The Wishing Game

Adults seeking to adopt a child in the US often face a series of challenges, whether they’re looking to adopt a child domestically, internationally, or through foster care. Although the federal government has issued nationwide frameworks, such as the 1994 Uniform Adoption Act (UAA), each state government typically sets its own laws and regulations regarding adoption, complicating the process from the outset if a prospective parent seeks an adoption across state lines. Generally, however, all adoptive parents experience similar difficulties.

One of the first challenges to adoption is the rigorous screening and qualification standards set by adoption agencies and authorities. Prospective parents undergo extensive background checks, home studies, and comprehensive evaluations to ensure the sustainability of the child’s living environment should the adoption go through. An assessment of the individuals’ or couple’s personal histories, financial stability, previous legal issues, medical concerns, emotional state, and numerous other constraints are considerations during the screening process.

In addition, legal proceedings are costly and time-consuming, requiring the prospective parents to submit considerable amounts of paperwork, participate in court hearings, and meet any other legal requirements that the authorities set forth. Financial hurdles are another factor that can deter adoption. The process is expensive, and the cost can vary greatly depending on the circumstances and type of adoption. Expenses may include agency fees, legal costs, home study expenses, and post-placement fees, as well as birth-parent support for domestic adoption and significant travel expenses for international adoption.

Likewise, deterrents can take the form of discrimination and bias. Age, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, and ethnicities can impact a court’s decision to allow an adoption to go through and limit prospective parents’ options for adoption. Additionally, the waiting period can greatly affect the possibility of adoption: In domestic adoption, prospective parents can wait several months to several years because they’re often chosen by a birth parent; in international adoption, the waiting period can be one to several years depending on the county, its international adoption policies, and political circumstances. Foster care adoption is a relatively quicker route because children without any relatives can be matched quickly with a new family. Those with relatives, however, face a longer waiting period because state authorities typically prioritize birth family reunification over adoption.

Emotional turmoil is another challenge that prospective parents often fail to factor in when they begin the adoption process. Since adoption often entails so many challenges, setbacks are frequent, and the level of perseverance and resilience required to endure them can be more strenuous than some are ready to bear.