An estimated two million American couples want to adopt, but there are only 25,000 infants up for adoption. The National Survey of Family Growth found that, in 1995, only one percent of single women decided to give their infant up for adoption. As many as six in ten Americans have personal experience with adoption, meaning that they themselves, a family member, or a close friend was adopted, had adopted, or placed a child up for adoption. Unfortunately, the demand for adoptions significantly outweighs the number of babies being put up for adoption. The following provides additional information on adoption as well as links to related sites.
Adoption is a different way to build a family.
It serves as a means of providing care for children whose birth parents could not raise them for various reasons. It can also provide an alternative means of family formation for those who are unable to have children. The adopted child becomes a legal member of a family other than his or her biological one. Adoption is generally considered the optimal form of permanence when the biological parents are unable to provide a safe, stable, and nurturing home. Adopting a child always requires a waiting period.