OUTSIDE EYES ADOPTION SURVEY AND FINDINGS

1. OUTSIDE EYES ADOPTION SURVEY AND FINDINGS PREPARED BY M4 STRATEGIES, INC.

2. SURVEY METHODOLOGY • National Sample of 1001 Americans over the age of 18. • Margin of Error at 95% confidence interval is +/- 3.1%. The margin of error for sub-samples containing less than 1001 respondents is larger. • Survey controlled to reflect national population distribution according to most recent US Census data. • Landlines and cell phones called.

3. TOPLINE FINDINGS • Misperceptions of international adoption rates are staggering. • Interest in international adoption is far less than interest in U.S. infant and foster care adoptions. • General interest in adoption has fallen considerably since 1997. • Perceptions of red tape difficulties and economic factors are lead concerns among those who have considered adoption. • Although interest in adoption has fallen, positive images and perceptions associated with adoption and people who adopt remain strong – allowing advocates the opportunity to influence public opinion and reverse the trend.

4. QUESTION 1 Generally speaking, do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of adoption? And is that VERY favorable/unfavorable or SOMEWHAT favorable/unfavorable?

5. Generally speaking, do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of adoption? And is that VERY favorable/unfavorable or SOMEWHAT favorably/unfavorable? Favorable impressions of adoption are stronger than in 1997

6. QUESTION 2 When thinking about adoption, do you think the number of children adopted within the United States – meaning children born and adopted within the U.S. – has in the past five years increased, decreased, or stayed the same?

7. THE REPORTED NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL ADOPTIONS HAS FALLEN FROM 22,884 IN 2004 TO 17,438 IN 2008 ACCORDING TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT. HOW MANY CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION BY U.S. FAMILIES?

8. QUESTION 3 And do you think the number of children adopted internationally – meaning children born in another country and adopted by American parents – has in the past five years increased, decreased or stayed the same?

9. QUESTION COMPARISON Perceptions of international adoption trends compared with U.S adoptions

10. KEY POINT THOSE WHO ARE MOST WRONG ABOUT THE TRENDS IN INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION ARE THOSE WHO SHOULD NOT BE – THOSE WITH MODERATE TO HIGH LEVELS OF EDUCATION AND THOSE WITH THE GREATEST INCOMES.

11. QUESTION 4 When thinking about other people who may not be able to have children on their own, but want children, do you think most couples would prefer to try to conceive through medical methods such as in vitro fertilization and fertility drugs, or would they prefer to adopt?

12. QUESTION 5 Generally speaking, if you and/or your partner were thinking about adopting a child, do you think you would be most interested in adopting a U.S.-born infant, a foster care child, or a child from another country?

13. QUESTION 6: VERBATIM Why would you be most interested in adopting a U.S.-born infant, a foster care child, or a child from another country? U.S.-born infant • “We need to take care of our own.” • “There are too many US children who need to be adopted.” • “Adopting a U.S.-born child is easier.” Foster care child • “This is a greater need for foster children.” • Many respondents said they were “too old for a baby,” but not a foster child. • “Less people” want foster children because “no one needs them.” Child from another country • Children from other countries have “less opportunity.” • There are “so many” international children who “need” to be adopted.

14. QUESTION 7 Has anyone in your family or among your close friends ever been adopted, adopted a child or placed a child in adoption?

15. QUESTION 8 How seriously, if at all, have you ever considered adopting a child – would you say very seriously, somewhat seriously, not too seriously, or not at all?

16. QUESTION COMPARISON How seriously, if at all, have you ever considered adopting a child – would you say very seriously, somewhat seriously, not too seriously, or not at all? Those responding as has having ever “very seriously” or “somewhat seriously” considered adoption has fallen from 36% in 1997 to 23% in 2009.

17. LIKELY TO CONSIDER ADOPTION • Family or member or close friend has adopted/been adopted • Attend religious services at least once a month • Between the ages of 30 and 50 • African American or Latino • Household Income between $50K and $75K

18. QUESTION 9 Agree/Disagree: Children who are adopted are more likely to have behavioral problems or trouble in school. COMPLETELY DISAGREE COMPLETELY AGREE Don’t know/refused 3.4%

19. QUESTION 10 Agree/Disagree: Children born in another country who are adopted by U.S. parents when they are younger than 2 generally adapt to U.S. culture and customs as well as any U.S.-born child. COMPLETELY DISAGREE COMPLETELY AGREE Don’t know/refused 2.5%

20. QUESTION 11 Agree/Disagree: When couples adopt a child different from their own race it is not good for the child. COMPLETELY DISAGREE COMPLETELY AGREE Don’t know/refused 3.6%

21. QUESTION 12 Agree/Disagree: Children who are adopted into families that already have biological children generally receive as much love and attention as the biological children. COMPLETELY DISAGREE COMPLETELY AGREE Don’t know/refused 3.1%

22. Agree/Disagree: Children who are adopted into families that already have biological children generally receive as much love and attention as the biological children. COMPLETELY AGREE COMPLETELY DISAGREE Participants who “Completely Disagreed” tended to be Female, under the age 30, and have a High School Diploma or less. Don’t know/refused 3.1%

23. QUESTION 13 Agree/Disagree: News coverage of celebrities who have adopted internationally, such as Angelina Jolie and Madonna, has made me more interested in considering international adoption. COMPLETELY DISAGREE COMPLETELY AGREE Don’t know/refused 4.4%

24. QUESTION 14 Agree/Disagree: Sometimes it is harder to love an adopted child as much as a child born to you because the adopted child isn’t your own flesh and blood. COMPLETELY DISAGREE COMPLETELY AGREE Don’t know/refused 3.3%

25. QUESTION 15 Sometimes mothers who put their child up for adoption maintain contact by occasionally sending cards or letters. This is called an open adoption. Do you think this is a good idea in most cases, some cases, very few cases or no cases at all?

26. QUESTION COMPARISON Sometimes mothers who put their child up for adoption maintain contact by occasionally sending cards or letters. This is called an open adoption. Do you think this is a good idea in most cases, some cases, very few cases or no cases at all? Acceptance of “open adoption” is higher in 2009 than in 1997.

27. QUESTION 16 N = 228 I am going to read to you some reasons given by people who are interested in adoption, but have not yet acted. After I read them, tell me which of these, if any, best describe your biggest concerns when considering adoption. You can choose up to three.

28. KEY POINT • Economic factors were clearly important for all who expressed a moderate to high level of interest in adoption. • Interestingly, people who have researched international adoption were 35% less likely to cite their “current personal economic situation” as a significant concern than those who have not researched international adoption. • However, those same respondents who have researched international adoption were twice as likely to cite the “cost of the adoption process” as a significant concern.

29. QUESTION 17 N = 228 And which of the following statements best describes why or how you developed an interest in adoption? You can choose more than one if you need.

30. KEY POINT N = 228 Those who have taken steps to adopt and/or researched international adoption were more likely to cite the desire to “complete my family” than those who have not.

31. QUESTION 18 N = 228 Right now, where are you most likely to get your news about adoption?

32. QUESTION COMPARISON N = 228 Right now, where are you most likely to get your news about adoption?

33. QUESTION 19 N = 228 Using a scale of one to 10, with 10 being very interested and one being not interested at all, how interested are you in an international adoption – meaning a child born in another country? NOT INTERESTED AT ALL COMPLETELY INTERESTED Don’t know/refused 3.1%

34. How interested are you in an international adoption – meaning a child born in another country? N = 228 NOT INTERESTED AT ALL COMPLETELY INTERESTED Women, those who are married, and those who reported attending religious functions “almost every week” or more were most likely to state a strong interest in international adoption. Don’t know/refused 3.1%

35. Q20 VERBATIM N = 228 [FOR SCORES OF 7 OR ABOVE and 3 and below ONLY] Briefly, why are you interested/not interested in international adoption? 7-10: STRONG INTEREST • It gives the “best chance to give back.” • Foreign children are “most in need.” • “There are other who need help.” 1-3: WEAK INTEREST • “Adoption is too expensive.” • “We should take care of American kids first.” • “I’m too old.”

36. QUESTION 21 N = 228 Have you ever taken steps to adopt, such as calling an agency, visiting a web site, or attending a meeting?

37. QUESTION 22 N = 228 Have you and/or your partner ever specifically researched international adoption?

38. RESPONDENTS WITH HIGHER EDUCATION AND HOUSEHOLD INCOME LEVELS, AS WELL AS THOSE WITH FAMILY AND CLOSE FRIENDS INVOLVED IN ADOPTION ARE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE RESEARCHED INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION.

39. QUESTION 23 Tell me if you agree or disagree with this statement: When thinking about adoption, I already have a trusted source for information about the process. And is that STRONGLY agree/disagree or SOMEWHAT agree/disagree?

40. QUESTION 24 N = 228 Agree/Disagree: I would be more interested in adoption if I knew there were public and private grants available to help me pay for the adoption process. COMPLETELY DISAGREE COMPLETELY AGREE Don’t know/refused 2.6%

41. QUESTION 25 N = 228 Agree/Disagree: I would be more willing to trust an adoption agency if I knew they had government liaisons for individual foreign countries, who would help me navigate the laws and customs of the country during the adoption process. COMPLETELY AGREE COMPLETELY DISAGREE Don’t know/refused 3.5%

42. QUESTION 26 N = 228 Agree/Disagree: I would be more willing to trust an adoption agency if I received good information about it from my religious community. COMPLETELY AGREE COMPLETELY DISAGREE Don’t know/refused 1.8%

43. QUESTION 27 N = 228 Agree/Disagree: I would be interested in visiting a one-stop-shop adoption web site that featured testimonials from recent adoptions, facts and contact information, news about adoption and changes in national and international law, and an outlet to submit questions and receive quick answers about adoption. COMPLETELY AGREE COMPLETELY DISAGREE Don’t know/refused 1.8%

44. QUESTION 28 Currently, do you have the physical space in your home to support another child?

45. QUESTION 29 Tell me if you agree with this statement: Adopting a child is a good way make a meaningful contribution in the world. And is that STRONGLY agree/disagree or SOMEWHAT agree/disagree.

46. QUESTION 30 Tell me if you agree with this statement: Parents who adopt a child tend to be more responsible parents than many parents with biological children. And is that STRONGLY agree/disagree or SOMEWHAT agree/disagree.

47. QUESTION 31 The number of international adoptions by U.S. parents has fallen by nearly 25% in the past five years. Which statement do you agree with most:

48. QUESTION 32 Now tell me, which of the following statements do you agree with most:

49. NOTABLE NUMBERS • Despite international adoption rates falling by 25% in the past five years, 65% of Americans wrongly believe the rate of international adoptions by U.S. parents have increased. • 89% of Americans agree that adopting a child is a good way to make a meaningful contribution in the world, but only 23% say they have seriously considered adoption. • Despite strongly positive perceptions of adoption, American interest in adoption has fallen significantly, from 36% reporting a “somewhat” or very seriously” considering adoption in 1997 to 23% in 2009. • Nearly half of all Americans (47%) report having the space to adopt a child. • 53.4% of Americans say parents who adopt a child tend to be more responsible parents than many parents with biological children.

50. NOTABLE DEMOGRAPHICS • Those Americans most interested in international adoption are educated, have high household incomes ($75K and higher), typically know someone who has adopted or been adopted, and/or frequently attend religious services. • Although a majority of those interested in adoption still rely heavily on television news, they are increasingly seeking news and adoption-related information from the internet. (This trend is especially prevalent with younger Americans.) • In addition to being unable to have kids on their own or seeking to “give needy kids a home”, those who are interested in adoption and have researched or taken steps to adopt are most likely to be driven by a desire to have a “little girl or a little boy to compete my family.”