For years, I felt ambivalence about becoming a parent, and worry that I wouldn’t be a “perfect” mother. In an open letter to my daughter, I look back on that moment of calm and utter clarity when we met.
“Our Journey to China to Adopt Our Daughter”
We left our house this morning a family of three, but the next time we walk through our front door, it will be as a family of four.
“Visiting Our Daughter’s Russian Orphanage”
Three years after her adoption, we returned to our daughter’s Russian orphanage to visit her caregivers and friends there.
News Brief: Transition to New Accrediting Entity for U.S. Adoption Service Providers Leads to Increase in Fees
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) released a new schedule of non-refundable accreditation fees to be shouldered by agencies and, ultimately, prospective families.
“You Have Thousands of Angels Around You”
How one young woman lost her family, survived a war, escaped two continents, and through the kindness of strangers found a lifelong home in Atlanta.
News Brief: Ethiopia Passes Law Banning Intercountry Adoption
Following a suspension of intercountry adoption in April 2017, Ethiopia passed formal legislation banning intercountry adoption in January 2018.
News Brief: Council on Accreditations (COA) Officially Withdraws as Accrediting Entity
The Council on Accreditations (COA) confirmed that it will withdraw as an accrediting entity at the end of 2018.
News Briefs: Rwanda Reopens, Ethiopia Processing Only Pending Adoptions
Read the latest about the Ethiopia adoption suspension and Rwanda’s intercountry adoption program reopening.
News Brief: Council on Accreditations (COA) May Stop Accrediting Adoption Agencies
The Council on Accreditations (COA), which provides Hague accreditation for international adoption agencies in the U.S., may cease duties as an accrediting entity.
News Briefs: Intercountry Adoption Updates, October 2017
Read the latest about the Ethiopia adoption suspension and a recent reversal in international adoption statistics.
Online Adoption Resources for Prospective Parents
Our recommendations for online adoption resources — from government sites to attorney directories — selected by the editors of Adoptive Families magazine.
News Brief: China Announces Changes to Its International Adoption Requirements
In July 2017, China announced updated requirements regarding the composition of the prospective adoptive family and the timing of applications.
News Brief: Ethiopia Adoption Suspension Still in Effect
Learn the latest on the Ethiopia suspension of intercountry adoptions.
News Brief: Further Decline in International Adoption Numbers, and Ongoing Challenges
In its 2016 annual report, the U.S. Department of State released the latest international adoption statistics, which have declined for the twelfth straight year, and outlined other countries’ most widely held concerns.
News Brief: Ethiopia Suspends Adoptions
In late April 2017, Ethiopia announced an immediate suspension of international adoptions.
News Brief: Call to Submit All Outstanding Post-Adoption Reports
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has designated May 15, 2017 “Post-Adoption Report Day” and issued a call for families that adopted internationally to submit any missing reports to their children’s countries of origin.
How Will We Teach Our Child About Her Culture?
Even after twenty years, adoptive families are still grappling with some of the same issues and questions about raising their children in an interracial family.
News Brief: Documenting Citizenship for Adopted Children
In response to an increase in inquiries about the citizenship status for international adoptees, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) has released an adoption notice about obtaining or documenting citizenship.
News Brief: Domestic Adoptions Rise Slightly, Despite Overall Decrease in Adoption
Adoption: By the Numbers, the latest report from the National Council For Adoption, shows a slight increase in U.S. infant adoptions from 2007 to 2014.
“Adopting From Russia…Again?”
One thing led to another, and we became—unexpectedly—twice blessed.