What may seem unthinkable is now happening.
Since 2004, international adoptions have collapsed by 81%, going from an incredible 22,989 to 4,200 budgeted adoptions in 2018 according to IAAME, the leading international adoption accrediting entity. That’s a staggering drop.
Why is this happening?
Adoption isn’t cheap, as many people know. There are a lot of expenses that come with it. To some, it can be incredibly dizzying and nearly impossible. Still, families continue to find ways to be together despite green paper and metal coins.
However, the regulations surrounding adoption continue to climb higher and higher, year after year. Not only are the adoption regulations becoming increasingly steep, the Office of Children’s Issues (OCI) refuses to work with adoption service providers (ASPs). What should be a peaceful collaboration to bring families together has turned into a hostile environment where OCI is placing more and more barriers around ASPs. With their reinterpretation of new practices and policies, international adoption is calculated to completely end by 2022.
How is this happening?
To fully understand, let’s go over a brief history. Congress in 2006 passed the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. This act was specifically created to make sure that intercountry adoptions remain in the best interests of the child. It was passed with the belief that it would help increase adoptions in America.
Former U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu speaks about the Hague Convention in the following quote: “Congress passed the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption believing that this action would pave the way for a more ethical, transparent and streamlined process for intercountry adoption…Sadly, several years later, it is clear that this decision was a tragic mistake. Instead of shoring up the process and providing support for sending countries, the State Department has twisted the intent of the treaty to close one country after another. The process has become far more cumbersome and far less transparent. American parents who want to help and lovingly raise a child are often made to feel like criminals. As a result, intercountry adoptions have fallen to a historic low, and they continue to decrease each year as the need of desperate, abandoned, and orphaned children increases. Major change is required now before it’s too late.”
In a recent article published by The Federalist, an inside source connected with the State Department revealed “Behind closed doors, I’ve heard statements like: ‘There need to be fewer adoption service providers because we can’t monitor them all.'”
That’s a terrifying statement. So what’s being said is that our very own State Department doesn’t want to deal with international adoption agencies because it would be too much of a hassle to handle all the monitoring that goes on?
What about all the children and parents who are looking for their forever families?
Without adoption, more children live in institutions and orphanages instead of a loving home. Children who aren’t in a family are in greater danger of homelessness, being trafficked, and suicide.
You can help change this. Sign the petition now and make a difference.
To learn more what you can do to save adoptions, visit Adoption.com. Read an additional resource on How to Solve the U.S. International Adoption Crisis.