1. How Adoption Affects Our Nation Today
Each year in the US, millions of children experience hardship and emotional stress without a
structured family support system. These children lack parental guidance, financial support,
and consistent love and care in their lives, due to various situations such as the sudden loss
of parents or guardians, abandonment, homelessness, or abuse.
Children without ideal family support may be placed in orphanages or in foster care. In a 2011
AFCARS report, 400,540 children were estimated to be in the foster care system in the United
States (Health and Human Services, Children’s Bureau). Foster care does not ensure a longterm or consistent caring environment for a child, and many times these children move
frequently and await adoption opportunities.
Some of the children in foster care are successfully adopted. Organizations such as Adopt US
Kids and Providence Place facilitate this process by providing better awareness of children in
need of families and by assisting potential parents with the adoption process and education
about adoption. They help many children to avoid ever entering the foster care system by
engaging with birth mothers early and helping to arrange adoptions for newborn babies.
In 2012, Providence Place, which is based in San Antonio, Texas, helped 134 pregnant
women and teens exploring adoption. Through their efforts at Action Adoption and the
Women’s Center facilities, they placed 19 babies and children with families during 2012.
In addition to these successful adoptions, the Action Adoption team also provided adoption
information to thousands of at-risk youth and healthcare professionals.
Keeping the public informed about adoption is vital in today’s society.
The rate of teen

2. pregnancy continues to be high, and many of these young individuals are unprepared
mentally, emotionally, and financially for parenting responsibilities. When organizations share
knowledge about adoption options and the adoption process with the public, children may be
at less risk for abandonment, abortion or placement in foster care.
According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, over 43,000 Texas women
under the age of 20 gave birth in 2011 (Texas Adolescent Reproductive Health Facts,
HHS.gov). Across the United States during 2011, there were a reported 333,746 births to
females under 20 years of age. These statistics track the number of births and may not
include additional pregnancies that were ended before the full term.
Individuals and organizations offer resource materials, adoption seminars, special adoption
supporting events, and counseling to spread awareness about adoption. Birth mothers and
their friends and family are able to learn how the adoption process works, how to access
maternal and post-maternal care, and how suitable loving families are chosen. Adoption can
be brought to the forefront of available options that a teen may consider after discovering an
unplanned pregnancy. As adoption becomes a primary choice for more birth mothers, fewer
children will be subject to unfortunate circumstances and hardship.
Adopting a child is an important decision that requires careful consideration. Are you
contemplating adoption, or are you already planning to adopt a child? Do you have any idea
about how or where to start? Providence Place of San Antonio, Texas will guide you through
the adoption process while making sure all your questions are answered. Contact us or visit
provplace.org today to learn more about adoption and ways to get involved with our
organization.