Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't want to judge as I am adopted myself so I think adoption is GREAT and says great things about the hearts of couples that take another's child in and love as their own. With that being said, can someone here PLEASE explain to me why some of us Americans adopt abroad? There are SO many children that need families right here on American soil. What about them? Why is the preference to go overseas?

why so concerned about how others choose to form their families? did your read the above comment about foster care in DC. there are currently 26 children available for adoption.

I'm concerned about America's children smart ass.... And why so limited to just agencies in DC? They will coordinate with agencies and people overseas. I mean in all of America. Why choose children who don't even live here? While our own are in the foster system?

So I take it you are a foster parent?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't want to judge as I am adopted myself so I think adoption is GREAT and says great things about the hearts of couples that take another's child in and love as their own. With that being said, can someone here PLEASE explain to me why some of us Americans adopt abroad? There are SO many children that need families right here on American soil. What about them? Why is the preference to go overseas?

why so concerned about how others choose to form their families? did your read the above comment about foster care in DC. there are currently 26 children available for adoption.

I'm concerned about America's children smart ass.... And why so limited to just agencies in DC? They will coordinate with agencies and people overseas. I mean in all of America. Why choose children who don't even live here? While our own are in the foster system?

I guess I should add - it took me 2 1/2 years to adopt from Vietnam and it almost fell through. took friends of mine four years to adopt from China. It is not easy to adopt internationally anymore. I think at one time - it was.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't want to judge as I am adopted myself so I think adoption is GREAT and says great things about the hearts of couples that take another's child in and love as their own. With that being said, can someone here PLEASE explain to me why some of us Americans adopt abroad? There are SO many children that need families right here on American soil. What about them? Why is the preference to go overseas?

One reason is that the International adoption process is just that - a process with realistic timelines. Whereas in the US, I would define adoption as a process so much as rules to follow and timelines are difficult if impossible to really determine.

international adoption = realistic timeframes. that is HILARIOUS!!!!! LOL.

Anonymous wrote:I don't want to judge as I am adopted myself so I think adoption is GREAT and says great things about the hearts of couples that take another's child in and love as their own. With that being said, can someone here PLEASE explain to me why some of us Americans adopt abroad? There are SO many children that need families right here on American soil. What about them? Why is the preference to go overseas?

One reason is that the International adoption process is just that - a process with realistic timelines. Whereas in the US, I would define adoption as a process so much as rules to follow and timelines are difficult if impossible to really determine.

Anonymous wrote:I don't want to judge as I am adopted myself so I think adoption is GREAT and says great things about the hearts of couples that take another's child in and love as their own. With that being said, can someone here PLEASE explain to me why some of us Americans adopt abroad? There are SO many children that need families right here on American soil. What about them? Why is the preference to go overseas?

I wouldn't necessarily say there is a preference for international adoption. I would be willing to bet that there are more domestic/foster adoptions than international adoptions in the US. International adoption numbers have dropped considerably the last few years. I have no idea how many foster to adopt situations there are but I personally know at least two. I do know that there are not many children that are available for immediate adoption from foster care. Some become available after you foster them for a while. It is a long process in which biological parents are given many opportunities to unite with their children. So foster care is not for everyone.

In the case of OP - I believe she said they (or at least one of them) is Korean so they were interested in Korean adoptions. I think every family makes the decision that is best for them. And no one should judge that decision.

Anonymous wrote:I don't want to judge as I am adopted myself so I think adoption is GREAT and says great things about the hearts of couples that take another's child in and love as their own. With that being said, can someone here PLEASE explain to me why some of us Americans adopt abroad? There are SO many children that need families right here on American soil. What about them? Why is the preference to go overseas?

why so concerned about how others choose to form their families? did your read the above comment about foster care in DC. there are currently 26 children available for adoption.

I don't want to judge as I am adopted myself so I think adoption is GREAT and says great things about the hearts of couples that take another's child in and love as their own. With that being said, can someone here PLEASE explain to me why some of us Americans adopt abroad? There are SO many children that need families right here on American soil. What about them? Why is the preference to go overseas?

We used CHSFS and adopted through the Korean heritage program, so our adoption was pretty fast -- about nine months between submission of application and travel to Korea. This was about four years ago. We had a great experience with the local CHSFS office in Silver Spring, but the "home" office in the midwest was a hassle (they lost paperwork, did things incorrectly, etc.). Not sure whether things have changed, but if one parent is of Korean descent it is a faster process. We would probably use CHSFS again but that's probably only because we are now familiar with the process through them and, as I said, had a good experience with the local office.

Anonymous wrote: THERE ARE HUNDREDS of children right in the District that need homes NOW. It will cost you nothing to adopt and they will be placed so much sooner than if you go international. UGH

I believe you have to be a DC resident to foster/adopt. There is no straight adoption anymore btw. You must be willing to foster first. Also, not every child in foster care is available for adoption.

If you adopt from China and are willing to adopt a child with special needs you can probably do it in under two years. If you want a child without special needs (and under 4) the wait is now close to 7 years.

Anonymous wrote: THERE ARE HUNDREDS of children right in the District that need homes NOW. It will cost you nothing to adopt and they will be placed so much sooner than if you go international. UGH

This is quite simply false. I happen to largely agree with you that adopting from the foster system makes more sense (in many circumstances- not all) then adopting internationally. (and I have adopted from the foster system before anyone gets riled up about my comment). But comments like yours do a disservice to everyone involved. You are willfully spreading misinformation.

I just did a quick search-- on the adoptuskids website (which does not include all- but does include many of the kids currently available for adoption who are not already in adoptive placements) there are currently 26 children listed in DC. Of those 25- are teenagers-- 1 is younger and in a wheelchair.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: THERE ARE HUNDREDS of children right in the District that need homes NOW. It will cost you nothing to adopt and they will be placed so much sooner than if you go international. UGH

I assume you've adopted from the foster care system, PP??

Who are you to dictate how anyone should form their family? I hope you go around telling all of the families who have bio kids that you think they should've fostered to adopt first before having kids through birth.

Ditto!

Anonymous wrote: THERE ARE HUNDREDS of children right in the District that need homes NOW. It will cost you nothing to adopt and they will be placed so much sooner than if you go international. UGH

I assume you've adopted from the foster care system, PP??

Who are you to dictate how anyone should form their family? I hope you go around telling all of the families who have bio kids that you think they should've fostered to adopt first before having kids through birth.

THERE ARE HUNDREDS of children right in the District that need homes NOW. It will cost you nothing to adopt and they will be placed so much sooner than if you go international. UGH