10 Truths You Need to Know About Adoption

Though many in society may not recognize it, adoption is all around us, and is a normal part of how thousands of families come together. Indeed, six out of every ten Americans are touched by adoption in some fashion. Along with this, roughly 7 million Americans have been adopted. Each year, roughly 135,000 children are adopted in the United States. Yet, there are many myths and misconceptions surrounding adoption. Here are ten truths about adoption.

1. Adoption is Also a Loss For a Child.

The adoption of a child is indeed a joyous and happy one. Yet, the internal process for all involved can be a challenging one, especially for the child. He may have a difficult time accepting the fact that he will never return to live with his biological parents or birth family members again. It is necessary for adoptive parents to allow the child time to grieve the loss of connection with his birth family. He may very well need time to experience the stages of grief before he fully transfers attachment from his birth family to his new family.

2. Post Adoption Depression is Real.

What many adoptive parents discover after an adoption is Post Adoption Depression. Feelings of anxiety, depression, and stress may occur with the adoptive parent after the adoption has taken place. There may be several reasons why adoptive parents experience this form of depression following an adoption. For some, unresolved feelings of grief and loss from past trauma within the parent may surface. For others, it may be unresolved infertility issues that were never addressed. Still, other adoptive parents may struggle with the challenges of attachment or bonding with the child that were more difficult than first expected.

3. Most Adoptions Come From Foster Care.

Of the over 560,000 children placed in foster care in 2010, it is estimated that 107,000 of these foster children became eligible for adoption. Sadly, only around 53,000 of these children were adopted during that year, with over half of these children being adopted by foster parents, with the rest being adopted by family members, and a small percentage being adopted by non relatives. Nearly 60% of children in foster care in America wait 2 or more years before being adopted.