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"The most comprehensive site on adoption in Australia" 		   
National Co-ordinator:
Ricky Brisson
P.O. Box 7420
Bondi Beach 2026 NSW
Phone: (02) 9314 2072
Fax: (02) 9314 2074
E-mail:
 
     
 

The Australian Intercountry Adoption Network (AICAN) is the national network of 13 non-government organisations (NGOs) involved in international adoption. Many of these NGOs have been operating since the mid 1970s, although AICAN was founded in 1990.  More...

January 2010
  The car maker Volvo says new NSW child seat laws are inadequate, and claims they could cost lives or increase serious injuries to children involved in a car crash.  She said only five children in rear-facing child seats had died in crashes in Sweden since the 1960s. A recent RTA press release said 80 Australian children die in cars every year.
  Ramblings of a Shadow - Wraith's Wrealm  "Recommendations for Adoptive Parents - Revisited"
  The NSW government's failure to support adoption by same-sex couples is discriminatory and not in the best interests of the children, the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby says.  "Babies need the best parents we can provide, including role models for both sexes - male and female. Despite the nonsense you sometimes hear, men and women are different."
  New South Wales Community Services Minister Linda Burney says the government will not change the law to allow same-sex couples to adopt children, because of a lack of community support.  The Upper House's Law and Justice Committee has just finished an inquiry into the issue. Ms Burney says that it found there was merit in allowing same sex couples to adopt.
  Adoptions Australia 2007-2008
  Gay adoption ban to stay  The NSW State Government has decided not to allow same-sex couples to adopt, ignoring a parliamentary inquiry that said changing the law would ''ensure the best interests of children''.
  Ramblings of a Shadow - Wraith's Wrealm
  Jane Jeon Trenka: Language of Blood  Adoption from a Korean American transracial adoptee's point of view
  United Adoptess International  The UAI wants to initiate a worldwide dialogue whereby adoption, the position of Adoptees and children rights, should be the center point of developing social, political and cultural policies regarding adoption.
  White anti-racist parent  A place for open dialog around raising anti-racist consciousness & activism in the white community
  Ethnically Incorrect Daughter  I was born in Saigon during the Vietnam war but by the time America called its troops home, I was already long gone. My adoption papers say I was born in 1970. Six months later, I landed on the shores of America claimed and renamed; a supposed blank slate
  More parents adopt a positive strategy  An unprecedented number of foster parents are wanting to adopt their foster children since the State Government allowed carers to continue receiving hundreds of dollars in welfare payments upon adoption.
  Ending Discrimination Against Same Sex Parents  Attorney General Lara Giddings said today’s passage of key Government legislation through State Parliament was another step towards the end of legal discrimination against same sex couples in Tasmania.
  Adoption search finds Yvonne’s brother, sisters  When Yvonne Wenham’s son was diagnosed with heart disease, she knew she had to find her biological mother.
  Evelyn Robinson raises awareness of adoption  She felt she had very little choice when she fell pregnant as a 19-year-old university student in Edinburgh in 1969.
  Children were taken from families, around Australia and even from Britain, and placed in state and church-run orphanages.  What happened from that point for way too many of them is unforgivable. Their trust was abused along with their bodies and minds. These institutions masquerading as carers turned into prisons.
  Facebook Stalking Your Biological Kid  The sudden opening of Facebook pages scared plenty of people into purging their pages of their drunken idiocy, but for one mother who gave up her son to adoption, it was a gift.
  Raising 5 Kids With Disabilities and Remaining Sane  The Joy, Sorrow, Fear and Humor in Raising 5 Kids with Disabilities
  Green Dads Blog  We believe in Being Green, Science and Rationality, and Honoring Diversity. And of course having fun! This blog is a personal blog about our daily lives, and the universal challenges of parenting, especially in a non-traditional family.
  United Adoptees International - Colombia  Welcome to the weblog of the UAI - Colombia. Here you will find topics and news regarding Colombian Adoption and Adoptees.
  Ukraine Adoption  "Changing lives, changing hearts, changing the world"
  Civil Unions for Austria. Austria’s parliament has approved civil unions for same-sex couples.  Under the new law, same-sex couples will have some rights equal to heterosexual marriage, including taxation, mutual pension rights and alimony. However, adoption and artificial insemination remain illegal.
  No age limit on seeking birth parents  Laws giving adopted children and their birth parents greater access to information about each other are among a raft of measures coming into effect in NSW
  Anguish for one couple, joy for another.  "There are no other options. We are too old or not religious enough to adopt from any other countries."
  Not just black and white in caring for kids at risk.  A teenage Aboriginal girl turned up at the door of a white woman's home in an Outback Australian town earlier this year, holding her just-born baby girl. She was asking for help.
  Scared parents want to return adopted child  Tony and Melissa Wescott told the Tulsa World they love their 11-year-old son, whose name has not been disclosed, but it was beyond their ability to help him.The boy has been diagnosed with several severe mental health issues.

December 2009
  Overseas adoptions halted  The Ethiopian program has been suspended amid fears a request for payments to help needy children left behind breaks international laws on child trafficking.
  Labor has betrayed the Chifley dream  "... without batting an eyelid they turned their backs on me and gave me up for adoption."
  Infertility: a male problem too  You fall in love, you get married, you have kids… or so the story goes. Sadly, the statistics prove otherwise: one in eight couples in Australia will have difficulty conceiving, and be classified infertile.
  Adoption contact barrier finally lifted  New legislation amending Queensland’s 1960s Adoption of Children Act will smooth communication between birth-parents and their natural children, something which Thornlands adoption councillor Linda Bryant has been pushing for.
  Fed-up couples giving up adoption dreams  Australian couples are increasingly giving up on dreams of adopting a child from overseas orphanages, thanks largely to a sluggish bureaucracy that results in waiting times of up to seven years.
  Couple's dream of family in limbo  Bronwyn and Scott McNamara have a simple dream of one day hoisting their adopted children on to their laps and reading to them The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
  Swift help critical for kids  We clearly have a problem when there are 42,000 reports each year to the DHS in Victoria. On average, this is 115 times each day when someone feels a child has been, or is, at risk of serious harm
  Gay Mums Are The Go  The head of the UK's major parenting organisation says lesbian mothers make the best parents.
  Forgotten Australians urged to share stories  A Mount Isa woman says she hopes Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's apology to the 500,000 Forgotten Australians will encourage others to tell their stories of what happened between 1930 to 1970.
  Queensland opposition has taken a preemptive step to ban same-sex couples from proposed new altruistic surrogacy laws.  "Divorced dads, single mothers are just as capable of looking after children and with altruistic surrogacy it's more than likely they would know the mother"
  Rainbow Labor hopes to make GLBT rights an issue for discussion at the NSW Labor Party’s annual conference this weekend.  NSW Rainbow Labor convenor Angus McFarland hopes to see a commitment to end the ban on gay couples adopting in NSW.
  Triumphant tale of love  At the age of 19 Ms Cartagena, from Auchenflower, was forced to give her son up for adoption after a brief affair with a "handsome and charming" Toronto businessman abroad.
  Orphan children in foreign countries need our help (Blog for Nine MSN)  About 40,000 children are placed through intercountry adoption across the world every year — yet only around 330 on average find their way into an Australian home.
Special Needs Adoptions Australia (SNAA)  This is a private members only forum, for those interested in, waiting for, or already home with their special needs children adopted from all countries.
  International Adoption Statistics  Australian Statistics for 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 added. Number of adoptions are down.
  International Adoption Statistics  Statistics added for France and Italy for 2008
  A bureaucratic quibble threatens to unravel Australia's Ethiopian Adoption Program.  As many as 14 Tasmanian couples who had been in the running to adopt babies in need from the African country hope for a change of heart by the Federal Government.
  Ethiopian-Australian Intercountry Adoption suspended yet again by the Australian Government.  The Australian-African Children's Aid Support Association (AACASA) is extremely concerned about a decision by the Attorney-General to suspend the Ethiopian-Australian adoption program.
  Lesbian couples make better parents  "Research suggests that the quality of parenting in ‘biologically assisted’ families is consistently higher in comparison to more natural forms of conception, as these parents tend to be older and more committed to the parenting role."
  For sale: my unborn baby  Police are tracing the person who posted an ad on Craigslist offering an unborn child for adoption.

November 2009
  Lesbian mothers get retrospective recognition  Tasmania's Legislative Council has voted unanimously to make the legal recognition of lesbian co-mothers retrospective to 2003.
  French gays get no respect when it comes to adoption  It's still against the law in France for gay couples to adopt a child together
  Mum, where are you? Sophia waits for call  The NSW State Government is making a desperate plea to the parents of baby Sophia, as she is known, to claim her before she is put up for adoption.
  Pity third world orphans, but they're not a commodity  Maggie Millar has been a stalwart of Australian theatre and been praised as warm, lusty and downright brilliant. One reason for the brilliance was that she had plenty of practice, even as a little girl. Miller is adopted and never got the hang of famiily.
  Call to speed up adoption  Deborra-Lee Furness is pushing for Australia to let private adoption agencies help speed the process in this country.
  Cross-party support for adoption in NZ  New Zealand may soon extend full adoption rights to same-sex couples, following the announcement that a Nationals MP will vote for a Green Party bill on the issue.
  Philippines anti-trafficking project launched  The Australian and Philippine governments have launched an anti-trafficking project in Manila.

October 2009
  He got a new job - and ended working with the brother he didn't know he had  Seven years into his tenure as a furniture mover for a US bedding retailer, Gary Nisbet was joined by a new colleague, Randy Joubert, who looked so much like him that customers asked whether they were brothers.
  Six sentenced in Vietnam adoption scandal  Six people in Vietnam have been handed down prison sentences over a corruption scandal which allowed the adoption of hundreds of babies by foreigners.
  South Australian Chinese Adoption Support (SACAS)
  Families celebrate joy adoption brings  Some families travel a long road before they find each other and for adoptive families that journey can be particularly arduous.
  Foster parents set to win adoption rights  Proposed reforms to Queensland's adoption laws will offer some children in long-term foster care the opportunity to be part of a family of their own, says the state's minister for child safety.
  Final appeal for abandoned baby's mother  The Department of Community Services is giving the parents of a baby found abandoned in the New South Wales central west one last opportunity to come forward before she is adopted.
  How do/should I confront my aunt about a racist e-mail?  I’m white looking mixed-race and I am adopted. I married a woman that’s Puerto Rican and black, and we have a mixed-race daughter. Today, an aunt of mine, on my adopted mom’s side, sends my wife a forwarded e-mail containing a racist "joke".
  Independant Queensland MP Dorothy Pratt has caused controversy in State Parliament after she said homosexuality was not a normal part of life.  Nanango MP Ms Pratt made the comments during debate over proposed changes to adoption laws, which continue the current ban on same-sex couples adopting children.
  Bid to help the other stolen generation  "From the age of five I was forced to work in charcoal pits and was subjected to physical and emotional abuse. The scars will never heal."
  US couples jailed over illegal Egyptian adoptions  An Egyptian court jailed two Christian Egyptian-American couples for two years in a high profile illegal adoption case in mainly Muslim Egypt.
  Lid lifts on the anguish of China's stolen generation  The man from family planning regularly prowled around the mountaintop village, looking for nappies on clotheslines and listening for the cry of a hungry newborn.

September 2009
  Stronger Measures for the Protection of Children  Questions and Answers  
  Stronger Measures for the Protection of Children  From 16 September 2009, sponsors of child visa applications and partner or prospective marriage applications which include a minor applicant will be required to provide a National Police Check as part of the process of assessing the application.
  What's New in Intercountry Adoption  This page aims to provide some information about current intercountry adoption issues.
  Maine's highest court upholds IBM heir's adoption of lover  Maine's highest court gave a legal victory Thursday to a woman who stands to stake a claim to a share of one of America's premier business fortunes thanks to her adoption by her lesbian partner.
  Demon Children And The Movies That Made Them Famous  The new horror flick, Orphan, maybe have adoption groups up in arms for its demonic main character, but crazy Esther has a long line of demon spawn who proceeded her. Hollywood loves casting kids as the bad guy.
Parenting Support For Your Unique Family  300+ full length adoption articles by adoption specialists, medical experts and adoptive parents to help you adopt and raise your child. Expert and volunteer support for adoptive families online since 1996.
  The State of Knowledge Of Foreign Adoptions  A summary of the results of key international adoption research projects based in Scandinavia.
  Research-China.Org  "Essays from my experiences researching China's orphanages. My intent is to educate adoptive parents about Chinese culture, China adoptions and aspects of their child's early life in China."
  Where Did I Come From?  One Adopted Woman's Journey to Find Her Biological Mother
  "Who Am I?" The Choice to Find Biological Parents  Unanswered Questions and Apprehension Follow Adoptees Into Adulthood
  Kinsolving Investigations  specializes in reuniting families separated by adoption.
  AAA-NORCAP  is a specialist adoption support agency and the home of the longest established UK Adoption Contact Register
  Holt babies  A means by which all Holt adoptees can visibly broadcast their information onto the internet.
  The decision to search for one's birth parents is one of many milestones in our adoptions.  Hollee McGinnis spoke about searching for birth parents at the Gathering of the First Generation of Korean Adoptees in September 1999. This article contains portions of her speech.
  When mum is nana  When kindergarten kids have more common sense than parliamentarians.
  Brick wall in adoption case  A family desperate to meet Child Safety Minister Phil Reeves to discuss their complex adoption case has been ignored for five months.
  Changes proposed to ACT adoption laws  The changes will make the process of adopting easier to understand, and will encourage future contact with the child's birth family.
  US pair push to adopt boy as servant  An Indian court has rejected an American couple's bid to adopt a mentally challenged child on the grounds that they intended to use him as "domestic help", a report said.
  Tasmanian IVF debate delayed  Debate on Tasmanian IVF laws has been delayed until October. The Relationships Bill proposes reform to the state’s Adoption Act and Status of Children Act, to recognise non-biological lesbian parents as legal parents.
  Uruguay allows gay adoptions  Uruguay has become the first Latin American country to allow openly gay couples to adopt children.
  Wereldkinderen  Organisation Based in the Netherlands Assisting Indian Adoptees in Searching
  Tips on searching and reunions  Information Summarised from The Adoption Reunion Handbook
  Identity Building. The Impact of Birth Country Travel.  Identity is a continuum. Who I am today is not who I will be tomorrow. For tomorrow I will be a culmination of who I have been in all my “yesterdays” and who I hope to be in my "tomorrows".  
  Ten questions to ask yourself.  Our adoptions did not end the day we were placed in the waiting arms of our adoptive parents.  

August 2009
  Adoption Groups Urge To Boycott Warner Bros' "Orphan"  Warner Bros.' latest horror flick "Orphan" is garnering criticisms from nationwide adoption groups, who are urging moviegoers to boycott the film.
  Searching Questions  Adoptive parents around the globe are seeking their children's first families, even before these children voice an opinion on the matter. But do we know what we're doing?
  Korea Slowly Closes to Adoption  The South Korean Government has been carefully implementing long-term plans to eventually close international adoption for over 20 years.
  White Noise: White Adults Raising White Children To Resist White Supremacy  This baby I carried inside of me, at this point no bigger than a knucklebone, was going to be privileged with a capital "P".
  Orphans Deserve Better  However far-fetched some stories are, they can still subtly shape values and perceptions. A major motion picture leaves a lingering impression orphans are damaged goods and adoption can tear apart your life, those who know the deeper truth must speak up.
  Is 'Orphan' an anti-adoption screed?  Orphan opens today. You know the one. Yuppie parents, devastated by a miscarriage, adopt a young, faux-sweet little girl who immediately begins to plot their demise.
  Don't let 'Orphan' give the wrong idea about foster kids, warn adoption advocates  "The real horror is that we have more than 129,000 legal orphans in the foster care system whose birth parents' rights have been terminated due to abuse and neglect,” says Kelly Rosati.
  'Orphan' offends adoption agencies: anatomy of a film release controversy  A coalition of more than 50 orphan adoption and advocacy organizations has launched a national campaign with the website http://www.orphansdeservebetter.com as its keystone, attempting to squelch adoption myths.
  Adoption advocates request meeting with Warner Brothers to discuss Orphan movie  In a letter representatives of 11 of the nations most influential adoption advocacy organizations requested a meeting with Warner Brothers Chairman and CEO Barry Meyer to discuss their concerns about the upcoming release of the horror movie, "Orphan".
  'Orphan' troubling to adoption community  The film, which centers around a couple and their newly adopted child Esther, is being wildly decried for its depiction of adopted children as homicidal horrors.
  Ebony and Ivory = Perfect Harmony in the Dorm Room?  "As someone who attended a majority white Midwestern college as a student of color, I found that my presence in the dorm often shocked and surprised fellow students, as I did not fulfill their preconceived notions of blackness."
  Interracial Roommates Can Reduce Prejudice  As a freshman at Ohio State University, and the only black student on his floor, Sam Boakye was determined to get good grades, in part to make sure his white roommate had no basis for negative racial views.
  Drive for anti-gay ballot measure fails in Maine  The Christian Civic League of Maine is giving up on its petition drive put a measure on the ballot that would repeal the state's gay-rights law and block adoption and marriage rights after falling far short of its goal of collecting 15,000 signatures.
  Kentucky bill would ban adoption for gay couples  "Hundreds of children are awaiting adoption each day in Kentucky, and it should be our politicians' jobs to find them a home, not to categorically eliminate potential loving parents."
  Adoptions an unmitigated good for Florida  Adoption remains one of the most loving, constructive acts in our society. Individuals and families stepping up to provide a secure family life for children desperately in need of it is an unmitigated act of generosity with many positive ramifications.
  Adoption: One Church, One Child  Local and state officials, and adoptive parents, joined Gov. Charlie Crist at events throughout Florida in celebration of Explore Adoption Day this week.
  Adoption Sets Records Ignites Calls For End On Gay Adoption Ban  Florida has set a record for the number of adoptions during the last fiscal year, and that's prompting renewed calls for an end to the ban on gay adoption.
  Florida governor shows signs of changing views on gay adoption ban  While answering reporter questions in Tallahassee, Florida Governor Charlie Crist indicated that he might consider legislation to change a law that prevents same sex couples from adopting.
  Is Florida Governor flip-flopping on gay-adoption issue?  At an appearance in Tallahassee, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who opposed gay adoption during his 2006 campaign, told reporters he would "have to think" about backing a bill to lift the state's gay-adoption ban.
  Families ask government to help with international adoptions  Families who were caught in the collapse of an Ontario adoption agency are hoping the government will help them untangle red tape so their international adoptions can proceed.
  Families in limbo from bankrupt adoption agency seek help  Would-be Canadian parents who paid thousands of dollars to adopt children from overseas, but had their dreams dashed when an Ontario adoption agency went bankrupt, are demanding the government help complete the adoption process.
  Malawi: Weep Not, Child - Cultural Nationalism and the Madonna Adoption Case  Tee Ngugi shares with Pambazuka News why he believes the Malawi Supreme Court has made the right decision in allowing Madonna to proceed with her adoption of orphan Mercy Chifundo.
  Washington D.C. Adoptions Drop Sharply, Causing Dismay  The number of D.C. foster children being adopted is falling sharply, frustrating child welfare advocates who say the Child and Family Services Agency is not doing enough to find permanent homes for children who are unlikely to be returned to their parents
  An Anti-Adoption Policy In Washington DC's Budget  The District frequently reduces the annual subsidy that foster parents receive if they decide to adopt their foster children.
  "I Would Daydream About Adoption All The Time"  "It’s hard raising two kids as a single person. It’s a lot of pressure."
  Intercountry Adoption Statistics  A number of recent reports have referred to Australia’s intercountry adoption rate as the second lowest in the developed world, ranked only above the UK.

July 2009
  Who's following whose lead?  "I must admit, I cringe just a little bit every time I hear an adoptive parent say they plan to follow their child's lead when it comes to addressing the different aspects in adoption."
  Creating a Family  For many people, the road to parenthood is a bumpy one, and they need help in creating their family. Creating a Family provides resources and support for this alternative journey, regardless whether your path is infertility treatment or adoption.
  Adoption laws overhauled  Changes to adoption laws will give more than 2,700 Queenslanders access to information about their family.
  Same-sex adoption row brews  "The law is an ass when it comes to same-sex adoption. They can foster a child but not adopt a child. A homosexual can adopt a child, but not a couple. The Adoption Act is the last bastion of discrimination for gay and lesbian couples."
  Call to fight trafficking of unborn  Australia's chief federal magistrate has called on the Federal Government to do more to stamp out the international trafficking of unborn children.
  Australian gov't beefs up adoption monitoring  The Australian Government is fending off criticism from the Opposition over how it is dealing with allegations that stolen children from India have been adopted by Australian parents.
  Church must accept IVF is reciprocal act of love  A better objection to IVF is that in a world with millions of orphaned or unwanted children, adoption is a more ethical way of having a child.

June 2009
  Gay adoption makes UK headlines  "Barnardos’ position is that we believe children have the right to be adopted by both people who are adopting them and that that relationship be legally recognised."
  Adoption rules remain a scandal  It would be wrong to criticise this move on such sparse details.
  Madonna's second Malawi adoption approved  Malawi's highest court on Friday granted Madonna the right to adopt a second child from the southern African nation.
  Adopted Children = Psycho Killers?  A new horror movie is getting a deluge of negative publicity from adoptive parents and other members of the adoption world for portraying an older adopted child as a deranged would-be murderer of her adoptive parents and their biological children.
  Supreme Court Scheduled to Hear Same-Sex Couple Adoption Case  The Family Policy Council of West Virginia filed an amicus curiae Jan. 20 that argues abused and neglected children should be placed "on a par with natural children".
  Adopting an Older Child  Actress Nia Vardalos became a mother last year, to a 5-year-old girl.
  Baby advertised on internet for adoption: investigation launched  A South Coast father has apparently offered his one-year-old daughter up for adoption on a classifieds website.
Baby-trafficking horror exposed  Child-trafficking gangs were moving pregnant women from country to country, then waiting for them to give birth before selling their babies, Australia's chief federal magistrate said.
  Ex-Sopranos star's dog leads to adoption  The former ‘Sopranos’ star – who raises four-year-old adopted son Anderson and adopted daughter Macy, one, alone – decided to give two children a home after becoming attached to the pet.
Married or not, let couples adopt  Foster kids need homes. Don't make adoption a pawn and don't make children suffer in the culture wars.
  Childhood stress affects health years later, UW study says  Children who spent their first years in institutions before being adopted by loving and affluent families still suffered long-term damage to their immune systems as a result of early emotional stress.
  Costs rise on Chinese adoption  Infertile couples desperate to adopt a Chinese baby face three-year waits and almost double the administration fee, pushing total costs up to about $30,000 a child.
  Adoption and Mental Illness  Does adoption pose psychological risks? University of Minnesota researchers revisited this controversial issue recently and found that common DSM-IV childhood disorders are more prevalent in adoptees than nonadoptees.
  Parents should keep their children in rear-facing car seats at least until the age of four, according to a British study.  Data from Sweden - where rear-facing seats for kids up to four is the norm - showed that some children in forward-facing booster seats who died in accidents could have survived had they been facing the other way round.
  Child-adoption rate in Virginia lags behind most other states  Today, more than 1,800 Virginia children wait for a permanent family. For foster children who turn 18 without that family, the statistics paint a grim picture.
  Church acknowledges Dumoulin fatherhood, but takes issue with other details  She says she fought priests' attempts to get her to abort or give the child up for adoption, and ultimately, she gave birth to a boy and raised him alone.
  Lesbians fight Virginia adoption laws  A 14-month-old girl was temporarily placed in foster care with two lesbians after her mother's parental rights were terminated because of substance abuse problems.
  Social services remove young children from grandparents and arrange adoption by gay couple  "It's so important for children to fit in, and I feel our grandchildren will be marked out from the start when they draw pictures of their two dads."
  New legislation to streamline adoption process  The Adoption Bill 2009 gives affect to the Hague Convention, which puts in more rights and structures for people wishing to adopt children from abroad.
  Irish government adopts inter-country adoption standards  New legislation providing for uniform standards of child protection for all inter-country adoptions has been published by the Government.
  Adoption Bill enforces Hague Convention  The Adoption Bill 2009 gives force of law to the Hague Convention, the main international statute governing intercountry adoptions.
  Representative groups welcome new legislation  GROUPS REPRESENTING adopted people, adoptive parents and children broadly welcomed the Adoption Bill.

April 2009
  Hugh Jackman attacks Australian adoption laws as 'restrictive'  Hollywood star Hugh Jackman has taken a swipe at Australia's strict laws on adopting children from overseas.
  Raising Katie  What adopting a white girl taught a black family about race in the Obama era.
  More older adults adopt older kids  In a field where babies are most coveted, caseworkers are thrilled with the interest in the older children, who at the tender age of 6 get labeled "hard to adopt" because of their age.
  Malawi court rejects Madonna adoption bid  A Malawian court has rejected pop icon Madonna's request to adopt a three-year-old girl, on the grounds that it could open the door to human trafficking.
  What a Picture Is Worth
  Australia investigates Indian children adoptions  The Australian Attorney General Robert McClelland is investigating 12 suspected cases of child trafficking regarding the adoption of Indian children to Australia.
  Gay adoption hits international hitch  Of all of the countries that New South Wales, and Australia, currently have arrangements with, none of them agree to same-sex couples adopting.
  Children's charity supports same sex adoptions  A major children's welfare service in New South Wales says it would support changes to the law to allow same sex couples to adopt children.
  Children swapped for pet bird, cash  A US American woman is accused of trading two young children in her care for a pet cockatoo and $US175 ($269) in cash from a couple who had been trying for years to have their own child.
  Missouri's adoption laws are outdated  Adult adoptees are denied basic access to their original birth certificate because of outmoded laws that have been in place for years.
  International adoptions by Americans get really tough  Katie Houser tried to adopt a child from Honduras four years ago, but gave up when that country's government stopped releasing children.
  Some Books for White People Adopting Black Children

March 2009
Newsgroup: Adopting from Korea  Support and information for those interested all aspects of the pre-during-post process of adopting from Korea.
  Stolen and Sold  What would you do if you discovered your adopted children were stolen and trafficked, and not willingly given up by their parents, as you'd believed?
  Christian group says gay couples use children as trophies  A Christian group has told a New South Wales Parliamentary inquiry gay people are using children for symbolic gains in pursuing their right to adopt.
  Philippines President Arroyo signs adoption bill into law  Under the new act, the time period before a child is considered abandoned has been shortened from six months to three months.
  Samoans shocked by lenient adoption scam penalties  Samoans have expressed shock at the sentence given to four Americans, over an adoption agency that tricked Samoan families into giving up their children.
  Four sentenced in Samoan adoption scam  Four Americans at the heart of an adoption scam that tricked Samoan families into giving up their children have escaped jail time in the United States.
  The ACT Government has revealed that a number of Canberra couples have been caught up in overseas adoption scams where the child has been stolen from its parents.  Office for Children, Youth and Family Support executive director Megan Mitchell has told an Assembly Committee the abuses largely happened in the late 1990s but they only came to light recently.
  Bruni: Adoption Purist Form Of Motherhood  "I'm not obsessed by blood ties", she told Le Figaro. "I think you can build a powerful bond without that."
  Family’s rare adoption  A Walla couple have drawn international attention after becoming one of only a few Australian families allowed to adopt four children at once from another country.
  Israel Makes Good on Gay Adoption  "Yossi was taken in by the couple in 1995, after being thrown out by his biological family for being gay."

February 2009
  Overview of Austrian Adoption Law  Adoption is seen as an institution designed to provide children with a new family in order to further their well-being, or as a way to legitimise children born out of wedlock.  
  Overview of English Adoption Law  England recognises intercountry adoption and has ratified the European Convention on the Adoption of Children as well as the Hague Convention.  
  Overview of French Adoption Law  The recent legaslative changes are aimed in particular at taking into account the new aspects of international adoption.  
  Overview of German Adoption Law  In 1967, German adoption low was reformed to reflect chnaging attitudes and the fact that adoption was principally an institution to provide a new home for children.  
  Overview of Irish Adoption Law  In Ireland, legal adoption is a relatively new institution. With regard to intercountry adoption, Ireland has seen an increasing in the adoption of children from abroad over the last two decades.  
  Overview of Italian Adoption Law  Italy has long recognised foreign adoptions and have ratified and implemented the Hague Convention as well as the European Convention on the Adoption of Children  
  Overview of Dutch Adoption Law  Apart from adoptions by a spouse or a partner of the biological parent, which happens mainly in lesbian couples, there are only about 40 cases per year in which mothers give up their babies.  
  Overview of Portuguese Adoption Law  Adoption has been practiced very little in Portugal since the 16th century. Modern Portuguese Adoption Law focuses on the welfare of the child.  
  Overview of Spanish Adoption Law  The upward trend of international adoptions in Spain stems from a higher domestic demand for adoption on the one hand and an insufficient number of Spanish children to adopt on the other.  
  Overview of Swedish Adoption Law  The upward trend of international adoptions in Sweden was triggered by the sharp drop in domestic adoptions, which correlated with the changing status of unmarried women in Sweden.  

January 2009
  Attorney General Asks Judge to Drop Adoption Suit  State of Arkansas Attorney General wants a judge to dismiss a lawsuit challenging a new law banning unmarried couples from adopting or fostering children.
  Adoption: The heart of the Gospel  Adopting Rachel taught Thomas much about spiritual adoption
  Halton couple shares adoption success story  The adoptive parents' days are now filled with the stuff of most attentive, loving parents: meals, laundry, chauffeuring, overseeing homework and chores amid feelings of worry, joy, frustration and laughter.
  "Working should not be an adoption issue"  For too many children, a stable, loving home remains as elusive as, say, a university education or a well-paid job.
  Mom and daughter she put up for adoption reunite  The questions rattled around in her mind for nearly 46 years: "Is she safe? Is she loved?"
  Overstating Adoption Abuses  "As the mother of an adopted daughter from Guatemala, I cringe every time I read an article about illegal adoptions."
  Nebraska adoption battle resolved  The baby has been bounced between the two families after his birth mother gave him up for adoption in 2007.
  Nebraskan couple gives up fight to keep adopted son  A couple who tried to adopt a boy without telling the biological mother about their own pregnancy, prompting a legal battle, have given up the child, even though the state Supreme Court had ruled in their favor.
  Speaker Joe Straus: 'I'm not supportive of adoption by homosexual couples'  '... but the whole issue of government with a fiscal note attached and government employees investigating people's private lives caused me a great deal of heartburn.'
  ACLU halts effort to toss adoption ban  The American Civil Liberties Union has halted its efforts - at least for the time being - to delay implementation of a law that bans unmarried cohabiting couples from fostering or adopting children after state's attorneys pointed out that the new law hasn
  Bill aims to solve adoption problems  District Attorney David Prater said he has seen fraud, extortion, and the buying and selling of children in Oklahoma County.
  Bill Aims To Block Excessive Adoption Fees  '...wants to stop the "silent auctions" where attorneys have multiple families "bidding" for one child'
  Danbury teacher's adoption case  Given 12 weeks off without pay, not banked sick leave, from her employer to care for new child
  Florida: No home for gay adoption ban  "The challenged statute iin precluding otherwise qualified homosexuals from adopting available children, does not promote the interests of children and, in effect, causes harm to the children it is meant to protect."
  Adopting embryos raises moral questions, Vatican officials say  After years of study and debate over the morality of adopting frozen embryos, the Vatican did not rule out the practice.
  U.S. urges Russia to sign adoption treaty  The U.S. State Department is seeking a treaty on adoption with Russia, reacting to a threat from Moscow earlier this month not to permit children to be adopted into the United States in response to the death of a Russian infant in Virginia.
  Parents say adoption process is a roller coaster of emotions  Emma Hai-Lin Wanstall, adopted from China nearly four years ago, may not share the rest of her family's "blond" hair and blue eyes, but otherwise is just another part of the clan.
  Adoption begins with a home study  Most adoptions of Michigan's foster youth are by relatives or foster parents, but thousands remain without a home.
  Adoption 'always part of my life'  I was supposed to be adopted by relatives right after I was born, but I was premature, with many health problems. My mother, single at the time, refused to part with me. Later, when she married my father, he did adopt me so I could legally take his name.
The Orphan Manufacturing Chain (Washington Post)  The vast majority of children who need adoption are older, sick, disabled or traumatized. But most Westerners waiting in line are looking for healthy infants or toddlers to take home.
  Florida lawmaker keeps gay adoption fight alive  State Senator Nan Rich doesn't have much hope of changing the Legislature's mind on gay adoption, but she is determined to keep the debate going until the controversy is resolved by the Florida Supreme Court.
  Man is too fat to adopt  A married couple have been told they cannot adopt because one of them, with a BMI of 42, is too fat.
  NSW: Gay adoption next?  The NSW Government has promised a parliamentary inquiry into legalising same-sex adoption after making changes to speed up the approval process for heterosexuals.
  Red tape orphaned in adoption overhaul  Couples planning to adopt children will face a smaller burden of red tape following the passage of new legislation through NSW Parliament.
  "The Best Interests of the Child"  Editorial in New York Times
  More Teens Choosing to Forgo Adoption  Texas has one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the nation, and more of those teen mums are opting to keep their baby. "...there is not the teen pregnancy stigma there once was..."
  Outraged Russians consider cutting off U.S. adoptions  Russian officials are considering stopping adoptions to the United States after a US father who left his Russian-born adopted son in a sweltering car to die was acquitted last month
  Law may limit adoption countries  countries such as Russia and Ethiopia have yet to ratify the Hague Convention and do not have a bilateral agreement with Ireland. These will be closed off as eligible countries for inter-country adoptions once the convention comes into force.
  Catholic Agencies obey gay adoption rules  Half of the Roman Catholic adoption agencies who warned they would close rather than allow same-sex couples to adopt will now abide by the law.
  British Catholic Adoption Agencies To Accept Gay Applicants  As of January 1, it is no longer legal for agencies to discriminate against gay and lesbian couples from adopting children in England, Wales and Scotland.
  Your Day is Our Day  A book for children. It compares a child's life in a Russian orphanage to that of a child living in USA.
  A Guide to Russian Adoption: Professional Counseling and Personal Insights  The How-To guide you need if you are thinking about adopting from Russia.
  New Hampshire couple perplexed by Vatican views on embryo adoption  As committed Catholics, the Smiths respect Vatican pronouncements, but recent statements about frozen embryo adoption from church officials have bewildered the parents of three children who came into the world through this process.
  Louisiana to appeal putting two fathers' names on adoption birth certificate  The state of Louisiana will appeal a federal judge's order to put the names of two adoptive fathers on the birth certificate of their Shreveport-born son.
  Nepal restarts international adoptions  Nepal has begun accepting applications from foreigners who want to adopt Nepalese children, 18 months after the practice was stopped because of widespread malpractice, officials said Friday.
  Adoptions examined after Russian boy dies  The grim case of a toddler in the Washington area who died of heatstroke in July after his father left him in a parked vehicle for nine hours is national news in Russia, fodder for angry political commentary.
  US parents want answers after China milk scare  China's worst product-safety scandal in years has hit home for thousands of adoptive parents, who are seeking answers about potential effects of melamine in tainted formula and other foods.
  Judge: 2 adoptive dads belong on birth certificate  A same-sex couple in California has won a federal court ruling that their adopted son's Louisiana birth certificate must bear the names of both adoptive fathers.
  Adoption Records  Mainers who were adopted can have access to their original birth certificates.
  Arkansas: Opponents weigh suit over adoption ban  Opponents of an Arkansas law that bans unmarried couples from fostering or adopting children may be moving closer toward suing over the new restriction.
  Man arrested in Florida on warrant for adoption scam  Florida police arrest man who is wanted on 62 felony counts of theft related to an adoption scam.
  Advocates fear attack on gay adoption by Louisiana lawmaker  Louisiana government has since 2001 had a Commission on Marriage and Family, a sort of mom-and-apple-pie political concept that comes as no surprise in a socially conservative state.
  ACLU of Arkansas sues over adoption restrictions  More than a dozen families sued Tuesday to challenge a new Arkansas law banning unmarried couples living together from becoming foster or adoptive parents.
  Baby bonus reforms have our children in mind  The baby bonus payment will be paid in 13 instalments of about $385 per fortnight, instead of the lump sum. The payments will be limited to families with incomes of $75,000 or less.
Adoption's new face  Agencies that once espoused secrecy now endorse contact between birth parents, adoptive parents and the child
  US adoption agency sends volunteers to Guatemala  A US adoption agency took a team of volunteers to Guatemala in the midst of an adoption freeze that has North Texas parents awaiting the chance to unite with their adopted children.
  Cuts in foreign adoptions causing anxiety in USA  Jodi Markoff vividly recalls the day she met 5-year-old Phan in a rural Vietnamese orphanage last April. The girl looked terrified.
  Men Are Twice More Likely to Adopt Children than Women  A study made by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center on Health Statistics has shown that American men with ages between 18 and 44 have adopted twice the number of children than the women in the same age group.
  Waiting worth long adoption process  Ricardo and Holli Aparicio know first hand what it is to wait. It took nearly two years for the adoption of their first daughter from Guatemala to finalize
  Harder to adopt from foreign countries  Tighter rules, other factors lead some to look in new countries
  US federal judge orders Louisiana registrar to recognise out of state adoption  An organisation that furthers gay rights through litigation has hailed a federal court decision on same-sex adoption as "a major victory for same-sex parents."
  Spanish judge suspended over lesbian adoption bid  A Spanish court says a judge has been suspended for attempting to thwart a woman’s effort to adopt her lesbian partner’s child.
  Couple tell of adoption rewards  A couple who have adopted two sisters with a rare genetic disorder are urging more people to foster and adopt children with disabilities.
  Baby Bonus News  Families that adopt children aged between two and 16 will be eligible for the baby bonus.
  Beyond Consequences Institute  Dedicated to providing solutions for families raising children with difficult behaviours

December 2008
  Kids "kidnapped for Aussie adoption"  Poor Indian children are being kidnapped and adopted out to Australian families through state government agencies, authorities say.
  Christians block preferences  The government has facilitated the adoption of children by gay couples
  In search of the stolen children  Charities are normally keen to get some publicity to raise their profile and help with fund-raising. But that's not the case for orphanages and adoption agencies in Chennai, India's fourth biggest city.
  "Do parents feel the same affection for a child they have adopted as a birth child?"  Ask most adoptive parents whether they think their love for their children is any different than it would be if they had their own offspring and you can generally expect a resounding no.
  "Hey Mum, What's a Half-caste?"  Indigenous publishers give voice to previously unheard stories
  Along came Polly, and three lives were transformed  Polly, who was born with an intellectual disability, mild cerebral palsy and epilepsy, had spent most of her early years in foster care.
  Family Reunion  Barry and Julia Rollings wouldn't have given the internet news item a second glance had it not been from Chennai. It was from here that the Australian couple had adopted their children, Akil and Sabila, eight years ago.
  Muddle over baby bonus eligibility  Thousands of eligible families could miss out on the $5000 baby bonus as a result of confusion over the new means test for the measure.
  A Nest For Our Russian Doll  A journey through infertility leads a couple halfway across the world to a village north of Moscow where they meet a small two-and-a-half-year-old child who had only known the orphanage as home.
  Bishop Kofi Linked To Illegal Adoption  Deputy Health Minister for Social Welfare, Joseph Geebro has accused Dr. Edward Kofi, Bishop of the Africa Christian Fellowship International (ACFI) of illegally adopting over 40 children in Grand Gedeh and River Gee counties.
  The ChildTrauma Academy  A not-for-profit organization based in Houston, Texas focused on education, service delivery and program consultation in the areas of child maltreatment.
  Dr Federici  Treatment & evaluation of child neuropsychology including behavior and BiPolar disorders. Dr. Federici provides family therapy for childhood ADHD, childhood Autism, PST in children and more.
  Reactive Attachment Disorder Site  A major problem with the diagnosis of RAD is the painful truth that many of the very people we parents turn to for help - professionals in the mental health, neurological, and medical fields - often lack the knowledge and expertise to treat our children.
  Nancy Thomas Parenting Site  We offer information on adoption / attachment and bonding issues, and Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) as a not-for-profit service to families and professionals.
  Debbie Jeffrey  Articles about attachment, attachment disorder, adoption and fostering, and general parenting
  Singaporean adoption agency owner accused of baby-trafficking
  Bringing Our Angel Home  "A wee one is found, softly whimpering, on a small patch of dirt in the heart of southern Vietnam. At the orphanage, they discover her name and birthdate scrawled on her arm."
  We Belong Together: A Book About Adoption and Families  "Every two or three pages, Parr writes "We belong together because ..." and then fills in the blank in different heartfelt, and sometimes whimsical, ways. The pictures show families of all different kinds, including same-gender and different color."
  International Social Services  An international non-governmental organization dedicated to helping individuals and families with personal or social problems resulting from migration and international movement.
  Beyond Consequences  Dedicated to providing solutions for families raising children with difficult behaviours
  After trip to Vietnam, Price is hopeful about adoption pact  U.S. Rep. David Price hopes the United States can soon complete an agreement with Vietnam on international adoptions after a breakdown between the two countries.
  Bans on gay marriage, adoption provoke outcry  More than 200 people turned out for a Milwaukee rally calling for marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples, one of many staged across the nation Saturday in response to same-sex marriage and adoption bans that passed in four states.
  Bothell church begins embryo adoption service
  Judge puts 'internet baby' into temporary care  A Dutch judge has granted child protection authorities temporary guardianship of a four-month-old Belgian boy allegedly sold by his parents to a Dutch couple over the internet.
  NSW passes new IVF adoption laws  People undergoing IVF treatment in New South Wales will no longer be barred from applying to adopt a child, under new laws passed by State Parliament.
  Utah Rep. Moves to Allow Gay Adoption  A bill now before the Utah state legislature would ensure that the door to adoption by qualified gay and lesbian parents would not be slammed shut on children needing good homes
  Australian Korean Friendship Group  AKFG is an Australian volunteer, non for profit support group for Queensland families involved in overseas adoptions.
  Colombia Adoption  Helping families who have adopted or hope to adopt Colombian children learn about the process and stayed connected with the Colombian culture.
  Mother runs off with teenage son she gave up for adoption as a baby  The 38-year-old woman, from Fife, Scotland, was only recently reunited with the 18-year-old after having given up him and a daughter for adoption in 1992
  KAF/Han Ho Inc.  Korean Adoptive Families - Culture club run for and by families with children adopted from South Korea
  Adele Horin: "It's time to sing out if you're gay, Catholic and angry"  "... in 2003 he authored a battle plan instructing Catholic politicians to oppose gay marriage and gay adoption ..."
  Russian Attitudes Colder Toward Foreign Adoptions  "In the past, the only way to save our children was through foreign adoption, but now the government is providing funds for families who might not otherwise be able to afford to take on a child."
  Courts clear 67 of 300 adoption cases  The action followed a TOI report on November 14 on how adoption cases were being held up for six months to a year in the Delhi district court
  Why do you want to know where I'm from?  What's the difference between "institutional racism" and "individual discrimination"
  Exploring African Diaspora adoptee identity  I recently met an African American woman who was really interested when I told her I had adopted from Ethiopia.
  Happy Adoption Day or not?  Friday was our son's third adoption day so we behaved as many adoptive families do, we celebrated. We have long believed that the day our family finally became a family was a day to celebrate, much like AJ's birthday is a day of celebration.
  Greens "still committed to gay adoption bill"  Green MP Metiria Turei's private member's bill aiming to legalise adoption by same-sex couples has not been withdrawn, but is unlikely to he heard in Parliament before the General Election, says her Executive Assistant.
  International adoption reveals its dark side  It was a 'mirale' as Ana puts it, when she spotted Esther, who is now a toddler, at a state adoption office in Guatemala city. She petitioned for an identity test and the results brought her daughter back home.
  New Government agreement aims to reduce adoption barriers  A new agreement has been signed which the Federal Government says will make overseas adoptions easier.
  Overseas adoption obstacles reduced  Federal, state and territory governments have signed a new agreement to reduce barriers to overseas adoption.
  Guatemalan mother reunited with baby stolen and sold for adoption by US couple  Ana Escobar had clutched her only picture of her missing child when she tearfully described to The Sunday Telegraph last year how six-month-old Esther was stolen from her by a gunman in March 2007.
  Legislative elite mulls Hague Adoption Convention  Senior law makers have supported the Government’s proposal for signing and ratifying the Hague Adoption Convention of May 29, 1993.
  Azerbaijan endorsed order of certification of adoption by foreigners and non-citizens of the country
  Adoption gang members held  Police have arrested two more suspects for their alleged involvement in an illegal adoption ring
  Rules of accrediting bodies of legal assistance to foreigners in child adoption ratified in Azerbaijan  Azerbaijan's Cabinet of Ministers has ratified "Rules of accrediting bodies of legal assistance to foreigners and stateless persons in the sphere of intergovernmental adoption.
  New document allows Christian debate over embryo adoption to continue  After years of study and debate over the morality of adopting frozen embryos, the Vatican did not rule out the practice, but said it raises serious ethical concerns.
  Adopted Guatemala baby stolen  DNA tests in Guatemala have proven for the first time that a child put up for adoption through the state system was stolen from her mother, officials say.
  Reunion 'hard' on Guatemala baby  A Guatemalan woman whose daughter was taken from her and handed over for adoption has spoken of the challenges at being reunited with her child. Ana Escobar said spending more than a year apart had badly affected both mother and baby.
  Stolen Girl Tied to Adoption  Adoption officials said DNA tests showed that a Guatemalan baby stolen from her mother was being adopted by a US couple. The child’s mother said armed men locked her in a closet in March 2007 at the family’s store and took the 6-month old.
  Adoption makes family story complete  Four years ago, Juan Martinez and his three siblings found themselves without anyone able to care for them...
  Judge Overrules Ban on Gays Adopting in Florida  Florida Judge Cindy Lederman ruled the thirty-year-old ban that's kept gay men and women from adopting children in Florida is unconstitutional.
  Miami judge opens door to gay adoption  A Miami judge has defied a Florida gay adoption ban, ruling in favour of a male couple's right to adopt two children they have raised over the past four years.

November 2008
  Ruling is expected on gay adoption ban  Though Florida law does not allow gay people to adopt, they are allowed to be foster parents, and many gay people have fostered children for years.
  As hard times bite, a few Taiwanese giving up kids  The number of families offering children for adoption in Taiwan has inched up this year, a rise that welfare groups blame in part on the island's moribund economy.
Adoption may deepen parenting skills  Raising a child is often cited as one of the most challenging responsibilities an adult can assume. Adopting a child may raise the bar one notch further for your parenting skills.
  The Wood Report puts adoption back on agenda  One of the key recommendations in the Wood report into child welfare is for children who cannot be returned to the care of their parents be given some "long-term security". That is adoption by any other name.
  Adoption: Can a lone carer work?  To prevent cases such as Baby P’s, should single people and same-sex couples be encouraged to adopt?
  Fewer children up for adoption in city  It will take you much longer than nine months to become a parent, if you plan to adopt. At least in Mumbai, the city with the highest number of adoptions in India.
  Mothers seek children given up for adoption  In 1966 at the age of 20, Tina Caudill of Hazel Park found herself pregnant and unmarried. While today she would be considered a single mother, back then she was a disgrace to her family and community.
  Families Newly Made by Adoption  "Today I’m going to grant a judgment of adoption, and forever, ever more you’re going to be known as Isaiah Xavier Johnson"
  Adoption applications double in NSW  he New South Wales Government says there has been a marked increase in the number of people applying to adopt since it changed the Adoption Act earlier this year.
  A family bond beyond blood  In 2003, the Forestville peak-performance coach flew to Ethiopia to meet Samrawit, a five-year-old girl who adoption agencies believed had been orphaned.
  Adoption paid off but the wait was too long  Even after nine failed attempts of IVF within five long years, Kerry Wark would not give up on her desire to have children. To fulfil her dream, she chose to adopt.
  Windows and mirrors  “Other people are the mirror in which we see ourselves.”
  Where can I find a bible with racially realistic portrayals?  Every illustrated bible I've seen has images that remake biblical characters in the image of the primary reader. I haven’t come across many bibles, but I have yet to see one that makes an effort in historical, racial accuracy in its illustrations.
  Is there a measureable benefit to raising my child in a diverse environment?  I’m a parent of a young transracially adopted Asian child, and we have to decide where to send him to school...
  How do I respond to a sister who demeans my biracial daughter?  I have a problem. I have a beautiful 22-month-old biracial daughter. My sister has said that she's employing “out of sight out of mind” so if their daughter doesn't see my daughter then she won't be “exposed to the product of an interracial relation
  Guatemalan baby Esther Sulamita was the first found  For 14 months, Ana Escobar studied the tiny fingers of every passing baby, searching for a girl with pinkies curving gracefully outward, just like her missing daughter's...
  There were times when Brittney Bergeron Himel thought the day would never come.  With a biological mother fighting for her custody and a Family Court judge pushing for family reunification, it seemed like her wish for adoption would remain out of reach.
  No one wants China's quake orphans  Chinese authorities say they have had little response after putting 88 children orphaned in the devastating May earthquake up for adoption.
  Push for probe of SA adoption rate  The Family First Party wants a review of adoption laws in South Australia.
  Adoptions from abroad take a dive  Victorian couples pinning their hopes of having children on international adoption are encountering tougher restrictions imposed by other countries, causing a big decline in the number of children adopted into the state.
  Sweden Offers Help In Adoption Dispute  Swedish Secretary of Health and Social Affairs Karin Johansson emphasised her Government's interest in the child adoption issue in Vietnam and offered help to the Southeast Asian country in ratifying the relevant Hague Convention in the near future.
  "Keep Your Laws Off My Family"  As Proposition 8 in California threatens same sex marriage rights, musician Melissa Etheridge looks back on her own struggle to adopt her children with her now wife Tammy.
  Proud Parenting: Melissa Etheridge shares her story about adoption and marriage  Melissa Etheridge knows how it feels to be denied the right to adopt because she's gay.
  Perils of adopting  When we decided to adopt a baby boy, it was the start of a steep learning curve.
  Maternal grandaunt may give Jia Hui up for adoption  Jia Hui was living alone in a rubbish-filled apartment for almost two years in Penang after he was abandoned by his mother
  The business of global adoption  "More and more countries are entering into the Hague Convention and I think that's a good thing," says Anne Skully, head of adoptions at Alberta Children and Youth Services.
  Adoption's invisible realities  "It is such a wonderful thing, yet people who don't adopt don't really understand"
  Tories to review adoption rules  The Conservatives are to look at easing inter-racial adoptions in England as part of plans to "remove race as a barrier to adoption".
  A stranger in her own skin  From babies shipped in boxes to Angelina Jolie's growing brood, the history of international adoption follows chaos and calamity around the world
  DNA tests provide first confirmation of stolen baby in troubled Guatemalan adoption system  Adoption officials said that DNA tests indicate a Guatemalan baby reported stolen from her mother was being adopted by a U.S. couple, the first strong sign that the Central American nation's troubled adoption system relied in part on abducted children.
  Transracial adoption must respect culture  As a single white parent of a black child, I can assure you that it is not easy for white families to adopt black children. To adopt a child of any colour, sex, nationality or age, a parent (or parents) must undergo strict screening.
  Black, white of adopting  Because I want to add to the rainbow nation of a family I already have, I will adopt a white baby girl. I do not see why not, considering there are so many white people adopting black babies, but I have yet to hear of a black family with a white baby.
  Adoption secrets to be revealed  NEARLY 3000 adopted Queenslanders could soon be told about their birth parents for the first time under proposed reforms to the state's adoption laws.
  Tories vow to remove inter-racial taboo in adoption  Barriers that prevent white couples from adopting black children would be removed by David Cameron under reforms to stop ethnic minority children languishing in the care system.
  Adoptive Mother Sentenced For Fraud Scheme  A Florida woman who pleaded guilty to a fraud scheme in connection with the adoption of 11 disabled children who authorities say she abused has been sentenced to nearly 11 years in prison.
  Couples in 3-year adoption wait  There is a wait of up to three years for an assessment from a social worker for couples wishing to adopt a child abroad.
  Rights groups push for state parenting reforms  "It is an absurd state of affairs, when individual lesbians and gay men are eligible for adoption, but same-sex couples are not."
  Vietnam arrests two suspects in baby-selling scam  Police in Vietnam have arrested the heads of two health centres suspected of forging documents in a scam that put up infants for overseas adoptions.
  Adoption agencies under investigation  Authorities in the northern province of Nam Dinh are investigating two local charity organizations for their alleged involvement in dubious adoption paperwork.
  Foster care now child's play under new laws  Foster carers seeking to adopt children should find the process faster and cheaper under a shake-up of the system announced yesterday by the Premier, Morris Iemma
  Czech minister calls for debate about gay adoption  The Czech minister for human rights and ethnic minorities has called for a debate on whether the gay partner of a parent should be allowed to adopt his or her child.
  The many faces of adoption  Missouri has a total of about 1,400 children waiting to be adopted. Only five percent of those children are 1 year old or younger; 25 percent are between 6 and 10 years of age; and 28 percent are between 11 and 15.
  Improving Foster Care Adoption  Tens of thousands of children linger in foster care for years waiting for the security that a stable home offers. This legislation brings their dream of feeling part of a permanent family just a little bit closer.
  Russia bans 3 adoption agencies following baby's death in U.S.  Three international adoption agencies, including one that failed to inform Russia of the death of a baby in the U.S. this week, have been banned from operating in Russia, the country's adoption authorities said.
  Adoption brings family together  More than 3300 Pennsylvania children want a second chance at a family. Removed from their parents, they are waiting to be chosen for adoption.
  Families from afar  Overseas adoption had always been in the back of their mind but the couple began seriously considering the option after meeting children who had been adopted from other countries.
  Rich couple seek adoption of an abandonned baby girl  A shop owner found the baby girl in a cardboard box. Inside the box were a nursing bottle, milk formula and baby items.
  Social workers urged to be flexible on ethnic minority adoptions  The British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) is concerned that too many ethnic minority children are left in care homes or with foster families while social workers try to find families to match their precise ethnic and religious background.
  Ban on unmarried adoptions passes in Arkansas  Rural counties and evangelical voters fueled by a pulpit campaign pushed Arkansas into adopting one of the nation's strictest bans on unmarried couples serving as foster or adoptive parents.
  Priority on adoption reform  "A child is not an object for sale, and the dangers hiding behind these so-called private child adoptions turn them into just that: objects."
  Many children in need of adoption  A PLEA has been issued for people in the Cotswolds and throughout Gloucestershire to consider adopting children.
  I'm glad I gave my baby for adoption  I was 17 when I found out I was pregnant. I'd known the father for years; as kids we'd sat next to each other in primary school, as teenagers we hung around in the same group.
  Man Loses Son in Adoption Without His Consent  Imagine looking forward to the birth of your first child, then having that baby given to another family for adoption without your consent.
  Caseworker helps foster kids get home - forever  Adoption days are her favorite - the judges are in a good mood, everyone is happy, and children who have known nothing but a lifetime of instability will finally find a home.
  Adoption on hold over licence  The couple, who have been married for 12 years, had expected to make a home for the child in August, but ran into trouble when the local adoption organisation's licence lapsed.
  Antipathy Toward Obama Seen as Helping Arkansas Limit Adoption  Strong opposition to the candidacy of Barack Obama in Arkansas may have helped conservatives pass a measure blocking the adoption of children by unmarried couples.
  Families in the making  It begins with a baby girl left in a box on some stairs outside a building. Attached is a note, revealing nothing more about her identify than her date of birth. She is given a name by the orphanage where she spends the first few months of her life, befor
  Fostering Yes, Adoption No  In a bizarre legal double standard, same-sex couples in Victoria are being encouraged to become foster parents, although they don’t have the legal right to adopt.
  Madonna's divorce "shocks" Banda  The father of the Malawian toddler adopted by US singer Madonna and her British film director Guy Ritchie says he is shocked at news of their divorce but wants her to keep the child.
  Legal action to make Chinese daughter one of us  A couple has launched legal action to obtain a NSW birth certificate for the daughter they adopted in China so she will not have to use Chinese documents, including a "certificate of abandonment", as identity papers in Australia.
  Call for lesbian/gay foster carers, but not adoption  There are also a lot of myths in the gay community, such as thinking they are not eligible for foster care - and that is not right.
  Single parents eligible to adopt Filipino children  THE arduous road to adoption for single people may become slightly easier, with the Philippines becoming one of just three places that will now accept applications from single people in Victoria.
Adoption: at what cost?  Adoption: to give a family to a child, and not a child to a family.  
  The Mommy Orphanage  "What if instead of an orphanage where kids without families live, there was an orphanage where all the moms who want kids live? If you went to the Mommy Orphanage today, would you still pick me to be your mom?"

October 2008
  "Ethnic" Barbie dolls.  Are they really ethnic if they are all modelled on the white Barbie?
  Lifting of Nepal child adoption ban  Nepal's Government says it will allow 58 foreign agencies to process requests by families wishing to adopt children from the Himalayan nation, ending months of uncertainty.
  Adoption ban proposal irks some students, makes sense to others  Spearheaded by the Arkansas Family Council, some think the initiative stands to further the strain on the state's adoption services, which currently has, on any given day, 3,700 foster kids in the system and 1,100 foster homes available.
  Arkansas Voters To Decide On Unmarried Adoption  Voters in Arkansas will decide whether unmarried couples should be allowed to adopt children. A conservative group is behind the ballot initiative, hoping to stop what it calls a "gay agenda".
  Surviving and thriving as a student of color at a less than diverse university  Whether you're an international student, a big-city kid heading to a small-town university or pretty much anyone used to a certain level of diversity, adjusting to an environment that lacks the ethnic variety you are used to can be a difficult experienc
  It's YOUR fault if we offended you.  By now, pretty much everyone knows the story of the Spanish and Argentine teams who thought it might be cute to do a little yellow face for the press.
  Abandoned Korean girl finds home in Hong Kong  A Korean girl called Jade who was adopted by a high-ranking Dutch diplomat in Korea in 2000 and then abandoned six years later in Hong Kong has found a new family.
  Gays urged to be foster carers  It's another legal anomaly and barrier to parenthood: gay and lesbian couples in Victoria can be foster carers but are not permitted to adopt children.
  Adoption site under fire  Rosario Gennaro, 40, and Alexander Gardner, 38, sought to create a searchable potential-parent profile on ParentProfiles.com, a Web site owned by Adoption Media, LLC of Arizona.
  Partial victory for anti-adoption group  Petitioners were out in force in churches Sunday. Some pastors, such as at Little Rock's predominantly black and powerful St. Mark's Baptist, urged people in the audience to sign up.
  NY couple complains about Arizona adoption site  A same-sex couple in New York says an Arizona-based Web site has barred them from posting an adoption profile.
Greater Good: Rubbing Off  How kids learn about race, and how their parents can foster tolerance.
  Race dilemma at the heart of our adoption crisis  The majority of children awaiting adoption in Britain are black, Asian or mixed-race while most available adopters are white. The issue of 'transracial' adoption is hugely controversial with experts divided on what is best for the children.
  The elephant in the living room. Are we born racist?  Prejudice might be hardwired in our brains. But the good news is that we can learn to override our prejudices and embrace difference.
  How do I talk to my child’s teacher about racism in the classroom?  I am Spanish, living in the UK with my white British husband and our two children, a birth son aged 7 and a daughter adopted from China who is now 4.
  Black children adopted into a white society. Where does the racism end?  Are my church’s actions influenced by racial prejudice?
  New York gay couple sues Arizona adoption companies  The company was sued in California for violating that state’s antidiscrimination law and is no longer doing business there.
  Just Being Parents  Same-sex couples find options in adoption and foster parenting
  Adoption absurdities  Adoption agencies routinely estimate costs of more than US $20,000 for a domestic adoption of a black or mixed-race baby.
  Adoption matches 'too stringent'  Some councils are too stringent in getting an exact match for ethnic minority children who are up for adoption, charities claim.
  Adoption and School Issues  Resources to help parents and educators understand and support adopted children and their families.
  Adoption and the needs of the child  Adoption between "cultures". Does a baby whose parents are Christian really know that it is a Christian? Is it a Christian? Do we inherit culture? Should religion be considered when adopting? Should other cultures?
  Adoption and School  A great page of resources for adoption and school
  FACTBOX: Adoption in the United States  Black children in foster care in the United States are less likely to be adopted into a family than children from other races and laws designed to rectify the imbalance are failing, according to a new report.
  Adoption Publishing Company - School Resources  A great resource for when your child starts school. Tons of articles that you can photocopy and give to a teacher including ideas for assignments like the family tree and bringing in baby photos
  Same-Sex Couple Adoption Proposed  A Justice Ministry appointed working group is proposing that same-sex couples in a registered relationship be allowed to adopt a partner's child.
  Building Racial Identity: Choosing a School
  Open Adoption Arrangement Builds Unique Families  An arrangement called an open adoption, which means the birth parents share information and can even choose to visit the child and stay in touch as the baby grows.
  Attachment Issues in the School-Age Adopted Child
  The Issue of Race for Private-School Students of Color

September 2008
  Florida gay adoption legislation: Citing a change of heart, state Republican Darryl Rouson apologized for a series of disparaging remarks he made two years ago against homosexuals and same-sex families.  "Sometimes we become educated and evolve," he said during a St. Petersburg NAACP candidate forum. "I have evolved."
  "Bringing them Home" (Reconciliation and Social Justice Library)  Report of the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families
  Parents as Co-therapists: Treating Traumatised and Attachment Disordered Children (NSW Institute of Psychiatry Conference, 2004)  Article by Debbie Jeffrey
  Facilitating Attachment - Attachment Difficulties and Attachment Disorder in Adopted Children  Article by Debbie Jeffrey
  China eases restrictions on illegally adopted children  A new policy guideline eases the law on most illegally adopted children in China. The legal rights of these children are currently not guaranteed. People can now register their illegally adopted children without fear of punishment.
  For gay father, adoption ruling is 'a defining moment'  After seven years, a Key West foster dad fulfilled a 12-year-old boy's greatest dream: to have a real father. In doing so, he may help smash a controversial Florida law.
  Florida puts family face on adoption campaign  Florida recently kicked off a new phase of Governor Charlie Crist's Explore Adoption campaign, which focuses on the benefits of adoption.
  End Hypocritical Gay Adoption Ban  A 52-year old gay man and permanent guardian of his 13-year-old foster son last week won the right to adopt the boy, despite a Florida law banning adoptions by homosexuals.
  Quietly done good deeds often get ignored, but an action that cleared Congress on Monday is likely to have far-reaching consequences for adoption and foster care of children in America.  The Senate passed by unanimous consent the first major reform of child welfare laws of the 21st Century, bipartisan legislation nurtured in the House by the usually partisan Republican Jim McDermott.
  Calming Your Wild Child (and even the not-so-wild one)  Article by Debbie Jeffrey
  NSW Government to ease adoption laws  The New South Wales Government is promising to make it easier and less costly for foster parents and step parents to adopt children in their care.
  NSW government eases adoption laws  Families and foster carers will soon find it much easier to adopt children, with the State Government winding back tough restrictions and providing more incentives.
  Overhaul of NSW's adoption system  The Premier Morris Iemma today announced an overhaul of the state's adoption system, making it easier for foster carers to adopt children.
  Adoption made easier for foster parents  The NSW government has announced an overhaul of its adoption laws in the hope of making it easier, quicker and less costly for prospective parents.
  With children being adopted from abroad at older ages, concerns for their health grow  A growing body of medical evidence shows that while many internationally adopted children are remarkably resilient, others may forever bear the consequences of early physical and emotional deprivation.
  Preparing for parenthood  Anita Packett doesn't know how she will react when she gets the call to collect her adopted child, mainly because she isn't prepared to let her heart go there . . . just yet.
  A long journey for love
  Paedophile adoption: change in law needed  A legal loop-hole that could enable a paedophile to adopt a child in Portugal is being addressed by law makers.
  Gay Adoption Bill is "off the ballot" in New Zealand  Prime Minister Helen Clark said the 'Adoption (Equity) Amendment Bill' had been removed, adding that adoption by gay couples was "a tough issue to tackle, which we must get to at some point".
  ADHD or Hyperarousal? Hyperactivity in Traumatised and Adopted Children  Article by Debbie Jeffrey
  Major Welsh adoption agency to cut Catholic ties due to new same-sex adoption rules  A Welsh Catholic adoption agency, which has been in operation since 1947, is cutting its ties with the Catholic Church because of new rules that force adoption agencies to consider placing children with homosexual couples.
  Good Parents, Bad Results  8 ways science shows effective ways of disciplining their children.
  Internationally Adopted Children Hit Puberty Earlier, Study Finds  Internationally adopted children can undergo puberty at an early age making them more susceptible to a variety of health risks as adults. But are internationally adopted children really more at risk? Read more...
  Giving up a child for adoption has a lifetime impact. A woman relieved to discover her son had turned out well after adoption.  "In the late 1970s I had a child who was adopted - at a time when 30 per cent of Irish children born outside marriage were adopted."
  The adoption option  After five years of trying to get pregnant to no avail, the Wehrmans turned their efforts to adoption, leading to a whirlwind neither of them could have ever imagined.
  Stories of adoption that need to be heard  "betrayed by a Church and a society that told her to forget her firstborn"
  Would-be Parents Frustrated by Washington DC's Adoption System  A federal court has given Washington DC two weeks to come up with a plan to fix its adoption system or risk it going back into receivership.
  Incentives, laws encourage adoption of older children  Turkey has found that older children are much harder to find parents for and thus has to introduce incentives and relax adoption laws to encourage people to open their homes to them.
  Adoption in the Schools: A Lot to Learn  Promoting Equality and Fairness for all Children and Their Families
  Family Trees and Baby Photos  New Ideas to help parents overcome the School Challenges for Adopted Children
  Teacher's Guide to Adoption  A resource document prepared by Robin Hilborn, editor of Family Helper, to promote the teaching of adoption in schools
  Out of the Shadows  Adoptive families seek to transform classroom strategies.
  Adopted Children in the Early Childhood Classroom  Celebrating individuality, fostering self-esteem, and developing self-confidence in the world beyond the family are socioemotional goals that receive top priority in high-quality early childhood programs.  
  Adoption Basics for Educators  How Adoption Impacts Children and How Educators Can Help  
  Can We Talk? How to Explain Adoption at School – Even to Fifth Graders  An adoption education program for older children
  Becoming an Advocate at School  There's nothing like a school's insensitivity to adoption to turn a quiet mom into a bold activist.
  Adoptive Families: How I Explained Adoption to the First Grade  Using a favorite doll and a logic children can follow, one mother enlightens her daughter's curious class.
  Beyond Consequences, Logic, and Control: A Love-Based Approach to Helping Attachment-Challenged Children With Severe Behaviors  "This book is brilliant! It lets parents know there is another way."
  Trends in InterCountry Adoption: Analysis of Data from 20 receiving countries, 1998 - 2004  Peter Selman, Newcastle University  
  National Assembly talks on Hague rules on adoption  National Assembly Standing Committee members discussed Vietnam's legal issues in joining the Hague Convention on inter-country adoption
  Adoption in Korea, Revisited  Korea celebrated its third Adoption Day on May 11, 2008. The date itself conveys a special message; May is considered family month in Korea, and the 11th was selected in the meaning of one family plus one adoptee making a new, loving home.
  International Adoption: Opening Pandora's Box  I was born to a German mother and a German father on German soil, one of thousands of German children adopted by Americans from the 1950s through the 1970s.
  Adoption explained  Adoption can give a secure family life to children who, for various reasons, can't live with their birth family. Adoption means that the people caring permanently for the child become the child's legal parents.
  Teenz Connection  Teenage Adoptees Getting Together
  The signs of speech and language delay in young internationally adopted children  This article was inspired by a telephone consultation with a prospective parent concerned about a 3 year old child from South America, who she was considering for adoption.
  Seven Lifelong Issues in Adoption  Adoption is a lifelong, intergenerational process that unites the triad of birth families, adoptees, and adoptive families forever. Adoption, especially of adolescents, can lead to both great joy and tremendous pain.
  Family and other disasters by Judith Lucy  "Written with her trademark martini-dry delivery, the book is a reference guide to all things Lucy, from A, for Adoption (she only discovered by accident), to X, for Xmas (traditionally a time of profound unpleasantness in the Lucy household)."
  Jesse's World by Basia Bonkowski  "Gives a bird's eye view of the Global Family which is how we have come to think of the links connecting the Australian families with the children they have adopted from overseas."
  Adoption Myths: 8 Misunderstandings about Adoption
  Catholic Adoption Agency Drops Association with Catholic Church to Comply with Equality Adoption Law  A Catholic social service agency in south eastern England announced it would shift its identification away from being a Catholic organisation in order to solve its problems with the Sexual Orientation Regulations
  Impact of Adoption on Adopted Persons: A Fact sheet for Families
  Transracial adoption - Expatriate parents living in China with their adopted Chinese children  Qualitative research investigated expatriate families living in China with adopted Chinese children and the manner in which living in China influenced the adoptees' acquisition of their culture of origin.
  Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar (ICBF)
  Issues Facing Adult Adoptees  Do the effects of adoption stop the moment that a child comes home to the new parents?
  Catholic adoption agency agrees to comply with the law  "I start from a very firm foundation: there is no place in our society for discrimination," Mr Blair said. "That is why I support the right of gay couples to apply to adopt like any other couple."
  Britain's Largest Adoption Agency to OK Same-Sex Parents  The largest Catholic adoption agency in England and Wales has opted to allow same-sex couples to adopt.
  Catholic adoption agency's new policy will allow homosexuals to adopt  The largest Catholic adoption agency in England and Wales has decided to implement an adoption policy that doesn't rule out same-sex couples in the face of new laws that forbid such screening.
  Korea Sparkling Festival 2008: 20 September 2008 - 21 September 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM  Sydney residents are invited to join a weekend of Korean festival fun at the Korea Sparkling Festival 2008 being held at Palm Grove, Darling Harbour. The star performers of last year's festival 'NANTA' will return to perform three shows daily.
  Racism and inter-country adoption  Children joining our families through inter-country adoption are often visible because of their difference in skin colour, hair colour and/or facial characteristics (depending on which country the child is from).  
  Fear leads to Anger. Anger leads to Hate. Hate leads to Suffering.  Master Yoda - Star Wars Episode
  Finding a kindergarten for a multiracial family  Teachers, administrators, and staff of a school district need cultural competency training. This is not a concern just for me as a parent of children of color, but a need for all the students served by the district.
  Adoption resources: Starting kindergarten and school  Starting kinder and school can be a daunting time for any child, but when they are adopted there are even more issues to consider. The links on this page will give you some great ideas on how to approach the kindergarten or school.
  Is my wife making too much of our adopted child's race?  My wife and I are adopting a little infant girl from Ethiopia. My wife has read 35 books, spends hours in adoption related chat rooms, has taken courses on caring for black kids' hair and skin etc. Suffice it to say she is really committed.
  Do I need to travel to China?  The dreaded question that all Asian Americans have had to answer and that most of us hate: “Where ARE you from? Which country?” as if USA is too hard to comprehend.
  Animated Oppression  'Difference' is a common theme in so family friendlt Disney films, and unfortunately, the overwhelming take-home message is that difference is not good. At best, it's a major hurdle to overcome.
  Gay Dads Australia  This Australian based website has been set up to support gay men who are planning on, or who are already parents, whether through donating/partnering, foster care, adoption, surrogacy, divorced dads/previous relationships, guardianship, etc.
  Adele Horin: "Don't airbrush cruelties of adoption"  The stories told by mothers who gave their children up for adoption are unbearably painful. For decades no one wanted to listen to these "relinquishing" mothers who fell pregnant in the 1950s, '60s and '70s. They were often sent away from home ...
  Jack Thompson to host adoption TV show  Veteran Australian actor Jack Thompson is set to host a television show that helps families reunite.
  Drive-by Culture - People ask me all the time for a "top 10" list of suggestions or rules that are must-do's regarding transracial adoption...  Article by Jae Ran Kim
  Adoption rates rise among Indonesia's poor  13-year-old Yulianto has spent half his life in an orphanage, but not because his parents are dead. His mum and dad were too poor to feed him and put him through school. "I just want to be with my parents, even if it means I cannot get an education."
  Adoption: Couple happy with their option to have children  For Wanaka couple Chris and Karenza Heath, adoption was their only option for children after they exhausted every avenue for conceiving a child.
  Birth parents seek to see their 'stolen' daughter after seven years  The Indian birth parents of a nine-year-old girl allegedly stolen by child-traffickers before being adopted by an unwitting Queensland couple have now asked to see her.
  Australia takes a stand on Indian adoption agencies  The Australian Government has frozen the possible adoption of children where there are doubts over the conduct of the Indian adoption agencies involved in the process. It follows claims of child trafficking where Indian children have been abducted
  Federal Government accused of slow response in adoption scandal  Australians who may have adopted Indian children stolen from their birth parents have been left in the dark by the federal government, the coalition says.
  Adoptions from India under scrutiny  The Victorian State Government is reviewing the adoptions of two children arranged through an Indian agency accused of stealing "pretty" children from slums and trafficking them internationally.
  Hearing to mull Islander adoption custom  An ancient Torres Strait Islander tradition of adopting children from extended family members will be heard at a Queensland parliamentary inquiry into altruistic surrogacy.
  Adopting hope: Center coordinates transfer of unused embryos to infertile couples  Prospective parents sometimes see the National Embryo Donation Center as the crossroads of medicine and miracles.
  It's a bitterly cold Melbourne afternoon when we pull up outside the grungy brick block of units in the city's inner west.  Born into a violent household, parents split when she was 4, from the age of 5 she was sexually abused several men, at 13 she escaped to the streets, was raped and fell pregnant, the baby girl was given up for adoption, alcohol and drugs numbed the pain.
  "Annie" Helps Promote Adoption  Staff from the Department for Community Based Services, will attend Stephen Foster Productions' July 1 premiere of "Annie" to answer questions and provide information about the adoption process and Kentucky's need for foster and adoptive parents.
  Not Exactly Diverse  How diverse does a school need to be to be diverse? Will a few minority children be enough or is a greater mix neccessary for minority children to feel safe and at ease.
  Irish ban on unmarried adoption unlawful  Regulations governing the adoption of children in Northern Ireland which prevented the consideration of an unmarried couple as potential adoptive parents were in breach of the couple's rights to a family life
  Tools for Teaching in a Diversity-Free Zone  How to teach, expose, and experience diversity in a "diversity-free" zone
  Teaching Diversity in a Diversity-Free Zone  It occurs to me that my we traded something important to get a suburban one-acre lot with a fenced in backyard. We traded the rhythm and texture of urban life, including the kind of multicultural existence that raises racial consciousness.
  Guatemala repeats the anguish of adoptions  The heart-wrenching process is part of a new Guatemalan government effort to ensure that mothers really wanted to give their babies up, and that children weren't bought or stolen to be adopted by US couples.
  Dating: The Next Generation  Does a white boyfriend really have to understand racism?
  Adoption agencies charge more than permitted  After raising foreign baby adoption fees by almost 75 percent and later regretting it, adoption agencies, Knesset Law Committee Chairman Menahem Ben-Sasson has now found, are charging families more than permitted by law.
  Too posh to adopt?  A BBC producer and his wife recently claimed they had not been allowed to adopt a British child because they were too white and too middle-class. Are they, and others like them, really victims of a huge injustice or is it just imagined?
  Finnish Centre party rejects adoption right for same-sex couples  Finland's Centre party passed a resolution rejecting the right to adopt for same-sex couples with one single vote making the difference.
  "It's the greatest thing we ever did."  Family created in adoption reunites
  "Child adoption should not be abused"  Nigeria's constitution and laws supports adoption of babies to give succour to married couples who could not give birth to children.
  Emily's story, Life after adoption  At age 11, Emily was waiting in foster care, along with her brother Billy, 9, hoping to be adopted. She says she was rejected by her grandparents, moved from one foster home to another and truly believed that no one wanted her.
  Sichuan adoption policies  In line with China's Adoption Law, the orphans are defined as the children of deceased parents although their grandparents may be still living. There are three kinds of children under 14 years of age eligible for adoption. Read more ...
  Race is Not a Four Letter Word  Whose responsibility is it to teach your adopted child about racism?
  We are family  Adopting children should be a right, not a trauma, says film star Deborra-lee Furness.
  The Age Prevents Swedish Couple From Thai Adoption  A couple from Gothenburg in Sweden is denied to adopt a 5-year-old girl from Thailand. The reason is the couple's age of 52 and 58 years.
  Recognition of same-sex unions and adoption in Norway  The Norwegian government proposed a marriage law that would give lesbian and gay couples the same rights as heterosexuals, including church weddings, adoption and assisted pregnancies.
  Norwegian national assembly votes to allow same-sex marriage and adoption  The Norwegian national assembly voted to change the existing marriage and adoption laws. The vote resulted in a 84 to 41 majority in favour of the new law which allows homosexual couples to marry and adopt children.
  Majority may support gay adoption  Norway's Conservative Party is reportedly shifting its position on the issue of gay adoption. If the Conservatives agree to support the issue, it would mean a majority in parliament would favor allowing homosexuals to adopt children.
  What am I first? Am I Puerto Rican FIRST or am I Filipino FIRST?  Honey, you are not something FIRST, you are both ALL THE TIME.
  Challenges Experienced by Intercountry Adopted Children  Human Resources and Social Development Canada
  When Love Is Not Enough: An Adoption Story  Tom and Kae Deardorff of Waukee decided to adopt two teenage sister from Russia. They say they wish they had know more about the girls' backgrounds and how to deal with their problems.
  A first hand account of being an adoption social worker  Lindsey Ford will never her first adoption case and the caring efforts of all concerned to give a little girl with a sad beginning a happier life.
  Disabled Orphans Neglected in Adoption  The number of Koreans adoptions is rising, but adoptions of disabled children are low on their priorities. About 500 disabled children were adopted last year. Most of them to overseas couples as domestic parents shunned them.
  Ontario To Open Adoption Records  A new Ontario law will soon give adult adoptees and birth parents access

August 2008
  A Positive Self-Image for Your Pre-Teen  For kids struggling to get through adolescence, the question "who am I?" can be a difficult.
  Diversity - Under One Roof  Jordan Fried is a junior at Williamsville North High School in Williamsville, NY. He is the white non-adopted sibling of two adopted African American brothers and three white adopted sisters with Down syndrome.
  Should I apologize when someone doesn't notice my racism?  I'm wondering about the etiquette of calling myself out/apologizing when I hear something racist come out of my mouth, especially to a person of color, when the person I am speaking to either doesn't catch it or doesn't feel comfortable saying anything.
  Coming to Terms with Who I Am... Reflections of a Korean-Born Adoptee  I was born Kim Yung Soon, but when I was 6 months old, I became the daughter of Larry and Sherry Amerling. They named me Kimberlea Lucille, but I prefer just Kim. This recently confused an international Korean student I met at college.
  Form 1290  Application for Australian citizenship by conferral – other situations  
  Form 1272  Application for Australian citizenship for children adopted under the "full and permanent" Hague Convention arrangements  
  Form 119  Application for evidence of Australian citizenship  
  Fact Sheet 33  Family Stream Migration: Child
  Fact Sheet 36  Adopting Children from Overseas
Transracial/Transcultural Adoption  Selected Voices in Transracial/Transcultural Families
Adoption Registry Connect  Adoption Registry Connect is a worldwide adoptee and birth parent search registry designed to reunite adoptees with their birth parents and siblings
  Parents thrilled over adoption of Ethiopian twins  It was a telephone call Clay and Cheryl Sparks had been expecting for 364 days, but they still wept for joy at learning they soon would be parents to two-year-old twin girls from Ethiopia.
  Lucy's book finds 'dysfunctional' humour  Australian comedian Judith Lucy found out she was adopted one drunken Christmas Day after a family argument. She was 25 years-old.
  Special parents for special children - Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare  Society plays a major role in creating families through adoption. For the sake of the child, the preparation given to prospective adopters must be as thorough as possible.  
  "Stolen babies" adoption racket  A Canberra family who adopted two children from India is still waiting for an investigation into their case more than a year after notifying Indian authorities.
  Adoptions to Sweden - Accomplishments and Consequences.  Statement by Fredrika Ornbrant, Embassy of Sweden, on February 12, 2002.
  Adoption in Sweden - Policy and Procedures concerning Intercountry Adoption  MIA: Swedish Intercountry Adoptions Authority - 2005  
  The adopted Koreans of Sweden and the Korean adoption issue  Paper by Tobias Hübinette  
  Origami Crane  I had been angry all of my life because I was an odd construction of a person: a Korean-looking girl on the outside, a Caucasian-sounding girl on the inside. I didn't know who I was, and I was having a hard time accepting the parts I did know about myself
  Experts for attachment disorder  Marymead Child and Family Centre
  National Adoption Awareness Week  Start preparing for 17 - 23 November 2008
  Babes in arms  Article on Operation Babylift
  Adoptions Australia 2006-2007
  Information on Intercountry Adoption  Federal Attorney-General's Department
  Federal Attorney-General, Robert McClelland  Rudd government moves forward on intercountry adoption
  Radio National - Australia Talks - Intercountry adoptions (listen now or download for later)  Intercountry adoptions can cost tens of thousands of dollars and take up to eight years. Should they be so difficult? The Labor Rudd government has set up the National Peak Overseas Adoption Support Group to provide advice to the government on this issue.
  US State of Florida Launches Initiative to Promote Benefits of Public Adoption, Unveils New Brand  Florida has launched a new campaign, "Explore Adoption," aimed at promoting the benefits of public adoption and urging families to consider creating or expanding their families by adopting a child who is older, disabled or part of a sibling group.
  Adoption and Fostering of Children Residing in Quebec  A Guide for Gays and Lesbians
  Guatemalan bishops fear for-profit adoption approach  The Catholic bishops of Guatemala are concerned that adoption agencies may be motivated by a desire for profit rather than the welfare of children
  Earthquake parents panic over adoption fears  The parents of children caught up in the China earthquake are desperately trying to search for their surviving children amid offers from around the world to adopt orphaned children.
  Chinese civil affairs departments considering registration of adoption offers  Civil affairs officials in quake-hit Sichuan Province said they are considering making registrations for people who are willing to adopt earthquake orphans, but the adoption process may have to wait after normality resumes in quake zone.
  Actor John Thomson has blasted UK Government legislation that threatens the adoption service which changed his life.  As the Catholic Church refuses to re-house children with gay or lesbian couples, the service may be shut down by the end of the year.
  Intercountry adoption: the changing patterns by Kevin Browne, professor in forensic and child psychology at Liverpool University  Well-intentioned would-be adopters believe that taking a child from his or her country and giving them a "better" life abroad reduces the number of children in institutionalised care. Is this true?
  Pros and cons of keeping the native language of the adopted child  If adoption is on your mind, you should think through your strategies on native language issues of your future child well in advance. Indeed, the preservation of the first language of their child is a hot topic for many adoptive parents.
  Singing the post-adoption blues  "Post-adoption depression" is not an official, scientifically recognized phenomenon per se, but in the United States it has in recent years become relatively common among women who adopt children, experience distress and define their situation that way.
  Nepal passes new rules on international adoption.  After suspending international adoptions a year ago because of fears of widespread corruption, Nepal has passed new rules for foreigners wanting to adopt Nepalese children.
  RADical Adventures  "every day with a child with RAD is an adventure. we have two!"
  Guatemala's attorney general annul 15 pending adoptions to US couples for irregularities, fraud  The babies whose cases have been annulled will be put in foster homes until a judge locates their parents. If their parents aren't found, they will be put up for adoption again.
  NSW: How much will you have to pay in order to adopt from Korea, Philippines, China or Taiwan?
  International Adoption Statistics  Statistics added for Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Finland, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Netherlands, Ireland, Australia, UK, USA and Israel
  Adoptees More Likely to be Troubled  As the world's most famous adoptive parents, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt may be alarmed to hear that a new study shows being adopted approximately doubles the odds of an adolescent being diagnosed with a behavior or emotional problem.
Adoption Rules Tighten Abroad  For the first time since international adoption began growing in popularity two decades ago, so many countries have either shut their doors to adoption, tightened their rules or increased domestic adoption that it's now far harder to adopt overseas.
  Adoption leads to a different kind of Mother's Day  When a home pregnancy test confirmed Teresa's suspicion that she was pregnant, she was devastated. She worried about what people would say, how they'd judge her.
  Florida bill filed in support of gay adoption  Senator Nan Rich is pushing a law that would allow a judge to decide whether such an adoption would be in the best interests of a child.
  Lawmakers fight for gay adoption rights  Two Florida Lawmakers are trying again to pass legislation that would allow gay people to adopt children.
  Decades after adoption, two sisters long for siblings left at orphanage  Adoption was like a "voodoo word" in Mary Lamb's family. She and her younger sister weren't allowed to ask questions about where they came from or why.
  Newsgroups dealing with RAD  List of newsgroups on the AICAN website dealing with Reactive Attachment Disorder
  Books dealing with RAD  List of book on the AICAN website dealing with Reactive Attachment Disorder
  Childless families are going for adoption  Demands for adoption of children are on the rise as more and more childless families have been approaching the only orphanage in Bahrain, Children Welfare Home, to adopt children.
  Cross-Racial Adoption: You Need to Anticipate the Worst  God tells us to do good, but then he leaves the details to us even when we're planning something as monumental as a cross-racial adoption.
  Mike and Michael's Adoption Website
  How I Came To Accept My Adoption  When celebrities like Madonna and Angelina Jolie adopted their children from other countries, interracial adoption became instant buzzwords around the world.
  Promoting Attachment through the Senses  Article by Patricia Irwin Johnston
  When Parents Lie About Adoption - Psychologists Say Lying to Children About Adoption Could Be Traumatizing  For more than 17 years, Jodi Applegate believed she was adopted.
  Adoption service up to scratch, says watchdog  Adopted children and parents are being "well matched" with each other in Bedfordshire, an independent watchdog has ruled.
  'Mother of all Korean orphans' admits not every adoption perfect  A daughter of Harry and Bertha Holt, who founded South Korea's largest adoption agency in the aftermath of the Korean War, has been following her parents' path of encouraging adoptions of abandoned children.
  Embryo Donation and Adoption Make Internet Debut  Awareness of embryo donation and adoption continues to spread nationwide as three educational videos hit Internet sites such as MySpace, YouTube and Facebook.
  Ain't No Shame in Saying That I'm Asian  It's far from my dream as a mother of a biracial daughter and an Asian son to have either of them enter into their adulthood thinking, believing, announcing and celebrating that they are white.
  Israel Recognizes Two Fathers in Landmark Homosexual Adoption Case  The Family Court of Tel-Aviv ruled that a homosexual couple, Giora Shavit and Avi Shadiv, can both declare themselves legal father of their adopted son.
  Ask the Doctor: Reactive Attachment Disorder
  The Wrong Kind of Asian  "Are you sure you're not a figure skater? I mean, you are Asian."
  Children Left by Parents for 6 Months to be Given for Adoption  Adoption without the parents' agreement will be admitted if the child is in social institution and the parent haven't looked for it for a term of 6 months without justified reason.
  When saying nothing is the best you can do  "Good parenting isn't what you do in the moment, it's what you give your child over time. Good parenting is also, I'm learning as a relatively new mom, a lot of trial and error."
  Food for thought: The ultimate cultural appropriation  "I have a little pendant that I've worn for many years. It's tiny thing, a little gold filigree oval with the word omoni, which is Korean for mother, in the center."
  Open Adoption - Foster Care's Alternative  Since 2003 the number of children awaiting placement in the foster care system far outweighs the available homes. The situation is becoming dire in Louisiana, and is certainly becoming a concern for the country as a whole.
  Top Ten Don'ts For Parents of Unattached Children
  Rise In Institutionalized Children Linked To 'Madonna-style' Adoption  Psychologists at the University of Liverpool say that 'Madonna-style' inter-country adoptions are causing a rise in the number of children in orphanages.
  South Korean adoption agency were OK with the church going American parents who killed their four adoptive children.  A South Korean adoption agency said that it had seen no signs of any problem with the American couple who adopted the four Korean children found dead in March, calling the deaths of the entire family "unimaginable."
  Adoption in the womb  Conservative legislators in Mexico's capital city propose law that would give mothers an alternative to abortion
  Post adoption, dad has no right to kid's property  Once a child has been given away in adoption, the biological father can not deal with child's property, the Bombay High Court has held.
  New Zealand lawyer suspended for illegal adoption  Facilitating an illegal adoption which led to a baby being taken to Australia has resulted in three year suspension for a New Zealand lawyer.
  Road to foreign adoption grows longer  It seemed like a simple transaction when Tamara Lackey brought her adopted son from Ethiopia to Chapel Hill four years ago
  Single Woman Becomes Mother Through Adoption  Anne adopted Marissa when she was 20-months-old. Marissa has struggled with the aftermath of her old life, but is thriving under the love and attention she gets with Anne.
  Commonwealth-State Agreement for the Continued Operation of Australia's Intercountry Adoption Program - July 2008  

July 2008
  The Brilliant, Doomed Down Syndrome Adoption Registry  Most people want to see unwanted pregnancies and abortions decreased. Odd political bedmates have co-sponsored a bill to create a national registry of those willing to adopt children with severe genetics defects like Down syndrome.
  Adoption Rights for Gay Couples. Finland's Social Democrats want adoption rights instated for gay couples who have registered their partnerships.  "The Civil Union Law made same-gender partnerships legal in 2001, and now adoption rights are the natural continuation of this law"
Intercountry Adoption Publications  The Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute
  Local District Attorney Adopts Iraqi Boy After Tour of Duty  After being found on the streets in Iraq, Ala'a Eddeen, or Ala'a for short, spent the beginning of his childhood in an Iraq orphanage. That was until he met Major Scott Southworth from Mauston.
  Legislation would open up adoption records  People who were adopted would have access to their original birth certificates under a bill that's been introduced to the Minnesota Legislature.
  Congo-Brazzaville: Government Lifts Ban On Foreign Adoption of Children  The move to suspend adoption of children by foreigners followed the arrest on 25 October 2007 in neighbouring Chad of members of a French NGO who were subsequently charged with abducting 103 children destined for new families in Europe.
  No child's play - Many non-resident Indians (NRI) and people of Indian origin (PIO) who wish to adopt Indian children face a lot of hurdles.  The Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 (GWA), a 116 year old Indian law, plays spoiltsport for the 12 million orphaned children in India who need parents by not allowing Muslims, Christians, Jews and Parsis to become a child's adoptive parents.
  Open adoption fosters loving relationship
  New Jersey considers unsealing adoption records  Robert Hafetz, who was adopted as an infant in New Jersey started searching four years ago and discovered his birth mother had died in 1977. In the process, the 57-year-old met two half-brothers, who have welcomed him into their family.
  World adoption of Cambodian children down by 15% in 2007  International adoption of Cambodian children decreased by 15 percent in 2007 compared to 2006 due to more strict censor by the government, English-Khmer language newspaper the Cambodian Daily said on Saturday.
  "Adoption bill puts birth parents at risk" - Legislation would give adoptees access to birth records  Should adoptees have access to their original birth records, allowing them to identify birth parents without their consent?
  Adoption Benefits Find a Home in Corporate America  Will Australian companies follow suit and take good care of their most valuable resource, their employees?
  Arkansas Unmarried Adoption Ban Targets Gay Couples  The Little Rock, AR based organization largely responsible for placing a constitutional ban against gay marriage in Arkansas in 2004, is back in 2008 with an anti-gay adoption ban.
  Arkansas Group Gets Adoption Ban on Ballot  The Arkansas group trying to ban unmarried couples from adopting is one step closer to its goal.

June 2008
  List of Overseas Central Authorities from the The Hague Convention
  New law could shut adoption agency  Some Christian leaders have said they would rather see their agencies close down rather than place children with gay couples.
  'Madonna effect' sees poor families put children up for adoption hoping for a wealthy family  Celebrities such as Madonna who adopt children from poor countries are doing more harm than good, researchers have claimed.
  Russian MPs promise easier adoption  If we really want to have Russian children taken from institutions to family care, all over Russia there must be a professional service created which works in this direction, which help. In practice there are millions of people who'd like to take a child.
  Adopting the culture, not just the child  Children fear few things more than being different than their peers. How do you facilitate that when your child looks distincinvely different to its parents and all its friends?
  Publications on Adoption  Peter Selman, Reader in Social Policy, University of Newcastle  
  International Adoption Facts  The Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute
  An Adoption Nightmare  An American Couple Adopted Indian Sisters, Only to Learn They'd Been Stolen
  Tasmanian MPs to vote on same-sex marriage  Tasmania Greens MP Nick McKim on Friday said he would bring the same-sex marriage bill, which will also provide adoption rights, to state parliament on July 1.
  Adopting and Adapting  When my husband and I decided to adopt we put on our happy "never have done this before and don't know what's in store" faces and told our caseworker that we didn't care about race. We told her that we just wanted a healthy baby girl and that was it.
  The Princess Problem: "There's more than one way of being pretty."  Does Cindarella have dark skin? Could Snow-white be Asian?
Official: parenting the Supernanny way does not improve behaviour  Modern methods of disciplining children, such as those advocated by the Channel 4 childcare expert, Jo Frost, do little, if anything, to improve children's behaviour, according to new research published in the British Medical Journal.
  Vietnamese police arrest two over baby trafficking to China  Police in Vietnam have arrested two women for involvement in baby trafficking into China and rescued a 10-day-old boy, state media said.
  A married couple claim that adoption law is in breach of fundamental human rights  Catch 22 for newly married couple in Malta. Had they not married they could have started their adoption now. Instead they have to endure a five year wait because they did marry.
  The Diverse Problems of Adoption  Since 1994, the Multiethnic Placement Act (MEPA), a bill meant to protect racial minorities from discrimination in the process of adoption, has taken a "colorblind" approach to trans-racial adoption.
  Report Says Black Children Not Served By Transracial Adoption  Child welfare groups want 'color consciousness', not 'color blindness' to shape U.S. adoption policies.
  Mathinna by Bangarra Dance Theatre  Originally inspired by the Thomas Bock portrait of a young adopted Aboriginal girl, Bangarra's Mathinna tells the true story of her short, confusing and tragic life.
  Adoption adviser knows the value of family love  A Canberra mother of eight whose brood includes six children adopted from overseas has been appointed by the Federal Government to a new National Peak Overseas Adoption Support Group.
  Officials 'hindering overseas adoption'  Australia has a much lower adoption rate of overseas children than many other western nations because of the attitude of officials.
  Newsgroups dealing with Health Issues  List of newsgroups on the AICAN website dealing with Health Issues
  Gay Couple in Netherlands Helps Raise 100 Children  Despite increasing public acceptance, gay couples often face opposition when trying to adopt, and debate continues.
  Can my new husband adopt my child since her father has abandoned her?  Dear Mrs Macaulay, My new husband wants to adopt my child and give her his last name. Her real father is living in the United States. He has not seen her for over three years and is her father by DNA only.
  With Open Adoption, a New Kind of Family  In 2001, when she got pregnant, Moriah Dailer was 19, unmarried and a college dropout working as a waitress in USA. She considered abortion, but didn't have the money, and her parents wouldn't pay.

May 2008
  Report states that stolen Vietnamese babies sold for adoption in the West  Vietnamese babies are being bought or stolen from parents to be sold for adoption in the West, according to a US Embassy investigation.
  Malawi court approves Madonna adoption  Pop star Madonna has won approval from a court in Malawi to permanently adopt a toddler she fell for at an orphanage in 2006.
  Guatemala halts foreign adoptions  The authorities in Guatemala have suspended the adoption of some 2,300 children by foreigners for at least a month to check for irregularities.
  High cost makes overseas adoption province of the rich  "Infertility doesn't only occur in wealthy families." - Cathi and David Pirani sold their house in the Blue Mountains and moved to Bathurst in order to have enough money to adopt a child from Colombia.
  China swamped with adoption offers  Chinese internet users have swamped online forums with offers to take in orphans of this week's devastating earthquake as the government drafts plans for adoptions.
  Adoption in Australia: Contemporary Cultural, Theoretical and Political Perspectives  2 Day Symposium at Monash University, Clayton Campus, Melbourne
Asia Pacific International Adoption Forum  An umbrella Association for non government organizations in the Asia-South West Pacific Region involved in international adoption.
  Orphan Angels  Orphan Angels is a registered Lobby Group to advocate for reform in Australia's Adoption Laws and Practices.
  Adoption obstacles tackled  Illawong couple Carolyn and Luigi Dolce are urging families waiting to adopt a child from countries such as Korea not to give up hope.
  Alleged serious breaches in Vietnam's adoption system  Vietnam has failed to police its adoption system, allowing corruption, fraud and baby-selling to flourish
  No welcome mat for the baby found on a doorstep  All Diana Liu wanted was to adopt the little girl abandoned on a doorstep in China and give her a better life in Australia.
  Argentine parents jailed over illegal adoption  An Argentine couple have been jailed for illegally adopting a baby girl born 30 years ago to parents who were kidnapped by the military government.
  Advisory group eases overseas adoptions  The establishment of a national group on intercountry adoptions is set to make adoption easier. The group, announced by the federal Labor Attorney-General, will advise the government on issues affecting parents and children involved in overseas adoption.
  Adopted Teens Face Higher Risk for ADHD and ODD  We have wondered for a long time whether children who were adopted in infancy are at increased risk for psychological problems. More than just "a negative teenager," a child with ODD, oppositional defiant disorder, is persistently hostile and disobedient.
  US Teens Adopted As Infants Appear To Have Moderately Increased Odds Of Mental Health Problems (Science News)  Although most adopted American teens are psychologically healthy, adoptees appear to be at greater risk for emotional and behavioral problems than non-adoptees, according to a new report.
  Disorders are more likely in adopted teenagers  Adolescents adopted as infants are twice as likely to have behavioral disorders as those who are not adopted, according to research published Monday that is the deepest analysis yet of the larger mental health burden carried by some adopted children.
  $1.7m scam: Adoptees kept like prisoners (USA)  A woman accused of raking in more than $1 million in subsidies for adopting 11 disabled children while keeping them like prisoners in her Florida home has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges.
  Access to the Baby Bonus for Adoptive Parents  As part of the 2008-09 Budget, the Rudd Government announced that eligibility for the baby bonus will be extended to families who adopt children under 16 years of age.
  Sympathizing with Abraham  "My search for answers to our struggle with infertility led to some surprising revelations about God's plan, especially how infertility and adoption played key roles in bible history."
  Spanish judge suspended for blocking lesbian adoption  Judge suspended from duty by the General Judiciary Council for preventing a lesbian woman from adopting her partner's daughter.
  Israel OKs gay adoption  "There is no reason why same-sex couples who meet the criteria for adoption should not be able to join the process of adoption and of parenthood."
  Madonna adoption case set for conclusion  Pop diva Madonna's bid to adopt a Malawian toddler she found in an orphanage in 2006 is likely to be approved in court this week, her lawyer said.
Adult Adoptees  Adoptees' perspective on adoption
  "Australia's poor adoption record"  A celebrity's perspective on Australian adoption
  Forced adoption (pressure from medical staff and religious representatives was overwhelming)  June Smiyth said the national apology to the stolen generations was essential for indigenous reconciliation. But she said the event has brought back sorrow for the “thousands of white women” who had their babies taken away from them during the same ti
  Open adoption controversy (Toronto, Canada)  The first time Melissa Johnson heard her 3-year-old yell, "Mom, Mom, Mom!" it wasn't for her.
  Boulder-based adoption agency/company investigated (USA)  Boulder police are investigating the business practices of a Boulder-based international adoption agency that closed its doors last week in the face of mounting complaints and lawsuits.
  Families Warn Of Orlando Adoption Agency  Concerns from families from across the USA wanting to adopt children has prompted a Problem Solvers investigation into an agency run by attorneys.
  Changed contact details for ASIAC in Tasmania
  Twins Separated By Adoption Reunite At Kansas City International Airport  A set of twins, separated when they were infants, met each other Wednesday morning for the first time in decades.
  US foster mom wins fight for 4-year-old  A 4-year-old boy with dwarfism at the center of a cross-country adoption battle can, and will, be adopted by his Davenport foster mother after the California family chosen for him decided not to take him.
  Taiwanese siblings split by adoption reunited after five decades  Two sisters were separated by adoption fifty years ago, but even this long amount of time could not keep them separated forever.

April 2008
  Mental health, attachment and breastfeeding: implications for adopted children and their mothers  This paper reviews the evidence in physiological and behavioural research, that breastfeeding can play a significant role in developing the attachment relationship between child and mother.
  Adopted children: sometimes you can't mend them (UK)  A third of adoptions don't work out. A parent reveals the trauma of attempting to raise a disturbed child and failing.
  Most adoptees born overseas: report (ABC)  The latest statistics on adoption show that 7 in every 10 adopted children are born overseas.
  This is a story about love and compassion as well as a happy ending.  This is the story of an orphan from Nepal named Tara, for the Buddhist goddess of compassion, and nicknamed Jampa, meaning loving kindness in Tibet.
  Californian Woman Charged With Defrauding Hawaii Couple In Adoption  A California woman is being accused of offering her unborn baby to a Hawaii couple in order to steal their money.
  Korea: A unique case of adoption  A Korean family faced opposition from their own church when they decided to adopt an Indonesian girl abandoned by her biological parents.
Adoptism, Racism and 'The Prophet'
  Does it do more harm than good to prepare kids for discrimination?  Will it make them anxious about a possibly hostile world or will they be armed with defences against discrimination?

March 2008
  Why Oh Why Are These T-Shirts Still Available?  What is the problem with t-shirts saying: "I AM the real mum!", "Forgive me, I'm paper pregnant" or "Growing in my heart, expectant adoptive mother"? Harmless fun or offensive?
  NSW - Eligibility criteria to adopt  What are the criteria set by the state of NSW to be eligible to adopt through DoCS?
  Taking Control  When is an adopted child free to explore his or her own identity, and not the one which is bound up in the parents?
  Woman sentenced for adoption scam (Indystar - USA)  A judge sentenced a woman to three years in prison for a child adoption scam he called one of the "cruelest crimes" he's seen in 20 years on the bench.
  Celebrity campaign to reform adoption laws  Is the US adoption system superior or should we be looking at Spain and Sweden for answers to adoption problems in Australia?
  Aftermath of Adoption: Adjusting to the Culture (New American Media)  Nguoi Viet is looking at the history of Vietnamese adoptions, at the cost and the waiting time of the process, the experience of traveling to Vietnam to pick up a child, and then how the youngsters assimilate into American culture.
  When Adoption Goes Wrong (Disruption and Dissolution)  People all over the world are talking about the return of an adopted Korean child by a Dutch diplomat and his wife.

February 2008
  Inter-Country Adoptee Support Network (ICASN) - Australia  Provides support to Adoptees who have been adopted cross-culturally
  Deborra-lee Furness' adoption success (Daily Telegraph)  The Federal Government announced last week it would review the harrowing case of Zhen, who has been refused entry to Australia. The Australian Government has the opportunity to play a part in helping to change the direction of this little girl's life.
  Mumbai's great adoption rush  How Mumbai turned the tide on adoptions, both domestic and intercountry
  Q: So what is the difference between white or black? - A: A Vast Difference  Answers on the Stolen Generations

January 2008
What's in a Name?  For a child who joins her family with her own history, her own culture, her own name, the story's rarely rooted in the pages of a baby names book. "Adoptive Families" readers share how they made the naming decision.
  Adoptions Australia 2005-2006
  Who Belongs Where in a World Full of Differences?  How to explain and deal with matching games for young children.
  11 tips for white parents with adopted children of color
Help Children Understand Adoption  Teach your children what type of questions it is OK to ask adopted children and which they should avoid asking.
  Teaching for Diversity: The Pre-school Setting

December 2007
  Australian adoption victory  The newly elected Rudd Labor Government announced last week it would create a federal governing body to streamline the system, cut waiting lists and make overseas adoption a "priority".
  Reversible Adoption Sparks International Outcry  The case of an eight-year old Korean girl who was adopted and later dumped by a Dutch diplomat, Raymond Poeteray, has caused an international outcry.
  Guatemala adoptions: a baby trade?  Guatemala is second only to China as the source of babies adopted by American families. It means one in every 100 Guatemalan children grows up a US citizen. That could all be about to change.
  Stories about me by Leonie Simmons  Leonie Simmons was born in Vietnam and adopted to an Australian family. Five years ago she returned to the place of her birth. This is her story.  
  The siblings they left behind
  Foreign adoptions from China fall (USA Today)
  China shedding adoption stigma, may tighten rules (USA Today)
Inter-Country Adoptee Perspectives: Post Adoption Support Services  What Post Adoption Support Services are Needed and Why do you think this is Important?  
  Kids know family, even if politicians don't

November 2007
  Relative Choices - Who Are You Also Known As?  When we adopt, there is movement from one place to another, from one culture to another, from one family to another, and in these movements there are both losses and gains.
Make No Assumptions  Birth parents will soon be able to trace their adopted children through intermediaries  

October 2007
  Chinese Adoptee Links  Linking Generations of Adoptees and Friends Worldwide
  Chinese Pen Pal Scheme  Designed for children 8 years and older who have been adopted from China, Hong Kong or Taiwan. Pen-Pals are matched and children can communicate with their peers in countries such as the US, UK, Ireland and Australia

September 2007
  Adoptions Australia 1993-1994
  Adoptions Australia 1990-1991
  Adoptions Australia 1992-1993
  Adoptions Australia 1991-1992
  Adoptions Australia 1994-1995
  Adoptions Australia 1995-1996
  Adoptions Australia 2003-2004
  Adoptions Australia 1996-1997
  Adoptions Australia 1997-1998
  Adoptions Australia 1998-1999
  Adoptions Australia 1999-2000
  Adoptions Australia 2002-2003
  Adoptions Australia 2001-2002
  Adoptions Australia 2000-2001
  What should I do about my daughter thinking that "white babies are better"?
  Making me a liar: responding to intrusive questions about my children  How do you respond to intrusive questions like "Are they all yours?" or "Are some of your children adopted?"
  Is it ok for parents to adopt transracially to solve their own racial hangups?  Read about African-American televangelist Reverend Creflo Dollar's reason for adopting a caucasian child.

August 2007