Adoption

Overview

Adoption is an increasingly familiar phenomenon in many countries with declining birth rates. The 2000 Census estimated that there were over two million adopted children living in the USA, including step-parent, child welfare, private and international adoptees. Since 1990, Americans have adopted roughly 280,000 children from overseas. Although the background of domestically and internationally adopted children may vary greatly, the growing body of literature suggests that children in these two groups have many common characteristics and needs.

Before 1990, children typically came from Korea, India, the Philippines, and Latin America. Since 1990, children have been primarily adopted from China, Korea, Russia, and Guatemala. International adoption is fueled by a variety of social, economic, political, and cultural pressures. Many children originate from countries in transition. As these countries regain equilibrium, they may strengthen child welfare systems, moving from...