Half of Internationally Adopted Children Born in Asia

 Posted on May 09, 2014 in Children

Deciding to adopt a child is an intensely personal decision. In some cases, parents attempt to adopt a child from within the United States, preferring a child who is culturally similar to themselves. A newly released census report shows this is not always the case, however.

According to USA Today, two percent of the 64.8 million children in the United States are adopted. Of those, thirteen percent were adopted from foreign countries, mostly within Asia. Interestingly, the rate of international adoptions increased by 12 percent from 2000 to 2010, and 28 percent of all adopted children were adopted by a family whose race was different from their own. In fact, 37 percent of children whose adoptive families were of a different ethnicity were born outside of the U.S. The article states that there has long been an interest in international adoptions in the United States, particularly by wealthier families. In fact, foreign-born adopted children were found to be more likely to live in households with incomes at or above $100,000/yr when compared to to U.S.-born adoptees. Pediatrician Jane Aronson told USA Today that this may be because families with higher incomes are more inclined to help children from poorer countries. This may also be due, in part, to the expense associated with international adoptions. Naturally, adopting a stepchild or a child who was born and currently resides in the U.S. will cost less than adopting a child from a foreign country. The travel expenses alone make international adoptions prohibitive for less wealthy families. Whether international or domestic, adoption can be a difficult and at times confusing process. It is always best in these situations to have a qualified family law attorney on your side to help you through the process. If you are hoping to adopt a child in Illinois, contact A. Traub & Associates today for a consultation. They can ensure that your adoption proceeds as smoothly as possible so that you and your new child can begin building memories as soon as possible.