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U.S.
SAYS UKRAINE OPEN AGAIN, EXPLAINS ADOPTION FROM ISLAMIC NATIONS
The Ukraine has resumed acceptance of new dossiers for non-Ukrainian
adoptive parents, according to a notice posted by the State Department
on Feb. 5; the resumption took effect a couple of months ago, on Dec.
19. A suspension of new adoption cases began in January 2006, when the
country’s president signed legislation moving the central
authority in charge of adoptions – now known as the State
Department for Adoptions and Protection of the Rights of the Child
– to the Ministry of Family, Youth and Sports. This
transition
resulted in the temporary halt. Another State Department notice, posted
Feb. 2, responded to inquiries by Americans interested in adopting
children from countries in which the Islamic Shari’a family
laws
are observed. The Department said that while these laws do not
recognize non-relative adoption as practiced in the United States, some
nations allow for a child’s custody to be transferred through
guardianship. Prospective parents then have to obtain legal
guardianship of an orphan for emigration and finalize the adoption in
the U.S. in accordance with the laws of the sending country. To read
the State Department notice on the Ukraine, go to:
http://travel.state.gov;
to read the notice on adopting children from countries in which
Shari’a laws are observed, go to: http://travel.state.gov
TWO
STATES CONSIDER BILLS LETTING GAY AND NON-MARRIED COUPLES ADOPT
The New Hampshire and Michigan state legislatures are considering bills
that would permit unmarried and same-sex couples to adopt jointly. The
New Hampshire House bill (HB51), introduced on Jan. 4 and pending in
the Children and Family Law Committee, would permit two unmarried
adults in a “familiar relationship” –
defined by the
couple living together and sharing financial responsibilities
–
to adopt jointly. New Hampshire already permits children to be adopted
by married couples and single adults, including gay individuals, but
was inconsistent in applying the law to gay couples; the bill would
eliminate discrepancies within different counties. A Michigan bill
(HB4259), referred to the House Judiciary Committee on Feb. 13, would
amend the Probate Code of 1939 (PA 288) to permit unmarried adults and
same-sex couples to adopt jointly; currently, only married couples can
do so. To read the New Hampshire bill,
go to: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us;
To read the Michigan bill, go to: http://www.legislature.mi.gov;
to read the Adoption Institute’s Policy Brief on gay and
lesbian adoption, go to: http://www.adoptioninstitute.org
REPORT
SHOWS DECLINES IN FOSTER CHILDREN RECEIVING FEDERAL SUPPORT
The proportion of foster children eligible for federal support has
declined from more than half in 1998 to less than half currently
– approximately 35,000 fewer children, according to
“Time
for Reform: Fix the Foster Care Lookback,” a report released
Feb.
6. The report was issued by the “Kids Are Waiting: Fix Foster
Care Now” campaign, led by the Pew Charitable Trusts. It
projects
that the number of affected children will continue to drop by about
5,000 each year. A primary reason is the “lookback”
policy
linking eligibility of foster children for federal support to an income
standard in the former AFDC welfare program – that is, the
child’s birth family has to meet the AFDC income standard of
1996, which has not increased with inflation. To access the report, go
to: http://kidsarewaiting.org
KENTUCKY
BILL LOSES PROVISION REQUIRING JUDGES TO EDUCATE PARENTS
A section has been cut out of proposed legislation in Kentucky that
would have required judges to educate prospective birthparents on their
rights when their children are being adopted; instead, the legislation
calls for attorneys to be appointed for indigent parents and allows the
chief justice of the state courts to establish rules pertaining to
protecting the rights of all involved parties. In a Feb. 19 Lexington
Herald-Leader article, “Foster Care Adoption Bill Changed:
Parental-Education Provision Cut,” Valerie Spears reports on
the
debate around the proposed bill (SB 141, sponsored by Senator Julie
Denton). The Administrative Office of the Courts suggested cutting the
birthparent provision because of “separation of powers in
what
lawmakers require of judges.” To track this legislation, go
to: http://www.lrc.ky.gov
Research
STUDY
FINDS ADOPTEES HAVE MORE HEALTH CARE NEEDS, BUT MORE SUPPORT
A newly published study reports that adopted children are more likely
to have special health care needs, learning disabilities and other
mental health difficulties – but also finds that they receive
more preventive medical and dental visits, and are more likely to have
consistent health insurance, to be read to daily, to live in supportive
neighborhoods, and to live in non-smoking households. “The
Health
and Well-being of Adopted Children,” by Matthew Bramlett,
Laura
Radel and Stephen Blumberg, was published in the February issue of
Pediatrics (Volume 119, Issue 2). The researchers used data from a
national children’s health study, comparing 2,903 adopted
children to almost 100,000 non-adopted children on 31 indicators. For a
free abstract, go to: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org
RESEARCHERS:
EARLY INSTITUTIONALIZATION HAS LONG IMPACT ON CHILDREN
A team of British researchers studying a group of Romanian adoptees and
domestic infant adoptees at ages 4, 6, and 11 published two studies on
their findings for the children at age 11 – “Early
Adolescent Outcomes for Institutionally-Deprived and Non-Deprived
Adoptees. I: Disinhibited Attachment” and “II.
Language as
a Protective Factor and a Vulnerable Outcome.” These articles
by
Michael Rutter, Carla Croft and 8 other authors were published in the
January issue of Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (Volume 48,
Issue 1). They found that disturbed attachment patterns show a high
degree of persistence from ages 6 to 11, but also diminsh over time for
some children. At age 11, 28.5 percent were classified with mild
attachment disturbances and 10 percent with more severe ones. These
patterns were associated with greater behavior problems and usage of
services. With both attachment problems and language, there was no
negative impact if institutionalization lasted less than 6 months, but
there was no variation between those institutionalized 6 to 42 months.
The majority of children achieved language within the normal range but,
as a group, their cognitive and language scores were lower than
domestic English adoptees. To access a free abstract, go to: http://www.blackwell-synergy.com
ANALYSIS
IDENTIFIES 5 PHASES FOR ADULTS DEALING WITH THEIR ADOPTIONS
Through qualitative analyses of 100 written narratives of adopted
adults, ages 35 to 55, researchers identified five phases or patterns
for addressing adoption issues, ranging from “no
awareness”
(phase 1) to “drowning in awareness” (phase 3) to
“finding peace” (phase 5).
“Reconstruction of
Adoption Issues: Delineation of Five Phases Among Adult
Adoptees,” by Judith Penny, DiAnne Borders and Francie
Portnoy,
was published in the Winter 2007 issue of the Journal of Counseling
& Development (Volume 85, Issue 1). The researchers assessed
the
extent to which various measures of well-being varied according to
adults’ classification in the five phases, and found that on
a
majority of measures, the most positive scores were found among
adoptees on either end of the spectrum of phases, and the most negative
scores were among those in phase 3, characterized by anger, resentment
and sadness. To access a free abstract, go to: http://aca.metapress.com
MOST
ADOPTED TEENS EXPRESS DESIRE FOR CONTACT WITH BIRTHMOTHERS
Based on interviews with 152 adopted adolescents concerning their
satisfaction with the openness in their adoptions, 74 percent of teens
having contact with their birthmothers were satisfied with the contact,
and almost all of those who were not satisfied wanted more contact.
“Adolescents’ Feelings about Openness in Adoption:
Implications for Adoption Agencies,” by Jerica Berge, Tai
Mendenhall, Gretchen Wrobel, and Adoption Institute Senior Research
Fellows Harold Grotevant and Ruth McRoy, was published in the final
2006 issue of Child Welfare (Volume 85, Issue 6). Of those adoptees not
having contact with their birthmothers, about 55 percent wished they
had contact and the rest said they were satisfied with not having
contact. The study identifies themes in the responses of each group.
For a free abstract, go to: http://www.cwla.org
EARLY NEGLECT IN
ORPHANAGES SEEN TO HAVE NEGATIVE IMPACT ON ADOPTEES
A study of 115 girls, aged 6-8 who were adopted from China before age
2, compared those experiencing serious neglect in their orphanages (31
girls) to those assessed as not having been neglected (84 girls). On
the Overall Competence scale of the Child Behavior Checklist, 42
percent of the neglect group and 14 percent of the comparison group
scored below the normal range. “History of Early Neglect and
Middle Childhood Social Competence: An Adoption Study,” by
Tony
Tan, was published in the final 2006 issue of Adoption Quarterly
(Volume 9, Issue 4). The author recommends rigorous interventions as
early as possible to minimize the impact of neglect. To access the
article during this month, copy and paste into browser: http://www.haworthpress.com
FOSTER
YOUTHS’ CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR REPORTEDLY DECLINES IN LATE TEENS
Youths aging out of foster care commit more crimes than do their peers
not involved with the child welfare system, according to a national
study by Chapin Hall that
compared self-reported criminal offenses and arrests of the two
categories of teens. At ages 17-18, foster youths had about twice the
frequency of offenses as their peers. Criminal offenses for both groups
declined from age 17 to age 19, but the drops were greatest for those
in care. “Offending during Late Adolescence: How Do Youth
Aging
Out of Care Compare with their Peers?” by Gretchen Cusick and
Mark Courtney, reports declines in 9 out of 10 criminal behaviors over
time, such as stealing something less than $50 in value dropping among
foster youths from 37 percent at age 17-18 to 11 percent at age 19. To
access this report, go to: http://www.chapinhall.org
News
ITALY’S
INTERNATIONAL ADOPTIONS INCREASE; SPAIN CONSIDERS NEW LAW
Italians adopted three times as many children internationally in 2006
than they did within their country, according to a Jan. 28 article by
Tom Kington, “Adoption on the Rise in Italy,”
published in The Hindu in India. The article said 3,158 children were
adopted into Italy from Russia, Colombia, Ethiopia and other nations at
a time when overseas adoptions within other European countries dropped
by 10 percent. The Spanish government, meanwhile, is considering
legislation that would set new legal requirements for international
adoptions, according to a Feb. 10 article published in
China’s People’s Daily Online, “Spanish
Cabinet Releases Plans for International Adoption Law.” The
proposed legislation is intended primarily to protect children and
parents, but would also prohibit adoption from countries affected by
war or natural disaster, or that lack a specific adoption oversight
authorities. In addition, the measure would give adoptees 18 or older
the right to search for birth relatives. To read the article on Italy,
go to: http://www.hindu.com;
to read the article on Spain, go to: http://english.people.com.cn
GROWING
NUMBER OF WESTERNERS GOING TO INDIA TO `ADOPT’ EMBRYOS
A rising number of Westerners are traveling to India seeking embryos to
“adopt,” according to a Feb. 9 article by Ashling
O’Connor published in the U.K. magazine Times. The article
said the Westerners are attracted by highly trained, English-speaking
doctors who can provide IVF treatments at one-third the price they
would pay in their home nations. “The White Parents, An
Indian Baby, and the New £3bn Fertility Tourism”
describes the growing “reproductive tourism”
industry in India and recounts one of the first transfers of an Indian
embryo to a white British couple. The fertility doctor in India who
completed the process said, “It is a lot like adoption but
you have the feeling of a natural pregnancy.” There are no
laws in India governing fertility services, although there are loose
guidelines and accredited clinics. To read the article, go to: http://www.timesonline.co.uk
FLA.
GOVERNOR SEEKS FINANCIAL INCENTIVES FOR FOSTER CARE ADOPTIONS
Governor Charlie Crist of Florida, who is entering his first
legislative session, has goals that include providing financial
incentives to families adopting from foster care, according to a story
in The Bradenton Herald, “Crist Pushes Lofty
Agenda.” The article reports that the governor want to
provide $5,000 a year to families that adopt from the public system
until the children turn 18. He also proposes to establish a state
office of adoption and child protection. To read the article, go to: http://www.bradenton.com
Resources
IOWA
PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION OFFERS LIFEBOOK PAGES TO DOWNLOAD
The Iowa Foster and Adoptive Parents’ Association has created
pages that can be downloaded separately to assist a child in creating a
lifebook. There are almost 50 individual, colorful pages that include
optional covers and ones geared toward children and youths of various
ages. To download, go to the bottom of the page at the following
website: http://www.ifapa.org
WEBSITE
OFFERS RESOURCES FOR PROMOTING NATIONAL FOSTER CARE MONTH
In preparation for National Foster Care Month in May, a website has
been set up containing resources for campaigns and media events with
the theme, “Change a Lifetime.” Additional
information about events and activities, along with materials to use in
promoting Foster Care Month, will be added soon. To access, go to: http://www.fostercaremonth.org
PAPER
PROMOTES SYSTEMATIC IMPROVEMENTS TO CHILD WELFARE PROGRAMS
A report by Fred Wulczyn, “Monitoring Child Welfare Programs:
Performance Improvement in a CQI Context,” describes the
application of the continuous quality improvement process (CQI) to
child welfare systems. This short paper is intended as advice to guide
major child welfare reform efforts. Beginning with the delineation of
outcomes and baseline performance measures and extending through
setting goals, monitoring and feedback, the CQI process is applied
systematically to improvement of child welfare systems. The author
recognizes that systems changes in child welfare are long-term goals,
and he advocates for setting and measuring interim goals. To access, go
to: http://www.chapinhall.org
Institute Updates
PERTMAN
ADDS PERSPECTIVE TO STUDY ON BENEFITS OF ADOPTIVE PARENTS
In a Feb. 12 Associated Press article, “Study: Adoptive
Parents Get High Marks,” reporter David Crary writes about
new research that found adoptive parents invest more time and money in
their children than do biological parents. The study was featured in
the most recent issues of American Sociological Review, and
Crary’s story about it was carried by print, online and
broadcast media nationally. The researchers said their findings call
into question the long-standing notion that children are best off with
their biological parents, an argument that was cited in state Supreme
Court rulings last year in New York and Washington that upheld laws
against same-sex marriage. Adam Pertman, the Adoption
Institute’s Executive Director, provided context for the
findings, concluding: "It's an affirmation that there are all sorts of
families that are good for kids. Adoptive parents aren't less good or
better. They just bring different benefits to the table. In terms of
how families are formed, it should be a level playing field." To access
one version of this story, from MSNBC, go to: http://www.msnbc.msn.com
CONTROVERSY
OVER CELEBRITY ADOPTIONS CONTINUES WITH JOLIE, MADONNA
An ABC News online story on Feb. 5, “When Stars
Adopt,” described a seeming spat created when Angelina Jolie,
who has adopted children internationally, was quoted as criticizing
Madonna’s recent adoption of a son from Malawi. A number of
adoption experts were featured in the story discussing the implications
of controversies relating to celebrity adoptions. In his comments,
Executive Director Pertman said the focus needs to be on the needs of
children who need families. “They are better off with loving
homes, whether with movie stars or with accountants," he said. To
access this story on KABC News, go to: http://abclocal.go.com
INSTITUTE
HIRES NEW EXTERNAL RELATIONS DIRECTOR, PLANS OFFICE MOVE
The Adoption Institute welcomes Laura James, a highly respected and
experienced development professional who joined our staff on Feb. 19 as
Director of External Relations. James, who will be based in New York
and will oversee all national development and fundraising efforts for
the Institute, earned a B.A. degree from Wellesley College and an M.A.
in Communication from Columbia University. She brings to her new
position over 20 years of experience in a range of settings, including
a university, museums, a social service organization, and a political
advocacy association. She and other New York-based Institute staff will
be moving on April 1 to our new office at 120 East 38th Street. The
Institute also has staff members around the country – in
Massachusetts, California, Illinois and North Carolina. For more
information about James and details about our office move as they
become available, please go to http://www.adoptioninstitute.org
UPDATED
EDITION OF 'ADOPTION NATION' FOR INSTITUTE 10TH ANNIVERSARY
The Adoption Institute is proud to announce a new, updated "Evan B.
Donaldson Adoption Institute Special Edition" of Executive Director
Adam Pertman's ground-breaking book, Adoption Nation: How the Adoption
Revolution is Transforming America. The new edition is dedicated to the
Institute on the occasion of its 10th anniversary, and all profits from
its sale will be donated to the Institute. To order online, go to: http://www.amazon.com;
to order multiple signed copies (which the author can sign), write to info@adoptioninsitute.org;
more information and details for arranging an interview with Pertman
are available on a press release at: http://www.adoptioninstitute.org/media/
POLICY STAFF TO SPEAK AT AMERICAN ADOPTION
CONGRESS CONFERENCE
Pertman and all of the Institute’s policy staff members
– David Brodzinsky, Jeanne Howard, Hollee McGinnis and Susan
Smith -- will be speaking at the 28th annual conference of the American
Adoption Congress outside Boston; the event runs from March 7-10. They
will give a joint presentation on March 8, “Adoption Nation:
Current Trends,” in addition to offering separate workshops.
For more information about the conference, go to: http://www.americanadoptioncongress.org.
For a full listing of appearances by Adoption Institute
staff, go to: http://www.adoptioninstitute.org/events/
Among the major events the
Institute is planning for this year is a national conference on Ethics in Adoption,
which we are sponsoring with the adoption reform organization Ethica.
The event will be held in suburban Washington, D.C., on Oct. 15-16,
2007. The Institute held its landmark first ethics conference in 1999,
and this one – like its predecessor – promises to
have significant impact on the field. More details will be available on
our website in coming months.
Our annual "Taste of Spring"
benefit will be held in New York on May 17; please save
the date and contact us if you have questions, want to reserve tickets
(they go quickly) or are interested in an individual or corporate
sponsorship. We are
planning additional fund-raising events across the country
during the coming months and year, to be held by our loyal supporters
and advocates who want to ensure that we can continue doing our unique,
important work; stay tuned for dates and locations. Most important, we
are producing some of the best, highest-impact initiatives since our
founding a decade ago.
Here are just a few
of the initiatives we are working on:
TRANSCULTURAL ADOPTION
& IDENTITY
RIGHTS & WELL-BEING
OF BIRTHPARENTS
EXPANDING RESOURCES FOR
CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE
ADOPTION AGENCY PRACTICES
WITH GAYS AND LESBIANS
ADOPTIVE PARENT PREPARATION
PROJECT
RESTORING RIGHTS TO ACCESS
BIRTH RECORDS
SAFE HAVENS: ARE THE LAWS
WORKING?
EDUCATE THE EDUCATORS AND
EDUCATE THE MEDIA PROGRAMS
Since its establishment in 1996,
the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute has been a pre-eminent,
independent voice for improving adoption for everyone it touches -
particularly children - through innovative programs, educational
initiatives, research and analysis, and advocacy for better practices,
policies and laws.
The Adoption Institute was
established
in 1996 with a one-time grant. To continue our work, we depend on new
and renewable sources of funding. We need the financial support of
people like you whose lives have been touched by adoption and who care
about the future of vulnerable children everywhere. Please send a
generous contribution to the Adoption Institute’s annual fund
today. To donate, please call 212-925-4089 or go online to: http://www.adoptioninstitute.org/about/support.php
Or you can print and complete this form, http://www.adoptioninstitute.org/donate/donatereply.pdf,
and fax it with your credit card information to 775-796-6592, or mail
it with your check or credit card information to:
The Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute
525 Broadway, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10012
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