Past Poll Results

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Past Poll Results
Why are you adopting
internationally vs domestically?

Why are people adopting domestically?
27% want to help kids locally
26 % costs less
21% want same-race child
9% fear complications with international
6% international adoption too complicated

Why are people adopting internationally?
43 % fear of birthmother reclaiming baby
34% want to help overseas orphans
7% know others who have done it
5% want to have a transcultural family
5% have ties overseas already Should transcultural adoptions be encouraged?
58% Yes, a good home is better than no home
25% Yes, families can learn to adjust
6 % No
5% Only if the child and family are the same ethnicity
2% No, it's too hard on the kids

Should all adoptions be open?
45% Adoptive and Birthfamily should decide together how open
27 % Yes, definitely
11% Should be up to the adoptive family how open
8% Should be up to the birthfamily how open
5% No, all adoptions should be closed

What is your greatest fear in adopting?
30% Will the birthfamily reclaim our baby?
25 % Unknown medical condition
24% Will we be successful adopting?
8% Can I love an adopted child?
8% We have no fears

What quality is most important for dealing with adoption?
38 % Supportive family and friends
30% Faith in God
13 % Ability to persevere
9% Flexibility
6% Sense of humor
4% High self esteem

What's the best thing about adoption?
39% Having a place to call home
35% Becoming a family
13% Finding a solution for my crisis pregnancy
9% Being able to count on someone
3% Getting out of foster care
1% Starting with a clean slate

What's most difficult about searching/reunions?
34% Fear of rejection
19% The unknown
17% Don't want to upset adoptive parents
14% Too many strong emotions/rollarcoaster
9% Uncertainty about whether to go forward
7% Feeling out of control

What new services would you
like to see on adoption sites?
37% More Stories and Articles
30% Live, online seminars
15% Self-made sites for our family to gather
9% More video
6% Free email and home page service
4% More email list-serves

At What Age Should Should Adoption Be Discussed With the Adopted Child?
52% From infancy
21% Only when able to understand concepts
8% Age 2
9% Age 5
6% Age 8
3% Never

How long should birthmother have to reclaim baby once placed with family?
44% Only reclaim if there was fraud involved
21% 3 days
13% 6 months
8% 2 weeks
8% 1 month
6% 3 months

Grade the media for their coverage of adoption!
40% F (AWFUL!! Only covers sensational
39% D (Below average... too one-sided)
11% C Average coverage...nice mix of stories
4% B (Above average coverage)
4% A+ (Great coverage)
2% No opinion

Should Baby T be returned to his birthmom or stay with the foster family who wants to adopt him?
26% Don't know enough to decide
23% Yes, she is drug-free now
14% Yes, birthmom should have priority
16% No, he's too old to be taken
13% No,he has more benefits where he is
8% Yes, he should be raised by same race
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Are you interested in listserv support group
34% Yes, want a group for adoptees
28% Yes, want a group for adoptive parents
16% Yes, want a group for all triad members
13% Yes, want a group for birthfamily
5% No, there are already enough listservs
4% Yes, want a group for professioanls

Should Adoption Fairs be used to find families for children?
40% Yes, but only if the child wants to go.
25% Yes, anything that works is OK.
11% No, it opens children to more rejection
14% No, it treats children like merchandise.
9% I don't know enough to decide.
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In response to the 10 month old Canadian story of Child removed from adoptive family and given to young, single, birth father.
Is there an age limit where a child should not be taken from its adoptive home to be returned to birth family?
41% yes, 6 months old
27% no, if birthdad can prove fraud.
13% yes, 1 year old
4% yes, 3 years old
3% yes, 4 years old
12% no, birthdad always has right to child.
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In response to Utah's recent law which only allows married couples and singles to adopt, what is your view of
Who should be allowed to adopt?
42% Any couple or single who qualifies
16% Only married heterosexual couples
14% Any couple gay or straight who qualifies
13% Any couple who qualifies
10% Married + singles only
4% Social Services should decide who adopts
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Q: At what point should abused/neglected kids
be adopted instead of fostered?
40% After first offense
26% After 1 year in foster care
22% After second offense
5% After third offense
3% After 2 years in foster care
3% Current system is fine

Q:What's your experience with/opinion of adoption facilitators?
34% No opinion/no experience
22% Good...better than an attorney /agency.
20% OK but they should be licensed/regulated
9% Some are OK, but some are rip-offs!
8% BAD! They should be totally outlawed!
6% OK, about the same as attorney/agency

Q:Which of the following myths about adoption hit home?
25% Adoptive parents are saints.
22% Adoptive parents are not REAL parents
20% Birthparents forget their children.
17% Open adoption takes away the loss,
16% Adoptees should be grateful.
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Q:What is the most stressful part of adoption?
35% The waiting till assignment/arrival
23% Making the decision to adopt
16% The homestudy process
12% Choosing an agency
11% Adjustment once the child arrives
3% Traveling to pick up your child

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Should transcultural adoptions be encouraged?
58% Yes, a good home is better than no home
25% Yes, families can learn to adjust
6 % No
5% Only if the child and family are the same ethnicity
2% No, it's too hard on the kids

Should there be an upper age limit to adopt?
35% No age limit if health is good
21% Yes, 50 years old
17% No age limit
12% Yes, 40 years old
8% No, as long as 1 partner is under 40

What's most needed as far as adoption reform?
41% Cut the cost of adoption.
23% Open adoption records
16 % Standardize adoption law across the world
13% Change ability of birthmothers to reclaim their babies
1% No reform is needed

Should contracts between adoptive & birthfamily be made manditory in independent adoption?
42% Yes, absolutely
38 % Only if birth and adoptive family agree to it
10% Should be up to the adoptive family
8% Should be up to the birthfamily
5% No contract is needed

What's the hardest thing about adoption?
45 % Finding enough money to adopt
25% Understanding how to adopt
11 % The home study
7% Deciding domestic vs international
6% Deciding on an agency
6% Getting our family to accept adoption

What quality do you think is most important for being a successful father?
38% Spending lots of time with the family
37% Just being there!
13% Being a leader of the family
7% Sense of humor
3% Helping out with chores
2% Making lots of money for family support

What I wish I had done differently in adoption...
43% started looking sooner
25% checked out *ALL* my options first
10% joined a support group
8% done more research about long-tem effect
8% been more patient
7% been more careful

Are you pursuing (AT THE SAME TIME) more than one way to become a family?

48% No, just adoption
17% NA...I am adoptee or birthfamily member
17% Yes, in vitro and adoption.
14% Yes, multiple adoption resources
3% Yes, surrogacy and adoption.
2% All of the above.

Were the fees you were quoted by adoption agency/search group different from what you finally paid?
49% No
20% Yes, about 10% more than quoted
12% Yes, about 25% more than quoted
12% Yes, they were less than quoted
2% Yes, about 50% more than quoted
4% Yes, went up by more than 75%

What should be the preferred title for birth mothers?
43% Birthmother
37% Biological Mother
10% Birthmom
6% Natural Mother
3% First Mother
1% Other Mother

What's the most important consideration in choosing adoptive parents for baby?
41% 2 parent family..heterosexual
23% 2 parent family...gay or straight
20% Good health
9% Good job
4% Same race
3% Money

Will you celebrate Adoption Awareness Month this November?
38% Yes, will do something as a family.
16% Yes, celebrate with our agency.
15% No, don't know what I could do.
12% No, am too busy with other things.
11% Yes, celebrate with support group
07% No, adoption is nothing to celebrate
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Are all members of adoption treated with equal respect?
36% Yes, all are equally respected.
17% No respect for birthfamily members
16% No respect for adoptees
14% Only professionals are respected
11% No respect for adoptive parents
7% Only adoptive parents are respected

Should all adoption records be open?
15% No, adoptees need privacy
4% No, birthparents need privacy
4% No, adoptive parents need privacy
60% Yes, adoptees have the RIGHT to know
8% Yes, birthparents have the right to know
8% Yes, adoptive parents have the right

Should counseling be mandatory for birthfamily considering placing for adoption?
64% Yes, to educate on ALL options.
19% No, it should be a personal decision.
7% No, there is no need for counseling
4% no, we have too many laws already.
4% Don't know.
1% No, counselors are biased.
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Q: Should the law be changed so it's legal for a mother to abandon her baby without prosecution?
(of 534 respondents)
49% yes, it beats leaving baby in dumpster.
13% am not sure...can see both sides
12% no, it should be illegal to abandon kids
8% yes, it keeps mother out of jail.
3% no, encourages further decay of family
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Q:Should siblings be adopted separately or only adopted together?

46% Sibs should always be kept together
46% Decision should be on case by case
7% The sibs should decide
2% Separately to give best chance to each
0% Social Services should decide
0% Don't know
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Q:How easy have you found it to adopt?
33% The whole process is TOO complicated
32% Too hard to find financing
14% Easy...no problem
12% Too hard to figure out HOW to adopt
4% Too hard to find an AGENCY
4% Too hard to complete PAPERWORK
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Q: What was the most helpful thing you did while waiting to adopt?
38% Researched adoption process
22% Joined a support group
16% Took a course on parenting
11% Spent time alone with my spouse.
9% Studied the country we would adopt from
5% Worried!
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Q:Should a donor insemination child have info on his father's identity?
30% Yes, for medical information.
34% Yes, every child has the right to know
24% Only if the donor agrees
8% No
3% Yes, to prevent accidental incest.

Q:Are Caucasians able to effectively parent children from other cultures? (of 559 respondents)
55% Yes.
25% Depends on the parents
9% Only if they know about the culture
5% Only with support of other culture
4% No.
2% Only if raised in mixed neighborhood

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Q: What is most difficult about the holidays?
40% Not having a child
21% Nothing, I love the holidays!
13% Missing birthfamily/adoptee
12% Sad feelings
7% Too much to do
6% Being around extended family