1. 6 in 10 Americans have had a personal experience with adoption.

2. Nearly 100 million Americans have adoption in their immediate families.

3. Approximately 135,000 children are adopted in the United States each year.

4. Approximately 428,000 children are in foster care in the United States.

5. Every year, there are about 1.3 million abortions. Only 4 percent of women with unwanted pregnancies place their children for adoption.

6. The majority of women who place their babies for adoption are in their mid-twenties.

7. The typical age range for birth mothers is early teens to late thirties.

8. Many birth mothers are already parenting at least one child.

9. Birth parent grief often lasts a lifetime, with approximately three-quarters of birth mothers still experiencing feelings of grief and loss 12-20 years after placement.

10. Overall, the number of babies placed for adoption is falling. In fact, only 18,000 infants were placed for adoption in 2014, compared to 80,000 in 1971.

11. Adopting abroad has become harder. Only 5,400 children were adopted internationally in 2016, compared to 23,000 in 2004, according to the State Department.

12. The total number of adoptions in the U.S. has fallen from around 133,000 in 2007 to approximately 110,000 in 2014.

13. The 2017 Federal Adoption Tax Credit is $13,570, which helps offset the cost of adoption. Adopters with a modified adjusted gross income of $203,540 or less qualify for this credit. 

14. The cost to adopt a child ranges from $0-$40,000+, with foster care adoption costing nothing to very little, licensed private agency adoptions ranging from $5,000-$40,000, and international adoptions often costing more than $30,000.

15. The average age of a child waiting in foster care is around 8 years old.

16. More than half of kids in foster care will be reunited with their biological families. 

17. Nearly one-quarter of children in foster care will be adopted. Foster parents adopt many of these kids.

18. 62 percent of children adopted privately are placed with their families as infants less than 1-year-old. 

19. Almost half of the children who were adopted privately are only children in their adoptive homes.

20. Only 1 percent of domestic adoptions were open twenty years ago.

21. Today, approximately 60-70 percent of domestic adoptions are open. 

22. 99 percent of adopted children age 5 and older know they were adopted and 90 percent have positive feelings about their adoption.

Sources: Adoption Network Law Center, The Economist, The National Council for Adoption, AdoptHelp, FindLaw, Child Welfare Information Gateway, ABC News, Creating a Family.

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Seven years. Two miscarriages. Two years in the adoption process. That’s what it took for me to finally become a mom. It wasn’t a title that came easily, and I wear it proudly and gratefully. Being a mom is no doubt the most challenging and rewarding experience I’ve ever had. Adding to my complex mix of emotions, challenges, and realizations, is the fact that I am also an adoptive parent. I’ve learned so many important lessons along the way, and today I’d like to share some of those insights with you. If you’re hoping to adopt or just plain curious, these are five things I’ve learned because I’m an adoptive parent.

1) You can love a child not born to you as your own.

Some people question the bond between an adoptive mother and a child. Will you love the child as your own? Will you feel a connection? Is the love you have for an adoptive child the same as the love you have for a biological child? In my experience, the answer is yes! I’ve loved my daughter from the moment I first saw her in the hospital. I’ll never forget holding her in my arms and looking down at her in awe as all new parents do. We may be different, but our bond is strong. I couldn’t imagine loving her more if she were born to me. And I’m not the only one who feels this way. So many adoptive parents I’ve talked to agree. In fact, one mom who has both a biological and adoptive child happily told me that the love she feels for her children is the same. Genes are not what makes a family, love is.

2) Many people don’t understand adoption.

“Aren’t you afraid the birth mom will want her back?” they ask with concern. No, I’m not afraid because adoption is permanent. Once the papers are signed and the court appearances are over, birth parents cannot change their minds and reclaim a child. And despite the popular belief that adoptive parents are saints for raising “someone else’s child,” we’re all just regular people who chose to form our families in a different way. Our daughter is our child, and we are her parents, just like any other family.

3) I’m a “real” mom.

A biological mother is often referred to as the “real” mom. But you don’t need to share genes or give birth to be a real parent. Every tear I’ve wiped, story I’ve read, or dance recital I’ve proudly attended makes me just as much of a mom as anyone else. I’ve been there for my daughter every step of the way—from her first bottle to the sleepless infant nights to her first words and tiny, wobbly steps. I’ve provided countless words of encouragement, attended numerous school functions, and worried many nights when she was sick. It doesn’t get more real than that.

4) Adoption is both happy and sad.

While adoption can be wonderful, it isn’t all sunshine and roses. The day our daughter was born, my husband and I experienced just about every emotion you can think of—joy, fear, excitement, and sorrow. We were understandably happy we were about to become parents, but so sad for our daughter’s birth family. As we were about to start our new life as a family, they were preparing to say good-bye to their child. It’s a tough situation. You can’t have adoption without loss. You can’t experience the joy without facing the sadness.

5) Life can take you on unexpected journeys.

When I first decided I wanted to become a mother I assumed, like most hopeful parents, that I would get pregnant and give birth. But my journey to motherhood was much richer and more challenging than I ever anticipated. Through my tears, struggles and disappointments, I ended up on an incredible path that led me to my amazing daughter. Although what I went through to become a mom was devastating and heartbreaking, I truly believe I ended up exactly where I was supposed to be.

I’ve learned so many things as an adoptive parent. But two stand out in my mind: Adoption is a blessing, and motherhood is one of life’s greatest treasures.

Are you ready to pursue adoption? Visit Adoption.org or call 1-800-ADOPT-98 to connect with compassionate, nonjudgmental adoption specialists who can help you get started on the journey of a lifetime.

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