| If you are considering adopting a child one of the | | | | or whose parents are simply too poor to care for |
| things you will need to look into is whether to go for | | | | them. For example many children in Africa are left |
| domestic adoption or international adoption. In this | | | | orphans due to the extent of the AIDS epidemic in |
| article we will discuss the pros and cons of | | | | Africa, and many girl babies are abandoned due to |
| international adoption to give you more information in | | | | cultural and political reasons in China. |
| order to make a better informed decision. | | | | In addition, the regulations and requirements for |
| International adoption is generally done by an | | | | international adoption are often not as stringent as |
| individual working through an agency (or perhaps a | | | | for domestic adoption. Domestic regulations may |
| few adoption agencies) and it is often necessary to | | | | include requirements regarding the adoptive parents' |
| spend extended periods in the country from which | | | | ages, household situation, and the requirement to |
| you are adopting a child, usually between one and | | | | take a certain number of classes. These requirements |
| three weeks. | | | | are generally not as strict for international adoption. |
| Apart from the possible cons associated with the | | | | In international adoption the birth mother also does |
| extended travel it is also often more costly to adopt | | | | not change her mind. The problem with domestic |
| a child from another country. These may include | | | | adoption in many cases is the option for the birth |
| travel costs, legal costs and a number of other costs | | | | mother to change her mind after prospective |
| which your adoption agency should be able to inform | | | | adoptive parents have been told they will get a child. |
| you of. | | | | In international adoptions this is not the case. |
| International adoption may also come with language | | | | In conclusion, there are pros and cons to both |
| and communication problems. If the child you are | | | | international adoption and domestic adoption, |
| adopting has a different language to you then you | | | | hopefully this article has given you a better |
| may find it difficult to communicate at first and they | | | | understanding to know which option will be best |
| may find it difficult adapting to a new language. | | | | suited to you and your lifestyles. International |
| Children adopted through international adoption are | | | | adoption may be a more expensive, lengthy process |
| very seldom infants due to the longer adoption | | | | and perhaps have some language difficulties; but |
| process and so they will usually have obtained some | | | | there are also a lot more children available, especially |
| language skills in another language. | | | | of different races or cultures, and the requirements |
| On the positive side though, there is usually a greater | | | | are generally not as stringent and the birth mother |
| availability of children through international adoption. | | | | won't change her mind about placing her child with |
| Many countries are in desperate need of people to | | | | you. |
| adopt children who have been orphaned, abandoned | | | | |