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Cost of international adoption

-15,000-40,000 -least expensive has to do with lack of travel needed -some require lengthy stay in country of child's origin

History of Trans-racial adoptions 2

-1960s: more societies becoming more receptive- many movements -1968: white parents adopted 733 black -1958-67: white parents adopted more than 700 native Americans

Requirements of international adoption

-Bureaucratic (paperwork, answering to three different governing agencies: foreign country, state, USA) -Foreign country requirements (age, existing children in the home, marital stability, gender if single)

History of Trans-racial adoptions

-TRA began in the US at the end of Korean War -First public record documentation in the US that white parents adopted a black child took place in 1948 in Minneapolis, Minnesota -TRA of native american children prevalent in the late 1950s

Hague in the USA

-US signed convention 1994 (international adoption laws dating back to 1893 though) -1998 Clinton sent Hague convention on inter-country adoptions to the US senate for ratification -2000: public law -2007: ratified -2008: took effect two new requirements: -adoption agency must be accredited -adoptive parents must do 10 hours pre-adoption training

Statistics of trans-racial adoption

-roughly 9,000 making an estimated 15% of all adoptions

issues throughout the lifespan (loss-secondary)

-secondary losses -change to be "normal" -wonder about their birth family -may loose siblings, previous life (if older)

issues throughout the lifespan (guilt/shame)

-shame of being given up -self-accusation is intensified by secrecy (of not talking about it, keeping it closed) -shame of being different than family -guilt about adoptive family (wanting to search for and meet birth family, feel they would be betraying)

Impact

-significant decline in the number of TRAs -between 1971-72 fell by one third (2574-1569) -1975 fell to 831

Adoption history

-so old it's referenced in the bible -not legally recognized in the US till the 1850s

1930s, 40s, 50s

-social workers began sealing adoption records -guided by attitudes and myths of the time -thought it would protect all members of the adoptive triad -thought secrecy would prevent confusion of having 2 sets of parents

key decision: domestic vs. international

-some families do not meet domestic requirements -some families feel connection to certain country -some families want complete break from birth family -some think its easier or faster (each has it's pros/cons- not completely true)

Birth parents (open)

-specify type of family- power to say where they want their child placed -meet chosen family prior to placement (info shared, decide level of openness, relationship discussed) -life-long relationship, on-going contact -with older children/foster care really can't be closed (remember mom/dad, consider what are their issues/needs, do no harm to the child) -birth mother letter, talk to adoption agency, talk to lawyer

Domestic Adoption Myths

-there are no infants available in the US -endless wait and prohibitive cost (avg 1-2 years, costs depend on lawyer, adoption agency, birth mother costs, etc) -"big bad birth parents" (don't give them or take them away, we place children, we plan for children) -open adoption confuses children (open communication and explanation is helpful) -"the teenage birth-mother" (majority of birth moms are over 18) -troubled adoptee (positive self image, strong attachment)

problems with sealing records (in the 30s, 40s, 50s)

-those who had questions had no where to turn to about identity, ancestry, and genetics -parents thought questions from kids about birth parents meant they were bad parents

key factors to consider with open adoption (adoptive family)

-views, attitudes, experiences in relation to contact -emotional maturity and health -capacity to set healthy boundaries -degree of adoptive parent's ability to handle open communication regarding adoption -cultural differences between birth family and adoptive family

joint adoptions

-when two unmarried domestic partners adopt a child together at the same time (can be gay/lesbian)

Questions/ Issues for families to consider with trans-racial adoption (attitude)

-when you choose to become a family that is different, you must be prepared to confront own racial biases -growing and learning, confronting sterotypes and bias

issues throughout the lifespan (rejection)

-wonder why they were placed for adoption -wonder what was "wrong with them" that caused their parents to place them -

Open adoptions in more detail

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6 W's of opennes contact

1. Why the contact? 2. Who should be involved in the contact? 3. What type of contact should it be? 4. When should the contact occur? 5. Where should the direct contact happen? 6. What will be the process of mediation?

Strategies to deal with racism

1. don't wait for an incident to occur before you talk about it 2. fight the battles that make a difference 3. make your commitment to fight racism clear to your child (be true ally) 4. involve your child in a group that fosters appreciation of differences 5. don't deny, explain away, or make excuses for what your child experiences as racism 6. validate your child's hurt 7. give yourself and thus your child permission to handle racist remarks imperfectly

benefits of open adoption for adopted person

1. freedom to ask questions (medical, emotional, etc) 2. access to the person with answers 3. permission for child to bond with adoptive family (can feel comfortable being more attached to forever family) 4. gives sense of biological connectedness

benefits of open adoption for adoptive parents

1. gives parents sense of control 2. aids parents in laying fears aside 3. gives parents access to on-going information they would not have had 4. gives parents permission to parent their child (plan is set for what is controlled)

benefits of open adoption for birth parents

1. gives them the knowledge that their child is safe and cared for 2. aids them in ability to process grief/loss 3. gives them a sense of control in decision making 4. alleviates feeling that they have abandoned their child (unknown is worse than knowing, peace of mind)

5 core issues for triad members

1. loss 2. rejection 3. guilt and shame 4. grief 5. identity

Stats

2009- Guatemala closed doors 2008- china focused on Olympics too much -majority of children under 1 year, other half mostly through age 4, only 11% are 5+ (goes up to 15, unless siblings then 17)

inter-jurisdictional adoption

child to be adopted and adoptive parents live in different jurisdictions -live in different states and counties, need to know what rules to abide by

unusual/ unique requirement examples of international adoption

Korea: fit St. Lucia/ Slovakia: own residency Indonesia: proof of belief in God Philippines: prove you've attended church at least 5 years Tunisia, Italy, Sri Lanka: need to be married

Trends of international adoption

Korea: had long term plan to cut down adoption and by 2012 stopped Guatemala: corruption and fraud: ended in 2013 Ethiopia: 2011 announced 90% decrease China- now can take up to 3 years Haiti: earthquake devastating in 2010, closed program to try and sort things out

issues throughout the lifespan: prenatal and perinatal (Loss)

Loss: -in-utero -abruptly (relationship with biological mom is severed quick, loss of mom's voice, patterns of movement) -adoptee is aware (acutely) -"primal wound" -attachment issues (relationship severed)

opposition to trans-racial adoption 2

Loving vs. Virgina (1967) prohibited family making between blacks and whites -national association of black social workers took a stand 1972 national conference (thought it compromised culture and identity, cut off from healthy development)

legal risk adoption

a potential adoption where child to be adopted is placed with the adoptive parents prior to the termination of birth-parent's rights -assuming its going to go through but don't know for sure: the risk -waiting period for new born have 3 days to 3 weeks to changemind

customary (native american) adoption

doesn't always require the termination of birth parent's parental rights -ceremony considered by the tribe to be binding -new legally recognized permanent parent -still retains birth parents -"tribe believes it takes a village to raise a child" "network of support"

facts

top 3 countries of destination: Us, France, Spain top 5 countries adopted from: china, Guatemala, Korea, Russia, Ukraine 15 countries requires parents to be married

issues throughout the lifespan: prenatal and perinatal

young, unmarried -prenatal care (don't have access to it) -low birth weight -behavioral and emotional problems

Open VS closed

sometimes it isn't a choice, but when there is it is very important

foster care adoption

state child welfare agencies help children connect with families who are fostering to adopt

key factors to consider with open adoption

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adoptive parents (open)

-commitment to ongoing relationship -keep the communication open, provide the information that is available

issues throughout the lifespan (grief)

"expected not to grieve, expected to be happy" "lost basic rights, lost ourselves" -common reaction to the loss of birth family -may begin when child is old enough to understand what being adopted means -may have a difficult time finding an outlet for the grief (because society doesn't really acknowledge loss in adoption) - core issue -grief is revisited (last throughout the lifespan)

Agency vs. Private Adoption

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Domestic Adoption in detail

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International Adoption

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Other types of adoption

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adoptive children and their issues

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adoptive parents issues

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domestic vs. international

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opening closed adoptions: preparing the child 6-12

-address expectations, fantasies and feelings -discuss process of opening the adoption -prepare for the first face to face visit -deal with birth siblings possibly being in the home -process reasons for delays

adoptive parents issues (loss)

-adoption is created through loss -all triad members have at least one major, life altering loss before becoming involved in adoption -in adoption, in order to gain anything, one must first lose (a family, a child, a dream)

interstate adoption

-adoption of child who is a resident of one state by people who live in another state

open adoption myths

-adoptive parents have greater insecurity and undermine sense of control -birth parents hinder the grieving process and cause adjustment difficulties -adoptive child can't attach or has low self-esteem

race matters

-aim of trans-racial parenting is to fulfill the child's needs to be a full member of the family as well as a full member of his or her racial/ethnic group

domestic adoptions by numbers

-average time from preparation of portfolio to match with birth-mother: -6 months or less (56%) -12 months or less (78%) -Time for birth mother match to birth of child -less than 3 months (75%) -match after birth (15%) -Families that worked with more than one birth mother before successfully adopting (31%)

opposition to trans-racial adoption

-black children with white families -placement of native american children with white families -big controversy -40% of children available are black, social workers resisted mixing -not much controversy over Spanish Asian, or mixed

failed adoption

-child leaves the adoptive home after the adoption has been finalized -birth parents can not dissolve or change an adoption once it has been finalized -adoptive parents or the courts can change it -devastating and disrupting to the child

key factors to consider with open adoption (adopted child-2)

-child's attachments: with whom should child maintain connections -child's developmental level -child's understanding for adoption, reason for separation from family -child's emotional well being and stability -other stresses the child is experiencing at the time -degree of birth family permission the child has to be part of the adoptive family

key factors to consider with open adoption (adopted child)

-child's wishes and feelings regarding contract -relationships with birth family members, including siblings -emotional/ developmental functioning -psychological resilience and ability to form or extend (consider age of child and relationship to birth family)

opening closed adoptions: preparing the child 0-5

-describe and introduce the birth parent correctly -recognize the time factor -select an informal setting -talk through the anticipated situations

spectrum of Open VS closed (domestic)

-different states have different laws -each state allows birth mother to ask for different things -legally you can pay for a lot of things and weigh the risk that she can take her child back within early days of delivery -working with reputable adoption agency is importnant

domestic adoptions

-estimates of the annual number of infants adopted domestically range from 25,000-30,000

trans-racial adoptions

-families created by joining a child of one racial or ethnic group with parents of another racial or ethnic group -placement of children of color or children from another country with Caucasian adoptive parents

why trans-racial adoptions?

-fewer young Caucasian children -Connection to particular race or culture -children in need

issues throughout the lifespan (loss)

-for closed and many international adoptions, child may not only loose the birth parents, but all information about: -birth parents, birth family, racial/ethnic identity, medical history -ex: doctors appt. triggers "genealogical bewilderment"

role of cultural competence on cultural identity development

-help child achieve their positive racial identity development -actions and behaviors reflecting child's race and birth culture -talk opening about racism

adoptive children (open)

-helps with sense of identity -especially with adoption of older children -who am i? where did I come from? -medical records: what are my risks? -maintain connection to past, even siblings if they have

issues internationally adopted children face

-hepatitis, HIV, Fetal alcohol syndrome disorder, reactive attachment disorder, sensory integration dysfunction -malnutrition, delays in language development, PTSD, behavioral problems

opening closed adoptions: preparing teenagers

-how important is this issue? -is this the right time? - what part should parents play? -what emotions, questions, and situations might arise?

Questions/ Issues for families to consider with trans-racial adoption (lifestyle)

-if there are important people of color in your life, you will deliver the message of value -expand your lifestyle, change comforts, connections,

Changes in openness arrangements (reasons for decreased openness)

-increased geographic distance -perception of major differences between the birth and adoptive parent -discouragement of contact by relatives or friends -change in the birth mother's personal situation -inability to negotiate a mutually agreed upon comfort zone -adoptive parent's fear that contact was too stressful/confusing to the child -problems with agencies as intermediaries

Hague convention on inter-country adoption

-international agreement between participating countries on best adoption procedures -two goals: (what is the best interest of the child, prevention of abduction, exploitation, sale, or trafficking of children) -one central authority is in place in each country (main office to engage in international adoptions, for US is department of state)

issues throughout the lifespan (identity)

-late adolescence: unless they have the answers to questions, identity can be disrupted -difficult for adopted child to create identity (don't have past information to develop stable sense of self) -incomplete knowledge -know roots have been severed -"family romance"- fantasize about family possibilities -not every child will wonder about history

impact of the 60s and 70s

-liberation movements -birth control -legalization of abortions -normalization of single parenthood -normalization of step, blended, or other families -birth parents and adoptees began to speak out -adoptive parents demanded more information

Questions/ Issues for families to consider with trans-racial adoption (personality)

-means that your child becomes public because your differences are readily apparent -need to enjoy complexity, being different, standing out, attracting new ways of thinking

adoptive parents issues (loss, 2)

-miscarriage (feelings of shock, anger, grief, self blame, depression, hopelessness, no one can understand what you are going through, how to cope: how to express, where to go) -fertility (loss of god given right, loss of being able to become pregnant and all that comes with it) -privacy (number of people involved with fertility treatments, having to tell people at work, friends family involved) -loss of control over body (hormones, drugs, risks, side effects) -loss of time in becoming a family (fertility treatments, grieve, adoption) -loss of income (treatments/adoption are expensive) -loss of relationships (friendships can suffer, significant others may handle pressure different; 7/10 don't survive)

statistics of international adoption

-modern era of international adoption began after the korean war -Us families adopt 20,000 children yearly as of 2005 -as of 2011 closer to 11,000 -economy tanked, Hague convention: direct impact on number of adoptions taking place

principles of trans-racial adoption

-more complex than same-race adoption -visible difference between parents/children increase challenges to accept family unit -issues regarding racial/ethnic awareness and development of positive racial identity must be addressed -normal developmental stages for trans-racial adoptive families are different from those of same-race adoptive families -racial differences may serve as markers for other issues of "not belonging" -every child is entitled to find his/her multiculturalism to be an asset and to conclude they have the best of both worlds

Changes in openness arrangements (reasons for increased openness)

-mutual concern for the child's well being -satisfying personal relationships between birth and adoptive family members -unimpeded flow of appropriate communication

Issues to consider for adoptive parents (trans-racial adoptions)

-need to examine own beliefs about race/ethnicity -you are the difference not the child -need to consider how you will respond to questions, comments

Updated laws on adoption (ACT 101)

-new law in PA in effect April 25, 2011 -ACT 101 -PA, now requires birth and adoptive parents to negotiate PACA (post adoption contract agreement) -must have some degree of openness, up for families negotiation to what degree

private (attorney) /independent adoption

-no agency involved -direct arrangement between the birth and adoptive parents -not legal in all states (attorney will make the direct arrangement, no services available to birth and adoptive parents)

Closed Adoption

-no identifying information is shared between families -no contact between birth parents and adoptive parents -after finalization the records are sealed -depending on local and state law, and the situation: when the child turns 18 there is a possibility the records can be opened (or if there is a medical issue)

Questions/ Issues for families to consider with trans-racial adoption (knowledge)

-parents must understand the limitations to "official" versions of history and teach current race-based realities in society -safe-guard/promote child's culture so they can thrive

key factors to consider with open adoption (birth family)

-reasons for permanency plan -characteristics of relationship with child -views about adoptive placement and previous experience with contact -their emotional health and well being -ability to respect healthy boundaries -management of grief

ethnicity of domestic adoption

Caucasian- 48% African-American- 16% Asian/ Multi-racial- 28% Latino- 8%

second-parent adoption

adoption of a child by the unmarried parent's domestic partner

trans-racial adoption

adoption of a child of one race by an adoptive family of a different race

special needs adoption

adoption of a child with special needs (more extensive training involved, good news is it is super cheap if not free)

sibling group adoption

adoption of two or more siblings or half-siblings by the same family at the same time (common in the foster care system but rare to happen internationally)

identified adoption

adoptive parents and birth parents identify, find, or already know each other

kinship adoption

adoptive parents are relatives who are biologically related to the child -fictive kin -relatives are preferred placement because keeps biological bond

wrongful adoption

an adoptive parent takes legal action against an adoption agency -sue adoption agency for failing to disclose or misrepresenting information about the child, health background, etc

international adoptions

any situation where the child was born outside the US and the parents bring child to live in the US

agency adoption

arranged by a public or private adoption agency (public: have certified workers)

issues throughout the lifespan

attachment: a reciprocal process between a parent and child, it is the development of a mutual feeling that the other is irreplaceable -anti-adoption researchers argue the severed relationship leads to failure to attach later

how to help a child deal with rejection

give them a reason: -age appropriate "making a placement plan for you", "thinking about your best interest" -history (entitled to know details, helps to heal) -see both sides -keep them talking (when children are encouraged to keep talking, less likely to internalize those feelings) -help them deal with the grief (feelings of sadness/anger can still live, the past is loss, grieve to move forward) -teach proactive coping skills (journal, yoga, counseling, exercise) -surround them with positive role models (just takes on person to trust, love, unconditional positive regard) (can and will thrive/survive) -deal, heal, let go (can't stay in the past, not a quick easy process, time the time they need to work through it)

domestic infant adoption

healthy, newborn (usually Caucasian baby) -stereotype; rate of this is not going down and is not always a long process

domestic adoption cost

less than 20k: 48% between 20-25k: 19% 25-30k: 10% more than 30k: 20% -children with special needs are either free or reduced -more than 30 grand, it could deal with paying of medical bills, housing, food, transportation, etc for the birth-parent

Pros of International Adoption

many available children good chances are adoption will happen birth mom won't change mind most likely know the costs can select race/gender allows for broader requirements travel

Cons of International Adoption

newborns not available (5-6 months oldest, 12 months avg cause of paperwork) medical history unknown lack of prenatal care may experience developmental delays and special needs can't locate birth parents costs language barriers adoption rules of country change loss of culture travel