THE EVAN B. DONALDSON ADOPTION INSTITUTE
June 2003 E-NEWSLETTER
IN THIS ISSUE
1. Laws, Policy & Practice
2. Research
3. News
4. Resources
5. About the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute
1. Laws, Policy & Practice
GOVERNOR
OF HAWAII VETOES SAFE HAVEN LEGISLATION
Governor Lingle of Hawaii
vetoed the state legislature’s recently passed safe haven
legislation (HB133) legalizing anonymous infant abandonment, noting
that “any good that might be accomplished by this bill is
likely to be outweighed by the harm that it would cause.”
Her concerns included the absence of requirements for the abandoning
individual to prove parenthood or provide any information about
the newborn. The Governor further stated that the “focus
should be on the long-term well being of the newborn, and that
safe haven measures like this one fall short in that critically
important respect.”
To
read the Governor’s statement of objections, go to:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/gms/hb0133.htm.
CONGRESS
REAUTHORIZES ADOPTION OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM
Congress passed legislation
this month reauthorizing the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment
Act (S342), which includes the Adoption Opportunities program.
The bill authorizes $40 million for Adoption Opportunities; $27
million was appropriated for 2003. The reauthorization includes
renewed efforts to remove obstacles to interjurisdictional adoption
and finding permanent families for special needs children. The
legislation awaits the President’s signature. To read the
bill, go to:
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=108_cong_bills&docid=f:s342enr.txt.pdf;
to read the Congressional report, go to: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=108_cong_reports&docid=f:sr012.108.pdf.
CHINA RESUMES PROCESSING OF ADOPTIONS
The China Center for
Adoption Affairs (CCAA) announced that it is resuming “the
normal adoptive formalities of traveling to China” on June
24, 2003, after suspending dossier processing for prospective
adoptive parents on May 15, 2003, as a result of the spread of
severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The announcement comes
after the World Health Organization (WHO) lifted its ban on travel
to China and removed China from its list of countries with recent
SARS transmissions. To read more, go to:
http://www.china-ccaa.org/zxwj/030624hfgz-english.htm
U.S. ADVISES AGAINST FILING FOR ADOPTION IN GUATEMALA
The State Department reported on June 15, 2003, that the Guatemalan
Central Authority for Adoptions (PGN) is considering "a temporary
suspension of adoption cases pending implementation of new procedures
in conformity with the Hague." Prospective adoptive parents are
advised to contact the PGN concerning their cases. The State Department
advised that, due to the uncertain situation, "adopting families
should not file for adoption in Guatemala until the current problems
are resolved." To read the State Department's notice and get the
PGN's contact information, go to:
http://www.travel.state.gov/guatemala_notice.html
ROMANIA EXTENDS ADOPTION MORATORIUM
Romania has extended
its moratorium on intercountry adoptions, according to a June
2003 State Department update. The moratorium had been set to expire
June 1, 2003, pending the implementation of new adoption legislation.
The State Department reported that it was unclear when such legislation
will be enacted and be put into effect. For more details, see
the Romanian Embassy website at http://www.roembus.org.
The U.S. Department update can be accessed at http://travel.state.gov/adoption_romania.html.
UK ENACTS INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTION REGULATIONS
The United Kingdom enacted
regulations, effective June 1, 2003, to implement the Hague Convention
on Intercountry Adoption in England and Wales. The Intercountry
Adoption (Hague Convention) Regulations 2003 outline procedural
requirements for Convention adoptions, eligibility requirements
for prospective adoptive parents and adoption agency responsibilities.
In addition, the UK announced it was implementing new regulations
The Adoption Support Services Regulations 2003 to improve support
services for all adoptive families in England by providing additional
funds for the system. To read the Adoption Regulations go to
http://www.hmso.gov.uk
PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE PASSES BILL SHORTENING REVOCATION PERIOD
The Pennsylvania House
of Representatives passed a bill this month that limits birth
parent revocation of consent to adoption to twenty days (HB1423).
Under current law, birth parents are allowed to revoke their consents
to adoption prior to termination of parental rights or finalized
adoption, whichever comes first. The bill does not change the
current law’s requirement that consent to adoption is not
valid within three days of the child’s birth. The bill also
changes the terms “birth” mother and father to “natural”
mother and father. The Senate will now consider the legislation.
To read the bill, go to
http://www2.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/BT/2003/0/HB1423P2185.pdf
2. Research
FEW WHITES REPORTED TO ADOPT BLACK FOSTER CHILDREN
A study, “Willingness
to Adopt Black Foster Children,” by Brooks and James, found
that while 60% of white adoptive parents indicated that they would
be willing to adopt a black foster child, only 5% actually did
so. On the other hand, 82% of the adoptive parents responded that
they were willing to adopt a foster child, and 63% of them did.
The research, published in Children and Youth Services Review
Vol. 25. Nos. 5/6, surveyed 541 white parents in California who
adopted domestically. The study also found that parents who adopted
a black child are almost nine times more likely to adopt a black
foster child than those who adopted a white child. To read an
abstract of and purchase the article, go to:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0190-7409(03)00031-8.
BIRTH MOTHERS IN MARSHALL ISLANDS CITE FINANCES, PRESSURE
A 2001 study of 73 birth
mothers in the Marshall Islands found that the most frequent response
to the open question of why they relinquished their children for
international adoption was financial, and just 14% said that counseling
was available to them during pregnancy. More than two-thirds of
the birthmothers on the West Pacific island nation had thought
they would receive financial compensation for the child. The research
by Robi and Matsumura, in Adoption Quarterly 2002 Vol. 5, No.
4, also found that 82% of the women believed at the time of relinquishment
that their children would reunite with them at adulthood –
a promise they said was made by adoption agencies and adoptive
parents. Moreover, 41% felt pressured by the agency to relinquish
their child. To read the abstract, go to
http://www.haworthpressinc.com/store/product.asp?sku=J145
.
SOCIAL
WORKERS’ RACE LINKED TO TRANSRACIAL ADOPTION ATTITUDES
"A1997 survey of 363
social workers found that white social workers on average had
relatively favorable attitudes toward transracial adoption –defined
in the study as black children adopted by white parents –
while black social workers on average had relatively unfavorable
attitudes. “Transracial Adoption in Black and White: A Survey
of Social Worker Attitudes” by Fenster, in Adoption Quarterly
2002 Vol. 5, No. 4, also reported that a strong identification
with one’s ethnic group and higher income among African
American social workers were associated with more negative views
on the subject. To read the abstract, go to http://www.haworthpressinc.com/store/product.asp?sku=J145
3. News
CRITICS ALLEGE
CORRUPTION IN ADOPTIONS FROM INDIA
Alleging corruption
and child trafficking, a group in India is challenging the legality
of several intercountry adoptions from that nation and is advocating
a nationwide moratorium on international adoptions for several
years, pending an investigation into the issue and changes in
domestic practices. “A Challenge in India Snarls Foreign
Adoption,” in the June 23, 2003, New York Times, reports
that Indian police have discovered a baby-selling operation and
that there have been cases of parents selling their babies for
$20. To obtain an archived copy of the article, go to: http://query.nytimes.com/search/advanced/
SHIFT
TOWARD INSTITUTIONAL CARE WORRIES CHILD WELFARE EXPERTS
One hundred thousand
children in foster care live in institutions like shelters and
residential treatment facilities, and many child welfare experts
believe the number is growing, reports a June 19 Christian Science
Monitor article, “Warehousing Our Children.” Such
a trend has serious consequences, since research has consistently
shown that institutional care is detrimental to children’s
development. To order the article, go to:
http://www.csmonitorarchive.com/csmonitor/archivesearch.
jhtml;jsessionid=Z1DLZJJXQL20RKGL4L2SFEQ
BULGARIAN
PARLIAMENT APPROVES ADOPTION REFORMS
Bulgaria’s Parliament
amended its law to permit the intercountry adoption of Bulgarian
children only if no appropriate Bulgarian adoptive parents are
found after three attempts within six months, according to the
June 20-26, 2003, edition of the Sophia Echo. To read the article,
go to http://www.sofiaecho.com/art.php?id=7526&brojid=144&catid=5.
4. Resources
ADOPTION
HISTORY PROJECT ONLINE
Created by University
of Oregon Professor Ellen Herman, the Adoption History
Project is a digital public history resource – the
first of its kind. It profiles the people, organizations,
topics and studies that have shaped contemporary American
adoption. For more information, go to: http://www.uoregon.edu/~adoption/.
NY
STATE FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION PAYMENT SURVEY
The New York State Citizens'
Coalition for Children reports results from a 2003 survey of foster
care rates and adoption subsidies provided by each New York State
social service locality. To access the survey, go to: http://www.nysccc.org/boardrates/ratedirectory.htm.
5. About The Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute
Since its establishment in 1996, the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute has been a pre-eminent, independent voice for improving adoption for everyone it touches - particularly children - through innovative programs, educational initiatives, research and analysis, and advocacy for better practices, policies and laws.
Our award-winning web site, www.adoptioninstitute.org, is a popular and reliable source for accurate adoption information. Read past e-Newsletters at http://www.adoptioninstitute.org/whowe/newsletter_archives.html.
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Special Event:
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scheduled for July 19th in Lake Placid, New York. Please join
him in honoring his mother and her passion for helping children
in need of permanent and loving homes, by sponsoring all or some
of his 140 miles in this extreme athletic challenge. To see more
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