Authored by Geoff Vaughan in Family
Published on 02-23-2009
The sudden popularity among stars like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie to adopt children from overseas has increased America’s interest in International Adoption. Many couples who cannot have their own children have found that adopting overseas is a great way to get the child that they have always wanted. International Adoption has many positives, but you should also take some of the negatives into consideration before pursuing overseas adoption.
The best thing about International Adoption is that you are helping a child have a better life. Thousands of children who cannot be raised by their birthparents are put in orphanages, and these children do not usually get all of the love, attention, and care that they need because so many children are packed in many of these institutions. By adopting one of these children, you can give him or her a much better life.
A negative to the fact that the children come from orphanages is that they may need additional health care and take longer to warm up to you because they have not received the individual attention they would get in a household. This could mean costly medical bills for mental health and medical care. Most of these children are older, and you will not know if their birthmothers received adequate prenatal care. More often than not, these women did not. And because these children are adopted from orphanages, you will not be able to get a newborn, so you won’t be able to bond with the child from birth, and it may take longer for the children to warm up to you.
One great fact about International Adoption is that if you are accepted into the program, and do well on the evaluation of your home, you are guaranteed to get a child from overseas. So many children are available in other countries waiting for great parents that you are assured in being able to adopt. This process usually takes one to two years, but varies from country to country.
When you adopt internationally, it is unlikely that the parents will ever try to get their child back. Most give their babies up for adoption in order to give them a better life. In the United States, you have more of a chance of the mothers trying to get custody back of their children. For this reason, you have to ensure that you have a lawyer review all of the paperwork. The paperwork for International Adoption can be lengthier than some of the U.S. adoptions; however, you will know exactly how much you will have to pay, and what paperwork you will have to complete before you start the adoption process.
One factor of International Adoption that is both a pro and a con is that you will probably have to travel overseas to get your child. Many people love this because it gives them the chance to see the country where their new child was born, and it can be helpful to know the cultural themes when they raise their children. Other people do not like the fact that they have to spend the money and take the time to travel to another country for the adoption. Many of these countries are impoverished, so it can be heartbreaking to travel to these countries and see the conditions where these children are living.
When a couple really wants a child in their life, International Adoption can be a great option. Thousands of children all over the world are waiting for a better life, and you can make a difference in not only a child’s life, but in other countries by adopting one of these kids.
