Keep International Adoption an Option
By Katie Prigel Sharp
I just read an article titled Ethiopian Adoptions Rise, Bucking Global Trend. The article discusses changes in international adoptions from a global perspective and highlights the fact that although many children are currently being adopted from Ethiopia, most other countries that used to allow international adoptions have either shut down or have dramatically slowed in international placements.
I worked at an international adoption agency during the time Romania shut down in 2003. Our small agency had been active in placing children from Romania for many years and the founder, Deb Murphy Scheumann opened and operated a baby house (or orphanage) in Botosani, Romania. The operation of the baby house was truly a labor of love and the agency spent a great deal of time and money helping not only children who did not have families to care for them, but also the larger community of Botosani through their role in bringing the Medical Missions Foundation to the area.
To be clear, the vast majority of folks working in international adoption (myself included) believe that ideally children should stay in their family of origin and/or country of origin whenever possible, but that when those two options are not possible, international adoption is preferable to growing up without a permanent family.
This was the case with the children served by the baby home founded by Deb. There was no one to care for them in Romania, but there were families here in the US who were in the process to adopt them when Romania stopped international adoptions, leaving these families and children in limbo.

Children Living in Deb's Hosue
Fast forward… The adoption agency closed and years later these same children remain in Romania and furthermore, still do not have permanent families. Many folks here in the US who had attempted to adopt them, had adopted other children internationally or who had been involved in the Medical Mission work have not forgotten them and do the best they can for these children. In spite of tremendous financial and other difficulties, the baby house remains open and is now known as Deb’s House. It is now managed by United Aid Foundation and many individuals are committed to doing the best they can for these children through supporting them and keeping them together as a “family” until they reach the age of 18.
I am in awe of the love, commitment and tireless work these individuals and organizations put into Deb’s House and are investing in these children. It is inspiring and amazing. But, it is still not optimal for these children. These kids are some of the “lucky ones” and yet they are not growing up in a loving, permanent family. No matter how wonderful Deb’s House is, it is not the same as a permanent forever family.
Romania is not the only country. There are children in Guatemala, Vietnam and most recently, Nepal who have loving families waiting for them across the world, but due to the closure of international adoptions will instead grow up with no family at all and most will not even have the love, concern and support of groups like Deb’s House or United Aid Foundation.
Are there problems with international adoption? Sure. Is it the best case scenario? No. We wish that no child would ever suffer abuse, neglect and that all parents would be able to provide loving, stable homes for their children. But, that is not reality and when others in the child’s community or country cannot provide a family for a child, they should not be denied the chance to have family through international adoption.
It’s not just about policy. It’s not just about principles or politics. It’s about individual children like these little ones–the majority of which do not have anyone speaking for them or supporting them.

Adoption? It's a bundle of woes

Swati Sengupta, TNN, Oct 24, 2010, 03.43am IST

e

Tags:central adoption resource agency|adoption

KOLKATA: Some months ago, the Bengal government prodded by a spine-chilling allegation asked some other states to inquire into the authenticity of addresses provided by a few adoptive parents.

Dutch woman denied info on Indian parents by high court
Published: Saturday, Oct 23, 2010, 3:15 IST
By Mayura Janwalkar | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA


For Dutch psychologist Daksha Van Dijck, 35, her trip to India turned out to be rather disappointing. The Bombay high court on Friday dismissed a petition filed by her seeking information about her biological parents.

Van Dijck was adopted by Dutch national Johan Van Dijck and raised in the Netherlands. She came back to India in 2001 in search of her biological parents. But in the course of tracing them what Van Dijck found was reasons to believe that she may have been kidnapped as a baby and given away in a foreign adoption.

The high court had earlier directed the prothonotary and senior master of the court to trace the 1975 records pertaining to Van Dijck’s adoption, which was granted with the high court’s permission.

Daksha had sought action against Shraddhashram Mahilasharm in Matunga from where she was adopted. Her advocates Pradeep Havnur and Shabana Ansari told the court that there is no police inquiry report in terms of the adoption but a mere affidavit saying the child (Van Dijck) is free for adoption.

Dismissing the petition, the court, however, said adoptive parents should also be held responsible if the adopted child feels that the adoption procedure was faulty. “Why are the adoptive parents not made a party to this petition,” the court asked.

“I wanted to find my biological mother before I became a mother myself,” said Van Dijck, who has a 9-month-old daughter back in the Netherlands. “After I had a baby, the urge to find my mother intensified. I feel very bad but I am not going to give up.”

Call for federal inquiry into forced adoptions
Posted Wed Oct 20, 2010 9:49am AEDT


A group of mothers who gave up their babies gather at parliament to hear a formal apology (Marcus Alborn)

The WA Labor MP David Templeman is calling for a federal inquiry into the forced adoption practices of last century.

The West Australian parliament yesterday formally apologised to the women who were pressured to adopt out their babies between the 1940s and 1980s.

It is the first state in Australia to say sorry for the practice.

David Templeman was one of the architects of the apology and says the next step should be a national inquiry.

"These practices and policies of adoption took place across the country and to really make sure that we lift a lid on this issue and to make sure we get to the real truth, the real stories, we need a national inquiry, and there should be a national apology in the federal parliament," he said.

The Greens MP Alison Xamon has told parliament her colleagues will introduce a motion in Federal Parliament next week for a national inquiry and an apology to the women.

"I hope that WA's example is just the beginning," she said.

"I'm aware that there were women from around Australia who flew over here to hear the apology who were desperate to have the role of their own state governments and departments and churches admitted and acknowledged."