Quick Links ----- Select One ------ Adoption Statistics Adoptive Family Groups Forum Adoptive Parent Profiles Birthfathers Birthmother Brochure Donate Faces of Open Adoption How to Adopt Mission Statement Open Page Newsletter Options Counseling Spanish Brochure

Adoption Statistics

Three-Year Summary | 2006-2007 | 2005-2006 | 2004-2005 | 2003-2004 | 2002-2003

Adoption Statistics 2003-2004

From July 1, 2003, to June 30, 2004

Placements

• OA&FS facilitated 40 adoptions .
• Adoptive parents and birthparents agreed to an average of three visits per year.
• There were 8 “last-minute” placements (when a birthmother contacts the agency for the first time from the hospital). This was 20.5% of the total placements.
• Pregnancy-related expenses were incurred in 53% of cases, at an average of $1,422 per placement. Birthparent expenses were zero in 47% of cases .

Child Demographics

• 85% of children placed were newborn , less than five days old.
  • Of the other 15%, four children were one- to two-months old, one was six-months old, and one was one-year old
• 67% were Caucasian .
  • Of the remaining 33%, one child was Hispanic, one Pacific Islander and the other 11 mixed ethnicities (Caucasian plus one or more other ethnicities
• There was no drug exposure in 74% of the cases.
  • Of the remaining 26%, 8 babies experienced mild exposure, 1 moderate and 1 severe.

Adoptive Parent Demographics

• The average wait in the pool was 9 months .
  • 58% of parents waited 9 months or less. 42% waited more than 9 months, with the longest waiting 22 months.
• Eight gay or lesbiancouples adopted (20% of total placements). Their average wait was 12 months . Gay/lesbian clients made up approximately 40% of the pool throughout the fiscal year.
• No single people adopted this fiscal year, though 14 single people have adopted in the past.
• 50% of adoptive parents lived in Washington, 42.5% in Oregon and 7.5% in other states.
• The average age of adoptive parents was 38.5 – though many were younger and many older.
• Three families adopted for the second time through OA&FS; one family adopted a third time.

Birthparent Demographics

• Birthmothers received counseling for an average of 2.5 months prior to placement.
• The average age of birthmothers was 24.5 .The average age of birthfathers was 28.
• 95% of birthmothers had health insurance.

Disruptions

• There were three disruptions – 7.5% of the total placements -- after the baby was born but before consents were signed, due to birthparents changing their minds.
• There were two disruptions – 5% of total placements -- between Mediation I and Mediation II, when the birthparents and/or adoptive parents decided not to continue planning an adoption together.