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More women in the USA say they're interested in adopting a child, but there's more talk than action, says a national report to be released today.
The Urban Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based economic and social policy research organization, compared federal data from 1995 with new data collected in 2002 and recently released by the National Center for Health Statistics. The report, which analyzed data only for women, found that interest in adoption rose 38% among women ages 18-44.
But that interest doesn't always mean women follow through, says researcher Jennifer Macomber. "This increase in interest isn't necessarily translating into more action."
Such news suggests the process needs to be more consumer-friendly, says Rita Soronen, executive director of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, based in Columbus, Ohio. "Folks get turned away by phone calls not getting answered or their calls not getting returned."
Soronen is co-chair of the National Adoption Day Coalition, which commissioned the report to coincide with National Adoption Day on Saturday. That's when thousands of adoptions will be finalized in an attempt to increase awareness about adoption -- particularly from foster care -- and reduce bureaucratic barriers.
Among other report findings:
*About 73% of women who took steps to adopt already have children.
*About 66% of women who took steps to adopt are married; about 27% are single.
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