Why are people afraid to adopt?

Why are people afraid to adopt?

Jennifer Perry (Executive Director, Children's Action Network) gives expert video advice on: Who can adopt a child?; What would make me ineligible to adopt a child?; Which is adopted more - boys or girls? and more...

People are afraid to adopt because they have misconceptions about the process. They think it's long, they think it's expensive and they think a certain type of kid isn't out there that they might want to bring into their home. It's really more misunderstanding and apprehension that they don't need to have, which keeps people from adopting. Some of the misconceptions that keep people from adopting are that they think it's a lot of work to adopt a child. There are also some antiquated prejudices about adoption being a way to form a family, and I think some people may have the belief that children belong with their birth parents, and may not understand that sometimes they can have a better outcome being in an adoptive family.