are usually out of the picture and no contact is ever made with the adoptive parents. Some adoptive parents prefer this type of process as having contact with the birth parents may be too difficult.
Legal Concerns
Buczek indicates that with a domestic adoption, birth mothers have the ability to sign final surrender of parental right paperwork within 72 hours of the child's birth and this signing is irrevocable. Birth mothers receive a minimum of three counseling sessions prior to signing the final surrender paperwork to discuss all of her options and insure that this is the best option for her and her baby.
All states require a consent to adopt. In most states, the consent must be in writing and either witnessed and notarized or executed before a judge or other designated official.
The Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption is an international agreement that participating countries are a part of to agree on the best adoption practices. There are two main goals of the Hague Convention: to keep the best interest of the child at the forefront and to prevent the sale, exploitation and abduction of children. It is an adoptive families choice to utilize an agency and adopt in a country that is right for them. Not all countries are Hague accredited, and it will not prohibit a family from a successful adoption placement.
References
- Adoption: International Adoption Costs
- Adoption: Cost of Adopting
- Interview: Meryl Buczek, MSW, LCSW; Social Work Supervisor of Family Options in Red Bank, New Jersey
