OUTSIDE EYES ADOPTION SURVEY AND FINDINGS

OUTSIDE EYESADOPTION SURVEY AND FINDINGS

PREPARED BY M4 STRATEGIES, INC.

SURVEY METHODOLOGY• National Sample of 1001 Americans over

the age of 18.• Margin of Error at 95% confidence interval

is +/- 3.1%. The margin of error for sub-samples containing less than 1001 respondents is larger.

• Survey controlled to reflect national population distribution according to most recent US Census data.

• Landlines and cell phones called.

TOPLINE FINDINGS• Misperceptions of international adoption rates are staggering.• Interest in international adoption is far less than interest in

U.S. infant and foster care adoptions.• General interest in adoption has fallen considerably since

1997.

• Perceptions of red tape difficulties and economic factors are lead concerns among those who have considered adoption.

• Although interest in adoption has fallen, positive images and perceptions associated with adoption and people who adopt remain strong – allowing advocates the opportunity to influence public opinion and reverse the trend.

QUESTION 1Generally speaking, do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of adoption? And is that VERY favorable/unfavorable or SOMEWHAT favorable/unfavorable?

Frequency Percent

VERY FAVORABLE 762 76.1%

FAVORABLE 165 16.5%

UNFAVORABLE 14 1.4%

VERY UNFAVORABLE 20 2.0%

DON’T KNOW/REFUSED 40 4.0%

Favorable impressions of adoption are stronger than in 1997

Generally speaking, do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of adoption? And is that VERY favorable/unfavorable or SOMEWHAT favorably/unfavorable?

1997 2009

VERY FAVORABLE 56% 76.1%

FAVORABLE 34% 16.5%

UNFAVORABLE 4% 1.4%

VERY UNFAVORABLE 4% 2.0%

DON’T KNOW/REFUSED 2% 4.0%

QUESTION 2When thinking about adoption, do you think the number of children adopted within the United States – meaning children born and adopted within the U.S. – has in the past five years increased, decreased, or stayed the same?

Frequency Percent

INCREASED 301 30.1%

DECREASED 179 17.9%

STAYED THE SAME 214 21.4%


THE REPORTED NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL ADOPTIONS HAS FALLEN FROM 22,884 IN 2004 TO 17,438 IN 2008 ACCORDING TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

HOW MANY CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION BY U.S. FAMILIES?

QUESTION 3And do you think the number of children adopted internationally – meaning children born in another country and adopted by American parents – has in the past five years increased, decreased or stayed the same?

Frequency Percent

INCREASED 648 64.7%

DECREASED 64 6.4%

STAYED THE SAME 127 12.7%


QUESTION COMPARISONPerceptions of international adoption trends compared with U.S adoptions

U.S. Adoptions

InternationalAdoptions

INCREASED 30.1% 64.7%

DECREASED 17.9% 6.4%

STAYED THE SAME 21.4% 12.7%

DON’T KNOW/REFUSED 30.7% 16.2%

KEY POINTTHOSE WHO ARE MOST WRONG ABOUT THE TRENDS IN INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION ARE THOSE WHO SHOULD NOT BE – THOSE WITH MODERATE TO HIGH LEVELS OF EDUCATION AND THOSE WITH THE GREATEST INCOMES.

INTERNATIONAL RATES HAVE…

NO COLLEGE

SOME COLLEGE

AND HIGHER

LESS THAN $75k

$75K OR MORE

INCREASED 55.5% 67.0% 61.5% 71.1%

QUESTION 4When thinking about other people who may not be able to have children on their own, but want children, do you think most couples would prefer to try to conceive through medical methods such as in vitro fertilization and fertility drugs, or would they prefer to adopt?

Frequency Percent

ADOPT 205 20.5%

MEDICAL METHODS SUCH AS IN VITRO

649 64.8%


QUESTION 5Generally speaking, if you and/or your partner were thinking about adopting a child, do you think you would be most interested in adopting a U.S.-born infant, a foster care child, or a child from another country?

Frequency Percent

U.S.-BORN INFANT 608 60.7%

FOSTER CARE CHILD 164 16.4%

CHILD FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY

58 5.8%


QUESTION 6: VERBATIMWhy would you be most interested in adopting a U.S.-born infant, a foster care child, or a child from another country?

U.S.-born infant

• “We need to take care of our own.”• “There are too many US children who need to be adopted.”• “Adopting a U.S.-born child is easier.”

Foster care child

• “This is a greater need for foster children.” • Many respondents said they were “too old for a baby,” but not a foster child. • “Less people” want foster children because “no one needs them.”

Child from another country

• Children from other countries have “less opportunity.” • There are “so many” international children who “need” to be adopted.

QUESTION 7Has anyone in your family or among your close friends ever been adopted, adopted a child or placed a child in adoption?

Frequency Percent

YES 655 65.4%

NO 328 32.8%


QUESTION 8How seriously, if at all, have you ever considered adopting a child – would you say very seriously, somewhat seriously, not too seriously, or not at all?

Frequency Percent

VERY SERIOUSLY 126 12.6%

SOMEWHAT SERIOUSLY 102 10.2%

NOT TO SERIOUSLY 138 13.8%

NOT AT ALL 620 61.9%


QUESTION COMPARISONHow seriously, if at all, have you ever considered adopting a child – would you say very seriously, somewhat seriously, not too seriously, or not at all?

1997 2007

VERY SERIOUSLY 15% 12.6%

SOMEWHAT SERIOUSLY 21% 10.2%

NOT TO SERIOUSLY 17% 13.8%

NOT AT ALL 47% 61.9%

DON’T KNOW/REFUSED * 1.5%

Those responding as has having ever “very seriously” or “somewhat seriously” considered adoption has fallen from 36% in 1997 to 23% in 2009.

LIKELY TO CONSIDER ADOPTION

• Family or member or close friend has adopted/been adopted

• Attend religious services at least once a month

• Between the ages of 30 and 50

• African American or Latino

• Household Income between $50K and $75K

QUESTION 9Agree/Disagree: Children who are adopted are more likely to have behavioral problems or trouble in school.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

COMPLETELY DISAGREE

COMPLETELY AGREE

Don’t know/refused 3.4%

QUESTION 10Agree/Disagree: Children born in another country who are adopted by U.S. parents when they are younger than 2 generally adapt to U.S. culture and customs as well as any U.S.-born child.

05

1015202530354045

COMPLETELY DISAGREE

COMPLETELY AGREE


QUESTION 11Agree/Disagree: When couples adopt a child different from their own race it is not good for the child.

05

1015202530354045

COMPLETELY DISAGREE

COMPLETELY AGREE


QUESTION 12Agree/Disagree: Children who are adopted into families that already have biological children generally receive as much love and attention as the biological children.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

COMPLETELY DISAGREE

COMPLETELY AGREE


Agree/Disagree: Children who are adopted into families that already have biological children generally receive as much love and attention as the biological children.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

COMPLETELY DISAGREE

COMPLETELY AGREE


Participants who “Completely Disagreed” tended to be Female, under the age 30, and have a High School Diploma or less.

QUESTION 13Agree/Disagree: News coverage of celebrities who have adopted internationally, such as Angelina Jolie and Madonna, has made me more interested in considering international adoption.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

COMPLETELY DISAGREE

COMPLETELY AGREE


QUESTION 14Agree/Disagree: Sometimes it is harder to love an adopted child as much as a child born to you because the adopted child isn’t your own flesh and blood.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

COMPLETELY DISAGREE

COMPLETELY AGREE


QUESTION 15Sometimes mothers who put their child up for adoption maintain contact by occasionally sending cards or letters. This is called an open adoption. Do you think this is a good idea in most cases, some cases, very few cases or no cases at all?

Frequency Percent

MOST CASES 218 21.8%

SOME CASES 432 43.2%

VERY FEW CASES 191 19.1%

NO CASES AT ALL 118 11.8%

DON’T KNOW/REFUSED 4.2 4.2%

QUESTION COMPARISONSometimes mothers who put their child up for adoption maintain contact by occasionally sending cards or letters. This is called an open adoption. Do you think this is a good idea in most cases, some cases, very few cases or no cases at all?

1997 2009

MOST CASES 16% 21.8%

SOME CASES 40% 43.2%

VERY FEW CASES 23% 19.1%

NO CASES AT ALL 19% 11.8%

DON’T KNOW/REFUSED 2% 4.2%

Acceptance of “open adoption” is higher in 2009 than in 1997.

QUESTION 16I am going to read to you some reasons given by people who are interested in adoption, but have not yet acted. After I read them, tell me which of these, if any, best describe your biggest concerns when considering adoption. You can choose up to three.

Frequency Percent

Current family/space dynamics 40 17.5

Already have children 24 10.5

Current personal economic situation 54 23.7

Cost of the adoption process 58 25.4

Red tape or concerns about administrative and process difficulties 62 27.2

My age or my spouse's/partner's age 58 25.4

The whole thing seems overwhelming/I am unsure where to start 34 14.9

Ability to be a good parent 20 8.8

Something else/other 28 12.3

Don't know/Refused 12 5.3

N = 228

KEY POINT

• Economic factors were clearly important for all who expressed a moderate to high level of interest in adoption.

• Interestingly, people who have researched international adoption were 35% less likely to cite their “current personal economic situation” as a significant concern than those who have not researched international adoption.

• However, those same respondents who have researched international adoption were twice as likely to cite the “cost of the adoption process” as a significant concern.

QUESTION 17And which of the following statements best describes why or how you developed an interest in adoption? You can choose more than one if you need.

Frequency Percent

I am unable to have my own 56 24.6

I want to give needy kids a home 88 38.6

I want companionship as I grow older 23 10.1

The experiences of friends or family sparked my interest 30 13.2

My spouse or partner is interested 23 10.1

I want to give back to society 43 18.9

I want to avoid passing on genetic traits 14 6.1

I would like a little girl or a little boy to complete my family 35 15.4

It is something that is consistent with the teachings of my religion 32 14

Something else/other 22 9.6

N = 228

KEY POINTThose who have taken steps to adopt and/or researched international adoption were more likely to cite the desire to “complete my family” than those who have not.

Taken StepsResearche

d Int.

I am unable to have my own 29.8% 21.7%

I want to give needy kids a home 38.3% 41.7%

I want companionship as I grow older 7.4% 6.7%

The experiences of friends or family sparked my interest 11.7% 15.0%

My spouse or partner is interested 16% 15.0%

I want to give back to society 17% 16.7%

I want to avoid passing on genetic traits 4.3% 5.0%

I would like a little girl or a little boy to complete my family 22.0% 23.0%

It is something that is consistent with the teachings of my religion 19.1% 18.3%

N = 228

QUESTION 18Right now, where are you most likely to get your news about adoption?

Frequency Percent

Mainstream news 44 19.3%

Internet 77 33.8%

Adoption-specific web sites or chat rooms 15 6.6%

Books or magazines 15 6.6%

Movies 5 2.2%

My church or religious community 27 11.8%

Friends and family 29 12.7%

Somewhere else/other 8 3.5%

Don’t know/Refused 8 3.5%

N = 228

QUESTION COMPARISONRight now, where are you most likely to get your news about adoption?

1997 2009

Mainstream news 30% 24.6%

Internet N/A 38.6%

Adoption-specific web sites or chat rooms N/A 10.1%

Books or magazines 16% 13.2%

Movies 6% 10.1%

My church or religious community N/A 18.9%

Friends and family 45% 6.1%

Somewhere else/other N/A 15.4%

Don’t know/Refused 3% 3.5%

N = 228

QUESTION 19Using a scale of one to 10, with 10 being very interested and one being not interested at all, how interested are you in an international adoption – meaning a child born in another country?

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

NOT INTERESTED

AT ALL

COMPLETELY INTERESTED


N = 228

How interested are you in an international adoption – meaning a child born in another country?

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

NOT INTERESTED AT ALL

COMPLETELY INTERESTED


N = 228

Women, those who are married, and those who reported attending religious functions “almost every week” or more were most likely to state a strong interest in international adoption.

Q20 VERBATIM[FOR SCORES OF 7 OR ABOVE and 3 and below ONLY] Briefly, why are you interested/not interested in international adoption?

N = 228

7-10: STRONG INTEREST

• It gives the “best chance to give back.”• Foreign children are “most in need.”• “There are other who need help.”

1-3: WEAK INTEREST

• “Adoption is too expensive.”• “We should take care of American kids first.”• “I’m too old.”

QUESTION 21Have you ever taken steps to adopt, such as calling an agency, visiting a web site, or attending a meeting?

N = 228

1%

41%

58%

YES

NO

DK/R

QUESTION 22Have you and/or your partner ever specifically researched international adoption?

N = 228

25%

75%

YES

NO

RESPONDENTS WITH HIGHER EDUCATION AND HOUSEHOLD INCOME LEVELS, AS WELL AS THOSE WITH FAMILY AND CLOSE FRIENDS INVOLVED IN ADOPTION ARE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE RESEARCHED INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION.

75%

25%

NO COLLEGE

SOME COLLEGE/

A.A.

COLLEGE GRAD AND

HIGHER

HAS RESEARCHED 18.4% 24.0% 30.7%

HAVE FAMILY

NO FAMILY/ FRIENDS

LESS THAN $75k

$75K OR MORE

HAS RESEARCHED 29.4% 15.2% 22.1% 31.9%

QUESTION 23Tell me if you agree or disagree with this statement: When thinking about adoption, I already have a trusted source for information about the process. And is that STRONGLY agree/disagree or SOMEWHAT agree/disagree?

Frequency Percent

STRONGLY AGREE 88 38.6%

SOMEWHAT AGREE 65 28.5%

SOMEWHAT DISAGREE 32 14.0%

COMPLETELY DISAGREE 31 13.6%


QUESTION 24Agree/Disagree: I would be more interested in adoption if I knew there were public and private grants available to help me pay for the adoption process.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

COMPLETELY DISAGREE

COMPLETELY AGREE


N = 228

QUESTION 25Agree/Disagree: I would be more willing to trust an adoption agency if I knew they had government liaisons for individual foreign countries, who would help me navigate the laws and customs of the country during the adoption process.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

COMPLETELY DISAGREE

COMPLETELY AGREE


N = 228

QUESTION 26Agree/Disagree: I would be more willing to trust an adoption agency if I received good information about it from my religious community.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

COMPLETELY DISAGREE

COMPLETELY AGREE


N = 228

QUESTION 27Agree/Disagree: I would be interested in visiting a one-stop-shop adoption web site that featured testimonials from recent adoptions, facts and contact information, news about adoption and changes in national and international law, and an outlet to submit questions and receive quick answers about adoption.

02468

101214161820

COMPLETELY DISAGREE

COMPLETELY AGREE


N = 228

QUESTION 28Currently, do you have the physical space in your home to support another child? 1%

47%52%

YES

NO

DK/R

QUESTION 29Tell me if you agree with this statement: Adopting a child is a good way make a meaningful contribution in the world. And is that STRONGLY agree/disagree or SOMEWHAT agree/disagree.

Frequency Percent






QUESTION 30Tell me if you agree with this statement: Parents who adopt a child tend to be more responsible parents than many parents with biological children. And is that STRONGLY agree/disagree or SOMEWHAT agree/disagree.

Frequency Percent






QUESTION 31The number of international adoptions by U.S. parents has fallen by nearly 25% in the past five years. Which statement do you agree with most:

Frequency Percent

These numbers make me more interested in considering international adoption

80 8.0%

These numbers make me wish I could do more to help facilitate international adoptions

159 15.9%

It’s unfortunate, but has no significant affect on me

629 62.8%


QUESTION 32Now tell me, which of the following statements do you agree with most:

Frequency Percent

Adopting a child from another country would save the child’s life

224 22.4%

I could give an orphan child born in another country a better life in the U.S.

262 26.2%

Adopting a child from another country will enrich my life

112 11.2%

I agree with all of these statements 225 22.5%

I don’t agree with any of these statements 112 11.2%


NOTABLE NUMBERS• Despite international adoption rates falling by 25% in the past five years,

65% of Americans wrongly believe the rate of international adoptions by U.S. parents have increased.

• 89% of Americans agree that adopting a child is a good way to make a meaningful contribution in the world, but only 23% say they have seriously considered adoption.

• Despite strongly positive perceptions of adoption, American interest in adoption has fallen significantly, from 36% reporting a “somewhat” or very seriously” considering adoption in 1997 to 23% in 2009.

• Nearly half of all Americans (47%) report having the space to adopt a child.

• 53.4% of Americans say parents who adopt a child tend to be more responsible parents than many parents with biological children.

NOTABLE DEMOGRAPHICS• Those Americans most interested in international adoption are

educated, have high household incomes ($75K and higher), typically know someone who has adopted or been adopted, and/or frequently attend religious services.

• Although a majority of those interested in adoption still rely heavily on television news, they are increasingly seeking news and adoption-related information from the internet. (This trend is especially prevalent with younger Americans.)

• In addition to being unable to have kids on their own or seeking to “give needy kids a home”, those who are interested in adoption and have researched or taken steps to adopt are most likely to be driven by a desire to have a “little girl or a little boy to compete my family.”

Documents

OUTSIDE EYES ADOPTION SURVEY AND FINDINGS