Adoptions from Ghana dropped by rescued agency

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Countries: Canada, Ghana

Jane Aronson: The Guardian Angel

Jane Aronson: The Guardian Angel

She is a Woman of the Year because: “She has a heart the size of Texas and a drive like Tiger Woods, and she has made a huge difference to countless children and their families.” —Hugh Jackman, actor and longtime supporter of Worldwide Orphans Foundation
November 3, 2009
by Susan Dominus

Photographed by Brigitte Lacombe in Maplewood, New Jersey, surrounded by kids from families she has advised and supported through the adoption process; her sons, Ben and Des, are directly behind her.
More about Women of the Year 2009
Women of the Year 2009 [main]

The 2009 Woman of Your Year
Women of the Year Fund [main]
Michelle Obama: Your First Lady (Special Recognition)
VIDEO: Most Memorable Moments from the 2009 Glamour Women of the Year Awards
“What got to me most was the smell,” says pediatrician Jane Aronson of her years touring overseas orphanages in the nineties, “that terrible odor of filth and illness and neglect.” Once home, she couldn’t shake the sights she’d seen: famished, sore-covered babies in Romania; glassy-eyed AIDS-doomed kids in Vietnam. “I couldn’t take it anymore,” says Aronson. “There was no way I was going to continue practicing medicine without helping the kids left behind.” Her solution: Worldwide Orphans Foundation (WWO), which she started in 1997. Within a few years WWO was providing AIDS drugs for HIV positive children in Ethiopia and Vietnam—one of the first organizations of any type to do that; launching the “orphan rangers,” essentially a Peace Corps through which volunteers work in orphanages; and building a school in Ethiopia. Today Aronson is credited with bringing the plight of orphans and the importance of adoption to the world’s attention. “She shone a spotlight on what we should be doing,” says adoption expert Adam Pertman, head of the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute. “A lot of people give lip service to wanting to make the world better for children. She actually does it.”
As an advocate, Aronson has improved the lives of 20,000 kids; as a doctor, she saves them one at a time. From her small Manhattan office, wallpapered with photos of smiling children, the jeans-clad pediatrician works with adopting parents—including celebs like Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt—giving them the medical and emotional support they need to ensure that their new family can work. “Dr. Aronson gave us courage,” says Meg D’Ariano, who adopted a now perfectly healthy girl from China after being told the baby had insurmountable health problems. “She said, ‘Go get her.’” A parent to two adopted children, Aronson is determined to show the world’s orphans that she will always look out for them. She notes that she’s learned to say “see you soon” to the kids in six languages. “I never say goodbye.”

Persons: Deborra-Lee Furness, Adam Pertman, Jane Aronson, Dr.

SERVICE PROJECT FOR LUCKY HILL ORPHANAGE AND THE PRIMARY, GHANA AFRICA

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2009

SERVICE PROJECT FOR LUCKY HILL ORPHANAGE AND THE PRIMARY, GHANA AFRICA

So, we have another GREAT

SERVICE PROJECT OPPORTUNITY!!!!!

Remember Lucky Hill Orphanage, where William was living when we sent him his care package? Well, the man who started that orphanage is the Bishop of the LDS church ward there (Mormon). Their primary has almost NOTHING by way of materials...no Scriptures, no pictures, no song books, NOTHING! This is the primary the orphans of Lucky Hill attend! (Primary is the axillary in the church organized for children to learn the gospel through lessons, music and activity. The children attend primary on Sunday's, going to a one hour of class time and one hour of a group time, where they sing religious music and have a lesson).

Organizations: Luckyhill Children's Home Foundation, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

New adoption plan by charity Coram strives to keep babies out of the system

New adoption plan by charity Coram strives to keep babies out of the system
November 2, 2009 by Shawn Douglas
Filed under: News
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Coram’s new adoption plan proposes to place babies with prospective parents within days of being born.
Hosting a conference in London today, U.K. charity Coram hopes that its fresh approach to adoption wins new converts at a time when child care systems have come under increased strain.

At the root of the proposal is a method known as concurrent planning. The method places a newborn in the care of an adoptive family within days of birth. The newborn would then be given the opportunity to interact with both the adoptive family and the natural mother through a series of visits agreed upon by both parties.
The adoptive family would agree to take the child to visit the natural mother a set number of times a week, allowing the natural mother time to organize her life and demonstrate that she’s able to raise a child. The mother, commonly a drug addict, is offered extensive support by the charity to give her the best chance of sorting out her problems. After one year, social workers make a final decision about whether the natural mother is ready.
As conventional adoption can be very complicated and take several years to complete, a child may bounce around a long chain of foster families, usually without contact from the natural mother. This process may leave children with psychological traumas later in life.
“It is crazy that there are not more local authorities using concurrent planning,” said Coram’s head of adoption, Jeanne Kaniuk.
“It is a great system for parents who want to adopt a baby, although obviously they carry all the risk and have to be quite courageous. It is very sympathetic to the birth parents, who are given help and support and every chance to show they can care for their baby. It speeds up the process and a decision is made early. And, of course, it is good for the baby.”Coram has already tested the program, cooperating with local authorities over the past two years to successfully place almost 50 new children. However, the charity faces perceptions that the method is time-consuming and not nearly as beneficial to the prospective adoptive family.
“There is also often a fear that some solicitors representing birth parents will fight it very hard in the belief their clients are not getting a fair deal,” said Kaniuk. “But the baby’s welfare should be paramount, and concurrent planning is a fair offer to both adoptive parents and birth parents.”

http://www.babychums.com/2009/11/new-adoption-plan-by-charity-coram-strives-to-keep-babies-out-of-the-system/

Countries: United Kingdom

Organizations: Coram

Wikileaks - adoption fraud - Togo

¶7. ADOPTION FRAUD: Post has not received any adoption cases since

Togo resumed national and international adoptions last December.

However, Post was asked to verify an adoption decree for Cotonou,

which was confirmed to be fraudulent. Post has also seen fake

adoption decrees submitted in support of IR2 petitions. It appears

Countries: Togo

Organizations: Wikileaks

Le trafic d’enfants au Liban, un sujet encore bien tabou

Liban

Le trafic d’enfants au Liban, un sujet encore bien tabou
Par Anne-Marie El-HAGE | 05/11/2009

« La gravité du problème réside dans le manque d’informations », estime Carla Lewis de World Vision.
Société Le trafic d'enfants existe-t-il au Liban ? Si oui, quelles en sont les représentations et quelle en est l'ampleur ? Difficile de le dire en l'absence d'études et de données statistiques.

Sur le même sujet
World Vision sensibilise les enfants

Countries: Lebanon

Special Need: pneumonia

Xin Yi Date of Birth: Gender: Special Need: Location: Entered Center: Last Update:Sept. 1, 2008 Male Pneumonia Siping Center December 3, 2008 June 2009 Xi Yi was very ill with pneumonia when he arrived at the orphanage on December 3, 2008.

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Countries: China

Kenya Updates

These country updates bring you the most current and up-to-date information from our program coordinators. One way of keeping you informed of what is going on in the country.

November 2009

CAS is not accepting new applicants due to the October 1st warning posted by the U.S. Department of State. We are monitoring the situation closely, and will continue to post any relevant updates to our website.

August 2009

The Kenya program has been very active this month, with one family who has a referral and two families who are close to receiving theirs! Two families are already living in Kenya and one more will be on their way shortly. Our families have enjoyed getting to know each other while in Kenya, offering support to each other as only co-adopting families can! The CAS Kenya program continues to actively recruit adventurous families who would be able to relocate to Kenya for a period of approximately 12 to 14 months for the purpose of adoption. For more information, please contact Robyn Miller.

July 2009

One of our families currently in process and living in Kenya had their child placed with them this month! They now begin the foster process. Congratulations! The Kenya program is a great program for families looking for a great cultural experience along with their adoption. The program requires the family to move to Kenya for a period of around a year in order to foster their child while the transition is monitored by Kenyan Social Workers who report to the Family Court Judge. What better way is there to learn about your child’s home country and culture? For more information on Carolina Adoption Services’ exciting program in Kenya, please contact Robyn Miller.
The Kenya program also continues to accept donations for our group of boys in Kenya who need ongoing support. If you are interested in donating to this cause, please contact us. We would like to take this opportunity to thank those of you who have shown an interest in supporting this cause or who have already donated.

June 2009

The Kenya program continues to be a good option for families who are looking for a great cultural adventure! Our partner, Little Angels Society, continues to assist our families while they are in Kenya for a period of about a year. The US Embassy and State Department officials in Kenya have done a wonderful job of training our Kenyan counterparts in the Hague process, so the transition there is moving smoothly. For more information on Carolina Adoption Services’ Kenya program, please contact Robyn Miller.

May 2009

The Kenya program continues to be a good option for families who are looking for a great cultural adventure! Our partner, Little Angels Society, continues to assist our families while they are in Kenya for a period of about a year. The U.S. Embassy and State Department officials in Kenya have done a wonderful job of training our Kenyan counterparts in the Hague process, so the transition there is moving smoothly. For more information on Carolina Adoption Services’ Kenya adoption program, contact Robyn Miller.

To view past Kenya adoption program updates, please see our CAS Publications page and click on the Monthly Country Updates.

Organizations: Carolina Adoption Services

Countries: Kenya

Final stretch of the year!

Final stretch of the year!
We hope this late fall update finds you well.

We're happy to report that we've just completed our Cambodia 2009 Project and are preparing for the final push in our China and Ethiopia Projects. It is a wonderfully busy time of year.

As we approach the holiday season, we wanted to both share in some of our recent successes and updates as well as offer a great gift idea for family and friends.

Sincerely, Eric Stowe
Director, A Child's Right

Christmas Giving
The holidays are upon us meaning that the stress, uncertainty, and procrastination of gift buying are finally here! Although the Snuggy was last season's Cinderella story gift sensation, the potential for another last minute gem is low. So instead of high risk/reward gifts that have previously flopped, avoid previous season fiascoes such as the male Euro purse, Brittney Spears purity ring, or Hammer Pants Stock.

But you get the point. So instead of grabbing something random last minute, stock up with something that can make a child's life better. The renowned Laughing Moon Chocolate Company has started a program called Like Water for Chocolate in which each Laughing Moon Chocolate box sold donates $10 to A Child's Right.

Every deliciously decadent box is filled with over ½ pound of chocolate turtles and is peanut and gluten free! Even better, every box gives clean water to two children in need. Great investment, even better turnaround!

Click on the image above for more.

Cambodia Project
Our most recent project in Cambodia was a spectacular success. 20 sites serving more than 30,000 vulnerable children now have clean and safe water! We are very proud of our work there and invite you to see some of the innovative approaches we take as well as, and more importantly, the children we serve. Click on the photo above for more.

China Project
We are on schedule to complete more than 150 orphanage installations in 11 provinces throughout China by year's end. To share in the joy of this achievement we invite you to see a small sampling of the work we are undertaking in China.

We have a very long way to go, with more than 200 clean water systems going in to orphanages in southern China next year- and even more the following year. Fortunately, our team in China is amazing and the children provide continuous motivation to keep the workload heavy and pace high. Click on the photo above for more.

Countries: Cambodia, China

Organizations: A Child's Right

Persons: Eric Stowe

Deb's House (orphanage)

ELIZABETH'S KIDS (Deb's House
Orphanage) in Romania -
October 14th, humanitarian, Olathe Rotarian, and NBC
Action News Anchor Elizabeth Alex, told Rotarians the
story below of the Romanian children very much in
need of our help. Elizabeth had photos of the children
modeling their new clothes provided by Olathe
Rotarians. They also sang a song for us thanking us!
Deb's House Orphanage opened in 2000 in Botosani,
Romania, as a project of Debra Murphy-Scheumann
who planned it to be a temporary residence for babies
and small children who were slated to be adopted in
the US. From 2000-2003 Deb's House worked as
planned until Romania banned international adoption
as a requirement of entry into the European Union.
At the time, 14 children were living in the house waiting
for paperwork to be processed, they became known as
"the pipeline kids" part of a group of 200 or so children
throughout the country who were in the pipeline for
adoption when Romania ended it.
The kids at Deb's House Orphanage were stuck in
limbo. They could not go forward, and could not go
back. All of the children had been abandoned at birth
by their parents. Even though the EU has since
deemed international adoption to be a positive way to
find children homes, Romania has never opened up
again.
There is no government assistance from Romania, so
the house that was supposed to be only temporary,
became a permanent home. Today the children range
in age from 6-12. There are two sets of twins, girls and
boys. The children are growing up as brothers and
sisters.
In the past several years Deb has been very ill, so
Elizabeth Alex has taken up the cause with friends and
supporters, of keeping her orphanage open, and raising
the kids. As incoming president of the Deb's House
Orphanage board, Elizabeth Alex led a team of
volunteers in September of 2009 to Romania.
Volunteers worked at Deb's House for one week, fixing,
painting, cleaning, replacing furniture, doing medical
check ups and assessments, and giving the kids lots
and lots of love.
They identified 3 areas of concentration for the care
givers in Romania in the coming year:
Nutrition- they delivered vitamins, calcium, asked for
menu adjustments, and are helping to facilitate dental
care.
Behavior- they are facilitating programs to help the
children socialize outside "their group" which includes
signing up children for dance, sports, and musical
lessons, plus teaching respect and personal space
even in a home filled with other children.
Education- education is the way all of our children can
one day make a life for themselves. They have
employed tutors, are purchasing books, and
concentrating heavily on studies.
The cost of raising the children is high. But the risk of
sending them out into the state orphanage system is
even higher. The economic crisis has devastated
Romania hard. There are few places to house
abandoned children currently available. Elizabeth is
working with the local government in Romania to help
not only our kids, but others in the area.

Countries: Romania

Persons: Deb Murphy-Scheumann