NCFA Media : Press Releases

Census 2000 Report on Adoption Shows that Adoption in America is Alive and Well

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact:
Lee Allen
(703) 535-1919
Mobile (24/7): 301-693-6513
FAX: 703-535-1901
Email: lallen@infantadopt.org

ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA, August 22, 2003 - The National Council For Adoption (NCFA), a leading voice among national adoption and child welfare organizations, applauds today’s release of the U.S. Census Bureau’s special report, Adopted Children and Stepchildren: 2000. According to NCFA, the report fills some important statistical gaps related to the institution of adoption in America today.

"This groundbreaking report makes it clear that adoption in America is alive and well," says Thomas Atwood, president and CEO of NCFA. "No one who has adopted or who was adopted into his or her family should feel alone in the USA in 2003."

Analysis of the special report shows that in 2000, 2.5 percent of children living with their parents in America were adopted into their families. There were 1.6 million children under the age of 18 growing up adopted. Including children 18 and older, there were 2.1 million adopted children living with their parents, in 1.7 million households.

According to NCFA analysis, the data show that the number of adoptions is increasing. Notably, the number of infant adoptions showed a marked increase from 1996 to 2000. NCFA’s 1999 Adoption Factbook III found that in 1996 domestic infant adoptions had declined to 23,357. The Census Bureau’s report found that there were 41,795 children under one who had been adopted in 2000. "Even after a downward adjustment for international adoptions under age one, the Census number for 2000 still probably reflects an increase in domestic infant adoptions," says Atwood.

Also encouraging, data in the report reflect the fact that adoptions of children out of foster care are likewise on the rise. As a result of the successful enactment of the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) of 1997, Census statistics show a bulge in the age-related data for children aged 8-14 in 2000. There have been approximately 11,000 more adoptions per year out of foster care since ASFA’s enactment. The average age of children adopted out of foster care in 2001 was 6.9 years.

Census 2000 numbers confirm data from the U.S. Department of State and NCFA statistics that show the number of foreign adoptions is also increasing. Though not a surprise, the data reflect an increase in the number of international adoptions from 8,102 in 1989 to 17,718 in 2000. In the time since the census was completed, the number of foreign adoptions has risen to 20,099 in 2002.

"It is fair to interpret these increases in the numbers of all kinds of adoptions as reflecting an improvement in public attitudes toward adoption," Atwood continues. "We believed this was happening, but now we have reliable data showing that Americans understand better today the benefits of adoption to children, families, and society."

The new Census Bureau report clearly reflects that adopted children have certain benefits. For example, children in adopted households enjoy higher household incomes - $56,138 for adopted, versus $50,900 for stepchildren, and $48,200 for biological children. Additionally, parents of adopted children more frequently own their homes - 77.8 percent versus 66.8 percent and 66.8 percent for adopted, stepchildren, and biological children respectively. A higher percentage of adopted children live in married households than biological (78.0 percent versus 73.8 percent), meaning they enjoy the benefits of having both a mother and a father. Adoptive parents are also more educated, which correlates with better education for their children.

Interestingly, the data show that adoption is helping to racially integrate America through transracial and intercountry adoption practices. More than 17 percent of adopted children are of a different race than that of the "householder" who heads their family.

Atwood adds, "The Census data also shed light on past and future public policy issues." According to NCFA’s analysis of the Adopted Children and Stepchildren: 2000, some of the conclusions and action items that can be drawn from the report are:

• Public policy and public education can make a difference. Government efforts to encourage adoption and adoption awareness, such as through the Adoption and Safe Families Act and the Infant Adoption Awareness Training Program, are working, and should be continued and expanded.
• States should get more involved in promoting adoption awareness in schools, communities, and through media campaigns.
• Leaders should continue to push to find permanent loving families for children languishing in foster care through parent recruitment and flexible foster care funding for states.

For more information regarding NCFA’s activities and positions, media representatives are encouraged to contact the organization directly by contacting Lee Allen, Director of Communications, at the number or email address listed above.

About NCFA

Since 1980, the NCFA has been a leading voice among national child adoption and welfare organizations. NCFA is a research, education, and advocacy nonprofit that provides adoption information, promotes ethical adoption practices, works to shape public policy and legislation regarding adoption issues, and serves as a continuing resource to women with unplanned pregnancies, adoptive families, and those seeking to adopt.

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