China Adoptions

Children Available for Adoption

There are many societal issues underlying the reasons for children being available for adoption from the People's Republic of China. Issues such as poverty, natural disasters, movement from the country side to the city, an increase in divorce, illegitimacy, and the population control policy for the Han majority are all reasons for Chinese children made available for domestic and international adoption. A strong cultural reason, especially in the country side, of a preference for a male child contributes to the fact that a majority of the children available for adoption are female.

Since there is no legal way for biological parents to place their child for adoption, or for them to sever their parental obligations, abandonment is often the means by which children enter the social welfare system. Babies and children are typically left in public places; at a train station, hospital, government building or other places suggesting that the birth parents desired for their child to be found and cared for, since they could not. Many feel that the biological parents desire to be parents to their children but face overwhelming pressures personally and socially.

Most children available for adoption are basically healthy children. Many of the heads of the welfare institutes are medically trained doctors, with medical personnel involved with the care of the children. Referral information indicates that the children are tested for tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, HIV, and congenital syphilis. None of the children adopted through Sunny Ridge Family Center have tested positive for HIV, with extremely low incidents of other medical concerns.

In 2007, there were 5,453 US adoptions from China. Some older children, boys, and children with special needs are also available to interested adoptive parents.

Some older children, boys, and children with special needs are also available to interested adoptive parents.

Children available for adoption typically reside in social welfare institutions where nurture, education, and medical treatment is made available. Founded as charitable bodies by the Chinese government, these institutions are responsible for those in need of protection; children without parents, children who have been abandoned, children with medical needs, as well as for older people without adequate resources. Children residing in social welfare institutions are under the guardianship and care of the state.