November 09, 2014

World Adoption Day

November is a big month for adoption! It’s National Adoption Month, and it’s also home to National Adoption Day and World Adoption Day, which is actually today. We are so proud to be part of the adoption world and of all the good adoption does for so many people. In honor of all that, we wanted to share some special facts about adoption — things you might not know, and but information we should all keep in mind.

Prior to the development of infant formula in the 1920s, most adoptees were older children.

There are more orphans in Sub-Sahara Africa than children in Denmark, Norway, Canada, and Sweden combined.

There are about 1.5 million adopted children in the United States, which is 2% of the population, or one out of 50 children.

In 2012, 23,396 youth aged out of the U.S. foster care system without the emotional and financial support necessary to succeed. Nearly 40% had been homeless or couch surfed, nearly 60% of young men had been convicted of a crime, and only 48% were employed. 75% of women and 33% of men receive government benefits to meet basic needs. 50% of all youth who aged out were involved in substance use.

In 2012, Florida not only allowed the most children to be adopted out of the state, but it also allowed the most incoming adoptions. Of America’s 8,668 foreign adoptions in 2012, 398 children were adopted into Florida families. By contrast, the state with the fewest foreign adoptions? Delaware, where only 7 children were adopted that year.

Around the world, there are an estimated 153 million orphans who have lost one parent. There are 17,900,000 orphans who have lost both parents and are living in orphanages or on the streets and lack the care and attention required for healthy development. These children are at risk for disease, malnutrition, and death.

Three years is the average length of time a child in foster care waits to be adopted. Roughly 55% of these children have had three or more placements. An earlier study found that 33% of children had changed elementary schools five or more times, losing relationships and falling behind educationally.

UNICEF estimates that there are 151 million children who have lost at least one parent worldwide and 18 million who have lost both parents.

This all means that there is a lot adoption has been able to accomplish, but there is still so much to do. Share this post to spread awareness!

Fact sources: Random Facts, Christianity Today, Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute