Adoption in America: Which State Adopts the Most?

Posted by provplace on January 17th, 2014

We tend to look at adoption statistics as a whole and examine the entire country’s adoption rates. But with the enormous size of the United States, it helps to look at each state individually to determine where the most adoptions are currently taking place.

According to numbers, Texas came out on top in 2012 with 616 recorded adoptions. In terms of numbers, it is about 60 more than the next state, California. The numbers also show that states to the east, such as Illinois and Ohio, tend to adopt more than states in the west, like Nevada and Montana. This can be attributed to population, as the eastern states have significantly more people than some of the western ones.

However, if we look at the rate of adoptions per 100,000 children, Alaska takes the lead. Even though Texas leads adoptions in pure numbers, it is important to take into consideration the number of children in foster care, too. Texas, a large and very fast-growing state, has thousands of children in orphanages and the foster system, which makes 616 adoptions per year good, but not great. Likewise, Alaska is significantly smaller in terms of both population and children in the foster system, putting their rate of adoptions at a noteworthy level.

But sheer numbers do not tell the whole story. Virginia has a low rate of adoption per 100,000, but that is because there are fewer foster children to adopt compared to other states. It is hard for a state without many children in the system to have adopting parents. The statistics also do not address international adoption, which is not recorded in the numbers because it is not domestic.

So what factors determine a good rate of adoption? Having parents that are willing to adopt is a place to start, but potential adoptive couples need to be educated about the adoption process from cost to application, as well. As mentioned earlier, a high number of children in the foster care system factors into rates and statistics. Looking back at Virginia and Texas, the numbers seem to match up properly – a large state like Texas with millions of inhabitants will certainly have more children awaiting adoption and a higher number of people adopting. The same is true for both California and New York. Likewise, Alaska and Virginia, places with fewer people and fewer children, can have higher rates because of the need.

Looking at the numbers can help determine which states need more adoptions and which states are on the right track. While we want every child to find a home, some states have a bigger need for adoptions than others. With domestic adoptions on the rise, we hope that adoptions in every state go up in the coming years.  

About Providence Place

Providence Place of San Antonio, Texas is a nonprofit organization offering adoption services, vocational training for adults with disabilities and working with other nonprofit organizations in the San Antonio area. To learn more about the work they do or to schedule a tour of their 25-acre campus, visit their website or contact them today.