Photo by Chris Wilson for the Journal Sentinel The abuse of children who have been adopted by their adoptive parents is particularly tragic, considering that adoption is supposed to be the safe haven for children who have already experienced the traumatic dissolution of their birth families. A recent case of the abuse of internationally adopted [...]
The University of Minnesota has some amazing scholars researching adoption. Here is a presentation by Megan Gunnar, Department Chair and Regents Professor at the Institute on Child Development here at the University of Minnesota, presenting a keynote address on the developing adolescent brains of post-institutionalized adopted children at the 2012 Rudd Adoption Conference, New Worlds [...]
The Child Welfare Information Gateway has created a factsheet for adopted individuals and birth families on the search and reunion process. This publication also includes information on hiring a professional searcher, using social media, and issues that come up in the reunion process. The resource is free and you can download it as a PDF [...]
On July 9th, 2012, the American Bar Association published a story about fraud in adoption subsidies. According to the report, hundreds of millions of the $2.5 billion paid in adoption subsidies may have been collected by adoptive parents who do not support their adopted children. The likely scenario, according to this report, is that an [...]
FOX Carolina 21 The ACLU is assisting six families in North Carolina in filing a federal lawsuit against the state for discrimination. North Carolina currently prohibits a partner from adopting his or her partner's biological or adopted child. This law affects both same-sex and unmarried heterosexual couples. Until 2010, North Carolina recognized second parent adoptions. [...]
A new study conducted for Oxygen Media surveyed more than 1,000 Americans about their views on adoption. According to the report: 86% of women and 77% of men are open to single parent adoption;73% of women and 62% of men are open to gay and lesbian couples adopting;90% of women and 84% of men thought [...]
MN Adopt is offering a training on August 6, 2012 on Working with the Mind-Body Connection: Understanding Stress and Trauma in Adopted and Foster Youth. The training will be presented by Lora Matz, LICSW. From the description: Increased levels of anxiety, depression and hopelessness are being seen in children from all socio-economic conditions, cultures and [...]
An Ottawa man's children have been removed from his custody and will be placed for adoption because of the father's weight. According to the CBC News report, a parent's obesity can be a factor to determine a person's "fitness" to parent. Despite a 180 lb. weight loss, according to the unnamed father he is still [...]