Comments on: caring for the least of these http://www.adoptionintegrity.com/2008/02/22/caring-for-the-least-of-these/ A collaborative blog advocating ethics in adoption Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:08:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Blankets for Babies « Mrs. Broccoli Guy http://www.adoptionintegrity.com/2008/02/22/caring-for-the-least-of-these/#comment-1364 Blankets for Babies « Mrs. Broccoli Guy Mon, 03 Mar 2008 22:53:56 +0000 http://www.adoptionintegrity.com/2008/02/22/caring-for-the-least-of-these/#comment-1364 [...] for Babies Posted on March 3, 2008 by Christina I blogged a couple of weeks ago over on VVAI about babies from orphanages in northern Vietnam who are sick and dying from an acute pneumonia [...] [...] for Babies Posted on March 3, 2008 by Christina I blogged a couple of weeks ago over on VVAI about babies from orphanages in northern Vietnam who are sick and dying from an acute pneumonia [...]

]]> By: K http://www.adoptionintegrity.com/2008/02/22/caring-for-the-least-of-these/#comment-1339 K Wed, 27 Feb 2008 04:54:54 +0000 http://www.adoptionintegrity.com/2008/02/22/caring-for-the-least-of-these/#comment-1339 Since we know that a few of the children who died were referred by agencies, and we know that one of the issues (according to newspaper articles) that affected health and recovery was malnutrition, maybe the issue is the kind of support that these orphanages are receiving is inadequate. Children who suffer from malnutrition are not going to rebound as easily as well fed, healthy children. My question refers back to my tired and haggard refrain (will probably be my epitaph)...... WHERE ARE THE AGENCIES AND THE FEES PAID FOR SUPPORT OF ORPHANAGES? I can not imagine that an agency providing food and formula would be unwelcome or seen as crossing a boundary. My hopes with all of the JCICS best practices was that this type of support issue would have been addressed but sadly it has not. I know that there are orphanages who do not refer children like some special needs orphanages who are often in need of more support but orphanages who refer to any other countries receive fees and have humanitarian relationships. Let's push our agencies to further detail the aid and how the money is spent. If it is not going to ongoing nutrition and health support, let's make some more noise. My own child has suffered from the lack of quality medical care and is forever changed because of this--- not in a good way either. (I also believe that items like wells are important so don't think I am clueless in this.)The ramifications can be permanent for many children who suffer from diseases like RSV and pneumonia at early vulnerable ages. Community living is very difficult for anyone especially infants. Since these children are not breast fed (getting important antibodies) and group care is not optimal for most babies, we owe it to them to ask our providers for their position and actions to support not only the orphanages that refer to them but also the orphanages where children are not referred to anyone. All children deserve to have a shot at a healthy life. Good living and care conditions will make it so that children can be more durable and less susceptable(?) to diseases. Food and nutrition are equally as important as medications. If paperwork and investigative processes take time ( we know they do), then we and the children are better served if we argue for healthy living conditions. All children will not escape death or serious illness but fewer will. Since we know that a few of the children who died were referred by agencies, and we know that one of the issues (according to newspaper articles) that affected health and recovery was malnutrition, maybe the issue is the kind of support that these orphanages are receiving is inadequate. Children who suffer from malnutrition are not going to rebound as easily as well fed, healthy children. My question refers back to my tired and haggard refrain (will probably be my epitaph)…… WHERE ARE THE AGENCIES AND THE FEES PAID FOR SUPPORT OF ORPHANAGES? I can not imagine that an agency providing food and formula would be unwelcome or seen as crossing a boundary. My hopes with all of the JCICS best practices was that this type of support issue would have been addressed but sadly it has not. I know that there are orphanages who do not refer children like some special needs orphanages who are often in need of more support but orphanages who refer to any other countries receive fees and have humanitarian relationships. Let’s push our agencies to further detail the aid and how the money is spent. If it is not going to ongoing nutrition and health support, let’s make some more noise. My own child has suffered from the lack of quality medical care and is forever changed because of this— not in a good way either. (I also believe that items like wells are important so don’t think I am clueless in this.)The ramifications can be permanent for many children who suffer from diseases like RSV and pneumonia at early vulnerable ages. Community living is very difficult for anyone especially infants. Since these children are not breast fed (getting important antibodies) and group care is not optimal for most babies, we owe it to them to ask our providers for their position and actions to support not only the orphanages that refer to them but also the orphanages where children are not referred to anyone. All children deserve to have a shot at a healthy life. Good living and care conditions will make it so that children can be more durable and less susceptable(?) to diseases. Food and nutrition are equally as important as medications. If paperwork and investigative processes take time ( we know they do), then we and the children are better served if we argue for healthy living conditions. All children will not escape death or serious illness but fewer will.

]]> By: Tracy http://www.adoptionintegrity.com/2008/02/22/caring-for-the-least-of-these/#comment-1337 Tracy Tue, 26 Feb 2008 19:26:26 +0000 http://www.adoptionintegrity.com/2008/02/22/caring-for-the-least-of-these/#comment-1337 Does anyone know how much input the agencies are allowed to have with the sick children? I 100% agree that they should be doing whatever they can (medicine, best hospital/medical care etc) that they can for ALL the children of the orphanages they work in (not just those assigned to their agency). But I am wondering how much control they really have since the children are technically not the agencies but the orphanages (if that makes sense)? I know when we adopted our son in April 07 there was a child in our referral group that died of something very similar to what this virus sounds like. I know as a parent with a child in that same orphanage at that time I was despirate to go get him and "keep him safe", so I feel for the families right now with referrals that aren't able to travel, it's a very helpless feeling. I am really hoping the answer to my question is the agencies are allowed to do whatever they can to keep these children healthy. The agencies certainly have the funds available (I know we paid a hefty in-country fee to our agency)-so lack of funds should NEVER be an excuse-IMO Does anyone know how much input the agencies are allowed to have with the sick children? I 100% agree that they should be doing whatever they can (medicine, best hospital/medical care etc) that they can for ALL the children of the orphanages they work in (not just those assigned to their agency). But I am wondering how much control they really have since the children are technically not the agencies but the orphanages (if that makes sense)? I know when we adopted our son in April 07 there was a child in our referral group that died of something very similar to what this virus sounds like. I know as a parent with a child in that same orphanage at that time I was despirate to go get him and “keep him safe”, so I feel for the families right now with referrals that aren’t able to travel, it’s a very helpless feeling. I am really hoping the answer to my question is the agencies are allowed to do whatever they can to keep these children healthy. The agencies certainly have the funds available (I know we paid a hefty in-country fee to our agency)-so lack of funds should NEVER be an excuse-IMO

]]> By: also waiting http://www.adoptionintegrity.com/2008/02/22/caring-for-the-least-of-these/#comment-1336 also waiting Tue, 26 Feb 2008 13:02:45 +0000 http://www.adoptionintegrity.com/2008/02/22/caring-for-the-least-of-these/#comment-1336 this is an open forum. a blog. discussions/topics don't have required limits. i 100% agree with you e, that this is about the sick children. i have sat back & read quietly for months & months. but when one of the 1st posters to this topic goes right back down the path of accussing USCIS, i feel it needs to be addressed. but yes, back to the topic at hand... agreed that most importantly, we'd all love updates on the sick children and those waiting families trying to get them home. there is nothing more heartbreaking than reading about these children that can't get the proper medical care. i know that this type of care is the unfortunate reality in a country like VN; it's just so sickening, terribly sad and of course gives us all a feeling of helplessness. this is an open forum. a blog. discussions/topics don’t have required limits. i 100% agree with you e, that this is about the sick children. i have sat back & read quietly for months & months. but when one of the 1st posters to this topic goes right back down the path of accussing USCIS, i feel it needs to be addressed. but yes, back to the topic at hand…

agreed that most importantly, we’d all love updates on the sick children and those waiting families trying to get them home. there is nothing more heartbreaking than reading about these children that can’t get the proper medical care. i know that this type of care is the unfortunate reality in a country like VN; it’s just so sickening, terribly sad and of course gives us all a feeling of helplessness.

]]> By: e. http://www.adoptionintegrity.com/2008/02/22/caring-for-the-least-of-these/#comment-1335 e. Tue, 26 Feb 2008 02:48:05 +0000 http://www.adoptionintegrity.com/2008/02/22/caring-for-the-least-of-these/#comment-1335 I thought this was a comments section about sick orphans and here we are once again beating each other up. With all due respect, can we please now return to the issue at hand in Christina's article? Anyone have any more news about the affected orphanages? I thought this was a comments section about sick orphans and here we are once again beating each other up. With all due respect, can we please now return to the issue at hand in Christina’s article?
Anyone have any more news about the affected orphanages?

]]> By: Waiting three http://www.adoptionintegrity.com/2008/02/22/caring-for-the-least-of-these/#comment-1333 Waiting three Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:28:29 +0000 http://www.adoptionintegrity.com/2008/02/22/caring-for-the-least-of-these/#comment-1333 So we should be careful when it comes to accusing the USCIS, but its a free for all when we want to accuse agencies and families on this blog. Since the process changed in Oct/Nov, I have believed that the USCIS had our best interests in mind. That post I linked to was an example of what I've been hearing in the past few weeks, and is from someone who also seems to have had her mind changed as to whether this is for the best interest of Vietnam adoption or political leveraging. It's all gotten quite murky, and the USCIS isn't being very upfront with PAPs. And for my family, the wait is going on day 70. Look around in blogland, you'll see lots of people who've gone past 60 days, prompting the USCIS to say "oh, we've changed that detail, its 60 working days now, not calendar days," but still not giving families the first idea as to when they will have a decision, or what the status of their paperwork is. Yeah, we want ethical adoptions, but we don't want to be political pawns either. So we should be careful when it comes to accusing the USCIS, but its a free for all when we want to accuse agencies and families on this blog.

Since the process changed in Oct/Nov, I have believed that the USCIS had our best interests in mind. That post I linked to was an example of what I’ve been hearing in the past few weeks, and is from someone who also seems to have had her mind changed as to whether this is for the best interest of Vietnam adoption or political leveraging. It’s all gotten quite murky, and the USCIS isn’t being very upfront with PAPs.

And for my family, the wait is going on day 70. Look around in blogland, you’ll see lots of people who’ve gone past 60 days, prompting the USCIS to say “oh, we’ve changed that detail, its 60 working days now, not calendar days,” but still not giving families the first idea as to when they will have a decision, or what the status of their paperwork is. Yeah, we want ethical adoptions, but we don’t want to be political pawns either.

]]> By: also waiting http://www.adoptionintegrity.com/2008/02/22/caring-for-the-least-of-these/#comment-1332 also waiting Mon, 25 Feb 2008 21:59:29 +0000 http://www.adoptionintegrity.com/2008/02/22/caring-for-the-least-of-these/#comment-1332 well, no one knows anything "for a fact" regarding why or how things happen except for the USCIS themselves. since this is offically a new process they have always said it would take approx 60 days not 10. i also don't think that ONE families blog & opinion is the best resource to site as a place to form judgements about the entire process. i'm just tired of hearing so many people blame USCIS, yet claim they want ethical adoptions. well, no one knows anything “for a fact” regarding why or how things happen except for the USCIS themselves. since this is offically a new process they have always said it would take approx 60 days not 10.

i also don’t think that ONE families blog & opinion is the best resource to site as a place to form judgements about the entire process.

i’m just tired of hearing so many people blame USCIS, yet claim they want ethical adoptions.

]]> By: Waiting three http://www.adoptionintegrity.com/2008/02/22/caring-for-the-least-of-these/#comment-1331 Waiting three Mon, 25 Feb 2008 19:08:29 +0000 http://www.adoptionintegrity.com/2008/02/22/caring-for-the-least-of-these/#comment-1331 Do you know for a fact this just isn't BS politics rather than the US doing what's ethical? When a process that used to take 10 days is taking upwards of 60-90, and they're not communicating with us at all, and then you read something like this (http://www.goodhappenings.com/WordPress/?p=297), you have to wonder... Do you know for a fact this just isn’t BS politics rather than the US doing what’s ethical? When a process that used to take 10 days is taking upwards of 60-90, and they’re not communicating with us at all, and then you read something like this (http://www.goodhappenings.com/WordPress/?p=297), you have to wonder…

]]> By: also waiting http://www.adoptionintegrity.com/2008/02/22/caring-for-the-least-of-these/#comment-1330 also waiting Sun, 24 Feb 2008 18:37:32 +0000 http://www.adoptionintegrity.com/2008/02/22/caring-for-the-least-of-these/#comment-1330 It's terribly sad. These children getting so sick without the proper care to heal. These families loosing their children to this virus. All of it is truly so heartbreaking. I feel we should be careful when accusing USCIS for "sitting" on paperwork. If these babies are only 3-4 months old, there is no way they would have completed all the appropriate paperwork to be ready to come home. USCIS has made a committment to ensure these children haven't been placed illegally or improperly. I'm tired of waiting myself, but thankful that when we do bring our child home I will feel as confident as possible that it will be through ethical means. Accusing the US of doing anything but having procedures in place to ensure ethical adoptions is counterproductive. Again, my thoughts are with the children that are ill and the families dealing with their loss. It’s terribly sad. These children getting so sick without the proper care to heal. These families loosing their children to this virus. All of it is truly so heartbreaking.

I feel we should be careful when accusing USCIS for “sitting” on paperwork. If these babies are only 3-4 months old, there is no way they would have completed all the appropriate paperwork to be ready to come home. USCIS has made a committment to ensure these children haven’t been placed illegally or improperly. I’m tired of waiting myself, but thankful that when we do bring our child home I will feel as confident as possible that it will be through ethical means. Accusing the US of doing anything but having procedures in place to ensure ethical adoptions is counterproductive.

Again, my thoughts are with the children that are ill and the families dealing with their loss.

]]> By: Waiting http://www.adoptionintegrity.com/2008/02/22/caring-for-the-least-of-these/#comment-1324 Waiting Sat, 23 Feb 2008 08:40:28 +0000 http://www.adoptionintegrity.com/2008/02/22/caring-for-the-least-of-these/#comment-1324 There are several sick babies in the orphanage where my child is waiting. Two babies referred to other families working with my agency have died from this virus, both were between 3-4 months old. Its so incredibly sad. It does not help that the USCIS seems to be sitting on our paperwork in some sort of political game with Vietnam. We need to get those babies home. There are several sick babies in the orphanage where my child is waiting. Two babies referred to other families working with my agency have died from this virus, both were between 3-4 months old. Its so incredibly sad. It does not help that the USCIS seems to be sitting on our paperwork in some sort of political game with Vietnam. We need to get those babies home.

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