September 22, 2013
Adoption News Round-up
Here’s a look at some interesting adoption news from the past week. Op-eds about international adoption, how to sponsor a foster youth and more:
The New York Times ran an interesting op-ed piece about how the evangelical adoption boom is actually inspiring a rise of illegitimate adoption scenarios in foreign countries. Because so many people and organizations are willing to give money to save and adopt orphans from other countries, it has created an incentive to populate these orphanages with more children using illegal and unethical means, including tricking families into placing their children for adoption. Regulation is inconsistent at best, and nonexistent at worst, and there is definite cause for concern about how this is negatively impacting the adoption world and the children moving through it.
31 Guatemalan children are waiting for the government to investigate whether or not they were legally placed before they will allow their adoptions to moved forward. This is yet another situation where a lack of regulation is causing undue harm to children and adoptive parents alike. The Huffington Post reports, providing information about the recent history of Guatemalan adoption, and how the government is working towards building a safer, more effective system.
Children’s Home and Aid adoption agency in Illinois is actively seeking out same sex couples, hoping to show them that adoption is an option. We love to see places opening their doors to all!
Check out one birth mother’s brave response to hearing ignorant comments about how unhealthy open adoption must be for the children. It’s wonderful to hear her perspective.
The Camellia Network has launched a great campaign for fall to help raise money for foster youth who are aging out of the system. Not only can you sponsor a youth, but there are wedding-style gift registries that allow people to purchase supplies for kids to help them with things they need for school, etc. Such a great idea, and especially heartwarming that they’re targeting those who are typically the most neglected in the foster system.