Well, the numbers probably wouldn't have fell if they hadn't taken our kids away. But *ahem* I'm not bitter. Those children still ended up with a home; for that I am grateful.

Regardless, I think that it is wonderful that countries are advocating domestic adoptions within themselves. I don't know if I agree with the incentives in place that I have heard of in Russia though I suppose it is very similar to the foster program in the US. As I understand it, adopting Russian families are given monetary compensation for adopting. Not only that but in '06 Russia implemented a monetary program for families to have more children.

I don't agree with China's new restrictions however, and this may sound crude, but they may be running out of babies? I think I read in that article that more Chinese babies were adopted by Chinese citizens than foreign?

I also think that there should be global adoption regulations. The countries developing their adoption programs need to network with the established countries and figure out what procedures work and what don't. Then they all need to get together and form one list of requirements for APs to complete. The standard documents, of course, need to be in place but there are others that are just plain ridiculous.

My last beef with adoption is the US program. I think that birth parents who abuse their children should be automatically stripped of their parental rights before irrepairable damage is done to these kids. It makes them harder to adopt later because because they develop so many developmental problems that a lot of PAPs find intimidating. Margaret is going through a lot of this right now.

I am a strong advocate for children. I think that they all deserve to wake up in the morning and KNOW without a doubt that they are loved. Adoptive parents are doing nearly impossible things to make that happen and I don't think that governments and agencies realize this.

How's that for a thought?

 

That was an interesting article. I'm not surprised with the decline in foreign adoptions from Russia, simply because the reaccreditation made so many children and families wait much longer to bring their kids home. It is possible that many adoptions in progress were placed "on hold" for much of the year, and now they are starting to catch up on placing those children.

I do not agree with China's new restrictions on single parents, and hope other countries do not follow suit. As the child of a single parent, I know that my upbringing was much better than that of many friends raised in the traditional 2-parent household. It's the commitment to the children that counts - while it may be a bit more difficult for a single parent to raise a child, if his/her committment is strong, that person can do a better job than two parents who are not as committed.

One popsitive thing about this is that new possibilities are opening up in countries people had not considered before. There are so many orphans in Africa and other places around the world that have not been traditional adoption "hot spots." Maybe this will help give those children a better chance at finding a family?

I agree with Liz about the global adoption regulations. Every country should be held to high standards, to limit the possibility of corruption, and to ensure the best possible outcomes for the children.

 

The article was well written, but made me think much too hard about the reasons the numbers were scewed.

Much like everyone else has said, the restrictions in China are rediculous. As a soon to be single adoptive parent, all I can say is I hope none of the other countries go so far as to say that singles cannot adopt.

I was saddened to hear that Romania no longer allows adoption. Granted I hadn't done too too much research on Romania, I hoped to some day adopt my last child from there. But it is horribly sad that countries are setting up stricter regulations based on a few abuse cases. It is horrible for any child to be abused, but the thought of loving families losing out on children, and the children subsequently being reaised in dorms is horrible to me.

I do agree with Jenni that Russian adoptions more than likely dropped because of the accred. I read several blogs and more than half said they were taken aback that their adoption was halted, put on hold, or termenatied because of the looming accred.

I feel that Africa, however, is getting a lot of recent adoptiosn because of high case celebrities who have adopted from there, Madonna and Angelina Jolie for two. I think it is great that more people are adopting AIDS orphans and feeling that they can step up to that challenege. It is amazing to see previously unknown children getting great homes.

Much like the other two comments, I agree that there should be a global adoption regulations. Every child should be able to have the same rights to go to a loving home.

I also feel a great deal of the lower adotion numbers is the state of America's economy producing enough jobs that hit the required income limit. I know that I make WAY under the poverty line (which in 2005 was 18,660), yet I know I make more than half my friends who have completed college. You have to be able to fund an international adoption before you can go through wtih one, and sad I feel that has a great amount to do with it. So many jobs, atleast here in KY, were cut, people laid off and no other jobs were available. It's horrible, but America's economy has taken a hit recently.

I dunno, I think it's great that countries are promoting pride within their country to keep their children there, but at what cost can you put on a child?

 

Yes Kim, I remember that you too lost sons earlier last year so I knew my comment wouldn't be lost on you.

When I commmented earlier, I didn't take into account that many agencies waited for months for their reaccredidation. I'm certain that had a big influence on the decline in numbers. I didnt't think of it because our agency got their relatively quick so we weren't affected by it.

 

I think it's important to keep in mind that this isn't the end of international adoption -- it's just that the avenues we had become so used to are getting more difficult. Russia is in reform (with non-expiring accreditation, family incentives, etc.). I think that China's new restrictions are sad (especially as a single hopeful parent) but it's not unheard of for these restrictions to be made.

Other countries are loosening up -- Nepal, Vietnam, Haiti... more avenues are becoming open. Latvia used to require that families stay there for nearly 6 months in order to prove they've developed a significant relationship with the child. That has relaxed recently.

I've read on a few blogs that some families who have adopted from China in the past now can't adopt there in the future because of the new restrictions. That to me is very sad... if they wanted to adopt a sibling from the same country they're stymied now. That breaks my heart.

 

Just found this blog.

Russia goes back and forth in its tightening and loosening restrictions for adoption depending on the political climate. Putin shut them down temporarily to clean up some of the corruption in the adoption process and when they re-opened, the process was a bit more predictable.

There are currently sitting members of the Duma who feel the process should be shut down entirely and the children should live and die as Russians.

I'm not sure a foster care system would be any better than the orphanage system because I have only our own US system to go by. That's one reason we went to Russia.

 

I get so angry about the restrictions China is enforcing. They are imposing their culture on us at the same time, they can't take care of their children. Having a husband and being skinny do NOT make a good parent.