Each year over 51,000 children are adopted within the United States. Of this number, roughly 13% are born outside the U.S. and "imported" into the country. Children are classified into certain categories based on age, race, number of years in foster care, sibling status, medical disease and behavioral patterns. Based on these classifications, each child is given a price. A tag attached to their name that says, "this is how much I cost, please find me a home." According to Dr. Ken Hutcherson, "in the United States, 98% of adoption agencies ask that adoptive families pay a certain price for the children they wish to adopt, whether it be a small or large fee, based on income, age and race." Why is it then, that according to Thomas Dace, author of Foundations to Adopt, half of all Americas said that "being able to pay for an adoption is a major concern?" This is people we are talking about. Children we are putting a price tag on. Children we are trying desperately to save; To give a home, food, love, a future. Why must money be a main issue at hand when it comes to "doing the right thing?"
To give a rough estimate, this is how much it costs to purchase a child:
- Foster Care Adoptions $0-$500
- Licensed Private Agency Adoptions $5,000- $40,000
- Independent Adoptions $8,000- $40,000+
- Facilitated/ Unlicensed Adoptions $5,000- $40,000+
- Inter country Adoptions $7000- $30,000
If these prices are to actually help the child, why is it that adoption agencies are making between $5,000,000 to $20,000,000 a year? I thought the idea was to help children, not put families out so they can have the privilege of bringing up this child that is otherwise without a home or loving family.
There are options. Free adoption is out there and it is up to the people who truly want to make a difference without opening up their checkbooks and saying "how much for the kid?" One agency that has made a prominent difference within the community of free adoption is Antioch Adoption. They are strong believers that love is a main priority and should come before any money issue. According to its founder, Ken Hutcherson, "children and parents deserve the right to love freely. Money should never get in the way of a loving family in search of a child to care for. When love is blinded by a concern for money, the processes, and their priorities, are in serious need of a change." With agencies like this, and many more that are out there, eventually there can be a stop to putting a price tag on children. If you do decide to adopt, it is worth your time to find an agency that actually cares about the children and family, rather than money. According to The National Adoptions Survey, they found that 39% of the population has seriously considered adopting because they believe in the message, "children need roots." Unfortunately, just 1.3% of the 39% actually adopt a child. Don't be that statistic. Make your difference and push for free adoption.
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