115,000 children in the U.S. foster-care system are waiting for permanent homes

Questions about adopting from foster care are answered by social worker Kathy Ledesma in Adoptive Families Magazine -
A Place to Call Home

Facing the Issue of Foster Care from the CEO of Child Welfare League of America

This is a piece that Christine James Brown wrote for the Huffington Post:

Faced with Faces
Every once in a while I need grounding. Even though I deal every day with the issues facing children in foster care, I sometimes need to stand back -- away from the statistics and policy debates -- to see real children in need of real families. That's one of the reasons I appreciate November's National Adoption Month because it helps focus me on the faces of children in foster care.

Recently, after a long day at the office, I went searching -- my soul and the internet. I was having one of those moments when I needed to reboot. I ran across a segment on DC-based NBC4's Wednesday's Child -- the program that features foster children available for adoption during the news. It was a piece about a talented 14-year-old girl named Jennisfer who had big brown eyes and loves to draw and ride horses. Seeing her story reminded me of my own daughter when she was a child and how special our time together was.
Since I was already drawn in, I watched another segment about David, a cute young boy with Down syndrome who was having a fun-filled day at Gymboree. Both of these children are available for adoption from the foster care system. Despite their challenges it was clear that both children were lovable and in need of being loved. As I watched these two pieces, I choked up thinking again how lucky my own daughter was to have loving parents to share special moments with, help guide her decisions, and just give her a hug.

Still I needed to see more faces to drive home the importance of the work that we in the child welfare world. I logged onto a variety of adoption related sites, including AdoptUSKids.org. Gracing the front were teens Nickayla and Darrien of Kansas. These beautiful siblings with big smiles -- one loves to sing and the other enjoys sports -- desperately want to find a family and most importantly stay together.

Behind each of these faces and stories is a caring child welfare professional, working to ensure that children have a chance to be reunited with families or if this is not possible, have opportunities to get adopted. My hunt for faces and stories of children available for adoption also reminded me of all the outstanding work that child welfare workers do to ensure children get reunited with their birthparents and/or find new ones. These dedicated professionals work tirelessly to ensure a better life for children.

One such professional being honored this month as AdoptUSkids's Caseworker of the Month is Shanda Moorman, an adoption recruiter for Wendy's Wonderful Kids in Orlando who firmly believes that "every child is adoptable." And her work shows that. Due to her persistence and sensitivity, she recently was able to facilitate an interstate adoption of twins with significant medical conditions. Her excitement over seeing photos of the children laughing and happy with their new family showed the pride she takes in her work. Shanda is representative of so many outstanding child welfare professionals who view their profession as a calling.

Why is it important to put faces on this issue? That's because more than 110,000 children in the United States -- who have suffered from abuse and/or neglect -- have nowhere to go. They are wards of the state -- legally released from their families -- and waiting in the foster care system, hoping that a caring adult will come along and make the world right again for them. But 110,000 is just a number -- albeit a big one. Behind that number are real children who lives and futures have been upended and stolen from them by parents and situations that have let them down.

That's why my favorite day of National Adoption Month is National Adoption Day, when communities across the United States celebrate the making of new families. On this day, court systems nationwide help children heal and families come together by legally joining foster children with adoptive families. This ceremonial effort puts a face on the issue and symbolizes the importance of how strong families are the fundamental building blocks for communities.

If you have a few minutes this month, please take the time to search the Internet for the names and faces of children who want nothing more than to be loved. If you have room in your heart and home, consider adopting one. Just as importantly, take a moment to hug and care for your own children. Good parents are in demand... and they make a difference.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christine-jamesbrown/faced-with-faces_b_777293.html

Orlando Support Group for Adoptive Families

From therapist Dawn Strobeck:

Loving an adopted child challenges us to the very core…can we love someone who cannot love us back? Are we that good? And the answer is…no, but God is. Our Father has called many families right now in the Christian community to reach out and to love the unloved, to want the unwanted, and to protect the unprotected. Thousands are adopting children every year locally and from all over the world. This is a high and holy calling, but it is not easy. I really liken it to the Gospel message above…that Christ died for us, the sinners, while we were still powerless against sin. He demonstrates His Love for us by dying. And in the process of caring for and loving adopted children you will be called to die…die to the notion that this is a touchy feely kind of mission where you get to look like the good guy. No, you will be called to face your own demons, your own need to be wanted, your own need for encouragement, your own weariness, and your own futility.


My name is Dawn Strobeck and I'm a therapist that is working with adopted families as they deal with the unique issues associated with adoption. I am starting a support/education group for families that have chosen to adopt. I will be coming from a distinctively Christian view, but am incorporating research on attachment theories and practical solutions that I have learned while researching the topic and working with adoptive families. I would like to incorporate a 30 min. teaching segment each session and then facilitate a discussion/support group for about an hour.  Come join us!

Adoption Support Group
When: Monday November 9th at 7:00-8:30 (meeting once a month)
Where: Dawn Strobeck's office in Baldwin Park
Cost: $10 per session
Contact information: 407-240-8071 or conwaycounseling@yahoo.com

Dawn Strobeck's Office
1451 Baldwin Park Lane # A
Orlando, FL 32814
407-240-8071 or 407-493-4068

Foster Care Council Sponsors Picinic for Foster Care Children

Here is a story about Foster Care Council’s Fifth Annual Lynn’s Picnic held October 16 at Cambier Park in Naples, FL.
Here is more information about the Foster Care Council of Southwest Florida, an organization whose missions "is to enhance the lives of children who are removed from their homes due to abandonment, serious neglect or abuse."

Post Adoption Parenting Resources

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families provides an abundance of resources for parents to help them with post-adoption issues.

"Adoption is a lifelong process. Families often need additional support at various times after placement and after the adoption is legally finalized. Families may need services as a child develops and as normal development, adjustment, and adoption-related issues arise. In this section find resources for adoptive families that explain what to expect at various developmental stages. Also, learn how to talk about adoption, address adoption issues in school, help children with grief and loss, recognize and get help for postadoption depression, find needed services, and obtain financial assistance."

CBC of Seminole To Be In Charge of Child Welfare in Orange and Osceola Counties

Here's a story from the Orlando Sentinel by Kate Santich about DCF awarding the contract to run child-welfare operations in both Osceola and Orange counties to Community Based Care of Seminole Co. 

Seminole nonprofit wins DCF contract to manage child welfare in Orange and Osceola

Want to Learn More About the Foster Care System?

Holly Schlaack, a social worker from Ohio, has authored a book titled, Invisible Kids: Marcus Fiesel's Legacy,  which provides an insiders view of the foster care system and educates readers on what they can do to improve that system. 

Amazon says of the book that it "tells the stories of many children and foster families. It tells them straight and backs them up with statistics and facts that show why the system works, why it doesn t, and where it needs help. It describes the special program Holly created for early identification of red flags in the lives infants and toddlers. It details how this program, ProKids Building Blocks, is making a difference, with specialized training and home visitation checklists that assist in objectifying warning signs that might otherwise go unnoticed. It also identifies more than a dozen ways, large and small, anyone can apply to make a difference."


For more information about Holly Schlaak, the book, or her work please visit her website:  http://www.invisiblekidsthebook.com/index.html

Adoptions-In-Progress in Limbo as U.S. Bans Adopting from Nepal

Here is a story from the Chicago Tribune about a woman who went to Nepal to pick up her adopted daughter, only to find out that the U.S. had banned Nepalese adoptions.

Adoption route leaves mother, child exiled in Nepal
Chicago woman wants to bring daughter home, but U.S. policy is blocking her path
September 26, 2010 By Mary Schmich

You can also listen to her tell her story on NPR's Here and Now:
Adoptive Mom Finds Herself Stuck In Nepal

Here's a link to the latest information from the U.S. Department of State concerning adopting from Nepal:
http://adoption.state.gov/news/nepalalerts.html

Tips for Those Adopting an Older Child

Adoptive Families Magazine has an article in their September (2010) issue by Carrie Howard for parents adopting an older child:

Adopting an Older Child?
Moms and dads share the special joy that comes with bringing home a school-age child, and the unique parenting approach that helps their families bond.

News from A Mother's Love

 The latest newsletter from A Mother's Love, a ministry that supports orphaned children in China.

How Your Church Can Help Foster Children

This is from the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption (which also offers free resources for your church or organization) -

The faith community and foster care adoption

CHILDREN ARE WAITING
Every day children are abused, abandoned and neglected. Through no faults of their own, many end up in foster care and eventually are made available for adoption. These children often move three or more times, are frequently separated from siblings, and can wait five years or more for an adoptive family. One in five will turn 18 and leave the system without a family. Today, more than 114,000 children wait in U.S. foster care for a loving, permanent family.


YOU CAN HELP

The faith community has long been one of the most dynamic, powerful resources to help children without families. The following are just some of the many ways to get involved in foster care adoption – because every child deserves a loving home and forever family.


SUPPORT ADOPTIVE FAMILIES

-Celebrate when members of your congregation make the choice to adopt. Recognize adoption as a valued way to build families.


-Establish support groups for adoptive parents. Learn how at www.nacac.org or http://www.adoptamericanetwork.org/.
 -Host activities and outings for adoptive families.


-Raise funds for medical and educational needs. Donate clothing or other necessities for a growing family. Offer respite childcare.


-Consider establishing an adoption ministry.


HOST OR JOIN A NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY EVENT

National Adoption Day is celebrated in communities across the United States on the Saturday before Thanksgiving (November 20, 2010). Host a National Adoption Day event of your own by inviting members of your congregation or parish to join you for a workshop, picnic, reception or other event in celebration of adoptive families and generate awareness of waiting children. To partner with a local foster care adoption agency, visit www.childwelfare.gov/nfcad. Be a part of the national effort and get a free banner by registering your event at http://www.nationaladoptionday.org/.


-Join an already scheduled event near you by visiting http://www.nationaladoptionday.org/.
There are events in communities all across the nation. Contact the event coordinator to volunteer your time or donate items for the newly-formed families.
 
Continue with article.

Webinar for Parents Whose Internationally Adopted Children May Have Suffered From Early Poor Nutrition

 From Joint Council on International Children's Services -



Wednesday, October 20, 2010,  7:00-8:00PM Central Time
Cost: $15   CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

We all know the importance of prenatal and early nutrition. We also understand that it is likely our internationally adopted children have missed out on a fair amount of this key factor of development.

Join Dr. Dana Johnson, renowned international adoption physician, as he shares the results of his research on the common physical, cognitive and behavioral impacts of poor nutrition on international adoptees. He will give practical tips of what to look for in your child, what to ask your pediatrician to test for and how to help your child catch up and thrive both short and long term.
This webinar will share strategies and tips on:
 Understanding the impact of early nutritional deprivation
 Identifying signs of malnutrition in your child
 Having your child tested for nutritional deficiencies
 How to help your child catch up and thrive

Speaker
Dr. Dana Johnson, MD PhD


Dr. Johnson is the Director of the Division of Neonatology and the Director of the International Adoption Clinic at the University of Minnesota. He has researched, published and lectured extensively on the effects of early institutionalization on growth, development and outcomes of internationally adopted children. He is a frequent expert speaker at worldwide conferences on issues relating to institutionalized children's health.

New Book on Adoption from NPR Radio Host

Scott Simon, the host of Weekend Edition on NPR, writes about his journey in adopting two baby girls from China in his new book, Baby We Were Meant For Each Other.
Amazon describes the book as,
a love story that doesn’t gloss over the rough spots. There are anxieties and tears along with hugs and smiles and the unparalleled joy of this blessed and special way of making a family. Here is a book that families who have adopted—or are considering adoption—will want to read for inspiration. But everyone can enjoy this story because, as Scott Simon writes, adoption can also help us understand what really makes families, and how and why we fall in love.


Here, Simon discusses his book on a segment of NPR's Fresh Air.  He also discusses his international adoption story on a segment of NPR's Morning Edition here.

Facts & Figures on Foster Care Adoption from National Adoption Day

National Adoption Day provides some information on children in foster care, which can be found here:

- Every year, more than 123,000 children in foster care are available for adoption. Many spend more than
five years waiting for permanent, loving homes. Between 2000 and 2009, more than 30,000 children were
joined together with their forever families as part of National Adoption Day activities.

Who are these waiting children?

• There are an estimated 463,000 children in foster care in the United States, and more than 123,000 of them are waiting to be adopted.

• Through no fault of their own, these children enter foster care as a result of abuse, neglect and/or abandonment.

• The average child waits for an adoptive family for more than two years.

• 19 percent spend 5 years or more waiting for a family (24,300 children).

• The average age of children waiting for an adoptive family is 8.

What happens to them?

• 55,000 children are adopted from foster care.

• More than 29,000 children reach the age of 18 without ever finding a forever family.

Who adopts from foster care?

• Children in foster care are adopted by three types of families: former foster parents (59 percent), relatives (26 percent) and non-relatives (15 percent).

• Of the families who adopt children from foster care, 69 percent are married couples, 26 percent are single females, 3 percent are single males, and 2 percent are unmarried couples.

• A national survey in 2007 revealed that 48 million Americans have considered adoption from foster care – more so than any other form of adoption, including private adoption of an infant or international adoption. (National Foster Care Adoption Attitudes Survey, November 2007. Commissioned by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and conducted by Harris Interactive.)

To find out more about adopting a child in the United States, please visit
http://www.nationaladoptionday.org/  or call 1-800-ASK-DTFA.

(Unless otherwise indicated, statistics are provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families Administration on Children; Interim Estimates for FY 2008.)

Children in the 2010 Heart Gallery Awaiting Forever Families

Have you seen the beautiful children in the 2010 Heart Gallery?  All are available for adoption now!

(The Heart Gallery of Metro Orlando is an innovative gallery-style photo exhibit that features some of the foster children available for adoption in central Florida.
The Heart Gallery of Metro Orlando is a program of Family Services of Metro Orlando.)

Government Statistics on Children in Foster Care

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children's Bureau reports that 255,418 children entered foster care in 2009 and of those exiting, 20% were adopted.  These and other statistics can be found in the AFCARS Report.

National Adoption Day Events

National Adoption Day is November 20, 2010.  Find events happening in your area:
http://www.nationaladoptionday.org/events

2010 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption has compiled it's 2010 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces List.  Number one in the country is Wendy's/Arby's Group, Inc.  You can find the story here, and a list of the top 100 here.

Club Kazi - Helping Black Children in Iowa's Foster Care System

Club Kazi is an organization of black professionals dedicated to helping black children in Iowa's foster care system.  They encourage African-Americans to become foster parents and work with the Department of Human Services in Johnson County, Iowa to help reduce the disproportionate number of black children receiving welfare services. 
This article from the Iowa City Press Citizen describes their goal:
Group Aims To Improve Foster Care System

International Adoption News

- Compiled from the June 2010 issue of Adoption Today magazine.

Haiti
Haiti is now accepting adoption applications for children who were documented as orphans before Jan. 12 or who have been relinquished by thier birth parents since the the earthquake. 

Kyrgyztan
All intercountry adoptions have been suspended and the U.S. State Dept. has issued a travel warning about traveling there. 

Kazakhstan
All intercountry adoptions have been halted by Kazakhstan until the government implements a system that is in compliance with the Hague Adoption Convention (goal:  September 2010).  This does not affect adoptions that are already in process.

Liberia
Liberia has suspended all adoptions due to finding of corruption.  It is not accepting any new applications nor making any referrals for existing applications. 

For more information:  http://adoption.state.gov/

The Role of the Church In Adoption

Churches Adopt Adoption
Churches are getting real about adoption's challenges—and helping families after the child arrives.  By Carla Barnhill

This article is part of Christianity Today's July issue which focuses on adoption and orphan care.
In 1962, my parents picked up a 3-month-old boy from a Minneapolis children's home. Instead of a shower or welcoming committee, they came home to silence and sideways looks. They were adopting at a time when the decision was considered a response to an epic reproductive failure, something not discussed in polite company.

And then there was the baby. At just three months, my older brother showed signs of institutionalization. My mother remembers how he lay in her arms like a board, never able to snuggle. Psychologists were only beginning to form theories on attachment disorder, and no one, including my parents, fully understood how even a few months without parental nurture can impact a child.

Thank God that attitudes about adoption are changing.

The Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAO) held its sixth annual summit on orphan care this April at Grace Church in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Featuring keynote addresses from John Piper, Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman, and Al Mohler, the summit drew more than 1,200 attendees, most of them ministering to orphans through their home churches. Watching those gathered, I knew this was not my parents' generation.

Continue with article here.

Jedd Medefind's (the President of Christian Alliance for Orphans), Top 5 Books on Orphan Care

This article is from July's Christianity Today, focusing on adoption and orphan care.

1.  Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families and Churches
     by Russell D. Moore (Crossway)
With deep theological moorings, Moore builds an inspiring case for why adoption carries special priority for Christians. Even readers who don't agree with Moore on all points will find it difficult to escape the power of his conviction that God's adoption of all believers is the wellspring for Christian action to "defend the cause of the fatherless."

2.  The Connected Child: Bring Hope and Healing to Your Adoptive Family
      by Karyn Purvis, David Cross, and Wendy Lyons Sunshine (McGraw-Hill)
Built on research and medical expertise, this accessible book provides both compassionate insight and concrete practices that any parent can apply to nurture and connect fully with children coming from difficult backgrounds. Purvis's new study guide and other resources are also invaluable.

3.  There Is No Me Without You: One Woman's Odyssey to Rescue Africa's Children
      by Melissa Fay Greene (Bloomsbury)
Greene opens unforgettable windows into the plight of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS with the true story of one Ethiopian widow and the children she took in. Her well-crafted account is both haunting and hopeful, exposing both aching need and the complexity of responding wisely, alongside the beauty found when we do.

4.  Fields of the Fatherless: Discover the Joy of Compassionate Living
     by Tom Davis (David C. Cook)
Weaving together Scripture and compelling narrative, Davis paints a simple yet powerful picture of what it looks like when Christians come to share God's passion for orphans. Fields of the Fatherless offers not only inspiration and provocation, but also practical steps for action.

5.  The One Factor: How One Changes Everything
      by Doug Sauder (4Kids of South Florida)
Focusing on real stories of children from foster care, this slim volume delivers its punch with dozens of poignant reminders why the number one matters more than all the statistics in the world. Sauder helps us turn the tired adage that "one person can make a big difference" into a vibrant, vivifying confidence.

Adoption And Orphan Care is the Focus of the July Issue of Christianity Today

Adoption Is Everywhere
Even God is into it.
by Ted Olsen
 
In December, Christianity Today editor at large Collin Hansen put evangelicals' growing attention to adoption as number six on his "Top Ten Theology Stories of 2009" for our website. It made a lot of sense: The Blind Side put the spotlight on adoption for moviegoers, while Russell Moore's Adopted for Life created buzz among Christian nonfiction readers.
The way 2010 is going, adoption is likely to rank higher than sixth place by year's end. Rick Warren devoted this year's Saddleback Civil Forum to orphans and adoption, joining popular conferences like Together for Adoption, the Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit (which will be posted next week), and Moore's own Adopting for Life.

The trend goes beyond dedicated gatherings, however: Nearly every conference we've attended recently devoted attention to orphans, adoption, the fatherless, and so on. Church leadership conference Catalyst gave a major push to adoption at its main gathering in October and continues to highlight it at regional meetings. The keynote presentation at Q (a conference for Christian culture leaders) focused on fatherlessness, with calls to establish foster-care ministries, support adoptive families, and build orphanages abroad.

Adoption even became a main issue at this year's Wheaton Theology Conference, which was somewhat unlikely since it focused on the work of N. T. Wright. But theologian Kevin Vanhoozer argued that the theology of adoption was the key to reconciling Wright's views on justification with his Reformed critics'. The law court that finds us justified in Christ, Vanhoozer said, is less of a criminal court than a family court.

Socio-political reasons abound for why we're hearing more about orphans and adoption today. I have friends who, faced with the seemingly countless ways to pursue social justice and compassion, are starting with the "orphans and widows" of James 1:27. Other friends praise the focus on adoption for being an important family issue that sidesteps the ceaseless debates on "gay stuff." Then again, other friends see adoption as the new battleground over homosexuality.

But more often, I hear people talking theologically about adoption, highlighting it as the act that most directly mirrors God's actions toward us. I don't hear many guilt trips or apocalyptic warnings. Instead, I hear echoes of one of J. I. Packer's comments in Knowing God: "Our understanding of Christianity cannot be better than our grasp of adoption." Moore helps us grasp it much better, starting here.

This article can be found - http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/july/10.5.html

Why every Christian Is called to Rescue Orphans.

Abba Changes Everything by Russell D. Moore
(This article is part of ChristianityToday's July issue featuring adoption and orphan care.)

"The creepiest sound I have ever heard was nothing at all. My wife, Maria, and I stood in the hallway of an orphanage somewhere in the former Soviet Union, on the first of two trips required for our petition to adopt. Orphanage staff led us down a hallway to greet the two 1-year-olds we hoped would become our sons. The horror wasn't the squalor and the stench, although we at times stifled the urge to vomit and weep. The horror was the quiet of it all. The place was more silent than a funeral home by night.

I stopped and pulled on Maria's elbow. "Why is it so quiet? The place is filled with babies." Both of us compared the stillness with the buzz and punctuated squeals that came from our church nursery back home. Here, if we listened carefully enough, we could hear babies rocking themselves back and forth, the crib slats gently bumping against the walls. These children did not cry, because infants eventually learn to stop crying if no one ever responds to their calls for food, for comfort, for love. No one ever responded to these children. So they stopped.

The silence continued as we entered the boys' room. Little Sergei (now Timothy) smiled at us, dancing up and down while holding the side of his crib. Little Maxim (now Benjamin) stood straight at attention, regal and czar-like. But neither boy made a sound. We read them books filled with words they couldn't understand, about saying goodnight to the moon and cows jumping over the same. But there were no cries, no squeals, no groans. Every day we left at the appointed time in the same way we had entered: in silence."

Read full article here.

Family Services of Metro Orlando Celebrates It's 1,000th Adoption!

On Friday, June 25, 2010, Family Services of Metro Orlando celebrated its 1,000th foster care adoption with Judge Margaret T. Waller presiding. On the same day, 17 other families celebrated as they adopted more than 20 children into their families.


Eight-year-old Melissa became part of a forever family when she was adopted by Debbie and Joseph Defour, making her the 1000th adoption under Family Services' care. Learn more, or see news coverage at WFTV - 9 Family Connection and the Orlando Sentinel.


This milestone was achieved in fewer than six years through Family Services' extensive network of community partners in Orange and Osceola counties including:
 
Children's Home Society
Youth and Family Alternatives
One Hope United
Devereux Florida
Osceola County Guardians ad Litem
Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association
Children's Legal Services
Florida Department of Children and Families
Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption

For more information on foster care and adoption in Central Florida, call 1-877-6-MY-KIDS or visit the Family Services of Metro Orlando website.

New Webinar Series for Orphan Advocates from Christian Alliance for Orphans

Christian Alliance for Orphans will be launching a new monthly webinar series for local church orphan ministry leaders and advocates. The series is designed to help individuals create and grow effective adoption, foster care and global orphan ministry in local churches. Each 60-minute webinar will give local advocates access to the knowledge and experience of top Alliance member churches and organizations nationwide, covering key topics on adoption, foster care and/or global orphan care. Every webinar will be hosted by a local church orphan ministry and co-presented by one or more national experts on the subject matter. This pairing will deliver a combination of specialist information and resources alongside a “here’s how it works in a real church” perspective. The monthly webinars are offered free of charge to church orphan ministries nationwide. For Summer 2010, the schedule includes the sessions listed below.

1.  How to Help without Hurting (Register Now)
As church groups nationwide head out on summer missions trips, learn key principles and practices to ensure that the long-term results are for good. Show an orphan the tangible love of Christ, building on principles that are practical, field-tested and useful for your next mission trip.
Host Church: Saddleback Church
Date: June 30      Time: 2 PM Eastern

2.  The Safe Families Model
Understand the model being replicated in 7 states that essentially replaces the government foster system with the open hearts and homes of local Christians and their church community.
Date: July 28      Time: 2 PM Eastern

3.  The Post-Placement Journey
Dr. Karyn Purvis and Michael Monroe present on equipping foster and adoption ministries to serve families through the joys and challenges of loving children from difficult places for the long-haul.
Date: August 25      Time: 2 PM Eastern

4.  Church to Church Partnerships to Care for Orphans in Haiti
Practical advice, principles and practices for how your church can wisely partner with indigenous churches to care for orphans in Haiti and beyond.
Date: September 29      Time: 2 PM Eastern

GRACE, MILLY, LUCY… CHILD SOLDIERS

Grace, Milly, Lucy, a new Canadian documentary about Ugandan women who were kidnapped as girls and forced to fight for the brutal Lord's Resistance Army, has just been released. (The LRA has kidnapped over 30,000 children over the last 20 years.)  A trailer of the documentary may be viewed here.

The NPR show, Talk of the Nation, recently interviewed one of the women featured in the documentary along with its director.  You may either read the transcript or listen to the interview here.

NPR also featured a profile on the Lord's Resistance Army in 2005, which may be found here.

To view a narrated photo essay entitled, Horror in Uganda, from the Los Angels Times click here.

Together For Adoption's National Conference

Early bird registration for Together For Adoption's October 1 & 2 National Conference in Austin, TX ends June 30, 2010.  This year's theme is “The Gospel, the Church, and the Global Orphan Crisis.” Guest speakers include Dave Gibbons, Darrin Patrick, Dr. Karyn Purvis, Matt Carter, Bryan Loritts, Tom Davis, Dr. Susan Hillis, Carlos Whittaker, Aaron Ivey, and others. 

For more information and to register:  http://www.togetherforadoption.org/?page_id=11

Remember the Fatherless this Father's Day

As we celebrate and honor our fathers this week-end, keep in mind that there are approximately 27 million American boys that are being raised without a father in the house.  Author Donald Miller was one of those boys and he wrote a book about the experience entitled, Father Fiction.  He also started an organization called The Mentoring Project which partners young men growing up without dads with positive male role models. The Mentoring Project's goal is "to see thousands of kids enter into relationships with somebody who would be let down if they screwed up, and ecstatic when they succeed."

Miller was recently a guest on NPR's The Diane Rehm Show where he discussed Father Fiction.  You may listen here.

Love for Orphans Transforms

An article by Jedd Medefind

President, Christian Alliance for Orphans
 
Unwanted infants in ancient Rome were often disposed of via the practice of “exposing.” Whether undesirable because it was malformed, female or simply inconvenient, the child would be left alone, outside the city walls, without defense before glaring sun, icy winds or roving animals.

In 374 AD, the Christian emperor Valentinian banned the practice. But for centuries prior, a marginalized group gained a reputation for rescuing these children: Christians. The early church was known, even among many who despised it, as a people who defended the orphan. Believers went outside the city to find infants abandoned there, taking them in, and often raising them as their own. This witness was one powerful factor in the vibrant life and growth of Christianity in its first 300 years, and at other high points in history as well. It can be that way again.

Last month, 1,200 Christian orphan advocates from across America and beyond gathered in Minneapolis. At moments, the ethos and interactions felt almost electric. As one band leader expressed, “It felt like that was the first time I’d been worshipping and every person in the room was really a Christian.” I understood what he meant. From families with adopted HIV+ children, to foster parents, to individuals serving the fatherless around the globe, the spirit of that community carried the feel of the early days after Pentecost. As best I can discern, here are four key reasons why:

- Caring for orphans reflects the heart of God. From Isaiah’s call to “defend the cause of the fatherless” (1:17) to James’ placement of orphan care at the heart of “pure and undefiled religion” (1:27), the biblical mandate is clear. But this is not merely God’s expectation of us; it is a mirroring of His own character. “He defends the fatherless,” declares Deuteronomy 10:18. Describes the Psalmist, “He places the lonely in families.” To be like our heavenly Father, we’re invited to do the same.

- Caring for orphans makes the Gospel visible. At the heart of the Christian story is the God who pursued us when we were destitute and alone. He adopted us as His children, and invites us to live as His sons and daughters. Perhaps nothing makes this truth more tangible than when Christians follow in their Father’s footsteps, opening heart and home in unconditional affection to the child that has no claim upon them but love.

- Caring for orphans defies the gods of our age. Darwinism’s sole ethical imperative is to ensure one’s own genetic material carries forward. So like Gideon tearing down his father’s idols (Judges 6), we assault this dictate when we seek to ensure the survival, and thriving, of a child that does not share our genes. Meanwhile, the purposeful sacrifices required to love this child flout the demands of other gods also, from materialism to self-actualization to comfort. The cost must be counted. But—compared to the depth and richness found along the path of caring for orphans—these false gods are shown to be as lifeless and unsatisfying as statues of bronze or wood.

- Caring for orphans invites a journey of discipleship. “I see these kids changed,” explained a woman who helps Christians get involved with foster care, “But I think the parents are changed even more.” It’s true. Every family I know that’s opened themselves to parentless children has not gone unaltered. And though the road can be hard, even painful, virtually always it leads closer to Jesus. Expressed one adoptive mom recently, “People have said, ‘Oh, aren’t they lucky, you rescued them from whatever.’ And I think, Are you kidding? I’m the lucky one. I get to be their mom. And I get to be daily rescued from my selfishness, and my impatience, and things that are just as disease-ridden in my soul.”

Ultimately, here’s the result I see again and again: love for orphans transforms. It transforms children as they experience love and nurture they’ve come to live without. It transforms individual Christians, as we encounter Jesus deeply and personally in a destitute child. It transforms the broader community of believers as well, pulling us corporately beyond a religion of self-development to a costly-but-muscular faith. Finally, love for orphans transforms a watching world, as it sees—perhaps for the first time—the Gospel embodied.

Close friends from Washington, DC, Tom and Leah, adopted a little boy from an African nation two years ago. He’d been found, abandoned, at the edge of a forest, umbilical cord still attached. “He was left for the hyena,” described the old woman who discovered him when the newborn’s cry startled her milk cow.

When I heard that story, I couldn’t help thinking of the early Christians, going outside the city walls to take in abandoned infants. I feel the same about what’s going on in Colorado, where so many Christians have adopted from the foster system that the number of children waiting for adoption has been cut from nearly 800 in 2008 to just 365 today. The same goes for countless partnerships between U.S. Christians and churches abroad to care for orphans within their home countries as well.

Christians are again becoming known as a people who defend the cause of the fatherless. As we do, the world won’t be left unchanged. Neither will we.  ~

This article can be found at the Catalyist website @ http://www.catalystspace.com/content/read/june10_love_for_orphans_transforms/

South Africa, the World Cup, and Orphaned Children

Children's HopeChest will be sponsoring a Vision Trip to South Africa for pastors and community leaders who are interested in sponsoring a care point there.  Follow this link for more information about this opportunity-  http://www.hopechest.org/join-our-south-africa-ministry/.

Also, Tom Davis, president of Children's HopeChest is currently in South Africa for the World Cup and is blogging about social justice issues impacting orphans.  He has developed a "Beyond the Game" Devotional that can be downloaded.  This devotional explores unreported facets of the World Cup that impacts children and orphans. 
http://blog.beliefnet.com/redletters/

Clearwater Marine Aquarium Hosting Heart Gallery and Promoting Adoption Campaign

CMA (Clearwater, FL) is proud to partner with Governor Crist’s Office of Adoption and Child Protection, the Department of Children and Families, Eckerd Youth Alternatives and Progress Energy Heart Gallery of Pinellas and Pasco on an adoption campaign called “Winter’s Dream”.  For every donation made to Winter, the dolphin who lost her family and was seriously injured when she was three months old and who now resides at the CMA, the aquarium will donate 20% to the Heart Gallery to help children find their forever families. 
There are many levels of Winter adoption from which to choose - http://www.seewinter.com/winter/winters-dream

Date Set for Christian Alliance For Orphans Summit VII

Save the Date...

SUMMIT VII

May 12-13, 2011

Southeast Christian Church

Louisville, KY

If you missed Summit VI, recordings are available online 

This Weekend Buy A Frosty, Help a Foster Child

Wendy's will donate 50 cents for every Frosty purchased this weekend (June 19 & 20) to the Dave Thomas Center for Adoption.  They will donate an additional 50 cents for a social media "shout out."

http://www.davethomasfoundation.org/

Pat Robertson's Disappointing Attitude Toward Adoption

This is an email I received from Elizabeth Wiebe, Director of Outreach and Member Services for Christian Alliance for Orphans.

Alongside a compelling news report on Summit VI, commentary from Pat          Robertson on whyChristians would…or would not…adopt is likely to stir serious controversy. It’s worth watching the polite but highly-charged exchange between Robertson and co-host Terry Meeuwsen.

Many orphan advocates likely will wince as they hear Robertson express sentiments like, “It [adoption] can be a blessing, if you get the right child.” The troubling statements, however, offer a striking reminder of three important realities. First, that many people harbor deep and understandable fears about adoption that must be gently and honestly addressed. Second, that even many Christians still hold the mistaken view that a successful adoption is primarily about building a family by finding the right child, rather than a decision born of both obedience and love–both of which spring from response to God’s loving adoption of us. And third, that much has changed even in the past several years, as Christians have re-awoken to the biblical call to care for orphans in their distress–not merely by sending checks overseas, but by opening their hearts and homes.

Explicit in Robertson’s concerns is an important theme wise adoption advocates repeatedly sound as well: “Count the cost.” Yes, many adopted children come from very difficult places, and the journey to a full sense of belonging and permanent family often is rife with difficulty, sacrifice and even sorrow. But this is only one piece of the story, and not the most important.

A segment of Robertson’s exchange with his co-host Terry Meeuwsen, who powerfully defends a truly Christ-hearted view of adoption, captures the issue well.

Robertson expresses serious concerns about adoption, warning of serious emotional, developmental and spiritual problems, and worrying, “If they’ve been brain damaged as a child, what’s going to happen?”

Meeuwsen affirms Robertsons’ fears, but then challenges: “…I think all children who’ve been through any kind of trauma certainly have emotional needs, for sure, and as you’re saying, spiritual needs. On the other hand, I would say, ‘If not us, who? Who sets those children free? Who teaches the truth to them? Who loves them to wholeness? It ought to be Christians.”

Robertson: “Well, I think it’s all real lovely but…”

Meeuwsen: “Well, it’s not ‘real lovely.’ I mean I think that lady that talked at the end [Lisa Harding] said it all when she said, you know, ‘I have the privilege of being daily being delivered from my own selfishness, from my own irritations.’ And you are. I’ve always said that if there’s a flaw in your marriage, in your family, in your character, it is all going to rise to the top. But it’s a bigger picture and if you’re called for it, go for it with gusto!’”

Terry Meeuwsen would know; she is a mother of seven, five by adoption.

For more on this and to see the exchange between Robertson and Meeuwsen, go to Christian Alliance's blog.

Win a Free Copy of Tom Davis' Priceless

Tom Davis' new book, Priceless, won't be released until June 1, but you can win a free copy now!  Details here.

First United Methodist Church of Winter Park's Adoption Ministry

http://www.fumcwp.org/

The Joys And Struggles Of International Adoption

Writer John Seabrook who wrote The New Yorker article on
 international adoption (the subject of a previous blog post, below) was a recent guest on NPR's Fresh Air.  Listen to the interview or read the interview's highlights here:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126777059&ps=cprs

Tom Davis Tackles the Issue of Sex Trafficking in His New Book

Tom Davis' new book is now available for preorder on Amazon.   In Priceless, the sequel to Scared: A Novel on the Edge of the World,  a photojournalist on assignment in Russia joins a dangerous campaign to rescue girls from the sex-slave trade.

Go to http://www.sheispriceless.com/ for more information.

A History of International Adoption and Adopting from Haiti

In The New Yorker John Seabrook writes an account of his Haitian adoption experience during the earthquake.  His article also provides a good history of international adoption and how Americans' attitudes about it have evolved. 
The Last Babylift
Adopting a child in Haiti.

Book Recommendation for Those Considering Adopting or Fostering

Adoption Today magazine provided this book review in their April 2010 issue.

Out of Many, One Family: How Two Adults Claimed Twelve Children Through Adoption
By Bart and Claudia Fletcher
Third Degree Parenting,2009, ISBN: 978-0-615- 31538-6,221 pages, $15

“Out of Many, One Family,” is the true story of two remarkable people who decided to grow their family through adoption. That sole decision leads to a 10-year journey creating a permanent home for 12 children, as well as a temporary home for numerous foster children.

Bart and Claudia Fletcher share their experiences, joys and challenges of fostering, adopting foster children and adopting internationally.  By far, “Out of Many, One Family,” is one of the best foster and adoption books available. Because few people have journeyed through so many different avenues of adoption, the Fletchers provide a wealth of information about adoption. The book weaves together the Fletchers’ personal journey with a great user-friendly list of “what they learned” at the end of each chapter which could be essential for parents exploring the idea of adoption. The Fletcher’s openly share the positive and the negative of their adoption and fostering experiences, which creates a
realistic picture of raising children with difficult backgrounds, as well as the unique joy of blending a family together.

Their words of wisdom are priceless, providing a great window into the world of those who feel called to foster and adopt. This book would be a wonderful introduction for those considering fostering or adopting, as well a good read for the more seasoned parent with similar experiences.  I commend the Fletcher’s for creating “Out of Many, One Family” in such an easy-to-read format that kept me flipping the pages to follow their
 journey. I will anxiously await the sequel to their first book.

— Reviewed by Kim Phagan-Hansel

A Mother's Love Fundraiser

A Mother's Love, a ministry dedicated to helping China's orphans, is holding their annual fundraiser on May 14 in Winter Springs, FL.  Some of A Mother's Love projects include building playgrounds for orphanages, funding surgeries, and providing scholarships in order that orphaned children may attend school.   

If you would like to attend the fundraiser please RSVP beforehand.  If you would like more information about A Mother's Love, China's orphans, or if you cannot attend the fundraiser and would like to make a donation, please contact Jeff or Debbie Knipe at jdknipe@aol.com. 

Considering Adoption or Foster Parenting?

A representative from Community Based Care of Seminole County (CBC) will be in the foyer after every service from Saturday, May 1 to Monday, May 3, and from Saturday, May 8 to Monday, May 10 at the Northland Longwood and Oviedo sites. Also, CBC of Seminole will hold a Foster and Adoption Information Session on May 8 at 6:30 p.m. in room 4206-07 at the Longwood site. Experts in fostering and adoption will discuss the process to foster and adopt in Florida and will answer commonly asked questions. For those interested in beginning the foster or adoption process, CBC of Seminole will hold a Foster and Adoption Course (PRIDE) from May 19 through August 4 at Northland. This 30-hour course is required by the state of Florida to become a licensed foster or adoptive parent. Details, and information sessions or orientation sign-up: Rhonda Murphy (rmurphy56@cfl.rr.com or 1-866-90-CHILD).

Buy a Bagel, Help a Foster Child

State Department Issues Warning About Adoption from Nepal

As reported by Adoption Today magazine:
In mid-February the U.S. State Department issued a statement warning prospective parents from adopting from Nepal. A report issued by the Hague Conference on Private International Law pinpointing the weaknesses of Nepal’s current adoption system prompted the warning. 
After a visit to Nepal in November 2009, a Hague delegate reviewed Nepal’s new terms and conditions that went into place in 2008.  Included in the report were concerns about falsification of documents, improper financial
gain and lack of a child protection system.  The report, in addition to one of the first adoption  cases from Nepal to the United States being questionable when the child was found not to be a true orphan whose biological parents were actively searching for him, caused the State Department to issue the warning. The State Department states on its Web site: “We caution prospective adoptive parents who have yet to choose a country that the intercountry adoption system in Nepal is not yet reliable. ”
For additional information, visit http://www.adoptinfo.net/.

40 percent decline in overseas adoptions by Americans since 2004

Idaho's Impact
Haiti scandal overshadows bigger threat to evangelical adoption efforts.
from Christianity Today

The high-profile legal saga of the 10 Idaho-based Baptists arrested in January for attempting to smuggle 33 Haitian children into the Dominican Republic is winding down. But evangelical adoption advocates wonder what the long-term impact will be.

Leading orphan care advocate Russell Moore suggested in the days following the arrests that the scandal might be a black eye to evangelicals' adoption efforts worldwide. But two months later, Moore said he is no longer worried about a fallout.

"In many ways, the controversy served as an opportunity to clarify what we mean and what we do not mean," said Moore, dean of the School of Theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. "No one in the Christian orphan care community is calling for children to be adopted who are not in fact orphans. And no one is calling for children to be adopted apart from the legitimate processes."

A larger hurdle for international adoptions by evangelicals may be new restrictions on adoptions in countries where they have been most prevalent, including China, Guatemala, Russia, Vietnam, and Liberia.

China, which has traditionally accounted for the majority of adoptions to the U.S., rewrote its qualifications for adoptive parents in 2007. Guatemala, the second-largest source of American adoptions, completely shut down its program in 2008 due to widespread corruption, though it will launch a new adoption system this June. Since 2004, these and other restrictions have resulted in a 40 percent decline in overseas adoptions by Americans—from an all-time high of almost 23,000 in 2004 to fewer than 12,800 in 2009, according to the U.S. State Department.

Read the complete article here:  http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/may/2.14.html?start=1

20 Ways to Become an Adoption Friendly Church or Synagogue

By Paul Golden of Adoption Today Magazine, April 2010. 

While most faith groups commonly praise adoption, most American churches and synagogues do not have a single family that adopted a child during the past year. Faith assemblies can and should play a crucial role in encouraging members to “look after orphans in their distress” (James 1:27). Here are some specific ideas on how to become an adoption-friendly church or synagogue:

1. Pray that you and your ministry will become adoption-friendly. Pray that potential couples
will be sensitive to adopting. Pray that the assembly as a whole steps up its involvement
in assisting couples who adopt.
 
2. Preach key passages on caring for orphans and spiritual adoption. Passages like James
1:26-27 remind us that pure and faultless religion emphasizes care for those who are
least able to care for themselves. Since God cares for us in our affliction, we should care
for orphans in theirs.

3. Invite guest speakers to raise awareness of adoption needs and opportunities. Those
who lead adoption ministries can share their passion in small groups, Sunday School and services. Give members the opportunity to hear about these needs while giving them ways to help.

4. Make adoption resources available to the faith community. A wealth of adoption
resources can be helpful to couples considering adoption. Most of the time misconceptions about the adoption process keep families from considering adoption.  The church or synagogue can be a tool to provide helpful facts for couples to make informed decisions.

5. Frequently list pro-adoption ministries and organizations. List them in your bulletin and
have a “resources” link on your Web site connecting to these ministries. You help these
ministries by making them known to your people, but you also assist your people by
providing accessibility to helpful resources.

6. Encourage couples facing infertility to connect with adoptive parents. Some couples hop onto the emotional roller coaster of infertility drugs, and in the process incur huge medical expenses. Graciously counsel those couples to consider the privilege of parenting an adopted child before their emotions and finances are exhausted.

7. Regularly have adoptive parents and birth mothers share their testimony of God’s
goodness and grace. Testimonies can be powerful reminders to the congregation of
what “good” can come out of a “bad” situation.

8. Educate your members regarding the costs involved in the adoption process. Many
members may be unaware of the expenses involved in adoption such as: homestudies,
background checks, attorney fees, airfare and travel costs, especially for international
adoptions. Adoption costs vary from a few thousand dollars to $20,000 or more. The
cost should not scare off potential adoptive families, but should motivate the church
or synagogue to “count the cost” and offer assistance. What price tag can we put on a
young life?

9. Encourage the membership to give financially to adoptive couples. Giving financially to adoptive parents is one of the most — if not the most — significant things you can
do. As potential couples take the giant step of faith in the adoption process, one of the
biggest concerns will be “how are we going to pay for this?” A monetary gift along
with a note of encouragement can greatly encourage the couple by affirming their
decision to pursue adoption.
 
10. Create a standing fund for adoptions costs.  Church or synagogue members can contribute
to this special fund which adoptive families can utilize (either an interest-free loan or one-time gifts to these couples).

11. Challenge Sunday School classes and small groups to raise money for adoptive couples. Love offerings help lessen the financial burden of adoption while exhibiting how the faith community can encourage and support each other. Imagine the surprise on the couples’ faces when they discover that their class sacrificially gave to help in the adoption of their child.

12. Establish an adoptive parents small group in your church or synagogue. Get a key person
to take this on as a ministry. Meet on a monthly or quarterly basis as needed. This support group provides encouragement for those couples in the midst of the adoption process or those contemplating adoption.

13. Create e-mail list-serves of adoptive parents for support and encouragement. Since
the adoption process brings emotional highs and lows, staying connected by e-mail can prove helpful — especially when a couple needs a timely word of encouragement.

14. Connect with local social service agencies. Most counties and states have child welfare and foster care programs in which members should be involved. Many times there is financial assistance for those families who are foster parents or are in fosteradopt programs.

15. Use attorneys or caseworkers within the church or assembly. Some lawyers specializing
in family law are willing to donate their time and expertise to assist a family with the legal documents for adoption.  Such volunteers provide both financial savings and peace of mind.

16. Sponsor a child. Find a ministry of like faith that you know and trust — encourage others to do what they can to pray for and financially support orphan and adoption ministries.

17. Participate in mission trips to orphanages abroad. What better way to raise awareness for adoption than to experience the desperate living conditions of others?

18. Maximize special holidays to emphasize adoption. When adoption needs are presented
with sensitivity and discernment, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day can be ideal times to raise awareness of adoption.  A special offering could be collected for an adoptive couple. An adopted child or adoptive parent could give testimony to God’s gift of a family to them. At an
annual Sanctity of Life day, typically the third Sunday each January, discussion of adoption can be a poignant reminder to the church of the devastation of abortion, and at the same time a powerful prompting for the church or synagogue to become adoption-friendly.

19. Celebrate adoption as a faith community. Affirm those who pray and encourage others to adopt. Praise those who give financially to adoptive parents. Celebrate the living object lesson of our own spiritual adoption.

20. Support adopted kids as they struggle with questions of identity, abandonment or
rejection. 

Adoption is the ultimate expression and outworking of loving the modern day orphan. 
While not everyone will be called to adopt, the faith community can and should do what it
can to encourage and facilitate adoption. Will you help your church or synagogue become
adoption-friendly?
 
This story can be found at http://www.bluetoad.com/publication/?i=36173&&pn=&p=27

T-Shirts that Support Adoption!

Here are some examples of the cute t-shirts that can be purchased through Adoption Bug.  You can  also help families that are raising money for their adoptions by purchasing items through their "stores"  (http://www.adoptionbug.com/fundraiser_current.htm ).