"The French [citizens] are part of a group of 16 Europeans, including a seven-member Spanish flight crew, detained Thursday on suspicion of trying to smuggle the children out of Chad with the aim of adoption."A spokeswoman for Zoe's Arc said the organization had permission to transport the children, but a spokeswoman from UNICEF said the action violated nearly all international adoption rules.
Labels: international
"It is appropriate for National Adoption Month to be positioned in the month of November celebrating a time of Thanksgiving. Using white ribbons to raise awareness, National Adoption Month celebrates families touched by adoption, honors birth mothers for their courageous choice, and remembers children who still need permanent homes."The white ribbons are meant to remind people of the lifelong benefits that adoption offers and of the millions of lives that are directly, and positively, impacted by adoption.
Labels: encouragement, support, celebration
"I am all for packing light... and especially when you're traveling to adopt a child, I think you should bring everything that you need. While it is true... that you can often find what you need when you arrive, you don't want to have to spend your first few hours or days with your child in a store in a new place trying to find diapers, formula, lotion or dish soap."Carefully create a list of things you'll need. If you're traveling internationally, consider the climate you'll be traveling too, and medical needs that may be unique to the country or area. Pack thoroughly, but don't over pack. Bring what you need, but not too much of what you need. Be sure to leave enough room to bring home some of your child's personal items, and for cultural items that you may want to purchase for your home.
Labels: international, traveling, stress
"This study hopes to take a deeper look at the identity formation of black children who grew up in white families, the methods that parents use to socialize the children about their own race and the racism they may experience in their lives, the successes, but also the difficulties that the children may have experienced as they developed an identity as a black person and the experiences that may have been important in the development of their identity as a person of color."The number of transracial adoptions has increased dramatically in the last two decades, but little is known about how the adoptions affect the children or the parents. The researchers have set up a web site that contains a survey which takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. Transracial family members are encouraged to participate.
Labels: trans-racial, studies, identity
"Under the new rules, the government will be responsible for identifying the agency in India that can offer a child for adoption. Now, foreigners have to first apply to their [own] governments, which have to find and get in touch with adoption agencies in India on their own."Though rules will be easier for foreigners, they will become stricter for Indians. Currently, Indians can contact adoption agencies directly, but critics say this increases the chances that children will be trafficked. Under the new rules, Indians will have to first register with a state adoption agency.
Labels: foreign_adoption, adoption_process, India
"The Arnolds were told to bring a picture book of themselves and a blanket they've slept with as a way to familiarize the children with their prospective parents. That process worked so well, the Arnolds said, the children were actually excited to go home with them when it came time to depart."Both Jacob, who's 4, and Andrea, 2, have adjusted well to life in America. Andrea is still learning to communicate, but Jacob speaks English well. The Arnolds call their experience a great one and refer back to their Russian interpreter who didn't call it "adoption" but "rescuing".
Labels: Russia, communication, preparations
"The lawyers find babies, obtain power of attorney from the mothers, secure governmental adoption approval, arrange housing for infants pending paperwork and deliver the children to the new parents. Foster parents and doctors are paid by the lawyers."After the August raid, several adoption lawyers took out newspaper ads protesting the government's interference. The Guatemalan government also ratified the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoptions, which will take effect in January and force the adoption process to become more centralized. In addition, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services says it will more closely scrutinize visa applications for children from Guatemala, to ensure that adoptions are being handled appropriately.
Labels: laws, governments
"Four P.E.I. children have been adopted under China's Waiting Child Program... The program arranges the adoption from China of children with minor medical needs... but the P.E.I government now believes it is illegal for the province to allow agencies to match children and families, as was done previously."Instead, matches must now be made directly between governments, with no third-party involvement. The province cites China's inclusion in the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoptions as its reason. A handful of P.E.I families have formed the P.E.I. Adoption Coalition and are lobbying for the province to overturn its decision.
Labels: international, China, Canada
"The U.S. is one of just six nations that allow its citizens to adopt a Chinese child while living in China. Other countries are concerned about the lack of control and oversight they have over their far-flung citizens, but American expats seeking to adopt follow the same well-defined adoption process that is required of families living in the U.S."Though no one currently tracks expat adoptions, some people estimate that between 200 and 300 of these types of adoptions occurred last year.
Labels: international, China, expatriates
"The children also will make lanterns and listen to the story of 'Change E and Hou Yi', which is a common legend about the origin of the mid-autumn festival that often doubles as a family reunion. Dozens of families who have adopted children from Asia, mostly daughters from China, are putting on the event."Organizers also believe that it's important for the families to be able to interact with other interracial families like themselves.
Labels: cultures, interracial, traditions