Dispelling Foster Care Myths

An opinion piece written for The Spectrum.com by Amy Bates.

Don't fall for the myths about foster care, adoption



The night before my first-born was scheduled to come into the world, I could not sleep. This was not only because our little "bundle of joy" decided to stick his foot into my rib, but I was just so excited by the thought of becoming his mother.

Here I am, years later, in much the same situation. As I write this article, it is the eve of our 16-year-old son being adopted into our family, and I find myself once again full of the kind of anticipation that does not allow my eyes to close.

Although there are similarities with this addition and our first one, there are some major differences. For one thing, this son will come to us pretty much grown, which is a good thing when you consider the difficulties that giving birth to a 5-foot tall, 80-pound boy might pose. Some might think a soon-to-be mother would be less than ecstatic when thinking about missing out on the baby stage and skipping right to the teen-age part, but not this mom. I am thrilled that most of that is behind me.

Since I have started writing for The Spectrum & Daily News, I have written about adoption and foster care as many times as they will let me. It is a vital part of who I am and a subject that I do not think gets enough attention. Children are suffering, and all of us need to step up and help those who need it most. I could spend my time quoting facts to you about the number of children who are waiting, how long they have to wait, or even the dire predictions made for children who "age out" of the system, but I am not sure that would motivate people to look at what they could do to help. I think it is only when we look at individual cases and hear their stories that we put a face on this heart-wrenching problem.
Continue

The U.S. and Russia Sign New Adoption Agreement

The New York Times reports a new adoption accord signed by both countries today:
Ending a Rift, Russia and the United States Sign Adoption Accord

Help Give Inner City Kids New Experiences and Fun

The Fresh Air Fund, a nonprofit group that provides summer vacations to inner-city children from low-income communities, is looking for host families, mostly from the northeast area of the country.

About Fresh Air Children:
They are boys and girls, six to 18 years old, who live in New York City. Children on first-time visits are six to 12 years old and stay for either one or two weeks. Youngsters who are re-invited by the same family may continue with The Fund through age 18, and many enjoy longer summertime visits, year after year. A visit to the home of a warm and loving volunteer host family can make all the difference in the world to an inner-city child. All it takes to create lifelong memories is laughing in the sunshine and making new friends.

The majority of Fresh Air children are from low-income communities. These are often families without the resources to send their children on summer vacations. Most inner-city youngsters grow up in towering apartment buildings without large, open, outdoor play spaces. Concrete playgrounds cannot replace the freedom of running barefoot through the grass or riding bikes down country lanes.

See the Fresh Air website for more information.

Foster Parent Association in Central Florida Needs Larger Meeting Space

This request is from a CGC board member.  Please contact us if you can offer any suggestions!

The foster parent association has asked me to help with their childcare when they have their monthly meetings. I agreed to help but the space that they are using to meet in is really small and the kids were all in a very small room with little to play with. I would love to find some churches who would be willing to donate space so that the foster parents could meet and I could watch the kids for them in a separate area. (Preferably a playground or kid-friendly space) We need a church that is in Seminole county and one that is in East Orange. If any of you have any ideas or contacts that I could ask, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks for caring about foster kids and thanks for any help you may be able to give me!

22-Year Old is Foster Mom to 13 Ugandan Girls

Here is a great story from NPR about a young American woman who moved to Uganda to care for Ugandan orphans.  You can listen to the story or read the transcript here.

Book Review

Here is a short review from Christianity Today on the new book, Orphanology.
Awakening to Gospel-Centered Adoption and Orphan Care
Tony Merida and Rick Morton (New Hope Publishers)

"Christians do not approach orphan care as mere humanitarians but as people adopted by God through the work of Jesus Christ. Orphanology provides the burgeoning orphan care movement with a gospel-centered theological foundation as well as a comprehensive plan for getting involved at many levels, including adoption, orphanage restoration, foster care, and transitional assistance. Between adoption stories, Tony Merida and Rick Morton offer a compelling picture of how the gospel motivates us to action on behalf of the fatherless."

A Glimmer of Hope - Ways Those Who Have Adopted From Ethiopia Give Back

5 Ways Adoptive Families Give Back to Ethiopia
From Adoption Today Magazine
Despite the media’s blitz debating whether or not Ethiopia will continue on as the hot spot for international adoption, non-profit A Glimmer of Hope is seeing a different kind of trend skyrocketing within the adoptive community with strong family ties to this sub-saharan African country.  In the last six months, five adoptive families have spearheaded different personal campaigns that so far have raised almost $800,000 to fund the construction of schools, water projects and health clinics in rural Ethiopia.  Through Glimmer, a growing stream of adoptive families are giving back in big ways to the birth country of their adopted children by helping Ethiopian women and children living in extreme poverty.

A family calling
“We were very, very blessed with these two children, and had a strong calling to give back to the country that has given us so much,” Jeff Greene said.  Jeff and his wife, Kristen, might even call this trend a family affair since they have personally rallied an army of parents, sisters, brothers, cousins and a posse of close friends to their cause to give back to their children’s birth place. The Greenes’ cause hit home with many who are giving up their birthdays or participating in half-marathons and fun runs to raise donations.
Continue with story here.

A Foster Father's Experience

From Orlando Sentinel columnist George Diaz:
A Foster Father's Joy - and Heartache



He came to us last October late on a Monday afternoon, wearing a gray tank top and no shoes or socks. All of his possessions were in a plastic Publix grocery bag.

The placement woman from the Children's Home Society had cold-called as she always does, with a calm sense of urgency, looking for foster parents to take in a 22-month-old foster child. There was very little information available about him, but we asked a few questions, took a deep breath, and welcomed "Little Man" into our home.

Eight months later, he was gone. He left a few days ago with a bunch of stuff. Minnie and Donald Duck dolls, a wardrobe of clothes, his cars and trucks, his Mickey Mouse sippy cup, Nike flip-flops and a really cool pair of shoes that light up when he walks.

But this is not about all the gifts we gladly gave him. It is about the treasures he gave to us.
I can't tell you the exact minute that my wife and I fell in love with him.
He officially hooked me when he called me "daddy" for the first time. Then he piled it on:

His way of talking to inanimate objects: "Have a good day, chair!" he would sometimes say on the way out to day care. His persistence in trying to wrap flags around his little waist, wanting to play with us, when I took him to play flag football. His shout-outs of "Springsteen!" when I clicked on the CD player in the car.

And best of all, his way of imploring me to join him in the kitchen for breakfast so he could get his chocolate milk fix. "Come on, daddy," he would say, motioning to me with his little fingers. "I shows you."
It all adds up to one mushy loving mess, and in a heartbeat, we became a family.

That's how this foster parent thing usually works. Kids don't normally end up abused, neglected or in garbage bins, despite the occasional horror story in the media.

Our Little Man was not alone, unfortunately. There are more than 6,000 children living in foster homes in Florida. Each child has a different story, but share one thing in common:
They are innocent bystanders of some dysfunctional mess.

There is always an urgency to find a foster family when they are taken into state custody. Foster parents don't get to window shop, and pick out what they like best.

The foster parent thing isn't a business transaction, despite getting 18 bucks a day from the Florida Department of Children and Families. It's highly personal.

More often than not, there is a quiet resolution. Biological parents stumble, and their kids are given a safe haven while the parents progress through a case-ordered plan addressing their issues. The goal is always reunification, unless there are extreme circumstances where the parental rights are terminated.
There will be pain. But you root for the outcome that will break your heart.
"How can you let him go?" and "I would get too attached" are the lines foster parents always hear. The truth is, we have no super-powers and we get attached and we cry when they leave because your family has been ripped apart.
Through it all, you celebrate the victory of a family that is back together, whole and hopefully healthy.
I fought with every fiber in my body to keep reminding myself of that goal on our last night together when I put him to bed. We laughed and we cuddled as I read him stories from his favorite books.
I closed my eyes so he wouldn't see me crying as he said, "Love you, Daddy," and we hugged it out one last time.
The next morning, we packed his stuff and put him in the car that was taking him back home. One of his sisters was in the other car seat, smiling and happy to see him again.
I keep thinking back to that moment when I start obsessing with my personal heartache.
It is not about me. It is not about my wife. It is all about him.
He is home for Father's Day, and that is good.
Have a good day, Little Man!

To learn about becoming a foster parent, go to http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/os-ed-george-diaz-foster-parent-0619120110617,0,471223.column

Both Hands Foundation's Founder to Speak at Northland

Lifesong For Orphans and Both Hands Foundation have partnered together to create a ministry that both assists orphans (adoptive families) AND helps widows.
 The Founder and Executive Director (J.T. Olson) is coming to Orlando on a family vacation and agreed to take time to come to Northland Church on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 7:00 PM to present an informational program.

Here is a video clip of Mr. Olson explaining how Both Hands works.

An Essay From a Former Foster Child

Being Resilient
by George Dean

"I entered Community Services at the age of 6 after my dad broke my leg. He threw me on the floor and still to this day, I wonder why. We don’t talk anymore. There have been numerous times I have tried to reconcile with him but to no end, every time was a failure.

I was shuffled in between foster homes and group homes for years, struggling to find out who I was. Not fitting in anywhere. Bullied all the time, beat up and bruised. My mind was like a never ending maze and every way I thought was the way out, led me to a concrete wall. I felt like I could never get through."
Continue

Adoptive Mom's Organization Provides Financial Assistance to Adoptive Families

"Becky Fawcett considers her infertility a blessing. But it wasn't always that way.

Desperate to be a mother, Fawcett endured five rounds of in vitro fertilization and three miscarriages before she and her husband Kipp adopted their first child in 2005."

Continue  . . .


"Building families -- that's what we do."

Series of Interviews on Foster Care and Adoption

The Examiner in Dayton, Ohio is presenting a new foster care and adoption interview series. 

"Although social workers and other experts can tell you a lot about the foster care and adoption process, they can't give you the nitty gritty details about the experience. Only someone who has been through the foster care or adoption process can tell you what it is really like."

Continue reading the first interview here.

Helping Foster Children throught the Educational System

"As little as two percent of Americans have experienced foster care, but statistics show that as much as half our homeless population have been involved with the system."


In honor of National Foster Care Awareness Month, Fostering Media Connections, a group dedicated to changing the foster care system through the power of the media, is kicking off a series of town-hall type meetings that address foster children in the educational system.  These meetings titled, "On the Road to Educational Equality" tour can be viewed and streamed live.

Here's a terrific article (and video) about the tour (and foster children & education) written by Daniel Heimpel, Project director of Fostering Media Connections:
On the Road to Educational Equality: Addressing the Educational Needs of Foster Care Youth

For National Foster Care Month: A Video Brochure of Former Foster Youth

"I am here. Don't forget me."



These youth are members of the Foster Care Alumni. 

Free to Live Tour - Helping Children Living in Poverty

Desperation Band, Meredith Andrews, and Tom Davis are the headliners on the Free to Live Tour, sponsored by Children's HopeChest, a ministry dedicated to helping children living in poverty escape sexual slavery and exploitation.  Find dates, cities, and ticket information here.

Tips and Recommended Reading When Adopting an Older Child

Older Child Adoption  - What to Think About, Tips for Successful Transition

by Susan Serrano as reported in Adoptive Families Magazine.

As more infants and toddlers are united with adoptive families within their birth countries, an increasing number of older children have become available for international adoption in recent years.  “I think older children have always been there, but there is a growing awareness that there are families interested in adopting them,” said Denise Schoborg, director of Dillon International’s China adoption program. “The
need for families is very real, but prospective parents need to do some soul-searching to determine if they are ready to parent an older international adoptee.”

The realistic expectations, research and education, that are key to any successful adoption experience, become even more vital when considering the adoption of an older child, who may have some additional struggles adjusting to life with their adoptive family.  “Kids that come from institutional settings are survivors. It may take some time for the child to learn what their role is in a healthy family and develop interpersonal skills in their new environment,” explained Debbie Wynne, director of Dillon International’s Texas office and Buckner Adoption and Maternity Services. “A child may be biologically a 7-year-old, but that does not mean that they have had seven years of nurturing by loving parents. They may even have been in a situation where they had to act as a parent.” 

“It is important for parents to realize that while they may be dealing with a 7-year-old that has the street smarts of a 14-year-old, that same child could also have the attachment needs of an infant. You have to be prepared to parent where that child is developmentally in the moment,” Schoborg added.

Patience is critical as the child attaches to the adoptive family and learns how to be nurtured. “The child may take their disappointments out on their family, but parents need to recognize that the child is acting out of a sense of grief and loss and to steadfastly offer unconditional love in return. They should not take those attacks personally,” Wynne said.

Families preparing to adopt an older child can pave the way for smoother transitions with plenty of advance education that focuses on the needs of older adoptees. It is also crucial for families to surround themselves with a support network that includes adoption professionals and adoptive families, Schoborg recommended.

Securing the services of a translator and locating other language resources prior to the child’s arrival will also go a long way toward building attachment and establishing relationships, Wynne added.

Although the adoption of an older child does come with some unique challenges, it offers advantages as well, Wynne points out. “With an older child, there is an opportunity to really ‘see’ them,” she explained. “You can know their health and how they respond in social and educational environments. With an infant or toddler, you really haven’t seen the person that they will grow into being.”

“There are children who desire so much to be in a family,” Wynne said. “The families that do well adopting older children are resourceful and committed to helping their child heal from the traumas of the past. It is exciting to see families that have chosen this path do extremely well. There are families for every
kind of child.”

Recommended Reading:
• Raising Adopted Children by Lois Melina
• Attaching in Adoption by Deborah Gray
• Nurturing Adoptions by Deborah Gray
• The Connected Child by Karyn Purvis, Ph.D.
• Adopting the Hurt Child by Gregory Keck, Ph.D.
• Parenting the Hurt Child by Gregory Keck, Ph.D.
• With Eyes Wide Open by Margi Miller, MA, & Nancy Ward, MA, LISCW
• Toddler Adoption by Mary Hopkins Best, Ed.D.
• Parenting Your Older Adopted Child by Brenda McCreight, Ph.D., RSW
• Our Own - Adopting and Parenting the Older Child by Trish Maskew
• Adopted Teens Only: A Survival Guide to Adolescence by Danea Gorbett
• Beneath the Mask by Debbie Riley, MS
• Parenting Adopted Adolescents:  Understanding and Appreciating Their Journeys by Gregory C. Keck, Ph.D.
Susan Serrano is director of media relations for Dillon International, Inc. Founded in 1972, Dillon International is a licensed, nonprofit adoption and humanitarian aid agency that is affiliated with Dallas-based Buckner International. Headquartered in Tulsa, Okla.—with branch locations in Tustin, Calif. (in Orange County); the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas area; the Kansas City, Kansas area; St. Louis, Mo.; Little Rock and Fayetteville, Ark; and Richmond, Ind.—Dillon International is Hague Accredited through the Council on
Accreditation to process international adoptions pursuant to the Intercountry Adoption
Act of 2000.

The Association for Treatment and Training in the Attachment of Children Annual Conference to be Held in September

Reported in the May issue of Adoption Today Magazine:

The Association for Treatment and Training in the Attachment of Children (ATTACh) is hosting its 23rd annual confernce Sept. 21-24, 2011 in Omaha, Neb. This year’s conferences focuses on Attachment and Trauma: through the Eyes of a Child. For more than 20 years, ATTACh has been advocating for improved treatment services for children who have experienced significant traumas affecting their attachment.

This year, ATTACh is bringing the conference to the Plains area. Approximately 400 attendees from across North America, as well as other countries, are expected to attend. Attachment-related traumas can include
child maltreatment, separation and loss of a parent, exposure to post-partum depression, domestic violence, and other overwhelming early life experiences that affect the child’s sense of security. Research over 50 years has demonstrated that the nature and quality of the attachment relationship between a child and primary caregiver influences virtually all other spheres of development — neurological, behavioral, social, emotional and moral.

The ATTACh Annual Conference is an opportunity for parents and professionals to network with peers and to learn from world renowned experts about the most recent developments, research and training in the fields of attachment and trauma. The conference will include 35 workshops designed for parents and experienced professionals, as well as those new to the field. Two keynote addresses are also planned by Edward Tronick, Ph.D., developer of the Still-face paradigm, author, researcher and Harvard professor; and Laurie Anne Pearlman, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist from Massachusetts, who specializes in vicarious trauma. Full day presentations at the postconference institute will feature John Briere, Ph.D., author, researcher and professor at Keck School of Medicine, LAC-USC; and, a special workshop led by Victoria Kelly, Ph.D. and Lori Thomas, experts in the area of therapeutic parenting techniques for families parenting children who have experienced trauma in early childhood. For more information, contact Lynn Wetterberg at 847-356-3506 or Jackie Meyer at 02-336-4841.

Adoption Agency Gets #1 Ranking by China Center for Children's Welfare and Adoption

Chinese Children Adoption International has been ranked the #1 Adoption Agency by the China Center for Children’s Welfare and Adoption (CCCWA, formerly CCAA) for overall assessment among the 178 international adoption agencies or countries around the world placing children from China!!


This ranking (released on March 28, 2011) is the first ever by the Chinese government.

May is National Foster Care Month

A reminder from Fostering Families Magazine that May is National Foster Care Month.

Each issue of Fostering Families contains great stories about amazing foster parents doing incredible work on behalf of children in their care, plus articles on various programs that are using innovative ideas to benefit kids in care.  For more information or to subscribe go to http://www.adoptinfo.net/. 

Shoes for Orphans In the Ukraine

Northland Church in Longwood is hosting a service project on May 21, 2011 where families can decorate TOMS shoes to send to Ukrainian orphans.   TOMS Shoes is a company that matches every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes to give to a child in need.  You can find more information about this event and  register here.

Mr. Rogers and His Episodes on Adoption

The following is a post from an Adoptive Families Magazine blog that's helpful for those with preschoolers looking for resources to help them discuss adoption:

I have been a fan of Mister Rogers since I was a toddler myself. I am now introducing my children (2.5 years and 17 months) to Mister Rogers and they love him too. I really feel that his show is one of the best children’s programs in the history of television!

Which is why I was so thrilled to discover that Fred Rogers did some episodes on adoption. (Did anyone else know he had an adopted sister?) I ordered them off Amazon and watched them as soon as they arrived. They do not disappoint! I’m always looking at ways to introduce the theme of adoption into our lives so that our children grow up knowing they can talk about it. What I love about the Mister Rogers episodes is that it introduces the topic in his unique, gentle way and he talks about all the feelings that can result from adoption—including the fact that it is ok for adopted children to sometimes feel sad or angry or sacred because they are adopted.

The adoption episodes originally aired in the mid-80’s during a week-long theme entitled “Families Come in Different Sizes and Shapes.” The entire series include episodes #1551-1555. They can be ordered off Amazon as part of the recordable DVD program, meaning that the episodes are saved to DVD’s and shipped only as the orders come in.

There is also a well-known book entitled “Adoption: Let’s Talk about It” that was originally released about the same. I’m looking forward to that arriving soon!

I recommend these DVD’s to other adoptive parents looking at ways to introduce the concept of adoption to their toddler/preschool-aged child.

You can order the DVD's here.

Help for Adoptive Families Whose Children Had a Rough Early Life

Adoption Learning Partners is offering four new online courses to prepare parents to raise children who arrive with difficult early experiences. The "Tough Starts Matter Series" covers topics that are timely and meaningful not only for pre-adopters—including brain development, treatment, parenting, and families—but also for families who are already in the thick of it, and are looking to help their children gain new skills.

The Tough Starts Series equips adoptive parents with insight into how their child's tough start in life may lead to troubling behavior years later.  Importantly, it also helps parents learn what they can do now to intercede, helping their child to heal and their family to thrive

Experts like Karyn Purvis, Ph.D., and Judy Stigger, LCSW, weigh in via short videos. The package includes four online courses totaling five hours. Buy the package for $60 at adoptionlearningpartners.org (a 29-percent discount from the list price per course).

Hurt children, of all ages and with all sorts of challenges, benefit when their parents (and professionals) receive extra support and preparation to transition them into a family. If your family is facing this situation, don't hesitate to sign up.

Help for Those Families Struggling with Sleep Issues

Are You Sleeping?


Expert advice for adoptive families struggling to get a good night's sleep.
Webinar
Thursday, May 19, 2011
7:00 - 8:00 PM Central
Q & A: 8:00 - 8:30PM Central
Cost: $15

REGISTER for this webinar

Join Dr. Julian Davies for a practical, humorous, and balanced exploration of why adopted children (and their parents!) often sleep so poorly, and what to do about it!
This webinar will help adoptive families:

• Explore the reasons behind sleep problems in adopted children

• Formulate short-term and long-term sleep strategies for adoptive families

• Trouble-shoot specific sleep problems

• Add many practical sleep tips to your toolbox


Speaker:  Dr. Julian Davies
Julian Davies, MD, is a Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Washington, where he co-directs the Center for Adoption Medicine, and works at the longest-running FAS clinic in the country. His interest in foster care and adoption started in Russia, where he started a summer arts and clown camp for Russian orphans. He now has a pediatric practice where 2/3 of his patients were fostered or adopted. Dr. Davies also created an award-winning online resource for pediatrics and adoption: http://www.adoptmed.org/

Please Note: Registrants will be contacted and asked to submit questions prior to the event

Sponsored by:
Adoption Learning Partners & Joint Council on International Children's Services

Benefit Concert & Silent Auction to Benefit Ukrainian Orphans

Faraway Place, a ministry that helps Ukrainian youths who "age out" of  Ukrainian orphanages, is sponsoring a benefit concert and silent auction on Friday, May 6 at First Baptist Altamonte Springs.  Visit their site for more information.

Helping Children Escape the Sex Trade

Rachel Lloyd, an escapee from the sex trade, wrote a book called Girls Like Us that tells about her experiences as a child sex worker.  She is also the founder of a program in New York that helps children survive sexual exploitation:  Girls Education and Mentoring Services (GEMS).  Ms. Lloyd was recently a guest on the Diane Rehm Show discussing child exploitation.  You can listen to that interview or read the show's transcript here.

Moju Project: Selling Merchandise to Benefit Orphans

My name is Jessica Smith and I am the cofounder of MojuProject.com.
The Moju Project is a website where we sell t-shirts and other merchandise that save lives. Since our site launch in 2008 we have provided over 17,000 meals to orphans in Africa and have currently formed a new partnership to also shine a light on the subject of human trafficking.


Our heart is to be a voice for social injustices and to allow a way for people to make an easy and tangible difference just by the purchases that they make. We believe that we can truly change the world by changing the way we shop! By simply making the decision to use our buying power to make a difference we could easily see hundreds of thousands if not millions of lives being saved!


I may sound like an incredible optimist and idealist but just check out this fact:
Last year Threadless.com, a popular online t-shirt store, made over $30 million dollars in sales and generated $10 million dollars in profits- and that is just from the sales of t-shirts online…I can’t help but think what that kind of buying power could lend itself to if people started focusing on shopping that “gives back”!


As passionate lovers of Jesus our desire is take care of the orphans & widows, loose the chains of injustice, bring hope, restoration and healing to those who need it most, to unite the Church and to make the name of Jesus famous throughout the earth! We believe that Moju Project is a platform where we can help make this happen!


We believe with all of our hearts that Moju Project is a vision from the Lord and we are humbled that He has entrusted us with this.

jessica@mojuproject.com

Grace Landing First Annual Foster Care/Adoption Summit April 9 in Osceola Co.

Grace Landing, a mentoring ministry for young adults , is sponsoring their first annual foster care & adoption summit this Saturday, April 9, at Heartcry Chapel in Kissimmee, FL.  The main speaker for the summit is Doug Sauder from 4Kids in Ft. Lauderdale and author of The One Factor.  He is an amazing speaker and has so much to say about helping kids in the foster care system. You can go to www.gracelanding.com for more information and also to register.

Adoption Institute's Report on Changes in Ethiopia's Adoption Process

REPORTS OF ABUSES LEAD TO CHANGES IN ETHIOPIA'S ADOPTION PROCESS


Recent reports of fraud and corruption have caused concern about adoptions from Ethiopia among child welfare organizations and the U.S. State Department, reports Peter Heinlein in a December 14 VOANews.com article titled "Under Pressure, Ethiopia Plans Crackdown on Baby Business." Earlier in the month, the State Department issued a statement cautioning prospective adoptive parents against "malfeasance and abuse" and announcing delays in the adoption process in an attempt to ensure that all adoptions are ethical and in the best interests of the child. Ethiopian officials report that they will close orphanages that only serve as "transit homes" en route to adoption, and re-accredit all foreign adoption agencies in an effort to impose higher ethical standards. To read the article, go to: http://bit.ly/eWXZWi . To read the State Department notice, go to http://bit.ly/bqj5wI  and scroll down to December 6, 2010.

Chinese Infant Adoptees Form Attachments Quickly

As reported by Adoption Institute -
RESEARCH SHOWS CHINESE INFANT ADOPTEES FORM ATTACHMENTS RAPIDLY


A Canadian study of attachment development among 32 adopted Chinese girls (mean age at adoption = 13 months) found that although adoptive mothers reported more inhibited behaviors initially in their infants, after six months, the reported rate was about the same as for mothers in a comparison group of non-adopted infants. "The Emerging Attachment Relationship between Adopted Chinese Infants and their Mothers," by Mirella Pugliese, Nancy Cohen, Fataneh Farnia and Mirek Lojkasek, is in the December issue of Children and Youth Services Review (Volume 32, Issue 12). The study also reported no variability in adopted and non-adopted children's avoidant or resistant behaviors or in maternal nurturing or rejecting behaviors, concluding that the moderate deprivation these infants experienced before adoption did not interfere with their forming new attachments. To access an abstract, go to: http://bit.ly/h3JGkN.

Adoption Tax Credit

From Adoptive Families Magazine -
Parents who finalized an adoption in 2010 may claim a maximum credit of $13,170 for adoption expenses. The credit is now refundable, allowing lower-income families to claim it. If a family’s “qualified expenses” (adoption fees, legal fees, traveling expenses, and so on) exceed their tax liability, they will receive the difference in the form of a tax refund.

Update on Mother Who Returned Adopted Son to Russia

Torry Hansen, the Tennessee woman who adopted a little boy from Russia and then sent the 7year-old back, alone, with a note stating she no longer wanted him, is preventing him from being adopted again in Russia.  Adoption Institute writes that "Hansen refuses to terminate her parental rights, reports Natalya Krainova in a January 19 Moscow Times article titled 'Boy Sent to Russia Can't Be Adopted.' According to the story, U.S. prosecutors are attempting to terminate Hansen's parental rights, but she is refusing to do so in an attempt to avoid making child support payments. In the wake of the scandal, adoptions from Russia to the U.S. were slowed and a new bilateral agreement governing such adoptions is being drafted. For the article, go to: http://bit.ly/gAHZcr . For previous coverage, go to: http://bit.ly/dnHOgt  and http://bit.ly/ekxfbJ . To read the Institute's press release calling for the "thoughtful, expeditious" resumption of Russia adoptions, go to: http://bit.ly/9XiMl3.

Record Low in International Adoptions

Adoptive Families Magazine reports that 2010 was a year of record low international adoptions.

The number of intercountry adoptions by Americans fell 13 percent in the past year—from 12,753 to 11,059—to reach a 15-year low, according to data from the U.S. Department of State. Adoptions from China continued to head the list, with 3,401 adoptions to the U.S. in 2010. Rounding out the top five sending countries are Ethiopia (2,513), Russia (1,082), South Korea (863), and Ukraine (445).

Latest Adoption Cost and Wait Time Data from Adoptive Families Magazine

Adoptive Families Magazine has released the results of their annual survey on adoption costs and wait times.  It includes both domestic and international adoption.  It seems the least expensive way to adopt is through the U.S. Foster Care system and the most expensive is adopting from Russia. 

Read the survey results here.

Joint Council on International Children's Services' Emergency Campaign for Ethiopian Children

Because Ethiopia has decided to drastically reduce the number of international adoptions, JCIC has undertaken an emergency Ethiopia campaign.  If you would like to help, they have a petition and suggestions for other things you can do here.

China Opens Adoption to Single Women

China has changed it's policy regarding international adoption by single women!  Joint Council on International Children's Services has a full report on their blog, along with the full text of the CCAA announcement. 

Fundraiser for South Asian Children Living in Poverty

- 3,000,000 children in South Asia under 5 years old die each year due to illness and malnutrition. -

David Argabright began a cross country bicycle trip on March 12 from San Diego, CA to St. Augustine, FL in order to raise sponsorship funds and awareness for children living in poverty in South Asia. He is partnering with Compassion 575, a ministry of the Church of the Nazarene, in this endeavor.

The money raised will go towards sponsoring a child in a CDC (Child Development Center). Child Development Centers meet the physical, spiritual, & educational needs of the children.

You can follow his bike ride & read more information about Compassion 575 at his website: http://www.compassion575.com/index.php
He will also be updating his blog (http://nazareneblogs.org/davidargabright/ ) along the way as well.

Aid Pours In for Central Florida's Homeless Children after "60 Minutes" Piece

As a result of CBS news magazine, 60 Minutes's, feature on homeless children in Central Florida (found here),an outpouring of aid was given to numerous agencies and non profits that aid children.  The largest pledge, $5.6 million, was made from Orlando First Baptist Church.  The Orlando Sentinel cover's this story here.

Ethiopia Update by JCIC

This is from their blog:

Ethiopia Update 3/11/11


Following are our notes from the Department of State Office of Children’s Issues conference call regarding Ethiopian adoptions conducted earlier today. These notes do not represent nor are they in any way attributable to the Department of State or US Citizenship and Immigration Services. We are providing the notes with respect to those who could not participate in the conference.

We extend our thanks to the Department of State for conducting the conference call and to US Citizenship and Immigration Services for their participation and contributions.

The Department of State is Actively Involved

The Ethiopian Ministry of Women’s, Children’s and Youth Affairs announced a reduction in the processing of intercountry adoption cases from 50 per day to 5 per day, effective March 10, 2011.

The Department of State is actively involved in discussions with the Government of Ethiopia, other governments and stakeholders.
A coalition of countries is preparing a proposal to assist the Ministry increase its capacity.
Embassy suggested that children with special need’s cases should not be delayed.
The US Embassy officials have a scheduled meeting with the Ministry of Women’s, Children’s and Youth Affairs for Monday, March 14, 2011.
There are areas of concern related to intercountry adoption, however the reduction is disproportionate.

Adoption Cases
Currently there are no implementation guidelines for in-process cases.
For adoption cases registered with the Ethiopian court, the best estimate is a one-year delay.
The staff change at the Ministry of Women’s, Children’s and Youth Affairs has been confirmed as taking effect the week of March 13, 2011. The impact this will have on adoption cases is not known.

It is estimated that between 800-1,000 adoption cases are currently on the docket of Ethiopian courts.
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Also on the JCIC blog is an open letter by Dr. Jane Aronson (Founder and CEO of Worldwide Orphans Foundation)  to President Bill Clinton, asking for his involvement in this matter

U.S. Department of State Issues an Adoption Alert for Ethiopia

Ethiopia Plans to Reduce International Adoptions by 90%.  Here is the alert issued on March 9, 2011 by the U.S. Dept. of State:

Government of Ethiopia Plans Major Slow-Down in Adoption Processing


Citing the need to work on quality and focus on more important strategic issues, the Government of Ethiopia’s Ministry of Women, Children, and Youth Affairs (MOWCYA) has indicated it will reduce to a maximum of five the number of adoption cases it processes per day, effective March 10, 2011. Under Ethiopian adoption procedures, MOWCYA approves every match between prospective adoptive parents and an Ethiopian child before that case can be forwarded for a court hearing. The U.S. Embassy is working with Ethiopian government officials and adoption agencies to learn more about this change in procedures. We will continue to share information as it becomes available.

Given MOWCYA's current caseload, the U.S. Embassy anticipates that this change could result in an overall decline in case processing of some 90 percent. If this change is implemented as proposed, we expect, that parents who have begun the process of adopting from Ethiopia but have not yet been matched with a child could experience significant delays. It is not clear if this change in procedures would have any significant impact on cases in which MOWCYA has already approved matches.

Prospective adoptive parents should remain in close contact with their adoption service provider to obtain updates on individual cases.


The Embassy's Adoptions Unit can be reached at consadoptionaddis@state.gov.


Please continue to monitor http://adoption.state.gov/  for updated information as it becomes available.

Note:  Ethiopia is not party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention).

Register Now for Christian Alliance for Orphans' Summit VII

Some of this year's speakers inclue Russell Moore, Karyn Purvis, and Dennis Rainey.  There will be pre-summit events, numerous break-out sessions, and musical guests.  This is THE conference to attend for  pastors, lay leaders, ministry professionals, and individuals seeking knowledge on adoption, foster care, global orphan care, and advocacy.  Visit the Summit site to register or for more information.