Adoption USA Survey

Adoption USA Survey

Adoption USA did a survey in 2007 and published the findings in 2009. They found some interesting statistics that we still find hold true with our clients today.

Here are some of the findings:

  • Adopted children are less likely than are children in the general population to live in households with incomes below the poverty threshold (12 compared with 18 percent). However, nearly half (46 percent) of children adopted from foster care live in households with incomes no higher than two times the poverty threshold.
  • Over two-thirds of adopted children—69 percent—live with two married parents, and they are just as likely to do so as children in the general population.
  • Like children in the general population, most adopted children are in excellent or very good health (85 percent). The majority of adopted children have adequate health insurance (78 percent) and have been consistently insured over the prior 12 months (91 percent).
  • The majority of adopted children fare well on six measures of socio-emotional well-being. For example, only a small minority of adopted children have ever been diagnosed with disorders such as attachment disorder, depression, attention deficit disorder or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or behavior or conduct disorder. Furthermore, 88 percent of adopted children ages 6 and older exhibit positive social behaviors.
  • More than half of school-age adopted children have excellent or very good performance in reading and language arts and the same is true for math, according to their parents. Furthermore, 69 percent are engaged in school (i.e., they care about doing well in school and regularly do homework), but they are somewhat less likely to be engaged in school than are children in the general population (81 percent).

These statistics give a strong basis for support that when you choose to place your child into an adoptive family, they have a much higher chance of being emotionally and physically healthier than the general population. Adoptive parents typically are well established and able to give your child the life you desire for him or her. If you are considering adoption, it could very well be the right choice.