Domestic Infant Adoption: Why the Decline and What to Do
How do we address the decrease in domestic infant adoptions?
While the total number of
Research reveals that:
- The number of domestic infant adoptions decreased 5.3 percent from 1996 to 2002.[1]
- The ratio of infant adoptions per 1,000 abortions decreased from 19.4 in 1996 to 16.3 in 2002.[2]
- While the number of out-of-wedlock births has increased over the decades, the number of birthmothers choosing adoption has decreased.[3]
- At least 10 million couples would likely pursue domestic infant adoption if they thought they had a realistic opportunity to do so.[4]
Unfortunately, while more couples are voicing interest in infant adoption, fewer birthmothers are choosing adoption. These facts indicate that the decline in domestic infant adoption is related to a smaller number of infants available for adoption rather than a lack of couples who desire to adopt. A variety of cultural factors have contributed to the decline in number of infants placed for adoption over the last two decades, including: increased access to contraception, the ease of abortion, and increased social acceptance of unmarried parenting.[5]
These facts signal that the adoption community must do a better job of enabling women with unplanned pregnancies to consider adoption. The National Council For Adoption (NCFA) provides several insights regarding means to address this concern.[6] First, many women with unplanned pregnancies are unaware of adoption as a positive option. Sadly, adoption is often the alternative least frequently presented in pregnancy counseling situations, leaving many pregnant women to make only partially informed decisions.
Findings show that pregnancy counselors themselves often have an inadequate adoption knowledge base, helping to explain why in at least two-thirds of unplanned pregnancy counseling situations, women are presented either no information about adoption, or negative or inaccurate information about the process.[7] In 2007, in response to these concerns, NCFA launched the Infant Adoption Training Initiative, a program designed to train pregnancy and health counselors in federally funded clinics to present adoption as a positive option to women with unplanned pregnancies.[8]
Second, a critical lack of adoption awareness and popular support exists in our society. American school systems do not teach students about adoption, failing to mention the institution as a positive option in the context of human sexuality, family, and parenting. And, few sources offer sensitive, accurate information about infant adoption, making it difficult for individuals to properly respect and appreciate birthmothers and to support their choice of adoption. Statistically, 34 percent of Americans are neutral in their perspective on adoption for women facing unplanned pregnancies. This means there is significant room to positively shape or change popular attitudes toward infant adoption. In order to address such adoption ignorance and ambivalence, NCFA has launched a Public Awareness Campaign to increase understanding of and raise support for domestic infant adoption.[9] The organization also supports state legislative efforts to formulate school curricula that present adoption as a positive option for unplanned pregnancies.
While the choice to place a child for adoption might be extremely difficult for birthmothers, many women make this difficult decision when they realize that it is in the best interest of their children. Unfortunately, the choice of single-parenthood over adoption is often the default decision due to a mother’s lack of understanding of and information about adoption. Birthmothers need to know that by choosing adoption they provide their child with a stable, loving family and often with increased opportunity. When this message is accurately conveyed and popular support of adoption is encouraged, domestic infant adoptions might increase.
How to encourage domestic infant adoption[10]
- Inform women with unplanned pregnancies that adoption is a positive option
- Conduct infant adoption awareness training in pregnancy counseling situations
- Women with unplanned pregnancies must be provided complete, accurate, and current adoption information
- Pregnancy counselors need the knowledge, confidence, and opportunities to talk about adoption
- Adoption must be included as an equal option to other alternatives in pregnancy counseling situations
- Conduct adoption counseling in maternity homes
- Increase public understanding and awareness of adoption and encourage societal support for adoption:
- Initiate public awareness campaigns to distribute accurate and positive information about adoption[11]
- Include adoption awareness in public schools’ curricula
[1] “NCFA’s Landmark Adoption Factbook IV Reports Significant Rise in Domestic and International Adoptions, despite Further Decline in Infant Adoptions.” NCFA. 24 Jul. 2007. See http://www.adoptioncouncil.org/FactbookIVRelease.htm
[2] Placek, Paul. “National Adoption Data,” Adoption Factbook IV. NCFA. 2007. See https://www.adoptioncouncil.org/documents/AdoptionFactbookIV.pdf
[3] Ibid.
[4] Wirthlin, Richard B. “American Public Attitudes Toward Infant Adoption,” National Council for Adoption, Feb. 2006. See http://www.adoptioncouncil.org/documents/AdoptionFactbookIV.pdf
[5] “Private Domestic Adoption Facts,” The Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, 2002. See http://www.adoptioninstitute.org/FactOverview/domestic.html#4
[6] For information on NCFA see https://www.adoptioncouncil.org/.
[7] Congressional Record H2719, May 9, 2000.
[8] For more information see http://www.infantadopt.org/.
[9] For more information see www.ichooseadoption.org.
[10] “NCFA’s Policy Priorities.” NCFA. 2007. See https://www.adoptioncouncil.org/about/pol_law_first.html
[11] “National Council For Adoption Launches National PSA Campaign to Educate Public About Adoption” NCFA. 10 Mar. 2008. See http://www.adoptioncouncil.org/documents/iChoosePSAcampaignpressrelease.pdf
Kristin Darr is the Associate Analyst for Adoption Policy at Focus on the Family.
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