Adoption Issues: April 2008

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Teens Living in Blended Families at Risk for Certain School Problems

Teens living in blended families with half- or step-siblings have lower grades and more behavioral problems such as trouble paying attention, getting along with peers, and completing homework. However, if the teen's family had both half- and step-siblings, then the teen's risks decreased.

The risk was significant, but not great. For example, boys in blended families had GPAs one-quarter point lower compared to boys in families with only full siblings.

This study was done at Florida State University and involved analysis of data about more than 11,000 adolescents in grades 7 through 12. It appears in the journal Social Science Research.

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Labels: behaviors, blended_families, school

Monday, April 28, 2008

Bill Could Stop Independent Adoptions

A bill has been drafted by the Russian Education and Science Ministry that could stop independent adoptions of children by foreign families.

"'The bill has been drafted and it can fully stop the problem of independent adoption,' director of the ministry's department for the welfare of children Alina Levitskaya said during a Wednesday video conference between Moscow and Washington on the problems of foreign adoptions in Russia."

Though the bill has been drafted, it has not yet passed or been signed into law. Independent, or private, adoptions are adoptions that take place through an attorney - rather than an adoption agency - who finds and places children. Source: Interfax

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Saturday, April 26, 2008

Annual Conference Helps with Questions

The Adoption Community of New England held its 35th annual New England Adoption Conference on April 5 at Mill Pond School. About 1,000 people participated in 119 workshops aimed at helping answer some of the questions and concerns associated with adoption.

"The conference theme was 'Whole Life Adoption,' addressing adoption across the lifespan. Nancy J. Harper, executive director of Adoption Community of New England Inc., said 'We reach out and support all members of the adoption triad (adoptive families, birthparents and adopted children).' She said one conference goal was to support less-represented members of the triad, in particular birth families and adult adopted individuals."

One of the workshops, titled "Talking with Expectant Parents," focused on helping adoptive parents understand how best to communicate with birth parents before, during, and after the adoption process. Source: Worcester Telegram

Labels: answers, questions, support

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Safe Haven Law Working to Save Newborns

The state of Illinois enacted its Safe Haven law in 2001. The law allows a parent to relinquish custody of a baby up to seven days old with no questions asked and no repercussions. The baby is then placed with an adoption agency.

"New signs were unveiled last week that will identify safe havens across the community and the state. The hospitals, fire stations and other safe haven facilities will display the 18-by-18-inch signs depicting a baby's head nestled in an open hand."

Since the law's inception in 2001, a total of 41 babies have been taken to Illinois safe haven locations. Out of those, 36 were relinquished, three moms decided to keep their babies, and two decided to develop adoption plans for their kids. Source: The Beacon News (Aurora, Illinois)

Labels: laws, newborns, safe_houses

Monday, April 21, 2008

Waits Lengthen for China Adoption

China has long been a popular choice for people wanting to adopt. But increased delays in the adoption process are causing some to rethink their decision. The delays, caused by tighter restrictions and a smaller number of available children, have jumped from 6-12 months to potentially now 3-4 years for new applicants.

"The uncertainty has fueled rumors and speculation within the tight-knit community of Americans who have adopted from China or hope to do so. Some believe the longer waits are part of a temporary Chinese effort to scale back international adoptions ahead of the Beijing Olympics in August. Others wonder if China may be phasing out foreign adoptions almost entirely."

Still, many families have chosen to simply wait it out, doing their part to facilitate the adoption process and trusting that - in time - it will result in a new addition to their family. Source: CBS News

Labels: China, international

Saturday, April 19, 2008

From Foster Care to Adoption

On Friday, April 25, New York Law School's Justice Action Center (JAC) will host a one day conference on adoption. The JAC is working in conjunction with the Center for Adoption Policy to gather some of today's leading adoption experts.

"This year's conference will focus on the structural, legal and societal barriers that delay adoption for children in the American foster care system who need families, and suggest measures to address problems that impede the formation of adoptive families for children in care."

Issues to be discussed include navigating the child welfare system, special needs adoptions, and choosing between international and domestic adoption. A $25 registration fee is required for the event. Source: PR Web

Labels: adoption_experts, foster_care, foster_families

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Law Students Help Answer Potential Legal Questions

Nightlight Adoptions is an adoption agency with a unique twist. It facilitates the adoption of frozen embryos. Because it can be a delicate issue with some unique legal challenges, Nightlight organized an essay competition inviting law students to submit position papers on embryo adoption.

"The winning students carefully tackled the issue of how to handle custody of a child born through embryo adoption after discovering that the egg donor never intended for any resulting embryos to be donated."

First place went to a student from the Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Fla., who received a $2,500 cash prize and a trip to the 2008 Emerging Issues in Embryo Donation and Adoption conference in Washington, D.C. Source: BusinessWire

Labels: agencies, custody, embryo_adoption

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Adoptive Families Gather at Expo

On Saturday, April 5, the Monmouth/Ocean County Adoptive Families Support Group held its second annual adoption expo. The event drew a sizable crowd as adoptive families from around the county met and shared stories.

"Heather Malvica, 33, of Matawan said she adopted her 3-year-old daughter, Kate, from China. She also has a biological 18-month-old son, Michael, with her husband, Rich... 'We had decided to adopt, and my heart was drawn to China. So I started the process in October 2004...'"

She and her husband were matched with Kate in February 2006, when Kate was 15 months old. The Malvicas, and other families at the expo, are strong advocates for international adoption. Source: APP.com.

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Labels: awareness, families, support

Friday, April 11, 2008

Lighthouse Project Links Russian Orphans and American Families

Founded in 1993, the Russian Orphan Lighthouse Project exists to connect Russian orphans with families interested in adopting them.

"Russian adoptions require two trips to Russia - one to meet their child and another to finalize the adoption. But when families work through the Lighthouse Project, the Russian government generally counts the time spent with the child in America as the first visit..."

To date, 500 orphans have found permanent homes through Lighthouse. Source: MLive.com.

Labels: adoption_agencies, orphanages, Russia

Monday, April 07, 2008

Sisters Weekend

Katie was adopted by Eileen and Dave Kibble when she was 3 days old. Twenty-three years later, she was unexpectedly contacted by her biological mother who told her she has a brother and a sister.

"Eileen Kibble arranged a surprise visit for Katie and Marci in Arizona last July on Katie's 'special day' - the date of her adoption... Katie said when she first encountered Marci in the lobby of the motel in Phoenix 'it was like a fairytale movie.'"

This year, Marci is going to visit Katie and her adoptive family in St. Charles during the Downtown Partnership's Sisters Weekend. From April 11-13, the Downtown Partnership has planned numerous activities including wine tastings, shopping, and a live concert. Read more at DailyHerald.com.

Labels: biological_parents, birth_parents, siblings

Friday, April 04, 2008

Church Offers No Fee Adoptions

Adoption is a special subject to Paul Ury. Both he and his father were adopted as children. So when it was Paul's turn to have a family of his own, he wanted to adopt but didn't think he and wife Tina could afford it. Then a friend told them about Antioch Adoptions.

"It all started with a 12-year dream of Antioch's pastor, Dr. Ken Hutcherson. He desired to see all children from the foster care system adopted into loving homes. He also desired for more families to be able to afford infant adoptions. The services offered by Antioch Adoptions are free of charge."

Through Antioch, Paul and Tina were able to adopt 5-year-old Amanda and 4-year-old Hannah. Though Antioch Adoptions' free service is currently available only to Washington State residents, the church has started an awareness campaign to help churches in other states develop similar programs. Read more at CBN.com.

Labels: adoption_costs, agencies, foster_care

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Keeping the Native Language?

A common question among parents who adopt internationally is whether or not to help their adopted child maintain their native language while also learning English. Often, parents are motivated by a desire to help their adopted child retain a sense of her heritage.

"For most adoptive families the preservation of the first language is not a major priority: on arrival, the main concerns are about learning English, the child's health, attachment, initial adjustment, education, and remediation (if needed). There is no place here for preserving native language as the first-order priority."

Trying to maintain the native language while learning English can be confusing for a child. Some parents consider hiring a native-speaking tutor, but that can cause attachment issues as the child begins to rely on the tutor. Most experts agree that it's best to help an adopted child learn English, and then revisit their native language when they're older and better adjusted. Read more at ADoptionArticlesDirectory.com.

Labels: cultures, international, languages