On this weblog you can follow us during our journey through India.

August 14, 2005

At home ... part 1

Today I made a small change. I have placed a large number of weblogs in the archive. This frees up more space for the latest weblogs. When you click on a specific date in the left column, you can open and view the blogs placed in the archive.

The days after returning home were intense. At home, indeed, but uncomfortable and it didn't feel like home yet. It was also quiet. And without the companions around me it was lonely too.

- They have never been my parents, says 27-year-old Netra Sommer.

"How lucky are you that you were adopted to Denmark."

It is a phrase that many adoptees hear throughout their lives, especially if they come from poor countries.

Netra Sommer does that.

She was born in Mumbai and spent the first part of her life in an orphanage in a poor Indian area until she was adopted to Denmark.

When they decided to start a family, Sangeetha and Stefano opted for international adoption, giving them the availability to welcome children with reversible diseases such as cleft lip and palate. This is their story.

“My name is Sangeetha, I was born in India 37 years ago and at five I was adopted by an Italian family. Today I live in the province of Brescia with my husband Stefano and our 7-year-old adopted daughter Jana, born in Kottur, India, just like me. "

Sangeetha has always felt the desire to relive, as a mother, the experience of adoption. When she and Stefano decided to start a family they had no doubts and India seemed to them the logical continuation of their path.

"Our intention was to give willingness to accept children with certain reversible pathologies, those that we felt capable of dealing with, such as cleft lip and palate ."

In accepting this pathology, the experience of Stefano, born with cleft lip, also weighed . A further element that, in some way, closed the circle.

The Romanian Parliament adopted today, November 3, 2020, by unanimous vote (270 votes in favor) fundamental improvements to law 273/2004 on the adoption procedure, changes long debated but also expected by the approximately 50,000 children in the child protection system but and future adoptive parents. "I confess that the desperate requests I received from my parents in search of the child to love and protect are the ones that motivated me to get involved in the last two years, two long years, in debating and completing the law adoption. Starting from a very good project, initiated by the PSD Government in September 2018, I debated the law with the civil society both in Bra?ov, on November 2, 2018 but also in Bucharest, in June 2019. Then, I worked, together with Oana Bîzgan, for other parliamentary colleagues, to a series of amendments that I supported and that are found in the law voted today. We want the law voted today to mean a much shorter stay of children in the child protection system and a much faster integration of them in the family, where they have to live and grow. " - said the PSD deputy, Roxana Mînzatu. Among the beneficial legal provisions adopted today by the Chamber of Deputies are: - The extension from 2 years to 5 years of the validity of the certificate of adoptive family.The certificates valid on the date of entry into force of this law extend their validity until the fulfillment of the term of 5 years from the date of their issuance. - A child may be declared adoptable without the consent of relatives up to the fourth degree; extended family relatives remain among the categories with priority in the placement of the child and then match for adoption of the child, if desired. - A child will be able to be declared adoptable more quickly by shortening the time limits in which natural parents over the age of 18 declare in writing that they give up caring for the child and in which they can return to the initial declaration - In the case of siblings the special protection system, which are protected in the administrative-territorial area of ??the same directorate, is appointed by the same case manager. Also, adoptive parents who have already adopted a sibling also gain priority in matching the other siblings in the child protection system. - The application for approval of the adoption is simplified by eliminating the obligation to legalize the documents at the notary - they will be certified by each DGASPC. - Children declared adoptable will be able to benefit from the chance in a family even after reaching the age of 14, remaining adoptable until adulthood. - The definition of persons with whom the child enjoyed family life and who have priority in the matching procedure with the adoptable child / children is extended. -The accommodation allowance and allowances that adoptive parents receive are aligned with the benefits enjoyed by any biological parent - for example, the allowance of 85% of the average net income of the adoptive parent in the last 12 months of the last 2 years prior to the decision. entrusted courts for adoption. - Clearly and strictly condition those exceptional situations, not imputable (with evidence) in which the natural parents no longer agree with the adoption and request the review against a court decision to open the adoption procedure - Simplify post-adoption monitoring. For example, post-adoption monitoring is not performed in the case of internal adoption of the child by the spouse of the natural or adoptive parent or by the child's relatives, nor in the case of adoption of the child by his guardian or by persons / families who had the child at least 2 years. - The obligation for the director of DGASPC to control, on a quarterly basis, the way in which each case manager carries out his activity for the benefit of the children he cares for is introduced. - The internal adoption of children who are difficult to adopt is stimulated by providing financial incentives (which are granted after the adoption sentence and until the adoption of the adopted child or up to the age of 26 if they continue their studies); I reproduce below the text of the law: “(1) The adopter or the adoptive family benefits, from a support allowance, related to the reference social indicator, in the amount of 1.20 SRI, for each child who, at the date of finality of the approval court decision of adoption, is in one of the following situations: a) is between 3 and 6 years old; b) is classified as having a mild or medium disability; c) is part of a group of 2 brothers who can be adopted together.(2) The amount of the indemnity is increased by 50% in case the child is in one of the following situations at the date of the final decision of the court approving the adoption: a) he / she is 7 years old; b) is classified as severely or severely disabled, infected with HIV or AIDS; c) is part of a group of at least 3 brothers adoptable together. (3) If the adopted child meets two of the conditions provided in paragraph (1) or (2), the amount of the support allowance shall be increased by 75%. (4) In the situation where the adopted child meets cumulatively all the conditions provided in paragraph (1) or those provided in paragraph. (2), the amount of the support allowance shall be increased by 100%. " - Fixed annual sums of money are provided to support the medical recovery expenses necessary for the adopted child - Parents are also helped to adopt children from a geographical area other than the one where they reside, by settling expenses of the adoptive parents with the practical matching visit. Currently, about 50,000 children live in the child protection system, according to official data released by the Authority for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Children and Adoptions. In 2017, just over 3,000 people had the necessary certificate for adoption and just over 1,000 people adopted children. The law voted today (PLX 736/2018) is meant to contribute, through its application, to the significant increase of domestic adoption, after it will be promulgated by the President of Romania. Roxana Mînzatu PSD Deputy Bra?ov November 3, 2020

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Parlamentul României a adoptat azi, 3 noiembrie 2020, cu unanimitate de voturi (270 voturi pentru) îmbun?t??iri fundamentale la legea 273/2004 privind procedura adop?iei, modific?ri îndelung dezb?tute dar ?i a?teptate de cei circa 50 000 de copii din sistemul de protec?ie a copilului dar ?i de viitori p?rin?i adoptivi. ”M?rturisesc c? solicit?rile disperate pe care le-am primit de la p?rin?i în c?utarea copilului pe care s? îl iubeasc? ?i s? îl ocroteasc? sunt cele care m-au motivat s? m? implic în ultimii doi ani, doi ani lungi, în dezbaterea ?i completarea legii adop?iei. Pornind de la un proiect foarte bun, ini?iat de Guvernul PSD în septembrie 2018, am dezb?tut legea cu societatea civil? atât la Bra?ov, în 2 noiembrie 2018 dar ?i la Bucure?ti, în iunie 2019. Apoi, am lucrat, al?turi de Oana Bîzgan, de al?i colegi parlamentari, la o serie de amendamente pe care le-am sus?inut ?i care se reg?sesc în legea votat? azi. Ne dorim ca legea votat? azi s? însemne o ?edere mult mai scurt? a copiilor în sistemul de protec?ie a copilului ?i o integrare mult mai rapid? a acestora în familie, acolo unde trebuie s? traiasc? ?i s? creasc?.” – a declarat deputatul PSD, Roxana Mînzatu. Printre prevederile legale benefice adoptate, azi, de Camera Deputa?ilor, se num?r?: - Prelungirea de la 2 ani la 5 ani a valabilit??ii atestatului de familie adoptatoare. Atestatele valabile la data intr?rii în vigoare a prezentei legi î?i prelungesc valabilitatea pân? la împlinirea termenului de 5 ani de la data eliber?rii acestora. - Un copil va putea fi declarat adoptabil f?r? a mai fi cerut acordul rudelor de pân? la gradul IV; rudele din familia extins? râmân printre categoriile cu prioritate la luarea în plasament al copilului ?i, apoi, potrivire în vederea adop?iei copilului, dac? doresc. - Un copil va putea fi declarat ca adoptabil mai rapid prin scurtarea termenelor în care p?rin?ii fire?ti cu vârsta peste 18 ani declar? în scris c? renun?? s? se ocupe de cre?terea ?i îngrijirea copilului ?i în care pot s? revin? asupra declara?iei ini?iale - În cazul fra?ilor din sistemul de protec?ie special?, care sunt ocroti?i în raza administrativ-teritorial? a acelea?i direc?ii se desemneaz? acela?i manager de caz. De asemenea, p?rin?ii adoptivi care au adoptat deja un frate dobândesc, ?i ei, prioritate, la potrivirea cu ceilal?i fra?i din sistemul de protec?ie a copilului. - Se simplific? cerererea de încuviin?are a adop?iei prin eliminarea obliga?iei legaliz?rii la notar a documentelor – acestea vor fi certificate de fiecare DGASPC. - Copiii declara?i adoptabili vor putea beneficia de ?ansa la o familie inclusiv dup? împlinirea vârstei de 14 ani, r?mânând adoptabili pân? la majorat. - Se extinde defini?ia persoanelor al?turi de care copilul s-a bucurat de via?a de familie ?i care au prioritate la procedura de potrivire cu copilul / copiii adoptabili. - Concediul de acomodare ?i indemniza?iile pe care le primesc p?rin?ii adoptatori sunt aliniate cu beneficiile de care se bucur? orice p?rinte biologic – de exemplu, indemniza?ia de 85% din media veniturilor nete realizate de p?rintele adoptator în ultimele 12 luni din ultimii 2 ani anteriori datei emiterii hot?rârii judec?tore?ti de încredin?are în vederea adop?iei. - Se condi?ioneaz? clar ?i stict acele situa?ii excep?ionale, neimputabile (cu probe) în care p?rin?ii fire?ti nu mai sunt de acord cu adop?ia ?i cer revizuirea împotriva unei hot?rârii judec?tore?ti de deschidere a procedurii adop?iei - Se simplific? monitorizarea post-adop?ie. De exemplu, monitorizarea postadop?ie nu se realizeaz? în cazul adop?iei interne a copilului de c?tre so?ul p?rintelui firesc sau adoptiv ori de c?tre rudele copilului ?i nici în cazul adop?iei copilului de c?tre tutorele s?u ori de c?tre persoane/familii care au avut copilul în plasament cel pu?in 2 ani. - Se introducere obliga?ia ca directorul DGASPC s? controleze, trimestrial, modul în care fiecare manager de caz î?i desf??oar? activitatea în beneficiul copiilor de care se ocup?. - Se stimuleaz? adop?ia intern? a copiilor greu adoptabili prin acordarea de stimulente financiare (care se acord? dup? sentin?a de adop?ie ?i pân? la majoratul copilului adoptat sau pân? la 26 ani dac? î?i continu? studiile); redau mai jos textul legii: ”(1) Adoptatorul sau familia adoptatoare beneficiaz?, de indemniza?ie de sprijin, raportat? la indicatorul social de referin??, în cuantum de 1,20 ISR, pentru fiecare copil care, la data r?mânerii definitive a hot?rârii judec?tore?ti de încuviin?are a adop?iei, se afl? în una din urm?toarele situa?ii: a) are vârsta cuprins? între 3 ?i 6 ani; b) este încadrat în grad de handicap u?or sau mediu; c) face parte dintr-un grup de 2 fra?i adoptabili împreun?. (2) Cuantumul indemniza?iei se majoreaz? cu 50% pentru cazul în care la data r?mânerii definitive a hot?rârii judec?tore?ti de încuviin?are a adop?iei copilul se afl? în una din urm?toarele situa?ii: a) are împlinit? vârsta de 7 ani; b) este încadrat în grad de handicap accentuat sau grav, infectat HIV sau bolnav SIDA; c) face parte dintr-un grup de cel pu?in 3 fra?i adoptabili împreun?. (3) În situa?ia în care copilul adoptat întrune?te dou? dintre condi?iile prev?zute la alin.(1) sau (2), cuantumul indemniza?iei de sprijin, se majoreaz? cu 75%. (4) În situa?ia în care copilul adoptat întrune?te cumulativ toate condi?iile prev?zute la alin.(1) sau pe cele prev?zute la alin. (2), cuantumul indemniza?iei de sprijin se majoreaz? cu 100%.” - Se acord? sume fixe anuale de bani pentru sus?inerea cheltuielilor de recuperare medical? necesare copilului adoptat - P?rin?ii sunt ajuta?i s? adopte ?i copii din alt? zon? geografic? decât cea în care domiciliaz?, prin decontarea unor cheltuieli p?rin?ilor adoptatori cu vizita de potrivire practic?. În prezent, aproximativ 50000 de copii tr?iesc în sistemul de protec?ie a copilului, conform datelor oficiale f?cute publice de c?tre Autoritatea pentru Drepturile Persoanelor cu Dizabilit??i, Copii ?i Adop?ii. În 2017 pu?in peste 3000 de persoane aveau atestatul necesar adop?iei ?i pu?in peste 1000 persoane au ?i adoptat copii. Legea votat? ast?zi (PLX 736/2018) are menirea s? contribuie, prin aplicarea ei, la cre?terea semnificativ? a adop?iei interne, dup? ce va fi promulgat? de Pre?edintele României. Roxana Mînzatu Deputat PSD Bra?ov 3 noiembrie 2020

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If you do not succeed in becoming a parent, either naturally or through articial

insemination , you may be considering adopting a child. An adoption must always be

in the best interests of the child. And when you adopt a child, it means that you adopt

the child just like your own child, that you have full custody of the child and the same

rights and duties that biological parents have.

Travel restrictions lifted

Alberto and Dossi Sinalda, who had been speaking to Mahendra over video calls for months, finally got to hug him and take him back home

He had only seen and spoken to them over video calls. But when Alberto and Dossi Sinalda walked through the doors, joy lent wings to Mahendra's feet and he ran to hug his parents.

The Sinaldas, who are in their mid-thirties, had adopted the almost six-year-old boy in March but lockdown kept them apart for so long. As restrictions eased, the couple finally flew in from Italy and arrived at the

orphanage on Tuesday to take their son home.

A Queensland coroner's recommendation that adoption be "routinely and genuinely" considered for children in out-of-home care has been met with scepticism by some child protection advocates, who describe adoption as a "drastic" move.

Key points:

The deputy state coroner recommended the child safety department ensure adoption is routinely considered

Some child protection advocates say adoption is only suitable for a very small number of children

The State Government is considering all the deputy coroner's recommendations

Hundreds of published studies over the last decade have claimed it's possible to predict an individual’s patterns of thoughts and feelings by scanning their brain in an MRI machine as they perform some mental tasks.

But a new analysis by some of the researchers who have done the most work in this area finds that those measurements are highly suspect when it comes to drawing conclusions about any individual person’s brain.

Watching the brain through a functional MRI machine (fMRI) is still great for finding the general brain structures involved in a given task across a group of people, said Ahmad Hariri, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Duke University who led the reanalysis.

“Scanning 50 people is going to accurately reveal what parts of the brain, on average, are more active during a mental task, like counting or remembering names,” Hariri said

Functional MRI measures blood flow as a proxy for brain activity. It shows where blood is being sent in the brain, presumably because neurons in that area are more active during a mental task.

Pathways to adoption SURVEY (2/2). From 1989 to 2001, more than 300 children were adopted in Mali via a French association. Many wonder about the conditions of these adoptions.

Time has stood still in Saint-Thégonnec Loc-Eguiner, in the north of Finistère. Sitting in front of two photo albums, Françoise Raoult and her son Jean-Noël, 35, relive each image one by one, with a smile on her lips and tender eyes. This October 17, 2019, nothing else exists except these pictures, vestiges of the childhood of Jean-Noël and that of his little brother Pierre-Yves. “A real bath. With water coming out of the shower head! » , Marvels Jean-Noël again, pointing to the photo where they both laugh out loud in a bathtub.

It was in December 1990. Françoise and Bernard Raoult, a Breton couple, had just adopted Jean-Noël and Pierre-Yves, who arrived from Mali at the age of 6 and 4. Thanks to the French association Rayon de soleil defant stranger (RDSEE), parents and their new children then realize their dream: Françoise becomes a mother and the two brothers discover France within a loving family, after having been "Abandoned" by their biological family. "Abandoned" , that's in any case what RDSEE has always told them ...

Read also

Nine French people of Malian origin file a complaint against an adoption agency

ICAFSS meets only the tip of the iceberg of needs in the intercountry adoption community. I can only speak for intercountry adoptees like myself but we have spoken up for years about the need for ongoing counselling. The budgeted 10 sessions of therapy a year is simply not enough for most adoptees. As an idea, personally I spent over $25k in ongoing therapy across 5-10 years for the traumas involved in my reliniquishment and adoption. The current budgeted amount of $900,000 per year, if all the budget was spent on counselling alone, only equates to $90 per adoptee given we have over 10,000 intercountry adoptees recorded in our AIHW statistics. That’s not including those who are here as expatriate adoptions or the private adoptions that were done prior to the statistics being captured which only began in 1979. Many of us Vietnamese adoptees arrived prior to this, approx 500 of us. So the hugest change I recommend would be a substantial uplift to the budget so that counselling can be unlimited and the service adequately resourced to administer it, and provide ongoing education and training to the community and professionals providing the service, and to best utilise the resources trained up in this area.

There needs to be more than 1 administrator of the service at head office. If training of those counsellors is to be done properly, the budget needs to also include accessing the experts from other countries to upskill our therapists and create an Adoption Competency Training which includes speciality components on Race, Culture, Return to Birthland, Searching/Reunion, as these are aspects not covered adequately from a local adoption perspective because our situations are so much more complex covering other countries, languages, races, customs, values, expectations.

The service needs to be provided so that there are more face to face points in major areas of Australia not just 1 – Melbourne. The current advertising of ICAFSS makes it falsely appear to be a Melbourne only service. I have had many adoptees who tell me they didn’t make contact because as soon as they saw the flyer, they thought they would not be serviced as they were not located in Melbourne.

The service needs to be provided by a broader range of therapist. Currently it appears there are 1-3 counsellors per state who are providers of the service. That is not enough as there is a wait list to speak to one. Also, there is not enough diversity represented in those counsellors – most are white females who, to many adult intercountry adoptees, feel they are sitting there facing their adoptive mother. We want to see people who understand our racial and cultural issues. We want people of colour, people of diversity (LGBQTi), we want more males for the male adoptees. We also want different modes of therapy not just talking cognitive therapy. Eg constellation, emdr, psychosomatic, gestalt, etc.

The advertising of the service needs to connect into the first ports of call of other major services eg. Lifeline, Suicide hotlines, mental health services, GPs, schools. Many adoptees share how they had no clue about there being a service so that means, so far, the service is hugely under utilised because people don’t know it exists. Unless they contact ICAV, adult intercountry adoptees don’t know. More needs to be done to become visible on Social media platforms and advertise to targeted groups eg adolescents, young adults.