December 08, 2013

Adoption News Round-up

This is a great article written by a birth mother about why she does not use the phrase “give up” in regards to choosing adoption. We agree that “placing” is the preferred term and a much better explanation of what a birth mother is doing when she makes that choice. Her argument against saying “give up” is true and honest — a message we should all be passing around.

Two young girls sent a prayer request to be adopted by their foster parents for Christmas up into the air in a red balloon. Although 30 prayers went out, theirs was the only wish that was returned, and they were finally adopted by their foster parents this week in a joyful and blessed celebration. Such a special story, and family!

Is little Wyatt the next Baby Veronica? Although his mother wanted to place him for adoption, his father, Preston, was adamant about wanting to parent the baby, and when his son was born he had just 15 minutes with him before he was given over to foster parents. Now, he’s fighting desperately to get his son back.

In last week’s round-up, we posted an article about an Italian woman who, after having a mental breakdown in the UK, was forced to have a c-section, and then her child was placed for adoption without her consent. People across the world are outraged and now, the Italian government has assembled a legal team and is going to get involved.

There’s a bill up for debate in the House right now that would reduce barriers to out-of-state adoptions. Currently, each state abides by its own set of adoption law, but this bill proposes a standardized set of laws that would be consistent from state to state. The hope is that by creating one standard, adoptions across the country would happen more quickly and efficiently.

An Ohio couple has been taken into custody and charged with abandonment after they returned their 9 year old adopted son, whom they’d raised since birth. They dropped him off at child services with a note saying they hoped he’d find another family and they were so sorry that he couldn’t stay with theirs. A devastating situation. We in the adoption world know that parenting a child through adoption is no different a commitment than parenting a biological child. There is no giving back, no deciding you’re done.