I'm preparing a talk for the upcoming Association of Asian American Studies conference in NYC. For this talk, I will be reviewing the history and current status of behavioral science research on international adoption. But with most of my talks, I like to begin with population statistics to place international adoption in perspective. Recently, I came across some interesting numbers for Massachusetts and Minnesota.
MASSACHUSETTS
In 2004, there were 2,392 adoptions in the state. Of these, 1,352 (57%) were international adoptions; 816 (34%) were adopted through foster care; and 224 (9%) were private, domestic adoptions.
MINNESOTA
In 2005, there were 1,650 adoption in the state, excluding private, domestic adoptions. Of these, 918 (56%) were international adoptions; 732 (44%) were adopted through foster care.
The Minnesota data was drawn from the 2005 Yearbook of Immigration Statistics (Supplemental Table 4) and the Minnesota Department of Human Services Child Welfare Report of 2005.
The Massachusetts data was drawn from the UMASS Center for Adoption Research 2005 Agency Report which provides data on all agencies in the state who facilitated adoptions. By Mass law, they are required to report this information to the Center. Interestingly, the number of international adoptions reported differ from the numbers reported by the 2004 Yearbook of Immigration Statistics (Supplemental Table 4). According to the Yearbook, only 876 visas were issued to immigrant-orphans in 2004 (not 1,352). Using this more conservative number for international adoptions, they are still more than the number of foster care adoptions in Massachusetts.
Again, just some adoption statistics to think about in the larger geo-political context of things.
Posted by richlee at March 21, 2007 10:43 AM