"The child, for the full and harmonious development of his or her personality, should grow up in a family environment, in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding. … [I]ntercountry adoption may offer the advantage of a permanent family to a child for whom a suitable family cannot be found in his or her State of origin."
Children benefit from growing up in a loving home and intercountry adoption has made this possible for hundreds of thousands of children worldwide. The Department of State believes intercountry adoption should be an option for children in need of a permanent home when it is in the best interests of the child and domestic solutions have been given due consideration. When children cannot remain with their relatives and new parents within their communities cannot be found, intercountry adoption opens another pathway to children to receive the care, security, and love that a permanent family can provide.
Some additional resources:
Child Welfare Information Gateway - A service of the Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Medline Plus - A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health
A Healthy Beginning: Important Information for Parents of Internationally Adopted Children– a brochure from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
