In June, the Nepali government suspended adoptions in response to severe criticism over its adoption system and practices. Today, diplomats from six nations urged the government to quickly resolve the deadlock that has left hundreds of families "in limbo".

"Diplomatic officials said the move left plans by some 358 foreign families to adopt children from the Himalayan country up in the air. 'It's a very emotional problem and it's becoming a humanitarian issue for these families,' French Ambassador Gilles-Henry Garault told AFP."

Nepal's minister for women, Khadga Bahadur Biswokarma, said new adoption regulations have been drafted and will be sent to the cabinet in the next few days. She was unable, however, to give a timeframe for implementation of the new rules.

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Labels: international, adoption_policy, adoption_procedures

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Katrina and Tom Rusin waited over two years to finalize their adoption of a little girl from China. Stricter adoption regulations and bureaucracy in foreign governments has consistently increased the amount of time necessary to complete international adoptions.

"The world of international adoption is evolving, said Mary Kate Schneider, director of adoption for the Family and Children's Agency in Norwalk [Connecticut]. 'We try and tell families from Day 1 and on that... time frames can change,' Schneider said. 'I think in the end, each country is trying to have these regulations in place so we can secure the best possible adoption for their children.'"

Potential adoptive parents may be required to travel more than once to the country from which they want to adopt, adding to the overall expense of the adoption. Despite the costs and the long wait, adoptive parents say it's worth it.

Read more at NorwalkAdvocate.com.

Labels: international, adoption costs, adoption_procedures

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After six months of paperwork and eighteen months of waiting, a family in South Boston has been made complete. Chloe, a 15-month-old baby girl from China, has come home to her eagerly waiting adoptive parents.

"The People's Republic of China began a formal adoption program in 1990; 300 babies were adopted that year. The program has now grown to 12,000 adoptions a year..."

The eighteen-month wait was mainly due to the adoption process in China. The Chinese government carefully matches Chinese babies with American parents. But once they're notified of the match, the potential adoptive parents have just 72 hours to decide whether to accept it. Though the process was long and involved, new parents Claude and Nancy truly believe the Chinese government is doing its best to find homes for China's children. Read more at SouthBostonOnline.com.

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Labels: China, adoption_process, adoption_procedures

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International adoptions are stressful. The adoption process in general, whether domestic or international, is stressful but there's often added stress in the international process.

"A prime example of severe adoption stress was created for families when Romania closed its doors to international adoptions. When this occurred, hundreds of families were caught in the pipeline, and their children were condemned to living in an institutional care environment despite the fact that there was a loving family somewhere in the world that had already developed a bond with them."

Home studies, adoption referrals, physician's visits, and travel to and from the child's home country can all begin to add stress upon stress. Husbands and wives need to be honest with each other, and seek counseling if theyre beginning to feel overwhelmed. Be prepared to experience stress before, during, and after the adoption process. But be prepared not to handle it alone.

Read more at International.Adoption.com.

Labels: international, stress, adoption_procedures

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The Women and Child Development Ministry of India is devising adoption mechanisms that will make it easier for Indian children to be adopted. It currently takes three to six months to adopt a child from India. The new procedures would facilitate adoptions in two months or less.

"WCD minister Renuka Chowdhury told reporters on Tuesday that Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA) is revising the guidelines for adoption by foreigners to reduce the time and ensure that there is some monitoring for children during the probation period."

Currently about 4,000 Indian children are adopted each year. The Indian government also plans to launch a campaign to promote the adoption of children with special needs or who are infected with HIV/AIDS. Read more online.

Labels: international, inter-country_adoption, adoption_procedures

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J. K. Mittal, a New Delhi social worker, has been named Chairman of the country's Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA).

"CARA is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, working as the central authority in matters of inter-country adoption. Mittal said that in view of some unfortunate incidents in the recent past, the protection and welfare of children has become important."

Mittal is reviewing current adoption procedures for New Delhi and hopes to make some much-needed changes. Read more online.

Labels: international, welfare, adoption_procedures

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