Category: Adoption

CDC launches health guidance site for children adopted internationally

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has launched a new part of their website to assist prospective adoptive parents as they plan to bring home a child who they adopted internationally.  There is information about vaccines, medical exams, class A conditions, and finding a health care provider once back home in the U.S.  Also included is a section for news, updates, and useful links.

From the Center for Disease Control website:

Each year, parents in the United States adopt more than 12,000 children from all over the world. Adopting a child is a wonderful and exciting event for families. The health of the adopted child is one of many issues that parents need to address during the adoption process. Parents should be prepared for possible challenges during the adoption process and be aware that sometimes the process can be lengthy.

Children born in other areas of the world may have different health problems from those of children raised in the United States. Children may have been exposed to vaccine-preventable diseases that are rare in the United States. Some children are adopted from countries with high rates of diseases, such as tuberculosis, hepatitis, and HIV/AIDS. For all these reasons, knowing as much as possible about a child’s health will help parents get the right treatment and care for their child. Ensuring that adopted children are healthy will also help prevent the spread of dis

To visit the site, click here.

Members of Congress Support National Adoption Day

Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Adoption Day Resolution expressing their support for the day and the overall effort to see children adopted out of foster care and raised in a family with the love and support needed to thrive.  The House recognized that, “every day loving and nurturing families are strengthened and expanded when committed and dedicated individuals make an important difference in the life of a child through adoption.”

To that end, several Members of Congress who champion this issue expressed their support for National Adoption Day:

“Thousands of children are waiting for loving and supportive homes,” said Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.). “National Adoption Day serves as a reminder to put these children first. It’s our duty to find them the love they need and deserve.”

“It’s vital to raise awareness about the need for adoptive families and to recognize those that provide a safe environment for children in need,” said Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-Ohio). “I have long advocated for improving the adoption process because I believe every child deserves a caring, stable and secure place to grow up. With initiatives like National Adoption Day and National Adoption Month, hopefully more children will gain permanent homes.”

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), founding member of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) and child welfare advocate, said, “There is nothing more important for a child than to be raised in a supporting and loving family. A family is where children are taught values that serve as the foundation of lifelong decisions, where they gain a sense of belonging and find confidence in themselves. For more than a decade, tireless judges, attorneys, child advocates and hundreds of volunteers around the country dedicate National Adoption Day to changing lives. They are giving these children a permanent place to call home.”

Research and reason continue to tell us that children need stability as they grow. To that end, adoption has the power to forever impact the life and future success of a child.

“For children in foster care, stability is critical. National Adoption Day reminds us of our commitment and duty to the hundreds of thousands of foster children who are waiting for the stability of a permanent and loving home,” said Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.).

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), founder and co-chairman of the Senate Caucus on Foster Youth, said, “Thousands of children are adopted on this day every year. And the day draws attention to the many other children who are waiting for a permanent family. Adoption not only brings these children the immediate benefits of a loving family, but it also gives them a greater chance at educational opportunities and future success than if they age out of foster care without a permanent connection. I appreciate the work of advocates, adoptive parents and young people whose commitment brings families together.”

Personally aware of how significant adoption can be to the life of a child and to a family, Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) shares, “Adoption creates a family where none existed before. My wife and I have two amazing sons and the family we prayed for thanks to the miracle of adoption and two mothers who chose life. Cathy and I now can’t imagine what our lives used to be like. Because every child needs the security of a loving family, that is my prayer for this National Adoption Day.”

“Families are the cornerstone of our communities and I applaud each and every family that has opened their homes and their hearts to children in need,” said Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.). “Adoption enriches lives immeasurably and on this National Adoption Day, thousands of children and families will learn this life-changing lesson firsthand. It is my hope that every child in need finds a permanent, loving and supportive family.”

Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.), a leader on adoption issues in the House, said, “Every child deserves to have a safe, loving and permanent home. I am truly humbled by the thousands of families who open their hearts and homes every year to adoptive children, and everyone who helps children find families through adoption. I proudly support the work of initiatives like National Adoption Day and National Adoption Month that help bring awareness to the need to continue to improve our adoption and foster care systems.”

“As a supporter of National Adoption Day, I believe that every child deserves a loving family with parents to guide them through their childhood. National Adoption Day is a celebration of committed individuals and families willing to step up and provide a loving, caring and supportive home for a foster child. Let us therefore celebrate the endless efforts of child care advocates, and our courageous children waiting in the foster care system,” said Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.). “I encourage everyone to help make the dream of belonging to a permanent family a reality.”

For the press release, please click here.

Orphan Sunday

On Sunday, November 7th people across the globe united for one cause, to stand for the orphan.  The movement, officially named Orphan Sunday, began in Zambia, was brought to the United States in 2003, and is now led by the Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO). Orphan Sunday exists to encourage the faith-based community to look beyond themselves and listen to God’s call to care for the orphan.

Hundreds of Orphan Sunday related events took place, whether it was a sermon, prayer meeting, concert, or fundraiser, with one goal in mind, to stir people’s hearts to care for, love and protect the orphan. One Orphan Sunday participant, Capital Life Church in Washington, DC, dedicated the entire Sunday service to orphan awareness and spearheaded a donation drive to collect goods for Mother Teresa’s Sisters of Charity orphanage in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Friday before Orphan Sunday, Heartwork, an orphan ministry located in Colorado Springs, along with CAFO held an event devoted to prayer, worship and rousing attendees to care for orphans in their distress.

Trends in international adoptions from Ethiopia

Last week, I was reading an AP article on international adoption by David Crary that examined how Ethiopia’s adoption trend is in stark contrast to many other countries.  Crary highlighted that in 2004 when international adoptions peaked in the U.S., Ethiopia only accounted for 284 adoptions.  In 2010, the U.S. Department of State projects adoptions from Ethiopia will total 2,500.  At the same time, international adoptions in general have fell about 50% since 2004.

Ethiopia emerged in 2006 as one of the top five sending countries, which was the first time an African nation was in the top five.  Since then, the number of Ethiopian children adopted by U.S. families has steadily increased.  As Ethiopian adoptions have increased, China has implemented strict international adoption regulations and promoted domestic adoption within China, resulting in Ethiopia being near surpassing China and becoming the top sending country.

Last month, CCAI led a Congressional delegation to Ethiopia to meet with government leaders in an effort to build relationships between the U.S. and Ethiopia and ultimately promote positive adoption and orphan care policy.  As a result of the trip, Crary’s article states that Ambassador Susan Jacobs, Special Advisor for Children’s Issues for the U.S. Department of State, said that she was encouraged by meeting officials in Ethiopia because they are willing to work with the U.S.  This is important as Ethiopia is not yet party to the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption.

This increase in international adoptions from Ethiopia is not specific to the U.S.  While the U.S. is the most popular receiving country from Ethiopia, across the board adoptions from Ethiopia have increased.  Trailing the U.S., France adopted 445 Ethiopian orphans in 2009, followed by Italy (346 adoptions), the Netherlands (39 adoptions), Sweden (37 adoptions), and Finland (17 adoptions).

Per capita, Sweden is ranked number 1 for the number of international adoptions from any country according to their population.  Italy, France, and Finland all have higher per capita international adoption rates.  The U.S. is ranked 12th, even though by the numbers, significantly more children are adopted by U.S. families than any other country.

this is my family project

About a month ago, PBS aired three POV documentary films that each focused on a different adoptive family and their unique adoption experience.  To continue with their work on the issue of adoption, they recently launched the This Is My Family campaign to encourage all adoptive families to submit their own adoption stories.  Read their information about the campaign below:

If you’re anything like us, you’ve got more videos and photographs about your family than you know what to do with. This is your chance to dig into your home movie collection and send us your stories! There’s nothing to lose and it’s free to enter, and you might win an iPad or iPhone Touch.

As part of POV’s Adoption Stories project, we want to hear real stories about real families, from people like you! Tell us why your family is special and what they mean to you.

Submit your videos now: just send us a link to your YouTube videos, upload directly through your computer camera or cellphone, or add a photo to our Flickr group at This is My Family. Videos will be reviewed by a special panel of judges, including fillmmakers, entertainers, journalists and adoption experts.

If you are over the age of 14, we invite you to share your story with the world by submitting a short video (under 5 minutes) to This Is My Family. Some questions to think about: How do you define “family”? What makes your family special? What are your favorite family activities? When did you first start thinking your family was different, and how do you feel about it now? The deadline is November 15, 2010.

It’s National Adoption Month!

November is National Adoption Month (NAM)!  This year marks the 16th anniversary of NAM, which grew out of the need to raise awareness about the need for adoptive families for children in foster care.  Organizations and families across the country will be doing their part to celebrate this important month.  Be sure to check out some unique ways others are using National Adoption Month to promote foster care adoption.  Be sure to get involved!

  • National Adoption Day will take place on November 20th.  Be sure get involved in your local event and invite your governor, mayor, legislator, or Member of Congress to attend your community’s event.  This is a great way to attract media attention and further raise awareness about the need for foster care adoption.
  • Bryan Samuels, Commissioner of the Administration for Children and Families, sent a Dear Colleague to encourage individuals across the country to use November as an opportunity to raise awareness about the the almost 115,000 children who are eligible for adoption and currently waiting in foster care for a family.
  • Adoption.com prepared a calendar giving supporters ideas for celebrating each day of National Adoption Month.
  • Encourage your church to celebrate Orphan Sunday on November 7th.
  • Contact your elected officials and ask them to get involved in efforts surrounding foster care adoption this month.  Refer their staff to CCAI’s elected official resource guide.

Don’t let November be the end of your commitment to this issue.  Sign up for CCAI’s newsletter to stay updated year-round about foster care adoption.