Older Child Adoption

Attitudes about adoption may sometimes appear controversial, but no country wants to admit to having a social crisis where poverty and lack of health care helps increase the number of children who may be abandoned, abused, or neglected. It is not uncommon for even seasoned adoption professionals to be overcome by the sheer magnitude of the problem.

You will find that some countries are less adoption-friendly than others. Residents of your host country may not understand why you would want to adopt a child or sibling group who may be older, who may be considered a social outcast, or who, they believe, has a genetic predisposition to be “difficult” or has special needs.

Many people believe that foreigners should not adopt children, no matter what their circumstances. It is not uncommon for unfounded rumors about adoption to take place; one popular one is that the children’s organs are being sold. This belief may be exacerbated by a lack of understanding.

You may find that local residents do not believe that there is anything wrong with housing children indefinitely in an orphanage. It is not uncommon for orphanages to house children who are not legal orphans but instead have been sent by parents who can not afford to feed or clothe them. Family members regularly visit many children in orphanages in Eastern Europe, which prevents them from being adopted. Infrequently, if birth families find out about an impending adoption, they may come forward to “reclaim” a child, at least temporarily, to prevent his adoption.

As adoptive parents, it is our responsibility to be gracious and to conduct ourselves in an exemplary manner particularly while completing an adoption. You are, in a sense, an ambassador of good will for your country, and you set the standard on how adoptive parents are viewed.