Comments on: The Legacy of 4

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:24:49 +0000

I am trying to find information on how immigration is expecting DNA to be provided when the mother cannot be found. They will not furnish us with this infomation or even what steps need to be taken to locate the mother. If the orphanage says the mother is not available does that end the adoption for American citizens? Does this mean the child will remain in the orphanage? We want what is best for her and tried to pick an agency that was known for its integrety. But since the JCICS will not answer us or our agency we are left without knowing what to do. Surely this cannot be in the best interest of the child.

By: Nicki

Nicki — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:23:47 +0000

Hi Carl - please don’t mistake the silence for a lack of action. I know VVAI is actively working on adoption reform, JCICS is working their initiative, Ethica is actively working with all levels for change, PEAR is working for change. The US government is working on their end. And PAPs are working on their end to contact their government reps. I think its a gross misrepresentation of all efforts to suggest that no one wants to do anything to fix the process.

My suggestion for PAPs who want to get involved is that you consider the latest JCICS initiatives and add to it strong and serious accountability standards for agencies that are glaringly lacking from the JCICS initiative and present that as a formal solution to your state and federal government so they have a framework of well-rounded ideas with accountability on ALL sides that will contribute to real change.

By: Carl

Carl — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:08:00 +0000

It will be “fixed” after September 1st, when no children will be adopted by US parents. The process does need to be fixed, but no one seems to want to do anything about it. I for one am all for the extra scrutiny to examine every case to insure it is legitimate, but to do so should not endanger children in any way. I know our orphanage is a great facility and the caregivers are great, but that may not be the case throughout the country. If I government felt there was a problem and put these new measures in place, they should have also increased the staff accordingly to accommodate the obvious backlog that was going to occur. We ahve been waiting 25 days for our approval, and that is a third or less than what some families are going through. I can hardly sleep at night knowing that everyday my son spends in the orphanage is causing problems once we are allowed to bring him home. Language skills and attachment issues chief among them. But I will feel so much better knowing that his mother did not give her child up for money or extortion. Why can’t the process start once a referral is issued? Seems to me a lot of the investigation can be handled sooner. We will continue to wait patiently and support the orphanage with what we can in the mean time.

By: Mary

Mary — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:29:31 +0000

I agree — four children returned to their families is four too many. But at least ten children with adoptive families waiting to bring them home died unnecessarily during a rhino virus outbreak last February. This system is seriously broken and needs to be fixed on BOTH sides.

By: Katherine

Katherine — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:44:20 +0000

Actually, I know one family whose referral was lost due to the USCIS Orphans First investigation. That was a direct result of the investigation, when USCIS found the birth parent, who was illiterate, had been coerced into signing papers she didn’t understand. The baby was returned home to her birth family within days.

By: L

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:36:58 +0000

Sorry, left that not reading correctly. Meant to say:
…while we try to establish absolute ethics and ensure zero fraud and corruption?

and (Without even addressing whether absolute ethics exist and whether zero fraud and corruption is attainable in a world populated with mere humans.)

Thanks!

By: L

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:03:21 +0000

Jena,
How many true orphans being left to live out their childhoods in institutions without the hope of a forever family is too many? This is the side of the argument that never seems to get addressed. Is it ethical to leave untold numbers of true orphans in orphanges while we try to establish absolute ethics and ensure?
Of course 4 returned to birth families is 4 too many. Just curious about your thoughts on the flip side of that coin. (Without even addressing whether absolute ethics exist.)
L

By: jena

jena — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 17:25:26 +0000

Hi Kelly-
As I know, this is an emotionally charged issue that can all too often result in assumptions.

“Many, many of us have been very concerned about Orphans First and how it is all going to play out. We have been concerned about NOIDS and what happens to the children who receive them. Well, according to this fact sheet, four children whose questionable circumstances were discovered were returned to their birthfamilies.”

My point in this paragraph was NOT that Orphans First was directly responsible for the returning of 4 children to their first familes(I only have first hand knkowledge of 1 child being returned to their first family as a result of the DOS investigation).
My point was two-fold:
1. We do not yet know how Orphans First is going to work. In my opinion, it is too soon to tell. I am still hopeful, but full of concerns. My point was that there are concerns about how it is working.
2. My second point is that 4 children have been returned to their first families. I have no way of know if this is a direct result of Orphans First or not.

In stating these two things, my point was that there is STILL a lot of work to be done, and that I, for one, am not ready to throw in the towel.
My position is that 4 children being returned, by whatever means(plus or minus the one that I know of first had that was a direct result of Orphans First), is too many.
My position is also that, as much as I wish that I could just sit back and KNOW that my government is taking care of all of the ethics issues for me(i.e. Orphans First), the reality is that we don’t have that option. We have to remain involved, pushing, prodding, encouraging, and yes, opposing our government and any other government that is not actively working on behalf of children.

I hope this clears up my position and my post.

By: Nicki

Nicki — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 14:08:42 +0000

I’m curious to understand who you do think is responsible for four children being reunited with their birth families, if not the DOS?

By: Kelly

Kelly — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 12:57:24 +0000

Jena,
You know, you made a leap in logic in your post that isnt fair or warranted based on the “fact” sheet. I’d ask you to reconsider your post and your position.

The fact sheet does NOT say that the US or Orphans First is responsible in ANY WAY for four children being reunited with their birth familes. It says only that the State Department is aware of four children being reunited with their birth parents. I’d like to know more how Orphans First made that happen. Color me cynical, but I’m guessing it did not.

I look forward to your response.