The Economy and Adoption: Bethany Sings the Blues

Economy impacts adoption numbers

BY AMY FLOWERS UMBLE

With job losses and pay cuts looming, many prospective parents are struggling to come up with the money to adopt.

Some have decided to put off growing a family through adoption. Others are seeking creative ways to raise the $25,000 typically needed.

Still, adoption advocates say this is the perfect time to consider adopting foster children--a process that is usually free for adoptive parents.

A June FindLaw study reported that 6 percent of Americans have delayed adoption because of the recession.

Locally, adoption workers rely on more anecdotal evidence. At the Children's Home Society of Virginia, interested parents-to-be have backed out of adoptions recently, said director Nadine Marsh-Carter.

And the first question at orientation meetings now is, "How much will this cost?"

The agency charges based on income, so the answer varies.

At the Fredericksburg office of Bethany Christian Services, adoption workers have not seen fewer people wanting to adopt. But national Bethany offices have noticed a downturn, said Fredericksburg director Mary Beth Bova.

Locally, the Bethany office has seen more women giving children up for adoption--especially women who already have a child. The birth mothers have cited financial concerns.

Raising a child costs quite a bit--the average parents spend $200,000 per child from birth through high school.

"'Unfortunate' doesn't even begin to describe it," said Adam Pertman, director of the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute in Boston. "It's heartbreaking to think that people could be placing their children because they lost jobs."

Pertman said no studies confirm a drop in adoptions, though anecdotal evidence suggests fewer parents are signing up to adopt during the recession.

"I don't see how it could not have an impact on all sorts of family decisions," he said. "People who are wondering how to feed the mouths at the table are probably less likely to add mouths."

Even as fewer people sign up to adopt, it seems unlikely that American infants will have to wait for homes. Prospective parents hoping to adopt domestically still outnumber babies placed for adoption.

And while $25,000 seems like a lot when people are worried about keeping their jobs, there are still plenty of families who have the money.

And some are willing to try to find it.

"People are more cautious about moving forward, but they're also getting a little more creative," Bova said.

Parents coming to Bethany have tried yard sales, low-interest adoption loans and family fundraisers.

"The gift of family is too significant to miss just because of these uncertain times, because things will get better," said Marsh-Carter, the adoptive mom of two children.

Pertman also adopted two children, and said adoption is pricey but worthwhile.

"In five or 10 years, you're not going to think of the costs," Pertman said. "You're just going to look at your kid and be grateful that you have her."

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$$ OK, so then following this are tips for how PAPS can rase funds to adopt!

$$ What about using the same or similar tips to help parents keep their kids??!!

$$ Wouldn't that make more ethical, moral and common sense than helping people raise money to take kids THEY obviously can't afford either?