Since I posted my adoption story, I have been asked by a few people how adoptive parents can know for certain that their adoption agency's practices are ethical? I have been asking myself the same question and honestly I am having a hard time coming up with an answer that seems good enough. I am going to be doing a little bit more research in the next few days and I hope to put together a blog post with my findings.
In the meantime, please read this post. If I could write so eloquently it is exactly what I would have written myself.
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5 comments:
It is definitely a concern- a VERY serious one. Can I ask if your agency was Hague Accredited? I know that is a very stringent process AND requires agencies to help families to find other alternatives to consider other than giving up their child for adoption. My agency, Gladney, offers assistance with day care and family sponsorship to families before they allow them to give up a child. Adoption should be the LAST alternative for these families. They should always stay together if at all possible. I have a lot of faith in my agency- I feel they have a great reputation both domestically and internationally. But that doesn't mean that we shouldn't all be constantly vigilant. These innocent ones need ALL our protection.
Our agency was Hague-DENIED. Should have been my first clue, but I had fallen in love with a little Ethiopian girl, an adorable one, and Hague accreditation was the last thing on my mind! Gayla I have heard pretty good things about Gladney, and it is a great sign that they offer assistance before considering adoption. I will say, though, that Hague accreditation is not meaning as much to me these days. Did you see the Fly Away Children documentary? The agency featured in that video WAS Hague accredited AND continues to practice in Ethiopia even after all the negative publicity and evidence that they were child harvesting. I just don't get it?? I am coming up with a list of red flags to watch for, I'll post it soon. Thanks for commenting!
It makes me so sad that they are treating children like a commodity and also that your heart was broken by the unethical and I will say immoral practices of your old agency.
I think every agency has some gray areas, both of our are Hague accredited, but they were not perfect by any means.
You know i have been considering adoption for a long time now and with me being a single mother finances will not allow me to go through anyone other than DHS. We are going to Foster for a while in hopes of finding a child to adopt, but with the stories i am hearing about adoption i am scared now. Do you know if the adoptions through DHS are a good way to go? And do i need a lawyer? I am so clueless to all of this but willing to take any advice...
Shelly I hope I didn't scare you away from adoptions. I think DHS is a wonderful way to adopt. As with any adoption there is a risk for bumps, heartbreak, or taking much longer than you wish. But there are many children in foster care who need forever families. Just know that many of these kids will come with 'issues' from years of abuse and neglect (sometimes) but I believe there are many people called to do this and there is a need for it. Facebook message me sometimes and we'll chat about it!
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