News & Notes

November/December 2009

National Adoption Day

On National Adoption Day, this year on November 21, communities in all 50 states will hold courtroom celebrations to finalize more than 4,000 adoptions of children from foster care. Hundreds of judges, attorneys, agencies, adoption professionals, and child advocates volunteer their time to complete the adoptions.

The National Adoption Day Coalition named Nia Vardalos as its 2009 National Adoption Day spokesperson. The writer and actress is an advocate for U.S. foster care adoption. She  and her husband, Ian Gomez, adopted their daughter from foster care in 2008.

In an exclusive interview with AF, Vardalos said, "I've realized that the reason it took me so long to be a parent, and the reason I had such incredible success with My Big Fat Greek Wedding, was so that I could use my big mouth to talk about foster care." Read her story here.

A TB Regulation Victory

James Scruggs and Candace Litchford found themselves advocating for public policy changes after they traveled to China to adopt their daughter, Harper, and were not permitted to bring her home. Due to regulations for tuberculosis (TB) testing imposed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2007, Harper, who tested positive but was undergoing treatment, was required to remain in China for two months.

Children undergoing treatment for the TB virus are rarely contagious. The regulations held adopted children to a higher standard than children born to American parents in another country, or even to tourists. Families adopting from Ethiopia, the Philippines, and other countries have also been affected by the regulations.

Fortunately, Harper received a waiver to come home. And thanks to advocacy from the Scruggs and the Joint Council on International Children's Services (JCICS), on September 18, the CDC revised its regulations for children ages 10 and under. Read the revised regulations at cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/panel_2007.htm. 

Adoptees Advocate for Open Records

More than 100 adoptees and birthparents protested for access to original birth certificates outside of the National Conference of State Legislatures meeting, in Philadelphia, in July, according to a July 22 article in the Philadelphia Inquirer. They advocated state law changes to give adult adoptees the right to access their original birth certificates.

Singing from the Heart

Opera singer and adoptive mom Barbara Padilla was named runner-up on the September finale of America's Got Talent, on NBC. A Hodgkin's lymphoma survivor, Padilla told viewers about the effects of her cancer treatments, which included infertility. She and her husband wanted to adopt a child, but could not afford to do so, until a relative of a friend, who was not able to parent, chose Padilla and her husband as the adoptive parents of one-year-old Elizabeth.

Program Promotes Adoptions

"Wednesday's Child," a segment on KTTV FOX 11, in Los Angeles, recently helped coordinate its 220th adoption. Since 1995, FOX 11 has worked with the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Each week anchor Christine Devine profiles children looking for families to call their own. With the support and sponsorship of the Freddie Mac Foundation, the program has helped hundreds of foster children find the love and security of a permanent family.

International Update

CHINA The China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) announced on September 15 that, beginning December 1, all adoptive families must be registered with a Hague-accredited adoption service provider (ASP). If an adoptive family is currently registered with a non-accredited ASP, they are required to transfer their adoption to a Hague-accredited ASP no later than December 1. Families currently using the I-600A and I-600 process (non-Hague) may continue with this process.

GUATEMALA In an effort to improve communication with families who have pending adoption cases in Guatemala, the Department of State will be creating a listserv. If you have a pending Guatemala adoption case and would like to be included, e-mail AskCI@state.gov, and provide the information listed at adoption.state.gov/guatemala.html.

LIBERIA The Government of Liberia informed the U.S. Embassy in September that it will not process any adoption cases during its suspension of intercountry adoptions, including those that were in progress before the suspension was announced, on January 26, 2009, and that it will not permit adopted children to depart Liberia. The Liberian government has made no provisions to grandfather cases under the existing laws. Therefore, any case in which a full and final adoption was not completed prior to January 26 is on hold. The Liberian government is willing to consider exceptions for certain special needs children. There is no indication when the moratorium might be lifted, and prospective parents should not apply to adopt there at this time.

September/October 2009

Adoption Benefits Cut

Support for adoptive parents is becoming one of the first benefits to be cut as employers examine their budgets in the recession, according to a July 16 article in the Wall Street Journal. Adoption assistance is regarded as a "feel-good benefit"--it gives the company a family-friendly image, and it's cheap to provide, since just 0.1 percent of workers take advantage of it, according to Hewitt Associates. But as the recession brings tighter budgets, it's being cut, along with benefits like child care services and scholarships for employees' children. Just 10 percent of employers now offer adoption assistance, down from 22 percent in 2006, according to a February survey by the Society for Human Resource Management. Read "Targeting ‘Feel-Good' Benefits" at wsj.com. To encourage your employer to instate--or keep--adoption assistance, adapt our sample letter at adoptivefamilies.com/pdf/instantletter.

Families Improve Children's Development

Children should be placed into family care at the earliest age possible, says The Bucharest Study, a five-year examination of institutional care in Romania. Researchers from Harvard, Tulane, and the University of Maryland studied whether foster care could remediate the detrimental effects of institutional care, including delays in development and behavioral problems. The researchers found that placing the children in families resulted in improved cognitive, emotional, and behavioral development. The greatest improvements in IQ and development came when a child was placed with a family before age two.

Grants Make Adoption Possible

As many families are putting adoption dreams on hold during this recession, eight deserving families learned that their dreams are possible, thanks in part to Helpusadopt.org. On June 1, the company awarded a total of $50,000 in adoption grants to eight recipients, five married couples and three single women. Founded by adoptive parents Kipp and Becky Fawcett, the nonprofit has helped bring 24 children home since its inception in 2007. Helpusadopt.org's fourth round of grants will be awarded in December. An application is posted on helpusadopt.org, and the deadline for submissions is October 16.

A Thousand Happy Kids

Wendy's Wonderful Kids, a program of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, reached its 1,000th adoption in early July. The program aims to move children in the U.S. and Canada from foster care into permanent adoptive homes, through grants to local adoption agencies for recruitment. Since the program began, in April 2004, more than 2,500 children have been matched with prospective adoptive parents, and 1,010 have been adopted. To learn more, go to davethomasfoundation.org.

The Latest from the State Department

Adoptive Families participated in the U.S. Department of State's roundtable discussion on intercountry adoption on June 29, led by Janice L. Jacobs, Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, and Michelle Thoren Bond, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Directorate for Overseas Citizens Services. Some highlights:

• The State Department plans to incorporate the results of the U.S.'s first year of participation in the Hague Convention into its website, adoption.state.gov, providing better data on timelines for waits in Hague Countries.
• Countries in which intercountry adoption is on hold, including Guatemala and Vietnam, aren't expected to reopen for another few years. Although Guatemala is completing in-process cases and working to set up a transparent, Hague-compliant process, the State Department does not anticipate intercountry adoption to reopen for several years. With Vietnam, U.S. officials expect that it will take a while before a new Memorandum of Agreement can be settled.

International Update

KYRGYZSTAN On June 5, Adoptive Families met with representatives from the Kyrgyzstan Parliament and its Prime Minister's office to discuss the future of its international and domestic adoption programs. The Kyrgyz delegation visited the U.S. as part of a State Department initiative, and met with adoption agencies, adoptive parents, and U.S. officials. The three members of the delegation are strong advocates for adoption, and we were pleased to hear of their two goals:

1. To join the Hague Convention. As of yet, Kyrgyzstan has not signed the Hague agreement, but the Parliament members indicated that their visit to the U.S. proved to them that a transparent process is vital to intercountry adoption.
2. To explore the benefits of increased openness. In Kyrgyzstan, domestic adoption is common, but is surrounded in secrecy. Children are not usually told that they joined their families through adoption, and, if they are, they are told when they are teens or young adults. After meeting with adoptive parents in the U.S., and hearing how openness truly benefits the child, the members intend to speak with adoption professionals in Kyrgyzstan and explore the idea of openness.

We were also thrilled to hear that they loved Adoptive Families and hope to begin a similar magazine in Kyrgyzstan!

NEPAL After a two-year closure, Nepal announced new procedures for intercountry adoption in May, during a presentation by Nepal's WCS Ministry to the U.S. and other embassies in Katmandu. Under the new regulations, single women older than 35 and married couples may now adopt. Parents must travel once, with an expected in-country stay of three weeks. Families will be required to submit post-placement reports until the child turns 18. Read more about the new process at adoptivefamilies.com/newsticker. Late last year, Nepal approved 32 agencies in the U.S. to process intercountry adoptions. Each agency is permitted to complete 10 adoptions each year.

July/August 2009

Make the Tax Credit Permanent

The adoption tax credit--which currently lets families claim up to $12,150 per adoption--is set to expire in December 2010. Fortunately, there is a bill before Congress that would prevent the credit from being repealed and may make it permanent. Encourage your representatives to sign The Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act of 2009, H.R. 213 (find their contact information at writerep.house.gov).

Discrimination May Trigger Depression

Children who experience racial or ethnic discrimination are more likely to have symptoms of mental health disorders, including depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and conduct disorder, according to a new study from UCLA, published in the May issue of American Journal of Public Health. Fifteen percent of the children surveyed said they experienced discrimination, with most of these encounters occurring at school. The researchers encourage parents to watch for symptoms, and to go for regular checkups. Go to adoptivefamilies.com/transracial for resources on parenting a child of another race.

Rapping for Records

What rhymes with "adoption"? Rapper Darryl McDaniels, of Run-DMC, and singer-songwriter Zara Phillips may have puzzled over this as they wrote a new song called "I'm Legit." The two musicians, both adoptees, collaborated to raise awareness of a bill before the New Jersey state senate that would allow adult adoptees access to their original birth records. Nine other states are currently considering similar legislation. "Knowing who you are is about health, happiness--a human right," McDaniels told The New York Times. Check out the song at youbloom.com/web/zaradmc.

Adoption-Friendly Workplaces

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption recently released its third annual 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces list. Topping the list was Wendy's International, which provides up to $24,300 in financial assistance and six weeks paid leave to employees who adopt. Citizen's Financial Group, LSI Corporation, United Business Media, and Liquidnet rounded out the top five. See the full list at davethomasfoundation.org. Learn how to encourage your company to institute adoption benefits at adoptivefamilies.com/topcompanies.

Pageant Winner Promotes Adoption

Courtni Hall demonstrated beauty inside and out when she won the Miss Indiana competition and went on to compete for the Miss USA title. Hall was adopted from India at five months old, and is using her title to promote adoption awareness as a spokesperson for Children's Hope International.

International Update

VIETNAM As of May 1, the government of Vietnam has stated its intention to introduce new adoption legislation and to institute reforms in its adoption process. The new legislation and regulations may take effect in 2011. However, establishing new procedures may take longer, so prospective parents are advised against applying for new referrals. Vietnam is still working to complete in-process cases.

CHINA As prospective parents experience longer waits, Time magazine reported on the decrease in China adoptions (3,909 in 2008, compared to 7,906 in 2005). Its investigation summarized the major reasons for the smaller numbers: stricter regulations that exclude singles and those who do not meet medical and financial qualifications; an increase in domestic placements, as adoption becomes more socially accepted and economically feasible in-country; and a backlog of applications, as Chinese officials ensure a transparent process. Read the April 28 article, "Why Americans Are Adopting Fewer Kids from China," at time.com.

May/June 2009

Big Steps Toward Better Care for Waiting Kids

In February, President Obama signed two pieces of legislation that will provide more health care coverage for children in foster care. The first expands the State Children's Health Insurance Program to cover an additional four million uninsured children. The second, called the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, increases the federal match to states by 6.2 percent in both Medicaid and Title IV-E foster-care payments, with an additional $2.8 billion for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

Best Practices for Assisted Reproductive Technology

The Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute released a new policy brief in February on assisted reproductive technology (ART), noting that the ART community could learn from adoption. The Institute believes that, like adopted children, children created through ART benefit both emotionally and medically from knowing about their origins. In addition, the Institute feels that ART should follow the lead of adoption, and develop a child-focused perspective.

Hepatitis A Shot for International Adopters

An advisory panel to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends hepatitis A vaccinations to anyone who comes into close contact with children arriving from countries where the disease is common, including Guatemala, China, Russia, and Ethiopia. Although international adoptees are linked to fewer than 1,000 of the estimated 32,000 cases of hepatitis A infection that occur annually in the U.S., it's a worthwhile precaution against the potentially fatal illness.

Finally, a Forever Family

It's never too late to find a family. That's what Alice Jones discovered, when, at age 36, she was formally adopted by Kate Held, a longtime friend and mother figure. According to a February 6 article in the Austin American-Statesman, Jones spent 16 years of her childhood in the foster-care system before aging out without a family. Her journey to adoption began last year, at a charity fundraiser, where she met Tracy Eilers, executive director of the Adoption Coalition of Texas. Eilers, an advocate for teens in foster care and an adoptive mom herself, understood Jones's need for family and encouraged her to pursue adoption. "The pain doesn't go away at some miraculous age," Eilers said to the American-Statesman. Though Jones was hesitant at first, Held reassured her that it was a wonderful idea. They officially became mother and daughter on February 6.

International Update

INDIA Beginning April 1, all adoption processing in India was centralized in New Delhi. U.S. officials have a long-established relationship with India's Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) in New Delhi, so the change should create a smoother intercountry adoption process.

KYRGYZSTAN In February, U.S. Embassy officials in Kyrgyzstan met with the Vice Prime Minister's Office regarding the 65 in-process intercountry adoption cases and the future of intercountry adoptions. Police there are looking into accusations of "child buying" for intercountry adoption, and the investigation has temporarily put a halt to in-process adoptions. At press time, it was not known when those cases would resume. Prospective adopters are encouraged not to begin applications to Kyrgyzstan.

RUSSIA In March, a resolution in the Russian Duma calling for the suspension of intercountry adoption was overwhelmingly voted down, by 450 to 129 votes. The Duma then passed a resolution to develop a new intercountry adoption agreement with the U.S.

VIETNAM From March 24 to April 2, a delegation from Vietnam met with the Joint Council on International Children's Services to discuss possibilities for an interim agreement, until a Memorandum of Agreement is signed. At press time, no policy changes had been made.

March/April 2009

A Vote for All Parents

The election of President Barack Obama may lead to expanded adoption rights for gay prospective parents. The following statement was posted to whitehouse.gov on Inauguration Day: “President Obama believes that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. He thinks that a child will benefit from a healthy and loving home, whether the parents are gay or not.” Hear, hear!

It’s Tax Time!

Parents who finalized an adoption in 2008 may claim a maximum credit of $11,650 for adoption expenses on their federal income tax returns. The tax credit phases out for taxpayers with high adjusted gross incomes (above $174,730).

Qualifying expenses include necessary adoption fees, court costs, attorney fees, traveling expenses, and other expenses directly related to the adoption. Adoptive parents who plan to claim the credit should file Form 8839, titled Qualified Adoption Expenses, and attach it to Form 1040. To learn more and download required forms, visit irs.gov/taxtopics/tc607.html.

An Online Community

Whether you’re searching for a service provider or you want to rave about one, check out Adoptipedia, the new Wiki site from the Joint Council on International Children’s Services. You’ll find reviews of counselors, medical clinics, and other post-adoption services, written by adoptive parents. And you can expand the site by posting information about resources that have helped your family. Go to jcicswiki.sendr.org/bin/view.

Korean Adoptees Offered Dual Citizenship

The Korean Justice Ministry may begin offering Korean adoptees access to dual citizenship, making it easier for them to live and work in the country, according to an article in The Korea Herald, on December 30. The ministry hopes to attract new business and talent to Korea. However, male applicants must complete the two years of military service that is required of all Korean men. At press time, the government had not yet released information about when the policy will take effect.

International Update

LIBERIA The government of Liberia suspended processing of intercountry adoptions on January 26, on the recommendation of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s Special Committee on Adoption. According to an official statement, the processing of adoptions was suspended due to mismanagement and abuse at Liberian orphanages. Adoptions are expected to resume later this year, after new guidelines have been established.

NEPAL The Nepal’s Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare established new procedures for processing adoptions, as of January 1, and released names of 32 agencies in the U.S. that would be approved to conduct intercountry adoptions once the procedures are in place. Nepal suspended intercountry adoptions in 2007 because of serious fraud. Under the new regulations, only 10 applications will be processed from each agency in 2009. (See adoption.state.gov/news/nepal.html for the list of approved agencies.) There is no provision to permit families who have already begun an adoption to be “grandfathered” under the previous regulations. Parents should be aware that the current transition period will likely bring delays.

January/February 2009

A Drop in International Adoptions

The number of intercountry adoptions to the U.S. fell 12 percent in the past year—from 19,613 to 17,438—to reach the lowest level since 1999, according to data from the U.S. Department of State. The largest drop was from China, due to tighter restrictions on foreign adoptions. Ethiopia adoptions, however, are on the rise, and experts expect increases in other African and Latin American countries in the next year.

Top 10 countries
2007:                                      2008:
China 5,453                             Guatemala 4,123
Guatemala 4,728                     China 3,909 
Russia 2,310                           Russia 1,861
Ethiopia 1,255                         Ethiopia 1,725
Korea 939                               Korea 1,065
Vietnam 828                            Vietnam 751
Ukraine 606                             Ukraine 457
Kazakhstan 540                       Kazakhstan 380
India 416                                 India 307
Liberia 314                              Colombia 306  

Keeping Our Kids Healthy

Is it just a sniffle or something serious? Sort out your child’s symptoms with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ new booklet for parents of internationally adopted children, which includes a checklist to take to the first post-adoption checkup. Download “A Healthy Beginning” at adoptivefamilies.com/medical.

Open Hearts

Open adoptions clearly benefit kids, according to a small study reported in the journal Families in Society. All of the families in the study who had some degree of openness reported that openness has a positive impact on their children. The families acknowledged that, while relationships do change over time, they are committed to maintaining contact.

Around the Country

ARKANSAS The state has voted to ban unmarried couples from becoming foster or adoptive parents. While the ruling applies to all unmarried cohabitating couples, it was intended to prevent gay couples from fostering and adopting children. Arkansas joins Utah as the second state to ban unmarried couples from becoming foster or adoptive parents.

FLORIDA A Miami-Dade circuit court judge ruled that the state law blocking gay people from adopting is unconstitutional, declaring there was no legal or scientific reason why sexual orientation alone should prohibit anyone from adopting. At press time, the state was planning to file an appeal on the decision.

MAINE Adoptees over 18 can obtain their original sealed birth certificates, thanks to a new law. Current birth certificates list only the adoptive parents, but the original certificates include the biological parents’ names.

NEBRASKA The state’s Safe Haven law, which had permitted parents to hand children up to age 18 over to state custody, was revised in November and limited to infants up to 30 days old. Since the law was enacted, in September, 35 older children were dropped off at hospitals by parents who said the children were uncontrollable, highlighting the fact that resources are too limited for parents with troubled teens.

International Update

Check out the U.S. Department of State’s new website for intercountry adoption information: adoption.state.gov.

CHINA The orphanage donation, which is a mandatory expense when adopting from China, increased from $3,000 to approximately $5,100 as of January 1. Adoption experts worry about the added financial burden to families during these tough economic times.

ETHIOPIA The Ethiopian Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MOWA) now requires additional documentation, in the form of an authenticated letter, for adoption cases in which a living birthparent has placed a child in an orphanage. MOWA believes the new requirement will result in fewer fraudulent cases. Unfortunately, it is also likely to lead to delays in the processing of cases that involve living birthparents.

KYRGYZSTAN The U.S. Department of State recommends caution in pursuing adoption from Kyrgyzstan. A number of prospective adoptive parents have reported that their cases are not being processed. The government of Kyrgyzstan appears to be considering new legislation on adoptions, but as of press time, no new regulations have been released.

NEPAL The Nepalese government has released a list of 58 approved adoption agencies (32 of them in the U.S.). New intercountry adoptions have been closed since May 2007. In May 2008, the Nepalese government approved new regulations for intercountry adoptions, but it is still not known when it will begin processing new adoptions.

November/December 2008

Trends in Adoption

New results from the National Center for Health Statistics' National Survey of Family Growth reveal some surprising facts about who is adopting now:

• A third of women have considered adoption—up from just a quarter in 1995. What's more, the number of women currently seeking to adopt has nearly doubled—from 0.9 percent in 1995 to 1.6 percent now.
• Men adopt twice as often as women—2.3 percent of men versus 1.1 percent of women have adopted a child. Researchers think there are two possible causes. First, men who marry divorced or widowed women may adopt their wives' children; and, second, gay male couples adopt more often than gay female couples.

Beyond PSAs

We know the power of a great commercial to make us want to buy a particular brand of shampoo or eat at a restaurant. But can a flashy ad promote adoption, too? That's what the state of Florida is hoping. As part of the state's "Explore Adoption" initiative, several TV commercials and radio spots implore viewers to consider giving a permanent home to children in foster care. The ads focus on older children and sibling groups, and are targeted toward empty nesters, whose homes are "too quiet" now. If the spots help more kids find forever families, we won't change the channel.

Granting Relief

The expenses of adoption can be a burden to prospective parents—sometimes even prohibitive. That's where HelpUsAdopt.org comes in. This financial grant assistance program awards $500 to $15,000 in aid to couples and individuals wanting to adopt. Founders Becky and Kipp Fawcett are adoptive parents themselves, and they know firsthand the high costs of adoption—which are even more burdensome after expensive infertility treatments. Go to helpusadopt.org to apply for a grant or make a donation.

More Aid for Foster Children and Families

Good news for foster kids and families: Congress recently passed a measure that increases incentives for adoption, particularly for families who adopt older children, sibling groups, or kids with special needs. It also increases financial support for relatives of children in the system, and extends aid and resources for children from the current age of 18 to 21, to help them better transition into adult life.

International Update

GUATEMALA The National Council on Adoption (CNA) has stopped accepting new cases. The halt was put in place to enable CNA to complete current cases and to establish Hague guidelines. The halt is expected to end by January 2009.

VIETNAM On September 1, the Memorandum of Agreement regarding international adoption between the U.S. and Vietnam expired. Although the country is currently closed to new applicants, the government of Vietnam has issued a formal diplomatic note to the U.S. requesting to begin negotiations toward a new agreement.

COLOMBIA In light of a judicial strike that began in September 2008, as of press time, many families are reporting extended in-country stays—eight to 10 weeks rather than the typical four weeks.

UKRAINE New legislation introduces the following changes to adoption law:

• Prospective adoptive parents must be at least 21 years old.
• The maximum age difference between parents and children is 45 years.
• Unmarried foreign couples are not permitted to adopt Ukrainian children.

September/October 2008

Mom’s depression affects children

A study of environmental risk factors for depression has found that adolescents, regardless of adoption status, are more likely to become depressed if their mother has previously been diagnosed with the condition.

Researchers conducted clinical interviews with 568 adoptees and 416 non-adoptees, and their parents, to identify those with diagnoses of psychiatric disorders. Adolescents in both groups faced a significantly higher risk of developing major depression and disruptive disorders if the mother had been diagnosed with depression. In contrast, paternal depression was not associated with an increased risk for psychopathology in either group.

Previous studies on risk factors for depression have documented genetic links; this newest research underscores the strong effect of environmental influences. The study was published in the June 2008 issue of American Journal of Psychology.

“Model Minority” myth debunked

In a new report, based on data from the U.S. Census and the Department of Education, the College Board challenges the pervasive, and detrimental, perceptions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) as “model minorities.”

Findings include:

• AAPI students pursue a broad range of interests, rather than clustering in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math.
• The majority of the students is not concentrated within a few elite institutions, but in primarily public institutions (two- and four-year colleges).
• Educational backgrounds vary widely. Hmong, Cambodian, and Laotian adults in the U.S. often do not finish high school, while Indians and Pakistanis typically earn a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Read the report, and the College Board’s recommendations for improving policies and practices, at collegeboard.com.

Early deprivation may affect growth

Recent research finds that deprivation during the first year of life can have a lasting effect on physical growth—highlighting the importance of early nutrition. The study, published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, tracked the growth and development of 70 girls, adopted from China, who had spent their first year (on average) in orphanage care.

Most girls caught up with the control group of non-adopted peers by the end of their second year home, but they remain smaller in height, weight, and head circumference. Learn more about raising a healthy baby at adoptivefamilies.com/medical.

In defense of MEPA

Opponents say such a change could complicate the process for those waiting to find forever families. Since the report’s release, a number of adoption attorneys and advocates have pushed for continued transracial placements, along with more comprehensive parent education.

July/August 2008

New study looks at the birthparent-adoptive family match

An ongoing national study of birthparents and adoptive families, most of them matched, has already yielded some surprising discoveries about the open adoption process. The study, supported by several institutes within the National Institutes of Health, began in infancy and the researchers will continue to follow a sample of 359 birthmothers, 114 birthfathers, and 360 adoptive families until the children are seven. They have also collected data on several hundred additional birthparents and adoptive families to help increase our understanding of the adoption process.

The Early Growth and Development Study, currently led by researchers at The Pennsylvania State University, the Oregon Social Learning Center, and the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Child Development, is the first of its kind to look at both the adoption process and the influence of heredity vs. family environment on childhood development. (Watch for an in-depth report in an upcoming issue of AF.)

One interesting finding from the preliminary data: When researchers asked birthparents why they chose a particular adoptive family, educational opportunities for the child and a close marital relationship far outranked shared physical characteristics, a similar family type, or the same religious background in importance.

Study finds slightly higher mental-health risk in adoptees

The most recent data from the ongoing Sibling Interaction and Behavior Study (SIBS) reveal that U.S. adolescents who were adopted as infants (before age two) face a slightly greater risk than non-adoptees of developing behavioral and emotional problems, including ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder, and anxiety. The authors emphasize that the risk is only moderately higher. On the whole, they say, most adopted adolescents are psychologically healthy.

The study shows that domestic placements were at greater risk for mental-health disorders than were international adoptees, an anomaly that researchers speculate may be attributed to genetic predisposition to mental-health problems or prenatal substance exposure. Follow-up assessments will investigate whether the risk continues past adolescence into adulthood. Although previous studies have focused on adoptees' mental health, most have studied children placed at older ages, or failed to distinguish between infant and older-child adoptions.

The study was published in the May 2008 Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

Top adoption-friendly employers named

Workplaces with the best adoption benefits were recognized by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption in its second annual Top 100 list. (See the full list at davethomasfoundation.org.) The rankings, compiled from surveys of 919 U.S. employers, are based on the amount of financial reimbursement and length of paid leave per adoption. Top-ranked Wendy’s offers up to $23,300 in financial assistance and six weeks paid leave, while 53rd-ranked Deutsche Bank offers $5,000 and 16 weeks.

According to the foundation, more than 50 organizations have newly established or enhanced their adoption benefits in the past year.

Want to help your employer get on board? Adapt the sample letter you’ll find at adoptivefamilies.com/topcompanies to ask that benefits be introduced or expanded.

Call for greater focus on race in U.S. foster placements

A recent report released by the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute calls into question the “color-blind” approach to adoptive placements from foster care mandated by the Multiethnic Placement Act. The findings highlight the need for parents considering transracial adoption to receive more thorough pre-adoption education.

Read the full report at adoptioninstitute.org.

Adoptee returns to Korea…with Celine Dion

A backup dancer in Celine Dion’s world tour cast took center stage recently, marking her first return to South Korea since her adoption as a toddler. Introduced by the singer at the conclusion of a performance in Seoul, in March, Addie Yungmee George smiled and greeted the audience of more than 8,000 fans, who responded with a resounding welcome that moved the 34-year-old adoptee to tears.

George later said that, if she could meet her birthmother, she would say, "Thank you."

May/June 2008

More Americans adopting domestically

A USA Today survey of many of the largest adoption agencies in the United States revealed that the numbers of inquiries, homestudies, and placements for U.S. children have risen in the past year. Adoption professionals attribute the shift to growing waits and uncertainty in the adoption process in some sending countries.

Increasingly, prospective parents are considering not just domestic newborn adoptions, but transracial, foster, special-needs, and older-child adoptions, as well.

May is National Foster Care Month

This will be the twentieth year that Seattle-based Casey Family Programs helps turn attention to the half a million children in foster care. Casey salutes the foster families, social workers, and advocates who care for these children, and underscores their need for greater support.

• 513,000 American children are in foster care.
• Their average age is 10 years old.
• The average stay in the foster system is over a year.
• Each year 20,000 18-year-olds "age out" of foster care.

Sean McAdam, of Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, is one teen who’s been making a difference. The 13-year-old, who was adopted from foster care at age three, has since helped his family nurture more than 100 foster children. McAdam’s efforts were recently recognized with a 2008 Prudential Spirit of Community Award.

Adoption benefits on the rise

Almost half of major companies in the U.S. offer some adoption assistance, up from 12 percent in 1990. The average reimbursement provided by employers is $4,700—nearly twice that offered five years ago— and the average leave time is five weeks, according to a 2007 survey from the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Companies are finding that providing adoption benefits makes them more competitive, and that they gain a significant return on their investment overall.

For more on lobbying your employer for adoption benefits, go to adoptivefamilies.com/topcompanies.

Safe haven laws passed in all 50 states

Legislatures in Alaska and Nebraska recently passed "safe haven" laws, allowing a parent to anonymously relinquish an infant in a specified location. It has been estimated that nearly 1,000 infants have been legally abandoned since the first safe haven law was established (in Texas, in 1999).

Some experts in the adoption community have spoken out against the laws, arguing that they do not treat the causes of infant abandonment, and that they contradict many of the "best practices" in child welfare law, such as offering counseling to birthmothers.

First efforts made to reconvene child-welfare conference

The White House Conference on Children and Youth, established in 1909, hasn’t convened in nearly four decades. But congressmen Chaka Fattah, of Pennsylvania, and Jon Porter, of Nevada, have proposed legislation that would reconvene the conference in 2010. The conference would bring together delegates, parents, and professionals with the aim of improving child-welfare policy. Write to your representative in support of this bill at house.gov/writerep.

Intercountry adoption update

• GUATEMALA:
Now that the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption has entered into force in both the U.S. [read more] and Guatemala, new adoptions between the two countries will not be processed until Guatemala implements a Hague-compliant process. The Joint Council on International Children’s Services is working toward this goal with the Guatemalan government, but estimates that new cases will not be processed until 2009.

Until then, if the case was registered with the CNA in Guatemala before February 12, 2008 and an I600-A was filed before April 1, the adoption will continue to be processed.

For more news on Guatemala adoption, go to travel.state.gov and jcics.org.

• REPUBLIC OF CONGO:
The Republic of congo lifted its ban on intercountry adoption, which the government instituted last October. Going forward, the Congolese government hopes to maintain better oversight of the adoption process.

• KOREA:
Individuals who were adopted from SOUTH Korea and naturalized in the U.S. before age 18 must register the loss of their nationality through the Korean Consulate General to avoid being mistakenly drafted for military service, which is required for Korean men.

• VIETNAM:
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in Ho Chi Minh City has announced a DNA testing requirement for intercountry adoptions from Vietnam. Adopting parents will be responsible for the cost of the mandatory test, which serves to verify that a child is eligible for adoption by establishing a biological relationship with the relinquishing parent. Similar tests have been required for years in the Guatemala adoption process.

March/April 2008

Children do best in families

Data from a Macarthur Foundation-sponsored study confirm a belief long held by adoption experts: Children raised in families have higher cognitive skills than those raised in orphanages.

The study was launched in the late 1990s, when U.S. researchers persuaded officials in Romania to randomly assign 136 children abandoned at birth to either continue to live in one of the country’s six large orphanages or to live with a foster family. The average IQ of children raised in biological families was 109, compared to 81 for those in foster care and 73 for those raised in orphanages. The earlier a child joined a foster family, the better he fared.

While the study has been criticized for researching a question to which the answer seemed obvious, previous attempts to compare orphanage and foster care were flawed. Experts hope that the findings will support streamlined adoption procedures, so that children may be placed with families as quickly as possible.

The study was published in the December 1, 2007, issue of Science. Read more at sciencemag.org.

U.S. ratifies the Hague Convention

As of December 12, 2007, the United States is a full member of the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption. This international adoption agreement is set to go into effect in the U.S. on April 1, 2008. After that date, all adoptions between the U.S. and other Hague countries, including China, Guatemala, India, and Thailand, must be completed in accordance with the treaty (for a full list of "Hague countries," go to hcch.e-vision.nl/index_en.php?act=conventions.status&cid=69).

Adoptions from countries that haven’t joined the Hague Convention, such as Ethiopia and South Korea, will continue as before. As this issue went to press, the State Department announced the imminent publication of the list of agencies accredited to process adoptions from Hague countries. Stay up to date at http://adoption.state.gov/hague/overview.html. 

Intercountry adoption update

• ETHIOPIA: Warning against pre-adoption birthparent contact.
In response to a letter from the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa, circulated to adoption agencies in January, some agencies have announced they will no longer facilitate birth family contact. The letter emphasized the fact that, under U.S. immigration law, a child must meet stringent requirements in order to qualify as an “orphan” by virtue of abandonment. A child’s biological parents must have surrendered all rights and have no ongoing “parental interest” in that child. Relinquishment for the purpose of adoption, with expectation of ongoing contact or financial support, does not qualify as abandonment.

Ethiopian adoption authorities require that abandoned (as opposed to relinquished) children reside in an orphanage for three months without birth family contact before becoming eligible for adoption.

• VIETNAM: Field investigation program launched.
Citing cases of fraudulent or altered documents, and the placement of children for adoption without birthparent consent, the U.S. State Department announced in December that it will verify the eligibility of children identified for placement before their adoptions are finalized in Vietnam. Adopting parents are advised not to travel before receiving notice from the U.S. Embassy that their case has been approved. The U.S. State Department is working with the government of Vietnam to establish a “more transparent adoption process, with the safeguards necessary to protect children, birth and adoptive parents.” Prospective adopters are cautioned that acceptable new procedures may not be in place by September 2008, when the existing Memorandum of Agreement authorizing adoptions between the two countries expires. Read this and other updates on Vietnam at http://adoption.state.gov/country/vietnam.html.

• UKRAINE: 2008 U.S. adoption quota announced.
The Ukrainian State Department for Adoption and Protection of the Rights of the Child (SDAPRC) will accept 1,453 adoption dossier applications from all foreign adopters in calendar year 2008. There is no limit on the number of applications that may be submitted for special-needs children. Stay informed on the latest about intercountry adoption from Ukraine at www.jcics.org/Ukraine.htm. (Read official notices at http://adoption.state.gov/country/ukraine.html.) 

• KOREA: New attention to post placement.
The case of a Hong Kong-based Dutch diplomat and his wife, who relinquished their Korean-born daughter seven years after her adoption, claiming that she was “emotionally remote,” has generated outrage in Korea. Korean adoption officials are considering instituting a requirement that post-placement reports be filed with the country’s government, as well as tighter controls on private adoptions.

January/February 2008

Fewer intercountry adoptions in 2007

Last year, 19,292 children were adopted abroad by U.S. parents, down from 20,679 in 2006, and signifying a 15 percent decline in overseas adoptions over the last two years. Russia and South Korea saw fewer adoptions, as did China, which remains the top sending country, with 5,453 adoptions. Ethiopia held strong on the top-five list, with 1,255 adoptions, a dramatic climb from its 732 adoptions in 2006.

Advocates attribute the drop largely to tighter restrictions and/or greater focus on domestic adoption in some sending countries. But there is a positive: More countries are participating in adoption, signifying a growing interest in intercountry adoption, particularly in lesser-known sending countries, such as Peru and Brazil.

U.S. ratifies Hague; major source countries on various tracks

On November 16, 2007, the U.S. ratified the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, and plans to begin processing Hague-compliant adoptions on April 1, 2008. Once the treaty is in force, the new requirements will take effect for all adoptions between the U.S. and the more than 70 Convention members.

Of the top five sending countries, only China is Hague-compliant. Guatemala has reaffirmed the Convention, with a plan (at press time) to put new procedures into effect in early January, although it’s not certain how the country plans to implement them. South Korea and Ethiopia have fairly straightforward and well-established systems governing international adoptions, and, thus, have taken no steps to ratify. Adoptions from these countries will continue as non-Hague adoptions.

Adoption tax credit rises to $11,390

Parents who finalized an adoption last year may claim a maximum credit of $11,390 for adoption expenses on their federal income tax returns. The tax credit phases out for taxpayers with high modified adjusted gross incomes. Although the tax credit is set to expire in 2010, proposals to make that benefit permanent have received much legislative support.

Qualifying expenses include necessary adoption fees, court costs, attorney fees, traveling expenses, and other expenses directly related to the adoption. Adoptive parents who plan to claim the credit should file Form 8839, titled Qualified Adoption Expenses, and attach it to Form 1040. For more information and other downloads to required forms, visit http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc607.html.

Study calls for open records nationwide

New research has found that denying adult adoptees the right to access their birth records not only raises civil rights liabilities, but also creates potential risk to adoptees’ physical and mental health. The report also quashes misconceptions held by open-records opponents that allowing access might decrease adoption rates or endanger birthmothers. Armed with these findings, the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute is calling for every state to amend its laws to grant unrestricted access to original birth certificates.

Commenting on the report, rapper Darryl McDaniels (of Run-DMC) said, “Knowledge is power, and the report gives power to all of us who believe in equality and fairness.” McDaniels, an adoptee, found his birthmother through an independent search after being denied his birth records. Since then, he’s been committed to removing that roadblock for other adoptees. Read “For the Records” at adoptioninstitute.org.

Adoptive families raising resilient kids

Alert issued to Vietnam adopters

Obese man granted second adoption hearing

A Missouri man who lost 200 pounds after gastric bypass surgery has been granted a second hearing concerning the newborn he had planned to adopt. The child, Max, entered the home of Gary Stocklaufer, 35, and wife, Cynthia, at one week old, but, four months later, was placed into another home. The Stocklaufers claim the agency that handled their private adoption removed their son from their care because of Gary’s weight.

The case reflects a growing practice by some courts and adoption agencies to consider a parent’s physical health when placing children. At press time, a decision was pending, although the couple still hoped to regain custody of Max.

Florida may permit some gay adoptions

November/December 2007

U.S. foster care & adoption update

• On National Adoption Awareness Day—Saturday, November 17—U.S. courts and communities will finalize thousands of adoptions of children from foster care. In honor of the day, and throughout the month, advocates are offering updated resources on foster adoption, including a facts and figures sheet, at nationaladoptionday.org.
  
  
• Foster-care advocate Gordon Johnson, of Florida, has been awarded a $100,000 Purpose Prize by Civic Ventures, a national think tank honoring social innovators over age 60. Johnson, 74, spent much of his career protecting abused and neglected children, and, in 1998, formed Neighbor to Family (neighbortofamily.org), a nonprofit agency that keeps siblings together in foster care.
  
  
• Congress has passed an education bill under which older kids adopted from foster care would remain eligible for college loans and grants. The Fostering Adoption to Further Student Achievement Act, which was pending presidential approval at time of press, aims to encourage older-child adoption by lessening the burden of college costs for prospective parents. Read more at thomas.loc.gov (search bill number S-1488).
  
  
• A kinship bill has been proposed by members of Congress, including Senator Hillary Clinton, of New York, to give grandparents and relative caregivers better support services and financial assistance. It’s estimated that such caregivers are raising about six million kids, but that many are living in poverty. Under current law, caregivers lose aid they received as foster parents if they become legal guardians. For details, visit the Child Welfare League’s kinship care page (cwla.org/advocacy/kinshipcare.htm).
  
  
• New York residents considering foster adoption can find a new how-to booklet released by the state; others should peruse the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption’s national foster adoption guide.
  
  

TB up among international adoptees

Paid leave law for working families

International adoption update

• GUATEMALA has reaffirmed the Hague Convention, with an effective date of January 1, 2008, and announced that it will process only Hague-compliant adoptions after this year. Because the Convention is not expected to b
  
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