International Adoption

Adoption from another country is international adoption, also sometimes called foreign adoption. More children are adopted internationally than domestically. The need for adoptive parents of foreign children is great. This means that the waiting time to adopt a child may be less. There are some special considerations to think about when considering adopting a child from another country.

Cultural Issues

The culture of the child you adopt should be considered. If they are from an economically poor country there may be cultural shock, especially if the child is several or more years old. Children from other countries also speak a foreign language and there could be a language barrier, especially if the child is older. Other cultural issues include customs and even eating habits that the child is used to in their homeland. It can be very confusing for a young child to have an instant culture change and adoptive parents need to be sensitive to these issues.

Heritage

The heritage of the adopted child may be quite different than that of their adoptive parents. Heritage includes your genetic background, your physical features and ethnic origin. The child may be a different race than the adoptive parents. While this may not be of any concern to the adoptive parents they should take the feelings of others into account. Sometimes children of different racial backgrounds may not be readily welcomed into certain communities and schools. While this is rapidly changing, there are still some stigmas that may be attached. Take care to be aware of these possibilities and be ready to deal with any issues that may come up openly and honestly. The child himself may start to feel different when they are old enough to notice. Decide how you want to deal with the issue as a family so you are prepared when the questions start.

Financial

Adoption can be expensive. There are many fees and expenses involved in the process of adopting. When you adopt a child from another country the expenses can be even higher. Usually one or both adoptive parents need to travel to the country to pick up the child. These travel costs can be high, especially if the adoption takes a while to complete. Some countries insist that the adoptive parent be in the country for a certain amount of time before the adoption can take place. Children in foreign countries are usually living in orphanages. These orphanages rely on donations of the adoptive parents to survive. Sometimes the donation may be quite high. When all is said and done, expect an international adoption to cost between $15,000 and $30,000.

The role of the adoptive parents needs to include these factors. The child from a foreign country will have many adjustments to make at once. Parents who are considering adopting a foreign child should seek guidance from a counselor before the adoption. That way they can be prepared for the experience and can better help guide the child through the process in a loving and meaningful way.

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