A May 2 fund-raising event in North Carolina saw over 600 people turn out to support the adoption organization Hopeful Parents. The nonprofit organization provides support to both adoptive and birth families, and helps with the adoption process.

“The Second Empire 5K Classic included a competitive and non-competitive 5K run/walk, a one-mile recreational run/walk sponsored by A Child’s Hope and a kids’ dash. To raise awareness of the adoption process, the event also included an expo with North Carolina-based adoption agencies and supporting organizations on hand to speak with participants.” [Source: 24-7PressRelease]

This was the tenth year for the Empire Classic, which benefits different community organizations each year.

Labels: adoption_agencies

Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton 0 Comments

A couple from Italy has been denied their request to adoption, because they indicated on their application that they didn’t want “dark skinned” children.

“A child protection agency took the couple to court after they submitted an application in Catania, eastern Sicily, saying they were ‘prepared to take in up to two children… regardless of sex or religion, but… not dark skin.’” [Source: Agence France-Presse]

The magistrate who reviews adoption applications was told by a court to ignore the “dark skin” request, but that same court later denied the couple’s application altogether, saying that such a “racist” couple shouldn’t be allowed to adopt at all.

Labels: international, adoption process

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In 1998, about 30 children in Sierra Leone, whose parents had sent them to an education center, disappeared. They were taken to the country’s capital for medical examinations, and their parents never saw them again.

Parents … say they only later learned that the children had been adopted by Americans and sent abroad without permission. … In 2004, the center’s director and two of his employees were arrested and charged with conspiracy to violate adoption laws. [Source: The Associated Press]

Those charges were eventually dropped and the case didn’t receive any more attention for over five years. Then, just last month, parents of the missing children began demanding answers. The case has been re-opened and the government is launching a full investigation.

No estimate has been given for when parents can expect to receive answers about what happened to their children.

Labels: international, controversy

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For more than 30 years, adoption advocates in New Jersey have lobbied for legislation that would allow adult adoptees to access their original birth certificates. On June 14, a new bill to that effect came closer than ever to becoming law.

The Assembly Human Services Committee approved the bill by a 6-0 vote with four abstentions after five hours of sometimes emotional testimony. Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver has said she supports the measure and will post it for a floor vote in the Assembly ... [Source: Philadelphia Inquirer]

The bill has already been passed by the New Jersey Senate, but Governor Christie hasn’t indicated whether he’d sign it into law if it passes the Assembly as well.

Labels: laws

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Celebrity pop singer Robbie Williams has stated publicly that he wants to adopt an orphan from Haiti. He visited the earthquake-ravaged country earlier this year, and the trip filled him with “instant guilt,” he says.

The trip left him longing to help an orphaned youngster – and the star admits he and fiancée Ayda Field are now considering adoption. He says, "I went with UNICEF and it is by far the worst place I’ve ever visited. I wanted to adopt straight away." [Source: ContactMusic.com]

It’s a sentiment shared by hundreds of people, who have flooded adoption agencies with inquiries about adopting kids from Haiti. In an effort to ensure kids’ safety, however, the Haitian Government enacted new procedures for existing adoption cases, and announced a temporary moratorium on new adoption requests.

Labels: haiti, celebrity

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A couple of months ago, the already complicated process of adopting children from Russia got even more complicated when a woman “returned” her adopted son back to Russia, saying she couldn’t care for him. Joshua and Karen Ganzevoort felt the effects.

When they were in court, the judge asked a lot of questions. … Some questions were more challenging. Joshua Ganzevoort recalls, "They asked us some questions about how we would raise him, and where he’s living, and what we thought about the lady who sent back the child.” [Source: WZZM 13 – Grand Rapids, MI]

Despite the added scrutiny, the Ganzevoort’s adoption was approved, and their new son – Eman – has returned with them to Michigan. The family is preparing to celebrate his first birthday.

Labels: international, Russia

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Children in foster care are more likely to contract sexually transmitted diseases, according to a new study from the University of Washington.

• Girls were more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors, such as having casual partners or a high number of them, or accepting money in exchange for sex.
• Boys in foster care did not show an increased likelihood of risky sexual behaviors compared to boys not in foster care.
• Researchers used data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health collected on over 14,000 children and young adults.

"If our findings are confirmed," the researchers wrote, "then health care providers for current and former foster youth should consider modifying their screening practices to reflect the increased risk for sexually transmitted diseases of this youth."

Labels: foster care, disease, sex

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In Bulgaria, an abandoned child’s likelihood of being adopted has historically been determined by his origins. Children who belonged to the Roma minority had little chance, because parents often refused to give up their parental rights – even for children they’d placed in orphanages.

“But a new law that came into force in October means children who have spent more than six months in institutions and have not been taken back by their parents can now be put up for adoption, without the parents’ approval.” [Source: Agence France Presse (AFP)]

Bulgaria has one of the highest rates of child abandonment in the European Union. An estimated 6,700 children are currently being cared for in state-run institutions, many of them placed there by parents who can’t afford to care for them. Of those, less than 700 were adopted in 2009, mostly due to un-relinquished parental rights.

Labels: international, abandonment

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After several days of negotiations, the United States and Russia seem near a new adoption agreement. The talks were scheduled to end earlier this week, but have been extended in hopes that a deal can be reached soon.

“Pavel Astakhov, a lawyer representing Russia in talks aimed at renewing adoptions, said that a breakthrough occurred after U.S. negotiators gave in to Russia’s demand that the accord be retroactive so that it protects children already adopted… Astakhov said that the new agreement will set up a number of licensed agencies that will have the right to assist potential adoptive parenting in finding a child. All adoptions through unaccredited middlemen will be banned, he said.” [Source: Associated Press]

In addition, adoptive parents will be required to undergo training in how to deal with adoption-related challenges. Children will also be monitored in their home environments. The agreement would apply to children adopted from and to both countries. There’s no indication when the details will be finalized.

Labels: international, Russia

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Father’s Day in America is a time for people to reflect on, and give thanks for, the love and guidance they received from their fathers. Michael Reagan, who was adopted by former President Ronald Reagan and his wife, reflects on what fatherhood really means.

“You see, fatherhood isn’t a blood right nor is it an entitlement. The title ‘father’ is one that must be worked at, and ultimately, it is one that must be earned. And for those of us fortunate enough to have grown up with a father [who] invested in our lives, we must ensure we work to develop the same or an even stronger bond with our own children.” [Source: Chillicothe (OH) Gazette]

On Father’s Day, and every other day of the year, we remember and honor dads who teach us that fatherhood is a choice.


 

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