Adoption Issues: August 2008

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Vietnam Government Cracks Down on Human Trafficking

A government agency which monitors and prevents human trafficking has proposed creating an agency that would investigate suspected human trafficking activity. The agency has also recommended amending trafficking laws to include men and unborn children.

"Trafficking in unborn children was first uncovered after a scandal in Ha Tay Province involving the trafficking and sale of infants for adoption broke out in February... Seeking windfall profits, [Nguyen Thi] Thuyen and her husband had for years convinced young unwed pregnant women to not have an abortion... Thuyen then resold the newborns for a high price."

Since 2003, Vietnam has had a law against trafficking women and children, but no law currently exists regarding men or infants. Source: Vietnam Bridge

Labels: governments, human-trafficking

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Tax Credits, Exclusion for Adoptions

Tax credits are available in 2008 to help parents offset the cost of adoption. An $11,650 credit is available to cover "qualified adoption expenses." Adoptive parents can also deduct up to $11,650 of expenses paid by an employer.

"To qualify for the credit for the exclusion, the expenses must be 'qualified adoption expenses.' These are the reasonable and necessary adoption fees, court costs, attorney fees, traveling expenses (including amounts spent for meals and lodging) while away from home, and other expenses directly related to the legal adoption of an 'eligible child.'"

Surrogate parenting is not included in the tax credit, nor is adoption of a spouse's child. Expenses associated with an unsuccessful adoption attempt may also qualify. Source: Ft. Collins Coloradoan

Labels: adoption_costs, credits, tax_deductions

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Book Helps Siblings Bridge Adoption Gap

Sibling relationships are always challenging. Though there are good times, there's also plenty of arguing and jealousy - a reality that can be amplified when one of the siblings is adopted.

"For the biological child, he may have to deal with issues of having an adopted brother or sister who came from a faraway land and is greeted with hoopla and interest from relatives and strangers upon arrival... For the adopted child, she may have to deal with issues of belonging, especially when the biological child looks like the parents and she doesn't..."

It's these types of challenges that prompted Vanita Oelschlager to write the children's book Made in China. It tells the story of two siblings, one adopted and one not, who are trying to adjust to being in the same family. It can be a great conversation starter if parents and siblings all read the book together. Source: Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal

Labels: adoption_gap, jealousy, siblings

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Couples Urged to Adopt Older Children

Officials in Norfolk County (United Kingdom) are urging potential adoptive couples to consider older children. Few babies are available, and many older kids are waiting for a home. Now, couples who have adopted older kids are joining in the plea.

"They said: 'Adoption is not about meeting the needs of childless couples like us, however harsh that sounds. It is about giving children who have had sad starts to their lives a second chance for love, stability and happiness.'"

Many people prefer adopting babies because they don't think babies will have any emotional issues. But officials and adoptive parents agreed that babies are no less likely to have emotional baggage than older kids - it may just take longer for the problems to surface. Source: EDP24

Labels: adoptive_families, advice, older_children

Friday, August 22, 2008

Public Adoptions Hit Record High in Florida

Public adoptions in the state of Florida hit an all-time high this past fiscal year, with more than 3,600 adoptions being processed. The annual total is up nearly 600 from the previous year, and 300 from the previous record high, which was reached in 2004.

"[Bob] Butterworth and Jim Kallinger, the state's chief child advocate, said Florida's new Explore Adoption advertising campaign is especially helping teens and older children, sibling groups and children with disabilities."

The only part of the state that saw adoptions decrease was Southern Florida, but the decrease was attributed not to a lack of interest, but to a lack of adoptable children. It's a good problem to have, authorities said. Source: Southwest Florida News-Press

Labels: adoption_costs, public_adoption

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Vietnamese Legislators Agree to Adoption Regulations

Vietnam's National Assembly's Standing Committee has agreed to fully support the signing and ratifying of the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption. The Hague Convention, as this document is more commonly known, is a set of policies meant to ensure the protection of adopted children.

"Since 2003, with the Government's 68/202/ND-CP decree coming into force, a number of agreements on child adoption with other countries have been signed and an International Adoption Department under the Ministry of Justice has been set up."

Ratification of the Hague Convention took several years. Vietnam had to set several policies in place to ensure conditions were in line with the convention's requirements. Source: Vietnam Bridge

Labels: international, protection, Vietnam

Monday, August 18, 2008

World's Poorest Children Have a Friend in Tucson

Jackie Semar has been interested in adoption for almost 30 years. She's now the executive director for the International Child Foundation, an organization that advocates for international adoption and child welfare in developing countries.

"[Jackie] helped found the International Child Foundation in 2003. The non-profit group facilitates about 20 international adoptions a year of children from countries including Haiti, Guatemala, China, and Khazakstan."

The organization also provides financial support to Haitian orphanages. The money subsidizes nutrition and ensures that the children get enough to eat. Source: Arizona Daily Star

Labels: advocacy, international, non-profit

Friday, August 15, 2008

Pros, Cons, of Public Adoptions

One of the first choices a person has to make once they've decided to adopt a child is the choice between a public or private adoption. Each has its pros and cons.

"An important benefit of... public adoption... is that the termination of the birth parents' rights has been finalized. All children in this program are available for adoption. They just need the right adult or family to give them a permanent home."

With a private adoption, the birth mother may change her mind before the adoption is complete. One of the benefits of private adoptions, however, is the increased availability of newborns and infants. In most public program, the children are older - often eight-year-olds and up. Source: The Ledger (Lakeland, Fla.)

Labels: private_adoption, public_adoption

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

How To Tell If Adoption is for You

When many people begin to entertain the idea of adoption, the question that plagues them the most is, "Is adoption right for me?" There is ample information pertaining to adoption costs, processes and waiting times, but how do people determine whether they should even begin the process?

"Locate living resources. You don't need to wear a button saying 'I'm considering adopting: tell me your story.' Just bring up the subject in conversation and you'll be surprised at how many experiences will pop out of people you barely know."

Consider your ability to be patient with a child who will act out for seemingly no reason, and may be very emotionally needy. Don't be overly pessimistic, but be realistic about the emotional energy you'll have to invest. Evaluate both the pros and cons of the situation and your personal needs and desires. Source: Monterey County Herald

Labels: adoption costs, adoption_process, prospective_parents

Monday, August 11, 2008

Silent Auctions Help Defray Adoption Costs

An auctioneer in Kentucky has started a unique organization aimed at helping prospective adoptive parents. David Meade's organization, "Auction for Adoption," will host its first auction Aug. 16, with a goal of raising money to help offset adoption costs.

"Meade has visited some of the orphanages in Guatemala and has seen the broken-hearted children. He says he wants to bring hope to orphans and also to couples who cannot have children. Meade doesn't have any specific goal he would like to reach, although he hopes to raise $3,000 to $4,000."

The Aug. 16 auction takes place in the First Southern National Bank in Stanford, Kentucky. Items to be auctioned include tickets to sporting events, autographed sports memorabilia, couples' getaway packages, and more. Source: The Interior Journal

Labels: financial_assistance, prospective_parents

Thursday, August 07, 2008

Iowa Woman Still Waiting to Adopt Vietnamese Child

Several months ago, the Iowa Press-Citizen ran a story about an area woman who was caught in the unfortunate and frustrating red tape of international adoption. With paperwork and home studies completed, Karla boarded a flight to Vietnam to complete the process and bring her daughter home.

"On the day [Karla] arrived in Vietnam - Oct. 25 - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that because of 'growing concerns about irregularities in the methods used to identify children for adoption in Vietnam and the resulting difficulties in classifying those children as orphans,' a field office in Ho Chi Minh City now would decide all I-600s, which is a form that classifies an orphan as an immediate relative and expedites the visa process."

Karla's story is a difficult reminder that snags can happen at any point in the adoption process. Though it shouldn't stop people who are considering adoption, it will hopefully persuade them to diligently cross every "t" and dot every "i". Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen

Labels: frustrations, international

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

Family Adopts Son's Friend

When Noah was adopted out of a Chinese orphanage, he left his best friend behind - but he was persistent in telling his parents about Du Tan. They eventually got the hint, and began the process of adopting their son's best friend.

"Making that happen was a long shot. David's [Du Tan's] paperwork had been lost and the Chinese government was in no hurry to help the McClymonts finalize his adoption. For more than a year, the family sent care packages and photos of Noah to David. Then, in December, they got word the adoption would likely happen."

Both boys have spina bifida, and they are slowly learning how to get around without the use of wheelchairs. David will have his first American birthday party in a couple of weeks, complete with the best gift of all - a forever family. Source:York Daily Record

Labels: friends, relationships

Sunday, August 03, 2008

New South Wales to Ease Adoption Laws

The New South Wales government has promised to ease adoption laws for foster and step-parents.

"[Community Services Minister Kevin] Greene says under a number of changes beings proposed, foster parents who adopt will be able to retain their carers allowance until the child turns 18... He says they will also make it easier and less time consuming for step parents and other relatives."

The Foster Parents Support Network estimates that the changes will cause up to a 30 percent increase in adoptions from foster parents. Source: ABC News

Labels: foster_care, laws

Friday, August 01, 2008

Couple Plans 'Adoption Yard Sale'

It's no secret that adoption is neither easy nor cheap. A Benton, Kentucky, couple is hoping to ease some of the financial burden with a unique yard sale.

"The Riley's front yard is the place they plan on setting up all those donated items for sale, but you won't find any price tags. 'We're going to let people come in on that day and pay us what they think they items are worth or what they would like to donate toward our adoption,' said Lee Ann."

The goal of the August 9 yard sale is to raise just over $20,000, which will cover attorney and agency fees, birth mother expenses, legal fees, medical expenses and the cost of parenting classes. Source: WPSD Channel 6 (Kentucky)

Labels: adoption_costs, donations, financial_assistance