"Prior to the proceedings, Michigan Supreme Court Justice Maura Corrigan presented a resolution from the high court commemorating the event. 'In Michigan, we don't want to rest until every child who needs a home has a home,' she said."Family members and social workers attended the proceedings, offering their support to the adoptive parents.
Labels: open_adoption, awareness, court
"Adoption isn't necessarily a beginning or ending for any child. It's part of that child's journey through life. Adopted children have a biological family that will always and inevitably be part of them - whether they know anything about them or not. Family roots run deep, and when adopted children grow up, they should be allowed to get in touch with these roots if they choose."A child's birth family is not erased or replaced when the child is adopted. And, according to the report referenced in this opinion letter, changes in a child's birth information - and lack of access to the original information - raises "significant civil rights concerns and potentially serious, negative consequences for their physical and mental health."
Labels: adoption rights, adoptive_parents, birth_parents
"These states' experiences in providing this information make clear there are minimal, if any, negative repercussions," said Adam Pertman, director of the Institute. "The mythology ... is that you should be protecting someone from something. But that's not the reality. Adoptees are not behaving poorly, they're behaving very respectfully, and birth parents do not appear to be a frightened class that wants to hide."The American Civil Liberties Union and some right-to-life groups have opposed open adoption laws, which are already in place in Maine, Delaware, Alabama, New Hampshire, Oregon, Tennessee, Kansas and Alaska.
Labels: laws, open_adoption, birth_parents
"President George W. Bush proclaimed on October 31, 2007 that November 2007 was designated National Adoption Month. The President also stated that by accepting the gift of these young children into their lives, parents are helping to contribute to the strength of our nation."The senior reviewer at Midwest Books called Son of My Soul a "must read" for every adoptive parent.
Labels: support, inspiration, love
"On October 3, all of the Griffiths family traveled to Washington D.C. where Stuart was presented with the CCAI Angel in Adoption Award. He was accompanied to the ceremony by Congresswoman Nancy Boyda, who said in a press release: 'For over a decade now, Stuart has opened his home and his heart to children in need. His efforts are moving and truly inspiring and I'm pleased to have the chance to honor his caring work.'"Stuart's life is a busy one, but a good one. No longer a foster care parent, he now focuses all his energy on caring for the five boys have become permanent members of his family.
Labels: support, foster_care, fathers
"For the last eight years, National Adoption Day has made the dreams of thousands of children come true by working with courts, judges, attorneys, adoption professionals, child welfare agencies and advocates to finalize adoptions and find permanent, loving homes for children in state protective custody."This will be only the second year that National Adoption Day is celebrated in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Last year, more than 250 events were planned and over 3,300 adoptions were finalized.
Labels: awareness, advocacy, foster_care
"It sounds easy intellectually, but in the real world, it's human beings developing trust and confidence in each other,' Willie [Jones- an adoptive parent] said. Tapping counselors, social workers and doctors is crucial, they added. "You want to think all these kids need is love, but they need a whole lot more too,' Pam [Jones] cautioned."Though the adjustment can be tough, most adoptive parents will agree that it's worth the struggle.
Labels: support, adoption_process, adapting
"...you'll find no apologies in this corner as advocates for Estevan continue the search for the right family so he can live near his three sisters, who were adopted [by a couple] in New Albany. And by the way: The column wasn't an advertisement, it was a plea. Estevan is a child, not chattel."Fisher goes on to remind people that location is far less important that suitability when searching for the right adoptive family. There's no competition between states or countries, only a need to place children in the right homes, with loving families.
Labels: services, adoptive_families, location
"A dozen adoptions a year may not sound like much. In relative terms however, it amounts to four times more than in France or Denmark, according to official statistics from those countries... 'Everybody wants to have children here,' says [Heoein] Poulsen, who heads a support group for parents hoping to adopt."Adopted children in the Faroe Islands come from Bolivia, Bulgaria, China, Ethiopia, India, South Africa, South Korea and Vietnam. Though incredibly multi-ethnic, many people say their adopted children have been accepted by others with open arms.
Labels: support, statistics, rates
"In contrast, modern adoption laws and practices aim to promote child welfare and are regarded as an integral part of government efforts to protect the interests of the young."Adoptions became more widespread following World War I, as the number of orphaned children increased dramatically. The rules governing adoption have continued to change, with more restrictions in some areas and less in others. For instance, though trans-racial adoptions were strongly opposed in the 1970s, they have now become common.
Labels: adoption_laws, heritage, history
"I don't think the media is very balanced. They tend to show sensationalized stories and worst of all, they never seem to devote enough time to really understand the dynamics. But when a reporter is given two days to pump out a piece, what can we expect to happen?"Kruetner urges people to remember that the vast majority of Guatemalan adoptions are legitimate, and even the stories of corruption often don't tell the full story.
Labels: international, laws, adoption_policy
"Deciding whether or not to initiate the search is not easy. While there are a multitude of heartwarming stories, there are also others, where alcoholism was rampant in the family or where the birth mother abused the child."There's also a possibility that a birth mother will ask for financial support or ask the adoptive parents to adopt another child. There are risks involved in initiating a search for a child's birth mother, and they should be carefully considered. There is also, however, the potential for a heartwarming reunion.
Labels: international, birth_parents, services