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I am going jump all over the board in this post because there are things that have happened in various areas. First, the good news! If any of you have been waiting for Sierra Leone to re-open, the day has come. On April 30, 2012, the government of Sierra Leone released a notification that they have re-opened their intercountry adoption program. This program has been closed since May, 2009. The notice states that the adoptions will take place under the old legal structure but new laws are being processed. Sierra Leone officials strongly encourage all prospective adoptive parents to read all of the laws governing adoption from this country in order to fully understand what is expected. The other news that I have… [more]

What a fantastic morning to be blogging- it is one of those lazy mornings. I am snuggled up in my bed still. I have to say, "This is great!" I have done some research on the state of the adoption program in Ethiopia and have found that once again there has been no change. This is such a heartbreak to many of the people who desire to find their child from this country. Things are simply not moving along quickly. I wish I wasn't the bearer of bad news at every turn but unfortunately until Ethiopia can regain legal organization, this is how it will be. I noticed that I had a comment on my last post about people moving from the program. I have heard… [more]

The Joint Council has posted a notice from the Korean Government regarding its adoption program. Prior to this announcement, the Korean officials announced that the adoption program in their country was going to shift away from intercountry adoption and focus on placing their children in-country. On March 31, 2012, a notice was released stating that by August of 2012 their adoption program would begin placing all children under the age of five months into families in Korea. This will bring down the number of children who will be placed internationally- eventually leading to the elimination of the intercountry program entirely. This notice has brought about another change to adoption in Korea by giving adopted children the same status as their biological siblings. This… [more]

It is hard to believe that there is finally news on the adoption front for Kazakhstan. Recently, a notice was released by the Central Authority of Kazakhstan regarding the status of adoption in their country and the progress of the Hague certification process they are in. It states: The Ministry of Education and Science, the Central Authority of Kazakhstan, has confirmed that the governmental decree approving its new policies to process intercountry adoptions and accredit adoption agencies in Kazakhstan goes into effect on Thursday, April 5, 2012. The Government of Kazakhstan will begin accepting applications for accreditation from potential adoption service providers on April 9, 2012, on a first-come, first-served basis. Information on the new accreditation process and the new adoption procedures will be… [more]

Sometimes it is hard to keep my focus amidst all of the things that I must do in a day. I have to constantly remind myself to stay on task and finish what I start before I move on to the next pressing matter. I am sure that many of you have felt that way. The constant need to keep all of the people in your family cared for- the desire to meet needs for everyone under your 'watch.' Taking care of your family has to start with taking care of yourself. I do not do well in this area. I voluntarily work while everyone else is sitting or resting. I use that time to catch up on things that I have neglected… [more]

Tonight I had the privilege of talking to a great woman who has a heart for foster child adoption. She had such a neat perspective to share. I enjoyed our conversation. She desires to adopt a foster child that has dealt with loss or trauma in their life. What an interesting desire. It stems from her psychology studies in child development and trauma. She sure made me think about the many children that I know who have been adopted out of situations that were hard. Some of them are doing well- others struggle. Adoption of children out of foster care and tough situations is difficult work. It takes people like this woman that I met today dedicating themselves to making a difference. There are… [more]

Today, I have been thinking about the mass number of foster children I have routine contact with and wonder how in the world things have gotten to this point. It seems that in my area, the need for foster parents grows on a daily basis and the suitable homes are overflowing with kids. This is not a good thing. I worry about a world that has so many kids in need of rescuing. The good news is that there are many people stepping up to the plate. They want to make a difference in a child's life and are willing to invest themselves in the greater good. I love that. I heard a quote recently that put everything in perspective for me. It… [more]

There is so much that goes into a foster/adoption situation. Those of you are currently living this know the mass amount of time and effort that must be dedicated in order to ensure a child's success. This is magnified when a child comes out of the foster care system because of the lack of stability that has permeated the child's life. As someone who has never been adopted, I might have been tempted to say, "Hey, the child is adopted now- what seems to be the issue? Surely they can move on with their life." If only it was that easy. Many children who have been in the foster care system before they are adopted struggle for long periods of their lives (if… [more]

One of the most traumatic things for a child to experience is the loss of a parent whether through divorce or death. This is magnified for the foster child who has a history of this type in their past. Yet, life happens. Sometimes marriages break up and people get hurt. Sometimes loved ones are lost. How does a foster parent keep going after that loss has occurred? Should they even try? I do not think that there is an easy answer to this question because there are so many factors to consider. First, how long has the child been with your family? Are you headed for adoption? Can you handle the emotional stress that is occurring and continue to offer a proper and… [more]

In the last blog I talked about self-esteem issues that most children have but are prominent among adopted children. These issues range from an inaccurate view of themselves, other people's comments and the lack of stability and maturity that often comes with their situations. This is a major issues in the lives of adopted kids. They have to deal with the loss that they have faced, other people's opinions and feelings of abandonment. Amidst all of this, they need to develop a self-worth and understanding that will carry them through their lives. Many of these kids fail in that regard. The obstacles are too large, their support system doesn't understand and they lose hope. The Joint Council is looking to help you [the… [more]