Incredibly, the federal government last collected private adoption data in 1975.
This absence of comprehensive data has created a deficiency in understanding private adoptions in the United States—a deficiency that urgently needs to be addressed.
The lack of federal data on private domestic adoptions over the last five decades has left policymakers and stakeholders without clear data on which to make decisions. While the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) tracks foster care adoptions and the State Department keeps data on intercountry adoptions, private adoption statistics remain largely opaque at both federal and many state levels.
This lack of data has far-reaching consequences. It hinders efforts to:
- Accurately evaluate existing adoption policies.
- Implement evidence-based reforms.
- Allocate resources efficiently.
- Identify and address systemic deficiencies.
Filling this information gap with basic, non-identifying data could significantly improve the lives of those considering adoption and the domestic private adoption process.
Why Private Adoption Data Matters
Policy Assessment and Reform
At the most basic level, collecting and analyzing private adoption data would enable ongoing evaluation of existing laws and policies. Policymakers could identify successful initiatives, adjust ineffective measures, and design future policies informed by evidence.
Demographic Disparities:
Data showing that specific demographics have significantly higher or lower rates of adoption compared to other states, policies may need adjustment, as the data could mean that a group is not receiving information about or access to all her pregnancy options.
Regional Disparities:
If data indicates that certain states have markedly higher rates of private adoptions compared to others, state policymakers could analyze this trend to understand the factors contributing to these disparities—such as differences in outreach, economic conditions, or available resources. This could lead to targeted policies that promote equitable access to family support and adoption services, ensuring families everywhere have the resources they need to either parent or adopt and that parents considering adoption are adequately protected and thoroughly informed throughout the adoption process.
Similarly, where data indicates that a significant number of private adoptions occur in certain regions with high rates of unintended pregnancies and restrictive abortion laws, community groups, advocacy organizations, and policymakers could better understand where more family support is needed, including childcare resources, job training centers, etc. and could develop targeted outreach programs aimed at providing comprehensive options counseling to pregnant women in these areas. These programs could inform them about all available choices, including parenting, guardianship, kinship adoption, private adoption, and temporary foster care, ensuring they make informed decisions.
Interstate Adoption Patterns:
If federal data shows that 60% of private adoptions occur across state lines, it could
motivate policymakers to examine the reasons behind this trend. Insights from this data might lead to initiatives that address what expectant parents desire in their adoption experience and whether those considering adoption have sufficient access to local adoption services that meet their needs. This pattern could also highlight the need for improving coordination between state agencies to streamline the process and ensure proper oversight and compliance with each state’s laws.
Economic Implications
Understanding where the greatest needs lie allows governments and charitable organizations to allocate resources more effectively. For example, if data reveals that certain regions have a higher demand for adoption services, resources could be devoted to exploring and addressing underlying causes, enhancing support, and ensuring that necessary safeguards are in place for those who do choose adoption.
Financial Barriers:
If statistics reveal that private adoptions are declining while the number of families wanting to adopt and the number of children in placements outside their family of origin remains high, it might indicate financial barriers. This could prompt:
- Protective regulations to prevent price gouging and other exploitative practices by adoption providers
- Development of state-level grant programs to assist families with adoption-related expenses.
- Expansion of the Adoption Tax Credit to make it refundable, benefiting more families across income levels.
Financial Aid:
If data indicates a spike in private adoptions during economic downturns or societal crises (e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic), it could lead policymakers to develop temporary financial aid programs for pregnant women or support resources for families considering adoption, ensuring that parenting remains a viable option even in challenging economic conditions, and that expectant parents aren’t coerced into adoption due to short-term financial barriers.
Targeted Resources
If data shows that stepparent adoptions account for a significant number of all private adoptions, this could lead to:
- Development of post-adoption support programs tailored to the unique dynamics of stepfamilies.
- Funding for research on long-term outcomes of stepparent adoptions to inform best practices.
Post-Adoption Support Services
If data shows a substantial number of private adoptions, policymakers could respond by allocating funding for services such as counseling and post-adoption support. This would ensure that birth and adoptive families have access to vital resources during and after the adoption process, thereby improving outcomes for adoptive families and children.
Ethical Safeguards
Improved Practice Standards for Adoption Providers:
If data reveals that private adoptions are consistent or increasing, but there are also increased reports of dissatisfaction with adoption services or outcomes, this could lead policymakers to establish minimum quality standards to ensure that all adoption providers provide fair, ethical, and supportive services.
Increased Transparency:
If there's a significant discrepancy between popular notion and actual private adoption numbers, it might result in:
- Adoption professionals are able to set realistic expectations for hopeful adoptive parents
- Informed decision-making concerning the likelihood of adoption and the availability of families hoping to adopt.
- Increased funding for research on private adoption outcomes to guide best practices.
Informed Decision-Making:
For Adoptive Parents
By understanding these statistics, adopting parents can make more informed choices about their journey, set realistic expectations, be fully informed about their likelihood of adopting, and strategically plan for the complexities of the adoption process. This empowerment through data can instill confidence and preparedness in adoptive parents.
For Expectant Parents
For expectant parents considering adoption, understanding the annual statistics on private adoptions can provide reassurance and clarity. If there has been a steady increase in private adoptions over recent years, that signals that many families are actively seeking to adopt, which may alleviate their concerns about finding a safe and loving home for their child.
Maya Angelou's wise words, "When we know better, we do better,” apply to the importance of national data on private domestic adoption. Such data is crucial for informed policy-making, promoting ethical practices, and grasping adoption trends.
We can better support everyone affected by or considering private adoption by establishing a strong foundation based on having access to data rather than speculation.
Join the Movement for Change!
We invite you to support our mission for ethical adoption practices. Whether you're an adoptive parent, a birth parent, an adoptee, or someone who cares about adoption, your voice and support can make a difference.
Visit our Take Action page to learn how you can participate in this effort. Adoption is a life-altering journey; together, we can work towards a future where every adoption is guided by compassion, transparency, and unwavering ethical standards.
