Adopting Abroad

One major choice a parent makes when deciding to adopt  is whether or not to find a child at home or internationally.

Adoptive Families magazine reports that international adoptions declined by 15% last year, and attributed the falling numbers to more stringent laws that make it harder for Americans to adopt outside the U.S. Additionally, the magazine says that there may be more children adopted internally in countries such as China and Russia, which formerly looked to the U.S. to take most of their orphaned children.

Indeed, anyone who has ever considered bringing a child home from another country knows it takes major amounts of time, money and patience. The positive side of international adoption is that more countries have opened up more widely to the process, including Peru and Brazil. African nations such as Ethiopia are also strong “sending” countries—and we think we probably have celebri-moms Angelina Jolie and Madonna to thank for that! [Adoptive Families]