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International adoption rate continues to drop

On Behalf of | Apr 9, 2014 | Uncategorized

For Texas couples wishing to become parents, the ability to adopt can provide the means to fulfilling their dreams. Some people may even be able to biologically have their own children but wish to provide a good life for another child who may not have such an opportunity. Either way, adoption can be a beautiful gift to both adoptive parents and adopted children. Even biological parents may be grateful to know their offspring will enjoy good homes.

In the early 1990s, international adoption efforts increased dramatically, reaching an all-time high in 2004 when close to 23,000 children were adopted from foreign countries by United States citizens. Since that year, however, the number of international adoptions has declined. Data from 2013 has now been made available and it shows the lowest rate of these adoptions since 1992. Just over 7,000 children were adopted last year from outside the United States.

Part of the decline has been due to the Russian ban on American adoptions that was enacted last year. This ban capped adoptions at 250 for the year, down from 748 the prior year. More than 2,300 Chinese children were adopted by Americans last year. In 2005, over 7,900 children from China were adopted to U.S. residents.

Concerns about what is in the best interests of the child as well as the adoptive parent and biological parent can make any adoption case challenging, whether domestic or international. People who need help to navigate adoption court or other processes may wish to speak with an attorney to get professional help.

Source: ABCNews.com, “Foreign Adoptions by Americans Decline Sharply,” David Crary, March 21, 2014

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