When some people first consider adopting a child, they wonder, “Do orphanages still exist? Can you adopt orphans in America? If so, how?”
Orphanages are common in pop-culture adoption stories — but the truth about modern orphanages in the U.S. is a lot different. While there are still many children in need of permanent adoptive homes, today’s domestic adoptions no longer involve traditional orphanages. Instead, U.S. orphanages have been replaced with an improved foster care system and private adoption agencies like American Adoptions.
Interested? Learn more about modern “orphanages” below.
The History of Orphanages in America
Prior to the establishment of organized orphanages in the 1800s, children whose families could not care for them often were placed with relatives or neighbors informally and without the involvement of the court. But with an explosion of immigrants arriving in the United States, there was also an explosion in children who needed a place to stay. Many children lost their parents to epidemics, while others were surrendered by families living in poverty or struggling with drug or alcohol addiction. Orphanage homes and other similar institutions began springing up to fulfill this need.
While orphanages were often the best option available to children with nowhere else to go, they sometimes lacked the necessary staff, structure and resources to adequately care for all of the children in need. As a result, some orphanages were overcrowded, and children lived in poor conditions.
In the mid-1800s, a reformer named Charles Brace founded theChildren’s Aid Societyto address the issue of these overcrowded institutions. The Society was founded on the belief that children would do better placed in families than living on the streets or in crowded American orphanages.
People Also Search
Benefits of Adoption [And How They Affect You]
6 Reasons People Choose American Adoptions
13 Key Adoption Services You'll Need in Your Journey
What is Being Adopted Like? [The Adoptee Experience]
Brace’s solution was to create an“Orphan Train,”a program which placed homeless children on the railways and sent them out west, where they could be chosen by families who had been pre-approved by local committees, making adopting directly from an orphanage in a rural setting easier. This system literally “put orphans up for adoption” on the train platforms, where adoptive families could choose their desired orphan child from a lineup. This early form of “placing out” is now considered the beginning of the modern foster care system.
At the turn of the century, reformers influenced by theProgressive Movementbegan questioning the orphanage system and laying the groundwork for a more modern child welfare system. The orphan trains stopped in 1930 due to a decreased need for farm labor in the Midwest and the reformed thinking that the government should help preserve struggling families. Traditional orphanages in the United States began closing following World War II, as public social services were on the rise.
U.S. adoption policy and procedures, as well as child protection laws, began to take shape, leading to the demise of traditional orphanages in America, which were replaced with individual and small groupfoster homes. The reformers pushing for this change argued that children would do better placed in homes, where they could receive personalized care and individual attention, than in institutions. By the 1950s, more children lived in foster homes than in orphanages in the United States, and by the 1960s, foster care had become a government-funded program.
Since then, U.S. orphanages have gone extinct entirely. In their place are some modern boarding schools, residential treatment centers and group homes, though foster care remains the most common form of support for children who are waiting for adoption or reunification with their families. Foster care agencies — the modern form of “orphan adoption agencies” — work to preserve families where possible and find the best homes when not.
In addition, domestic adoption agencies like American Adoptions can help pregnant mothers find homes for their newborn babies and infants without them ever entering the foster care system.
These modern foster care and adoption options serve all types of families and children who need support — not just “orphans,” or children who have lost their parents. In fact, children who lose both their parents often are placed directly into relative care following their parents’ deaths — not in foster care or placed for adoption.
Most children in foster care have at least one living biological parent and are in placement for completely unrelated reasons than having just one parent. Similarly, those adopted as infants are not “orphans”; their birth parents made the difficult choice to place them with a new family but often remain a part of their child’s life through open adoption.
So, Are There Orphanages in the U.S.?
Essentially, no. The adoption process in the United States no longer involves traditional orphanages. Today, there are three primary forms of domestic adoption: a child may be adopted from the foster care system, as an infant in a private adoption or as a relative or stepchild of the adoptive parents. Relative or stepparent adoptions are the most common form of domestic adoption today. In these arrangements, a stepparent or relative becomes the legal parent for his or her spouse’s or relative’s child.
Adopting from the foster care system is the closest modern domestic adoptions come to adopting from an orphanage in the U.S. When a child is placed in foster care and his or her parent’s rights have been legally terminated, that child may be adopted. However, these children are typically not “orphans,” and not every child in foster care is legally adoptable. Many are waiting to be reunified with their parents, whose parental rights have not been terminated. About 100,000 of the 400,000 children currently in the system arewaiting to be adopted, either by their foster parents or by adoptive families who have not fostered before.
The third type of adoption in the United States is domestic infant adoption. American Adoptions is a fully licensed, not-for-profit national domestic adoption agency that performs domestic infant adoptions across the nation. In this type of adoption, hopeful adoptive parents are matched with an expectant mother during her pregnancy and then adopt the baby when he or she is born.
Are There Still Orphanages in Other Countries?
In addition to the three forms of domestic adoption, there is international adoption. While orphanage adoption is a thing of the past in the United States, hopeful parents who wonder how to adopt a child from an orphanage should look into international adoption.
Worldwide, there are an estimated18 million orphanscurrently living in orphanages or on the streets. Families adopting from countries like China and Haiti commonly adopt from these orphanages. However, it is important to keep in mind that not all children in orphanages are adoptable, and not all will qualify as an orphan underU.S. immigration law. According to the Immigration and Nationality Act, thedefinition of an orphanis a child who has experienced “the death or disappearance of, abandonment or desertion by, or separation or loss from, both parents.” If a child does not fit the definition of orphan, this can limit his or her ability to immigrate to the United States.
In many countries without a foster care system, orphanages are sometimes used as temporary homes for children whose parents are working toward reunification. For example, parents who are experiencing financial hardship may place their children in an orphanage until they are able to care for them. International adoptive parents should do careful research and work with reputable organizations with extensive experience in handling international adoptions to ensure the child they are adopting truly is an orphan in need of an adoptive home.
While you can’t “adopt an orphan baby” in the United States today, there are plenty of ways to provide a child with a loving, stable home. By adopting from the U.S. foster care system, an international orphanage or an agency like American Adoptions, adoptive parents can still make a difference in a child’s life.
Disclaimer
Information available through these links is the sole property of the companies and organizations listed therein. America Adoptions, Inc. provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.
FAQs
Contrary to common belief, there are not a lot of babies available for adoption. Domestic infant adoption is actually rather rare, with only roughly 10 percent of hopeful parents being placed with a baby. The wait is often long and full of disappointment and heartbreak. Even after adopting a baby, adoption is hard.
How many kids are up for adoption in the US 2022? ›
How many children are waiting to be adopted in the United States? Of the over 400,000 children in foster care in the U.S., 114,556 cannot be returned to their families and are waiting to be adopted.
How many children are waiting to be adopted in America? ›
Number of children waiting to be adopted in the United States from 2007 to 2020
| Characteristic | Number of children |
|---|
| 2020 | 117,470 |
| 2019 | 123,809 |
| 2018 | 126,196 |
| 2017 | 124,004 |
9 more rows30 Sept 2022
Essentially, no. The adoption process in the United States no longer involves traditional orphanages. Today, there are three primary forms of domestic adoption: a child may be adopted from the foster care system, as an infant in a private adoption or as a relative or stepchild of the adoptive parents.
How much does it cost to adopt a baby in America? ›
According to Child Welfare Information Gateway, working with a private agency to adopt a healthy newborn or baby or to adopt from another country can cost $5,000 to $40,000. Some agencies have a sliding scale based on the prospective adoptive parent's income.
Why is it so expensive to adopt in the US? ›
Adoption is expensive because the process to legally adopt a baby requires the involvement of attorneys, social workers, physicians, government administrators, adoption specialists, counselors and more.
WHO adopts the most in America? ›
Christians. According to EthicsDaily.com, 5 percent of practicing Christians in the United States have adopted, which is more than twice the number of all adults who have adopted.
What state has the highest adoption rate? ›
The state with the highest number of adoptions, as of 2008, was California, with 12,207 adoptions. The total number for the United States was 135,813 in 2008.
...
1990, 2000, 2001, and 2008.
While bonding may be slow, most adoptions work out. According to a review of American adoptions in the book Clinical and Practice Issues in Adoption (Greenwood Publishing Group, 1998), 80 percent of placements make it to legalization. After the paperwork is in, the success rate was 98 percent.
How many people want to adopt in USA? ›
Although there are no exact numbers, the number of couples waiting to adopt in the U.S.at any given time is around one to two million people. In fact, that number may be even higher now because there's been an increase in the number of families interested in adoption and a decrease in the birth rate.
The latest data show that approximately 224,396 children and youth exit foster care each year and just under half (48% in 2020) are reunified with their parent or primary caretaker, down from 57% in 2000.
What happens to orphans in the US? ›
Since then, U.S. orphanages have been replaced by modern boarding schools, residential treatment centers and group homes, though foster care remains the most common form of support for children who are waiting for adoption or reunification with their families.
Why are there no orphanages in America? ›
By the early 1900s, the government started monitoring and supervising foster parents. And by the 1950s, children in family foster care outnumbered children in orphanages. The government started funding the foster system in 1960. And since then, orphanages in America have fizzled out completely.
How many orphanages are in the United States? ›
There are 9,172 Orphanages & Group Homes businesses in the US as of 2022, an increase of 3.6% from 2021.
Do adoptive parents get paid? ›
Adoptive Benefit is a payment made to a parent who is on adoptive leave from work and covered by social insurance (PRSI). Adoptive Benefit is paid for 24 weeks from the date you adopted your child. To get the full 24 weeks of Adoptive Benefit, your adoptive leave must begin on the date of adoption.
How long does adoption take in the US? ›
Adopting a foster child can take 6 to 18 months. Adopting a newborn can take 2 to 7 years. International adoptions can take six or more years. Being flexible in your requirements for a child can decrease the time required.
Can I choose the child I want to adopt? ›
Ultimately, it is up to a potential birth mother to choose the adoptive family that's best for her baby. So, while you do not get to “choose” the child you adopt, you will get to choose many of the characteristics you are comfortable with your future child having.
What country is easiest to adopt from? ›
China — Described as one of the world's most stable and efficient adoption programs. Often requires visits, but worth it—especially if you'd like a girl or special needs child. Places children from 5 months to 7 years old (even older for special needs children).
What percent of babies put up for adoption are not adopted? ›
In domestic infant adoption, the answer to, “How many children go without getting adopted?” is zero. The adoption process, while unique for each person, follows these basic steps: Step 1: Work with an adoption specialist to create an adoption plan.
Is adopting a child free? ›
An agency cannot charge a fee for arranging the adoption of a child. Other costs could include a police check and sometimes court fees. You can ask the agency about likely costs and if they will help with them when you first contact them.
Some states require more scrutiny of the adoptive parents than others.
...
For example, some of the friendliest adoptive states seem to be:
- Minnesota.
- Nebraska.
- New Hampshire.
- New Mexico.
- Oklahoma.
- Oregon.
- Tennessee.
- Utah.
It is very common for those who were adopted to feel rejected and abandoned by their birth parents. This is accompanied by feelings of grief and loss. There is no set time or age when these feeling surface but, sooner or later, they do.
Can a white person adopt a Native American? ›
In summary, it is possible for someone with non-native heritage to adopt a child who is native American. However, the adoptive parents need to be prepared to endure an extra layer of procedure and to understand that the ICWA hearing is a non-negotiable part of the process.
What state in the US has the most orphans? ›
West Virginia has the highest share of children in foster care, 1.97 percent, which is 8.6 times higher than in New Jersey, the state with the lowest at 0.23 percent.
...
| States with the Most Underprivileged Kids |
|---|
| 1. Mississippi | 11. Nevada |
|---|
| 5. Louisiana | 15. Missouri |
| 6. Oklahoma | 16. Wyoming |
| 7. District of Columbia | 17. Ohio |
6 more rows11 Aug 2021
Despite the recent decline in adoptions from abroad, the U.S. remains the country that adopts the most children internationally. In 2015, the U.S. accounted for 46% of all adoptions among 24 receiving countries that are part of the Hague Adoption Convention.
What state pays the most for foster kids? ›
Foster Care Worker average salary by State
| Rank | State | Hourly Rate |
|---|
| 1 | Washington | $29.31 |
| 2 | Alaska | $28.74 |
| 3 | West Virginia | $25.46 |
| 4 | Maryland | $31.97 |
47 more rows"Generally speaking, they are very satisfied with their decision and its implications on their family and personal lives" Sánchez-Sandoval affirms. 77.7% of families stated that their lives have been happier as a result of the adoption and 91.9% consider its repercussions to be positive.
What happens in a failed adoption? ›
When an adoption fails after finalization, the legal issues are more complicated. Your parental rights must now be terminated in court and transferred to your state or to another adoptive parent. You will need expert advice from a social worker and an attorney; you and the child will also need emotional support.
Why is adoption so hard? ›
In this regard, adoption is difficult because the parents must be able to prove they can provide for their child, whereas birth parents do not have to do this. This ties back to the idea of stability and permanency.
Who is least likely to be adopted? ›
One-, two-, and three-year olds are the most commonly adopted children, and make up about 37% percent of all total adoptions. If we include all children under 5, we're looking at almost half of all adoptions (49%). On the other hand, teenagers (13 - 17) account for less than 10% of all adoptions.
Children who are white are slightly more likely to be adopted out of foster care. Of the more than 400,000 children in foster care awaiting adoption in 2017, about 44 percent were white, while the majority were children of color.
Why are older children less likely to be adopted? ›
Abstract. According to statistics, the majority of the children that are in need of homes are three years old or older. People looking to adopt children are less likely to consider adopting an older child due to the developmental issues and behavioral problems that an older child is perceived to have.
What are the negatives of adopting? ›
Potential for Lasting Mental or Emotional Trauma
For some people, the adoption effects on the child's mental and emotional health can be negative. Possible psychological effects of adoption on the child may include: Struggles with low self-esteem. Identity issues, or feeling unsure of where they 'fit in'
How hard is it to adopt a baby from foster care? ›
Foster-to-adopt is hard usually because of the emotional risks involved. Even families who apply to adopt a waiting child are not immune from the emotional challenges of waiting; every case is different, but some hopeful parents have waited for years for the chance to grow their family.
Is it hard to adopt a child? ›
It's not as difficult as you think
The process to adopt isn't as difficult as people may think. It includes an assessment to ensure a person or couple is in the best position to meet the needs of an adopted child.
What race has the highest single parent rate? ›
Share this:
- A disproportionate number of Black children under 18 live in single-parent homes, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
- It found that a majority of the 73.7 million American children under age 18 live in families with two parents (69 percent)—a decrease from 88 percent in 1960.
United States: Fertility rate from 2010 to 2020
| Characteristic | Number of children born per woman |
|---|
| 2019 | 1.71 |
| 2018 | 1.73 |
| 2017 | 1.77 |
| 2016 | 1.82 |
7 more rows7 days ago
The 30 U.S. Cities With the Most Children
| City | 2020 Population |
|---|
| 1 | Laredo, TX | 255,205 |
| 2 | Victorville, CA | 134,810 |
| 3 | Santa Maria, CA | 109,707 |
| 4 | Salinas, CA | 163,542 |
26 more rowsA federal study has found that at least 22,000 babies are left in hospitals each year by parents unwilling or unable to care for them, indicating for the first time how widespread the nation's “boarder baby” problem has become.
How many babies are put up for adoption each year? ›
About 135,000 children are adopted in the United States each year. Of non- stepparent adoptions, about 59% are from the child welfare (or foster) system, 26% are from other countries, and 15% are voluntarily relinquished American babies.
Once your adopted child reaches 18, they will make the decision about meeting their birth family. As young adults, they're curious about their roots. Studies show that adoptees experience a shift in their relationships with their birth family and adoptive family once they reach adulthood.
Do orphanages still exist in USA? ›
Essentially, no. The adoption process in the United States no longer involves traditional orphanages. Today, there are three primary forms of domestic adoption: a child may be adopted from the foster care system, as an infant in a private adoption or as a relative or stepchild of the adoptive parents.
How many orphans are adopted in the US? ›
Number of children waiting to be adopted in the United States from 2007 to 2020
| Characteristic | Number of children |
|---|
| 2019 | 123,809 |
| 2018 | 126,196 |
| 2017 | 124,004 |
| 2016 | 116,722 |
9 more rows30 Sept 2022
Working with Children. Volunteer at group homes in your area. In the U.S., children awaiting adoption live in group homes, boarding schools, and other facilities instead of orphanages. These facilities are run by the state, so you can volunteer by contacting your local government.
What percent of children are orphans? ›
On this basis, orphans constituted 6 percent of the estimated 48 million children under age 18 in that month; paternal-only orphans, 4 percent; maternal-only orphans, 2 percent; and complete orphans, 0.2 percent (table 1).
How many children are in the US by 2022? ›
| Number (in millions) | 1950 | 1962 |
|---|
| Number (in millions) | 2010 | 2022 |
| All children | 74.1 | 74.3 |
| Age |
| Ages 0–5 | 24.3 | 24.8 |
23 more rowsUkraine has the largest number of children living in institutions in Europe. They are casualties of a Soviet-era system that made the process easy for parents to give their child up to the state. There was, and still is, a belief by many in Ukrainian society that disabled children receive better care in an institution.
Which country is easiest to adopt from? ›
China — Described as one of the world's most stable and efficient adoption programs. Often requires visits, but worth it—especially if you'd like a girl or special needs child. Places children from 5 months to 7 years old (even older for special needs children).
What percentage of adoptions are successful? ›
While bonding may be slow, most adoptions work out. According to a review of American adoptions in the book Clinical and Practice Issues in Adoption (Greenwood Publishing Group, 1998), 80 percent of placements make it to legalization. After the paperwork is in, the success rate was 98 percent.
What are the 7 core issues of adoption? ›
The classic "Seven Core Issues in Adoption," published in the early 1980s, outlined the seven lifelong issues experienced by all members of the adoption triad: loss, rejection, guilt and shame, grief, identity, intimacy, and mastery/control. Others have built on these core issues.
Adopting a baby abroad can be a complex yet rewarding journey for those up to the challenge. In fact, despite the complexities and difficulties involved with international adoption, thousands of families continue to choose to adopt children from overseas each year.
What countries can the US not adopt from? ›
Countries that the U.S. government has forbidden adoption from include Vietnam, Nepal, and Guatemala. There are still many countries that adoption agencies in the United States are able to work with to help families in their adoption journey.
What state is easiest to adopt from? ›
Some states require more scrutiny of the adoptive parents than others.
...
For example, some of the friendliest adoptive states seem to be:
- Minnesota.
- Nebraska.
- New Hampshire.
- New Mexico.
- Oklahoma.
- Oregon.
- Tennessee.
- Utah.
Despite the recent decline in adoptions from abroad, the U.S. remains the country that adopts the most children internationally. In 2015, the U.S. accounted for 46% of all adoptions among 24 receiving countries that are part of the Hague Adoption Convention.
WHO adopts the most in America? ›
Christians. According to EthicsDaily.com, 5 percent of practicing Christians in the United States have adopted, which is more than twice the number of all adults who have adopted.
Do all adoptees feel abandoned? ›
It is very common for those who were adopted to feel rejected and abandoned by their birth parents. This is accompanied by feelings of grief and loss. There is no set time or age when these feeling surface but, sooner or later, they do.
What is adopted child syndrome? ›
Adopted child syndrome is a controversial term that has been used to explain behaviors in adopted children that are claimed to be related to their adoptive status. Specifically, these include problems in bonding, attachment disorders, lying, stealing, defiance of authority, and acts of violence.
What are three typical worries of adoptive parents? ›
Five Common Adoption Worries And Anxieties
- Worries About The Duration Of Adoption. Adopting a child can bring tremendous joy to most parents, but the process can be. ...
- Worries About Bonding. ...
- Worries About Unknown Health Issues Of The Child. ...
- Worries About Behavioral Issues. ...
- Worries About Family Reactions.
Children placed for adoption at birth are at greater risk for mental health issues, with the most predominant concerns being learning differences and ADHD. About 15% of children in the general US population will be diagnosed with some type of learning disability, ADHD, or diagnosable mental health condition.
Is it easier to adopt in the U.S. or abroad? ›
When you adopt domestically, you must meet the requirements of the state and the agency. One example of this could be meeting minimum age requirements. International adoption is typically more stringent. Some countries have marriage requirements and others have higher age limits.
First, there are the obvious reasons some families choose international adoption. International adoption has more predictable wait times and costs; therefore, it can be more desirable than the more unpredictable time frames and costs of domestic or foster care adoptions.
Why is international adoption so difficult? ›
The problems that surround international adoption are complex and deeply intertwined with a variety of factors. Race, gender, religion, culture, sexuality, and global inequality together form the sticky, problematic web of international adoption.
