International Adoption When a mission team from South Florida arrived at Camp Haitia, they saw what was to them the most poverty-stricken land in the world. Some men were literally sick at the sight of the filth in the rivers, on the land and on the children. Because Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world, families do not even have enough to support their children and many are left to fend for themselves. The mission team saw them bathing in polluted waters and searching for non-existent food. I asked a member of this mission team if adoption was a possibility for any of these children. His response was enthusiastic and moving. I witnessed firsthand for months his diligent efforts to save at least one Haitian child from a hopeless life. However, in his efforts, my father faced a problem other than finances and the legality of the adoption process. Many wondered if it was ethical for our family to adopt a child from a different culture. Our answer was simple. Yes, international adoption is logical and ethical. The two main reasons why so many Americans seek overseas adoptions are humanitarianism and frustration with domestic adoption laws and policies (Kleiman). Critics of international adoption argue that Americans should not seek their children elsewhere when there are so many children in need right here at home. However, there are more families looking for children than there are children needing homes. Over the past thirty years, domestic adoptions have declined by 47 percent (Fulton 2). Some reasons why there are fewer children placed for adoption are the early introduction of sex education in public schools and the ease with which...... middle of paper ...... lost child a family? Works Cited Brodzinsky, Dr. David M. and Marshall d. Schechter. The psychology of adoption. New York: Oxford University Press, 1990. Feigelman, William and Arnold R. Silverman. Chosen children. New York: Praeger Publishers, 1983. Fulton, Kaye E., Sharon Doyle Driedger, and Rae Corelli. “Bring it home baby.” Maclean's August 21, 1995 34-39. “Give me your screaming masses: come to America. » The Economist February 3, 1996: 22-23. Hibbs, Dr. Euthymia D. International Adoption Perspectives. Madison International Univ. Press, 1991. Jeffreys, Darya P. “International Adoption: The Need for Mandatory Medical Examination.” Journal of Law and Health Spring-Summer 1996: 243-270. Kleiman, Erika Lynn. “Taking Care of Our Own Why: U.S. Adoption Law Must Change.” Columbia Journal of Law and Social Problems Winter 1997: 30.