Nationally, over 100,000 children are currently in state custody (foster care) & awaiting adoption. However, in 2012, only approximately 840 interstate adoptions occurred, with kinship adoptions accounting for about 1/3 of this number. In contrast, there were over 10 times more international adoptions that occurred the same year.
Interstate adoptions are almost impossible to pursue due to current bureaucracy. The amount of paperwork, differences between states in adoption requirements, disincentives, etc. have made it easier & smoother to adopt from another country than to adopt a child in need of a permanent family within our own.
We petition the Obama Administration to examine current legislation and take measures that would allow interstate adoption to occur more easily & more often.