RW Supply + Design’s mission is we exist UNTIL EVERY CHILD IS HOME. Earlier this year, a report by the National Council for Adoption recognized some of the current trends in adoption statistics. As we continue to provide adoption grants, it is essential to understand the current landscape of adoption numbers in the United States.

In the United States, there are primarily three types of adoptions that exist.

Adoption from foster care. If a viable option, children who enter foster care are first placed with a relative (or family acquaintance). This is referred to as a kinship placement. However, if that is not an option, they are placed in a pre-approved foster care home. It is rare, unless the biological parent commits a serious crime or dies, that a biological parents’ rights are terminated immediately. The length a parent retains rights varies, and often children return to their biological parent. However, a child is not able to be adopted unless parental rights are terminated. Generally, if parental rights are terminated, a child experiences one of three options: 1)They are adopted by someone they know, but do not live with, 2)They are adopted by their current foster parents, or 3)They remain in foster care. The frequency of the first two options has consistently dropped since 2019, meaning that more children remain in foster care until adulthood than in the past.

Inter-country adoption. The United States was, in the past, the leading country in adopting from other countries. Inter-country adoption involves the adoption of a child from one country to another. The child permanently changes citizenship. Most inter-country adoptions occur from countries that experience higher rates of poverty and child abandonment, but that still have laws intended to regulate ethics. Inter-country adoption has also decreased. In 2019, 2966 children were adopted into the United States from other countries. However, in 2023, 1274 children were adopted.

Private domestic adoption. Private domestic adoptions have increased slightly in the last few years. In 2023, approximately 25,000 children were adopted through a private adoption.

It is not necessarily a bad thing that adoptions have decreased, but it does underscore the reality that other avenues must be available to help children. Family preservation, education, and support for community resources are some of the most effective measures we have found. And, while we continue to provide adoption grants, we have seen growth in our efforts towards family preservation, education, and homes that support at-risk children. The ability to work in all four areas of focus is because of the work EACH of you does EVERY SINGLE DAY.

• Information from https://adoptioncouncil.org/research/adoption-by-the-numbers/