This week in Jacksonville, Florida, the adoptions of 69 children were finalized in a Duval County courtroom, making it the largest single-day adoption in the state of Florida.

"The children were in the foster-care system, but were given a fresh start just before the new year. One adoptive mother said the ceremony made official what she has felt for a long time."

Florida's Family Support Services also stated that, though it has yet to be verified, this could have been largest one-day adoption in U.S. history.

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Labels: foster_families, foster_care, adoptive_families

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Many people consider adopting a child, but stop short because the process seems overwhelming or drawn out. But Chrystal Main, social services chief for Nevada's Child and Family Services, says it's better than most people think.

"'I know there's a stigma about the paperwork and the background checks,' she said. But we have streamlined the process. We certainly like to say to adopt, it can take under a year - and could be faster than half a year. It doesn't take nearly the length of time people think it does.'"

Currently, in the rural counties of Nevada, more than 470 children are eligible for adoption. They range in age from infants to seventeen-year-olds who are about to "age out" of the foster care system.

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Labels: foster_families, foster_care, adoption_process

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The Guatemalan Congress recently approved a new law that ratifies the Hague Convention and regulates the country's adoption process. It has long been speculated that Guatemalan adoptions were fraught with corruption and those involved in the process have often been accused of bribery and even of child trafficking.

"Today is a historic day for the country, because the foundations have been laid for putting an end to the theft of children to place them in adoption', said parliamentary Deputy Edgard Alfredo Rodriquez of the centre-left National Union of Hope (UNE), after the law was approved by more than two-thirds of the legislators."

The new laws mean that adoptions will take longer, which some critics say will deter prospective adoptive parents. Overall, however, the ratification has been met with excitement. Both the Hague Convention and its accompanying laws will take effect on December 31st.

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Labels: international, adoption_process, kidnapping

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The number of foreign children adopted by Americans has dropped by 15 percent in the past two years, mostly because of new restrictions from China and Russia. New policy changes from China, for example, require adopting parents to be married, have a certain income level, not be overweight or suffer from certain diseases, and be under age 50.

According to State Department statistics, the number of foreign adoptions peaked in 2004 at 22,888 but dropped to 20,679 in 2006.

Besides tougher restrictions on foreign adoptions by China and Russia, another factor is the United Nations' preference for caring for orphans in their own countries over sending them abroad.

Labels: international, foreign_adoption

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The Greenville, South Carolina news recently ran a story about Dakota Massullo, a young girl in foster care who was available for adoption. Her story helped raise awareness about and interest in adopting kids in the foster care system.

"'We got over 600 hits [to the website],' said J. Lynne Wilson Jenkins, president of the nonprofit organization that partners with agencies, attorneys and support groups to promote community awareness and provide families with training and support."

Dakota, adopted at age eight, first entered the foster care system when she was just three-years-old. Though she has been adopted into a loving family, there are currently 1,600 other children in the South Carolina foster care system that are eligible for adoption.

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Labels: awareness, foster_care, media

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Melissa and Shawn Bowers didn't have a good first adoption experience. For six months, they paid rent, doctors' visits and other expenses for a young pregnant girl who said she was going to let them adopt her baby. But she eventually decided to keep the baby, and Melissa was devastated.

"But they connected with... a 25-year-old woman in Texas, when she was about four months along and kept in touch with frequent phone calls, Melissa said. Mason was born in August, and the couple brought him home about a week later."

Mason bonded quickly with Melissa, Shawn, and their biological son Maxwell who seems to enjoy his new role as big brother.

Labels: adoption_process, relationships

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November is National Adoption Month; a great time not only to give thanks for family, but consider opening your home to someone who has no family. Nationwide, there are over 114,000 children in foster care - waiting for a permanent home.

"You could be the refuge of a temporary home, or become their new family through becoming an adoptive parent. Adoption can also be a wonderful answer to infertility or an unwanted pregnancy."

So many children are waiting for permanent, stable homes. Adoption may not be for everyone, but even offering your house as a temporary home would be a tremendous blessing to many of these kids.

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Labels: foster_care, holidays, gifts

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A Missouri man whose adoption request was recently denied has been granted a second hearing in Kansas City. Gary Stocklaufer, who weighed 550 pounds at the time of the first adoption request, claims his request was denied because he was obese.

"But Stocklaufer underwent gastric bypass surgery in Dallas in August to lose weight. Since the surgery, Stocklaufer has shed nearly 200 pounds."

Adoption experts say that denial due to obesity is becoming more common in adoption cases. Though the judge in the case hasn't made his final ruling, this is believed to be the first time a couple seeking adoption has resorted to surgery.

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Labels: health, court

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The city of Carmel, Indiana has become one of only a handful of cities to provide its employees monetary assistance with adoptions. Beginning January 1st, the city will cover adoption costs of up to $5,000 for city employees.

"Adoptions of Indiana Executive Director Meg Sterchi said Carmel is the first government employer she's heard of that helps employees pay for adoption."

Some critics argue that taxpayer money shouldn't be spent to help government employees adopt children. Money for the adoption assistance will come from the cities health program, which is administered by a third party.

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Labels: adoption costs, assistance, money

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The decision to adopt is a weighty one to which people give considerable thought and discussion. Choosing an adoption agency is the first - and most important - step once a couple or individual has decided to adopt.

"When you hire an agency to help facilitate an adoption, you are putting the future of your family into the hands of strangers for months, perhaps years. It's imperative that you work with an agency with whom you feel completely comfortable and confident."

Be as thorough as possible when researching adoption agencies. While a personal reference is a great start, check with the Better Business Bureau and the state's Attorney General. Find out how long the agency has been in business and if it does business under any other name. It may take a little time to find the agency that's right for you and your family, but it's worth it in the long run.

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Labels: adoption_agencies, adoption professionals

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For the third straight year, the number of foreign children being adopted by U.S. families has dropped dramatically. In the past two years alone, foreign adoptions have dropped 15 percent. Tighter adoption requirements in China and Russia are at the top of the list of causes for this new trend.

"[Harvard Law Professor Elizabeth Bartholet] said China and Russia reflected a trend in which countries opened themselves up to international adoption, then scaled back."

In addition to China and Russia, Guatemala's adoption process is beginning to slow and could all but stop as the government tries to impose new regulations on its adoption industry. Some experts view the decline as a good thing that could open up adoption opportunities in other countries like Kenya and Peru.

Labels: international, foreign_adoption, rules

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Brigham City, Utah attorney Dale Dorius has five children. Four of them are adopted. He believes so strongly in helping connect and create families that he's dedicated over 40 years to adoptions and birth-mother placements. He was recently honored by the United States Congressional Coalition on Adoption, with an Angel of Adoption award.

"Dorius' efforts have made a difference in families all over the world. Many birth mothers come to Utah because it is an adoption-friendly state. He handles many interstate and international adoptions. In addition, he's worked with the court system to handle foster care adoptions and placements."

One of Dorius' adopted children - Jennifer Reyes, is also an attorney who specializes in adoptions. Having seen the difference her father makes, she's now working to have the same positive influence in the lives of would-be families.

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Labels: awards, birth_parents, court

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