Annette Baran was a clinical social worker who, in 1978, published the book that many consider the catalyst for a movement toward open adoptions.

Baran, who challenged conventional mindsets regarding adoption, died July 11 at the age of 83,

“As time went on, she also encountered many adoptees searching for their birth mothers who were in psychological pain, said Betty Jean Litton, an adoption reform advocate… Moved to crusade for open adoption, Baran joined a novel research project started by a University of California – Los Angeles psychiatrist, Dr. Arthur Sorosky, who noticed that his patients who had been adopted tended to have identity problems.” [Source: The Los Angeles Times]

Baran’s book, The Adoption Triangle, was a result of that UCLA study, and was instrumental in shaping people’s understanding of open adoption.
 

Labels: open_adoption, awareness, advocacy

Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton 1 Comment

As the United States and Russia continue working to hammer out a new adoption agreement, a spokesperson from Russia’s Education Ministry has said a finalized agreement is expected by the end of the year.

“Russia is one of the largest sources of foreign adoptions for U.S. families, accounting for about 10% of foreign adoptions, but the issue has become controversial in recent years following several incidents involving the mistreatment of Russian children in the United States.” [Source: RIA Novosti]

A fourth round of talks will take place in Moscow from July 21 to 23.

Labels: international, Russia

Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton 1 Comment

New legislation in India would give equal rights to adoptive mothers. Until now, when a married couple adopted a child, only the father was listed as the child’s guardian.

The proposed amendment to the 120 year-old Guardians and Wards Act, 1890, includes the mother along with the father to be appointed as guardian, making the process gender neutral.

The parliamentary standing committee on law and justice, which is examining the bill to amend the existing laws, is unanimous in its acceptance of the Personal Laws (Amendment Bill, 2010, introduced in the Rajya Sabha in April. [Source: The Hindustan Times]

Prior to the amendment, a mother had no rights over an adopted child if, for some unfortunate reason, her husband passed away.

Labels: international, adoption rights, mothers

Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton 1 Comment

Spain and Italy have joined eight other countries that have suspended adoptions from Nepal, saying the country’s adoption system is neither transparent nor accountable.

“Nepal’s adoption system has been questioned by western countries following publication of a report by The Hague Conference on Private International Law, an intergovernmental organization, in February this year. The report based on an investigation by a group of lawyers accused Nepal’s adoption system of widespread abuse. It also called for suspension of adoptions from Nepal until the system is reformed.” [Source: Republic]

The United States hasn’t suspended adoptions from Nepal, but it has issued an alert to those considering adopting a child from the country, encouraging them to take extra steps to ensure the accuracy of adoption files.

Labels: international

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Jessica Dreves promised a couple from Port Washington, Florida, that they could adopt her baby once she gave birth. The couple sent Dreves a total of over $7,000 during the course of her pregnancy, to cover medical expenses, food, and even clothing. Dreves was due in October, but disappeared in September.

“In March, 2009, Dreves agreed to give up her baby for adoption to a Massachusetts couple through the Iowa-based adoption agency, Abby’s One True Gift. In addition to that agreement, Dreves then answered an advertisement from Lisa and Joseph Weiner of Port Washington who were looking to adopt a baby.” [Source: Port Washington News]

After Dreves gave birth, she refused to talk to the Port Washington couple, who filed a complaint. Dreves was arrested Feb. 13 for fraud, and was arraigned July 19.

Labels: scams

Posted By: Adoption Issues 1 Comment

In 1976, Ron Ryba and his wife made the difficult decision to place their infant son with an adoptive family. In 2008, when parents and child reunited, DNA tests showed no relation between Ryba and his wife and the boy whom Catholic Charities said was theirs. To date, they don’t know what happened to their son.

“Ryba’s efforts to enlist Catholic Charities’ assistance in unraveling the mystery met with resistance. The agency argued that federal privacy laws prevented them from releasing records that contained ‘medical data.’ And when it asked a New Jersey Superior Court for guidance, the judge agreed.” [Source: The Baltimore Sun]

Ryba has written letters to the State Attorney General, and a New Jersey state senator asking for help. He has repeatedly said he has no interest in suing Catholic Charities. He just wants to know what happened to his son.

Labels: laws

Posted By: Adoption Issues 1 Comment

For nearly ten years, China has been the first choice of many Americans wishing to adopt children from abroad. In recent years, however, that trend has been shifting. Americans may still want to adopt Chinese children, but fewer children are being made available.

“Part of the reason for the decline is competition from a growing number of Chinese families that want to adopt… In 1996, about 19,000 Chinese couples sought to adopt; by 2008, that number had jumped to 42,000. There are, however, restrictions on Chinese families, as well. Chinese couples have to be married, 35 or older, have no other children and be financially stable to be approved by the government.” Source: Centre Daily Times (PA)]

Adding to the decline in American adoptions of Chinese kids are the stricter rules China enacted regarding foreign adoption. People seeking to adopt Chinese kids must be married, heterosexual couples between the ages of 30 and 50. They have to have been married for two years, and can have no history of divorce. The new restrictions have caused a 60 percent reduction in the number of Chinese children adopted by Americans. That number isn’t likely to rebound any time soon.

Labels: international, China

Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton 1 Comment

June 12 marked the beginning of the first annual Connecticut Department of Children and Families Family Fun Day. The two-day event featured guest speakers, a petting zoo, face painting and a fire truck.

“Event organizer Yvette Newton… said she and her agency colleagues were thrilled with the turnout… ‘We had approximately 250-3000 attendees with an impressive number of those expressing interest in learning more about foster care or adoption,’ she said.” [Source: The Newton (CT) Bee]

The event was sponsored by the Stony Hill Four Corners business organizations and held at the Hawleyville Santosha Center for Yoga and Health. Ms. Newton and her colleagues plan to make this a recurring event.

Labels: awareness

Posted By: Adoption Issues 0 Comments

In May, Malaysia installed what it calls a “baby hatch” in a facility in Kuala Lumpur. The hatch allows parents to drop off infants they can’t care for.

“The first baby received by the centre, on June 27, has been adopted by a couple selected from 80 eligible parents, OrphanCARE which runs the centre was quoted as saying in the New Straits Times newspaper.” [Source: Arab Times]

Malaysia isn’t the only country with these types of infant drop-offs. Germany, Japan and Pakistan have them as well. Many were instituted in an effort to protect both abandoned babies and their parents.

Labels: international, orphans, orphanages, abandonment

Posted By: Adoption Issues 1 Comment

Paula and Bryan Blatchford were excited to adopt. Paula had a teenage daughter from her first marriage, and Bryan didn’t have any kids of his own. They were willing to adopt older children, and were soon paired with a brother and sister. But 16 months after the children arrived, a series of problems resulted in them leaving the family.

Each year, roughly 5 per cent of the 600 adoptions from children’s aids societies in Ontario are not completed. With children over the age of 6, that number can be as high as 25 percent.…

Experienced adoption workers say all children put up for adoption, whether given up by their parents or seized from the home, have special needs. Abuse, multiple moves, drug or alcohol addictions and abandonment have left their mark on fragile psyches. [Source: The Toronto Star]

Adopted children, especially older ones, sometimes have trouble bonding with their adoptive parents; often the result of trauma suffered at an early age. Some families can get past issues like this, using counseling or some other form of family therapy.

Labels: abandonment, connections

Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton 3 Comments