About Adoption

Myths & Facts About Adoption

Myth: It costs too much to adopt

Fact: “Adopting from the U.S. foster care system is generally the least expensive type of adoption, usually involving little or no cost, and states often provide subsidies to adoptive parents. Stepparent and kinship adoptions are often not very costly. Agency and private adoptions can range from $5,000 to $40,000 or more depending on a variety of factors including services provided, travel expenses, birthmother expenses, requirements in the state, and other factors. International adoptions can range from $7,000 to $30,000.” (http://costs.adoption.com/)
There are avenues through organizations and grants that help people to raise money for adoption. Also, tax credits, employer benefits, military benefits, subsidies, fundraising, loans, etc. (http://affording.adoption.com/)

Myth: It takes years to complete an adoption. 

Fact: A recent poll in Adoptive Families Magazine revealed that most families are able to complete their adoption in about a year. Families should expect to be working on their adoption for one to two years.
 

Myth: The only people who need to adopt are those who are unable to have children of their own.
Fact: There are millions of children waiting to have a family to belong to and not as many “parents who cannot have babies” willing to adopt. Why stop yourself from adopting a child who has no real home? The choice to adopt must first start with your heart.

Myth: Some one else will do it
.

Fact: There are over 500,00 children in the foster care system and 135,000 awaiting adoption today. There are 143 million orphans around the world. There is an estimated number of 2.5 billion Christians worldwide. If everyone played a part and did not wait for another to do it, there would essentially be no more orphans.

Myth: There are no healthy infants available for adoption in the U.S. 

Fact: There are tens of thousands of families each year that adopt healthy, newborn babies through adoption. Many of them are through open adoption, where the biological mother, often called the birth mother, may have chosen the family herself.  Domestic adoption is a very viable option for families who need help building their families.


Myth: Single people can not adopt.

Fact: Many singles are building a family through adoption. Choices may be a bit restricted, especially with international adoption’s rules established by each individual country.  Singles need to be sure they find an adoption professional who has experience and success with cases such as theirs. Increasing numbers of agencies and some foreign countries are now placing children with single applicants. Follow-up research studies of successful single parent adoptions have shown single adoptive parents as mature, independent, and having a wide and supportive network of family and friends. In fact, single adoptive parents are often the placement of choice for children who have trouble dealing with two parents due to a history of abuse or neglect.

For many infant adoptions in the United States, however, agency criteria for applicants are more defined. Often agencies will only consider couples married at least 1 to 3 years, between the ages of 25 and 40, and with stable employment income. Some agencies accept applicants who are older than 40. Each agencies' policies vary and is important to find an agency able to help assist in your specific needs. Agencies placing infants will discuss their specific eligibility regulations and placement options with you. (http://www.adopting.org/adoptions/learn-about-adoption-who-can-adopt.html

Myth: Birth mothers are typically teens.
Fact: Birthmothers are usually in their twenties, already parenting other children and are typically single and struggling. They are choosing adoption thoughtfully and because they want a better life for their child. They often will want to play an active role in their adoption plan.


Myth: Infants available for adoption in the U.S. are usually drug-exposed. 

Fact: Most women considering adoption for their children are not using drugs. Some may, but the majority of them are leading relatively healthy lives and even seeking ongoing prenatal care. They are choosing adoption because they care about their child.


Myth: Telling a child they are adopted should wait until they can understand what adoption is. 

Fact: Telling your child they are adopted is an ongoing process. As your child matures, you can explain more and more. You can tell them how full having them come into your life made it, and how much you are glad that you could have them as your child. If the things you say don’t make sense to your child at the age of six, they might make more sense at eight or ten.
(http://www.thelaboroflove.com/articles/telling-your-child-they-are-adopted-when-and-how)
For more detail go here: http://www.parenthood.com/article-topics/when_and_how_to_tell_children_that_theyre_adopted.html