The National Council for Adoption has published their most recent report on the numbers of adoptions taking place in the United States. The data is from 2022, but it is the most recent data and the first report released since before the pandemic. Looking at the numbers from 2029 to 2022, the NCFA found that infant adoptions were up by more than 3% in that time.
Infant adoptions increase
There were 25,503 infant adoptions in 2022. This compares with 24,720 in 2019. The 3% increase was not a large number, but it is in stark contrast to other numbers in the report:
- The number of international adoptions decreased by 57.05%.
- The number adopted through the foster care system fell by 18.93%.
Among children leaving foster care in 2022, 27% were adopted. 57% of these adoptions were cases of the foster parents adopting the child, while another 33% were relatives of the child. The children averaged 5 to 6 years of age.
So why did infant adoptions increase when other types of adoptions decreased?
Factors in the change
The Washington Times r3eferenced unnamed experts who suggested that the decrease in availability of international adoptions was a factor in the increase in infant adoptions. While China just ended foreign adoptions last year, they had paused international adoptions during the pandemic, which was reflected in the 2022 data. The end of Chinese adoptions in 2024 may show up in the next report from NCFA.
War in Ukraine affected the availability of children from that part of the world, Russia, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Cambodia, Georgia, Liberia, Nepal, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Romania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have all restricted or forbidden international adoption within the past two decades. Overall, international adoptions have simply become less practical for American parents.
Private adoptions
Children adopted from foster care are typically older and have been in care for months or years. Adopting an infant generally means getting to know an expectant mom who wants a loving home for her child. At Heimer Law, we can help you navigate the legal requirements to adopt a baby you already know, or to find an infant who needs a home. Contact us today for a free consultation.
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