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• 1.7 million households report having adopted children.
• Only 13% of these children come from another country.
• 42,000 families report having adopted children less than one year old.

2000 Census Data (www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/censr-6.pdf)

• According to a survey by the National Council for Adoption (NCFA) there were 54,492 unrelated adoptions (adoptions by people not related to the child adopted) of American children in 1996.
• In addition, relatives or stepparents adopted 53,971 children in 1996. (NCFA)

In addition, Unmarried teens who place their children for adoption generally:

• are more likely to finish school and obtain a higher level of education;
• attain better employment and have more financial stability
• are less likely to repeat or abort another out-of-wedlock pregnancy
• are more likely to marry in the future, and when they do, are more likely to delay marriage to an older age;
• Report a high level of satisfaction with their decision for adoption.(Bachrach, 1992 and McLaughlin, Manninen, and Winges, 1988)

Adopted Children also fare well (Search Institute Study, 1994 www.search-institute.org)

• Adopted children are less likely to live with a single parent.
• Adopted adolescents scored higher on indicators of well-being such as: school performance, friendships, volunteerism, optimism, self-esteem, social competency, feelings of support from others, and low level of anxiety.
• Adopted adolescents scored lower on indicators of high risk behaviors such as: use of alcohol, depression, vandalism, group fighting, police trouble, theft, weapon use, driving/riding while drinking, and seat belt non-use. In addition, younger adopted adolescents (12-15) scored lower in terms of use of tobacco and school absenteeism. On all other indicators, adopted adolescents scored the same as the public school sample.
• While feelings of emotional attachment were high for all adoptive families regardless of the time of placement, the younger the child was at placement, the higher the feelings of attachment.