He's back in the minors now, but former major leaguer Shawn Chacon (a 2003 All-Star), credits his adoptive parents with giving him the opportunity to achieve his dreams -- and the ability to deal with the setbacks that often accompany the life of a professional athlete.

Chacon's adoption experience was part of an Aug. 30 feature by John Schumacher of the Sacramento Bee:

After his biological mother gave him up for adoption when he was 4, Chacon, who was born in Anchorage, Alaska, spent a year in the foster care system before being adopted by a Colorado couple.

The 31-year-old right-hander credits his adoptive parents with quickly recognizing his baseball talent, which has taken him on a roller-coaster ride through the major leagues. ...

He said he never met his biological father and lived with his single mother until he was put in the foster system.

"I don't look back and try to research or ask my biological parents why," the baseball star told the Bee. "If I hadn't been adopted, I don't know where I would have ended up."

Labels: adoptive_parents

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People who have decided to adopt a child are often faced with blunt (and sometimes inappropriate) questions. While it's impossible to prepare for every possible question, knowing some of the more common ones can help.

According to the website BellaOnline, the following are five very common questions for adoptive (or about-to-be-adoptive) parents:

#1: Why don't you just have one of your own? It's amazing what they can do now with infertility treatments!
#2: But what if the child doesn't look like you?
#3: What if the birth parents change their mind?
#4: Why in the world are you adopting from that country...Why are you adopting an older child...Why are you adopting a child with special needs?
#5: Isn't it so amazing that you're saving the world this way?

"Its important to understand that many people have honest questions and want to learn more about adoption," wrote Brandii Lacey, BellaOnline's adoption editor. "And, on the flip side, there are those that simply want to argue with you back and forth on the subject of adoption."

It may be frustrating to be questioned about such a personal matter, but answering these types of questions can help people understand your decision and support your family. However, remember that you have the right not to answer any questions that you feel are inappropriate.

Labels: adoptive_parents, preparations, questions

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Arrianna and her husband Kent already had three kids, all of them teenagers. So adding two more would be crazy right? Maybe. But it's also been rewarding and fun.

"The Rogers are one of a number of Utah families who have participated with the Save A Child Foundation started by Vern and Nannette Garrett (www.saveachild.cc) that focuses on adopting older kids from poorer countries."

After some initial hesitation, the Rogers adopted two teenagers - Artem and Sasha - from the Ukraine. Arrianna admits that there have been some challenging and discouraging days, but says that she also believes those days would come whether she had five teenage kids or just three. Source: Deseret News

Labels: adoptive_parents, older_children, rewards

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Last week, Missouri's Task Force on Adoption released a 26-page booklet about adoption. It's called a "step-by-step guide" for potential adoptive parents.

"[Attorney General Jay] Nixon said today the pamphlet was created to answer lingering questions that parents have about what can be a complicated process."

The booklet answers questions about adoption costs, time frames, options and more. Read more at ColumbiaTribune.com.

Labels: adoption costs, adoptive_parents, options

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Changes to Australia's Adoption Act could make the adoption process easier for everyone involved. Women would no longer have to stop fertility treatments, and both adoptive parents and the adopted child would have access to the child's records before he or she turned 18.

"The changes are among several proposed by the state government to simplify adoptions locally and overseas, including by foster carers. The Minister of Community Services, Linda Burney, said the changes will mean people will no longer need to go through so much red tape."

One of the proposed changes would give adoptive parents copies of a child's original and amended birth certificates, and would allow the child access to the same information. Some child welfare agencies oppose the changes, citing concerns that access to too much information could drive birth parents "underground," leaving more adopted children with less access to their birth parents. Source: Illawarra (AU) Mercury

Labels: australia, adoptive_parents, adoption_process

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Adults who want to become foster and adoptive parents in South Lanarkshire in England will now be asked to sign a no smoking pledge. Current foster and adoptive parents will also be asked to quit smoking.

"Council leader Eddie McAvoy said : 'The council is committed to promoting the health and welfare of children and young people.' He added: 'The policy will result in better protection for vulnerable children and young people.'"

In 2007, the British Agencies of Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) recommended that children under five not be placed in homes with smokers. The South Lanarkshire policy is a response to that recommendation. Source: BBC

Labels: foster_care, adoptive_parents, smoking

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Yvette Martin is on the road to becoming an anesthesiologist and is currently finishing her medical studies at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. She credits her adoptive parents with giving her the confidence she needed to pursue her dreams.

"Norman and Josephine adopted Yvette when she was just 6 months old. The couple decided to adopt after Josephine had some physical problems that kept her from being able to conceive. They adopted Yvette from out of state and from the moment they saw her they fell completely in love."

Now, as a young adult, Yvette still talks to her parents almost every day, and continues to receive the same love and support she has gotten all her life. Read more at CBS4Denver.com.

Therapeutic boarding schools, like Mount Bachelor Academy in Oregon, can provide adopted teens with the tools to grow into happy, successful adults. Learn more about their adoption curriculum, the one of its kind in the county.

Labels: support, adoptive_parents, confidence

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Denise still remembers the first phone conversation she had with the birth mother of her adopted daughter. She remembers how nervous she was, and she remembers the warnings people gave about adopting a mixed-race baby.

"Again, we didn't care. We had so much love in us that we wanted to share. We made a promise that we would not go the medical route for future children, and instead committed to adopting mixed children so they would share their ethnicity."

Denise and her husband now have three adopted children, and each is considered a blessing. Some say their kids are lucky to have them as parents, but Denise admits that she feels like the lucky one. Read more at DailyRecord.com.

Labels: adoptive_parents, birth_parents, interracial

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Every person born in the U.S. has a birth certificate that names the place, time, and date of birth along with the names of the birth parents. But if a child is adopted, the original birth certificate is changed and the adoptive parents are listed as the birth parents - something this adoptive mom from Iowa struggles to accept.

"Adoption isn't necessarily a beginning or ending for any child. It's part of that child's journey through life. Adopted children have a biological family that will always and inevitably be part of them - whether they know anything about them or not. Family roots run deep, and when adopted children grow up, they should be allowed to get in touch with these roots if they choose."

A child's birth family is not erased or replaced when the child is adopted. And, according to the report referenced in this opinion letter, changes in a child's birth information - and lack of access to the original information - raises "significant civil rights concerns and potentially serious, negative consequences for their physical and mental health."

The Academy at Swift River is a private emotional growth school for teenagers. Learn more at SwiftRiver.com.

Labels: adoption rights, adoptive_parents, birth_parents

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The state of Iowa served over 11,500 kids last year in the Iowa foster care system. This year, the Department of Human Services wants and increased focus on foster care and adoption, and so, they've embarked on new initiative called KidsNet.

"This new network consists of almost a dozen agencies. Four Oaks in Cedar Rapids is the lead agency in this new effort to recruit and retain resource families who are interested in foster care and adoption of Iowa children."

There are currently over 5,000 children in Iowa that need either a foster or permanent adoptive home. Read more at IowaKidsNet.com.

Labels: foster_care, adoptive_parents, permanent_adoptive_homes

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A court in New York has determined that an adoption agency that withheld medical information could be liable for the medical expenses incurred by the adoptive couple as a result of the misinformation. Louse Wise Services, Inc., which is no longer in business, failed to disclose to Arthur and Barbara Ross that parents of the baby they were about to adopt had suffered from serious mental health problems.

"... problems including schizophrenia, for which the son was later diagnosed, according to court records. The New York City couple said that dealing with the behavior without knowing the diagnosis led to the end of their marriage, their careers and to clinical depression for both of them."

At the time of the adoption, the 1960's, mental health issues were believed to be environmental, not inherited. A representative from the adoption agency says that's why the baby's medical history was never fully disclosed. Read more at NewsDay.com.

Teenagers experiencing emotional and/or behavioral issues due to adoption and just being a teenager can benefit from a specialty boarding school like Mount Bachelor Academy. Mount Bachelor offers counseling and therapy to mend relationships between teens and families.

Labels: adoptive_parents, mental_health, disclosure

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Many people considering adoption ask themselves that question. It's a common fear among potential adoptive families. Though all potential adoptive parents want to believe that they'd be completely unbiased, and would love an adopted child as much as they would a biological child, there is still uncertainty.

"Talk to other adoptive families... Many adoptive parents are more than happy to talk about their experiences, their fears in the beginning and how things turned out for them. Hearing another adoptive parent admit to having similar concerns early on in their adoption process, and then seeing them united with their new child and completely in love with him or her, is very reassuring."

Another way to connect with other adoptive families is to join a local support group or online forum. Hearing positive stories from other families will help ease your fears as you move forward in the adoption process. Read more at Adoptionblogs.com.

Labels: support, trans-racial, adoptive_parents

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After years of being foster parents and applying to formally adopt one of their foster kids, a Dayton, Ohio, couple is having second thoughts. They recently asked Dr. Gregory Ramey if he felt it was too late – or even appropriate – for them to back out.

“It’s unclear if your expectations are unrealistic, or if your 4-year-old is truly having problem that may require professional help. I’m more concerned about your apparent lack of commitment to this little boy. If you and your husband feel you are unable to completely commit to this child, you need to have a frank discussion immediately with the child’s caseworker.” (Source: Dayton Daily)

Adoption is obviously a serious decision. And, as Dr. Ramey says to this couple, commitment to a child must be absolute – in both good times and bad. For those who are considering adoption, it’s OK to decide that it’s a commitment for which you’re not ready. But it’s also a decision that should be made long before the process is started.
 

Labels: foster care, adoptive_parents

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