Last week, Nancy Hanson of Tennessee put her 7 year old adopted son, Justin, onto a plane to Russia with no more than a note and a goodbye. Upon landing in Russia, he showed up unannounced at the Child Protection Ministry. This set off an international investigation that may leave in limbo many American families who are already in the process of adopting in Russia. Russia has suspended adoptions to Americans until a new treaty is put into place with the U.S. Ms. Hansen, a single woman, defends her actions contending that the child was violent and she was concerned about her family's safety. The agency that assisted with the placement reported that as recently as February, they had spoken to Ms. Hanson and she had not indicated any problems. Ms. Hanson stated "It wasn't that he was just energetic and wearing us down, it was the violent tendencies and he had to be watched all the time". In my opinion, all children of that age must be "watched all the time". If he had violent tendencies at age 7, this is something that generally can be corrected with therapy.
There are conflicting stories. Ms. Hanson claims that once he learned English, Justin talked about being abused and beaten at the orphanage. Russian officials state that he has told them he was abused by his American family. He stated he was yelled at and his hair pulled. Ms. Hanson felt that the "final incident" that convinced her that she should send Justin back was when she caught him starting a fire with papers in his bedroom. That is a concern, but what child won't play with matches or lighters if they get the chance? They have to be taught not to do those things and this boy never had a chance. I find it telling that he had access to anything that would start a fire or that he wasn't supervised to the point of having time and means to do such a thing. Instead of a learning experience, this became another lesson in abandonment.
The U.S. government is troubled and is doing everything they can to repair the relationship with Russia's Child Protection Ministry and to minimize the damage our citizens have sustained to their reputations. Russians are viewing Americans as monsters who would callously abandon children. Investigators will have to determine if Ms. Hanson committed a crime. In my view, she did. Child abandonment, child endangerment, and many other child welfare laws may have been broken. Beyond that, she has broken a child's heart. Ms. Hanson had many options, including therapy, asking for the intervention of a social worker from the agency, and ultimately could have asked the agency to disrupt the adoption and place him with another American family who had the time and means to deal with the issues he presented. It has been reported that she was trying, at the same time, to adopt another Russian child.
I believe there is more to this story and that there are likely more issues with the mother than with the child. Regardless of whether you give birth or adopt a child, you don't stick a note on their shirt and send them off on a plane alone to face the world. Abandonment is an ugly word and an even uglier concept. This woman obviously did not take her commitment to this child seriously. If our children have problems, we deal with them. If our children are sick, we take care of them. A child so young has so much potential and instead of working with him to make his life better, she sent him packing. I wonder what that child's concept of "family" really is. I wonder how much this incident has harmed him, beyond what has happened to him before. I do believe he needed to be out of that situation. It is obvious he wasn't loved. Today is his birthday. Happy 8th birthday, Justin. Some of us Americans are sorry for what you have had to endure.
Showing posts with label orphanages. Show all posts
Showing posts with label orphanages. Show all posts
Friday, April 16, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
The Tragedy of Child Trafficking
We've received dozens of calls concerning the situation in Haiti and the possibility that Haitian orphans might be available. While some of the people who already had adoptions in the works have been able to bring their children home, anyone who is now hoping to adopt a Haitian orphan will likely have to wait a long time and then go through the same long process as before. CNN reported this afternoon that in an interview, the President of Haiti stated that Haitian children were being trafficked for not only the purposes of adoption, but also for more sinister reasons such as child prostitution and organ harvesting. While this has yet to be proven, it's not hard to imagine that within such desperation and chaos, these things could happen. There are predators and opportunists everywhere.
What does this mean? It means that UNICEF and WHO, and the governmental agencies of Haiti, the U.S. and many other countries will need to take a long hard look at the process of moving children out of Haiti, even if it is into good homes here in the U.S. or in other countries. It will have to be ascertained beyond a doubt that the child(ren) in question are, indeed, orphans. While many children were orphaned by the quake, many more were simply separated from relatives. Perhaps some had parents who died and they were left to wander helplessly until they found someone who would watch over them. Some are living on the streets with other children. In many cases, the children are separated from one parent or other relatives who lived through the quake but were perhaps elsewhere. The process of determining who these children are and if they still have living relatives will be long and arduous. The paperwork will be endless and the time will march on while they are in orphanages or being cared for by others. There is no system in place.
These children, like all children, deserve a home to grow up in and the security of parents who love them. The reality is that, because of these new allegations and the very real possibility that there is at least some trafficking going on, children and families will have to wait to make adoption a reality for them. It's important for someone to oversee that the right children are leaving Haiti for better homes. Unfortunately, because there is no viable system in place, it will take way too much time. Some will die. Some will outgrow the adoption process. Others will be forever damaged by the carnage they've seen, the abuse they have endured, and the lack of food and necessities of life.
I have been encouraged by the outpouring of empathy and consideration for the Haitian people. Interestingly, before this, we received very few calls seeking to adopt children of color. Maybe the one blessing in this very sad and tragic situation in Haiti is that, seeing these children as the beautiful children they are, people who hadn't previously considered it will open their hearts to children of other races. Those children are right here in the U.S. There are plenty of African-American children who need homes and they don't need to be in the system.
I think it's honorable and necessary to help other nations, especially where children are concerned. But in this case, there are children at home that need our help as well. Anyone interested in adopting a child of color can do it sooner, with less cost, and less effort right here in America. You can make a difference in the life of a child without going very far.
What does this mean? It means that UNICEF and WHO, and the governmental agencies of Haiti, the U.S. and many other countries will need to take a long hard look at the process of moving children out of Haiti, even if it is into good homes here in the U.S. or in other countries. It will have to be ascertained beyond a doubt that the child(ren) in question are, indeed, orphans. While many children were orphaned by the quake, many more were simply separated from relatives. Perhaps some had parents who died and they were left to wander helplessly until they found someone who would watch over them. Some are living on the streets with other children. In many cases, the children are separated from one parent or other relatives who lived through the quake but were perhaps elsewhere. The process of determining who these children are and if they still have living relatives will be long and arduous. The paperwork will be endless and the time will march on while they are in orphanages or being cared for by others. There is no system in place.
These children, like all children, deserve a home to grow up in and the security of parents who love them. The reality is that, because of these new allegations and the very real possibility that there is at least some trafficking going on, children and families will have to wait to make adoption a reality for them. It's important for someone to oversee that the right children are leaving Haiti for better homes. Unfortunately, because there is no viable system in place, it will take way too much time. Some will die. Some will outgrow the adoption process. Others will be forever damaged by the carnage they've seen, the abuse they have endured, and the lack of food and necessities of life.
I have been encouraged by the outpouring of empathy and consideration for the Haitian people. Interestingly, before this, we received very few calls seeking to adopt children of color. Maybe the one blessing in this very sad and tragic situation in Haiti is that, seeing these children as the beautiful children they are, people who hadn't previously considered it will open their hearts to children of other races. Those children are right here in the U.S. There are plenty of African-American children who need homes and they don't need to be in the system.
I think it's honorable and necessary to help other nations, especially where children are concerned. But in this case, there are children at home that need our help as well. Anyone interested in adopting a child of color can do it sooner, with less cost, and less effort right here in America. You can make a difference in the life of a child without going very far.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
China's Secret Adoption Trade
I am a proponent of adoption over abortion and, as you likely already know, I facilitate adoption on a daily basis. I receive a lot of calls about foreign adoption and while I have encouraged some to go that route, I have always felt that China was not the answer. China's one child policy has spawned moral and ethical dilemmas and the deaths of many Chinese girls. It is reported that within ten years, there will be such a shortage of Chinese women for the men to marry that they are already being encouraged to find foreign brides. In China, there is no social security. What that means is that in their old age, parents must be supported by their children. Traditionally the breadwinners were the boys and they also carried the family name. So with the policy being one child only, the preference was to have a boy, or suffer in your old age.
The government was known to crack down on people who had more than one child, particularly the farmers, who needed multiple children to help them with their farms. If someone disobeyed the law, they lost their jobs or their family members lost their jobs. In some cases, they were harassed and even had their homes destroyed. It was powerful motivation not to have girls. Because it is illegal in China to abandon a baby anywhere, families would leave them in quiet dark places like along farm roads or in dark alleys. Some were found. Many died.
In recent times, with ultrasounds available, sex selection is the norm. Girl babies are aborted. Before ultrasounds were available, a female child would simply be delivered and placed face down in a bucket of water to drown. The word "humanitarian" doesn't come to mind when I think of China. They kill their own.
Recently, a child trafficker who was released from prison gave his account of what goes on. Apparently orphanages in China pay hefty sums for baby girls because the foreign demand is so high. It's a for-profit venture selling Chinese baby girls. Ironically, with adoption there is more demand for girls at the rate of perhaps 8 out of 10 families who prefer a specific gender choosing females. That is a topic for another day. I encourage you to read this article yourself and come to your own conclusions:
http://www.wgntv.com/news/la-fg-china-adopt24-2010jan24,0,6173934.story?page=2&track=rss
China needs to clean up their act. However, until foreign countries stop adopting from China, there will be no incentive to do so. In the meantime, baby girls die and baby girls are kidnapped and sold to an orphanage and subsequently a family. Yes, they end up with a good life, but is it fair or moral to encourage the practice of taking them from families who love them and don't want to give them up? China may need a one child policy, but if they want to put those kinds of restrictions on families, they need to make a plan for the aged that doesn't involve having only boys. I could accept the one child rule for population control if everyone were to have whatever child God sent them -- boy or girl. Sterilization is a much more acceptable practice than abortion.
Americans have had the reputation of going anywhere on humanitarian missions to help out. We don't restrict our gifts to just our own country. We, and other nations, must put pressure on China to change their practices or we need to shut down all adoptions from China. We shouldn't adopt kidnapped babies and we shouldn't support abandonment of unwanted infants. If we continue to support the policies that cause harm to children, particularly girls, then we are as guilty as they are. China has no one to blame when they have no one for their sons to marry.
The government was known to crack down on people who had more than one child, particularly the farmers, who needed multiple children to help them with their farms. If someone disobeyed the law, they lost their jobs or their family members lost their jobs. In some cases, they were harassed and even had their homes destroyed. It was powerful motivation not to have girls. Because it is illegal in China to abandon a baby anywhere, families would leave them in quiet dark places like along farm roads or in dark alleys. Some were found. Many died.
In recent times, with ultrasounds available, sex selection is the norm. Girl babies are aborted. Before ultrasounds were available, a female child would simply be delivered and placed face down in a bucket of water to drown. The word "humanitarian" doesn't come to mind when I think of China. They kill their own.
Recently, a child trafficker who was released from prison gave his account of what goes on. Apparently orphanages in China pay hefty sums for baby girls because the foreign demand is so high. It's a for-profit venture selling Chinese baby girls. Ironically, with adoption there is more demand for girls at the rate of perhaps 8 out of 10 families who prefer a specific gender choosing females. That is a topic for another day. I encourage you to read this article yourself and come to your own conclusions:
http://www.wgntv.com/news/la-fg-china-adopt24-2010jan24,0,6173934.story?page=2&track=rss
China needs to clean up their act. However, until foreign countries stop adopting from China, there will be no incentive to do so. In the meantime, baby girls die and baby girls are kidnapped and sold to an orphanage and subsequently a family. Yes, they end up with a good life, but is it fair or moral to encourage the practice of taking them from families who love them and don't want to give them up? China may need a one child policy, but if they want to put those kinds of restrictions on families, they need to make a plan for the aged that doesn't involve having only boys. I could accept the one child rule for population control if everyone were to have whatever child God sent them -- boy or girl. Sterilization is a much more acceptable practice than abortion.
Americans have had the reputation of going anywhere on humanitarian missions to help out. We don't restrict our gifts to just our own country. We, and other nations, must put pressure on China to change their practices or we need to shut down all adoptions from China. We shouldn't adopt kidnapped babies and we shouldn't support abandonment of unwanted infants. If we continue to support the policies that cause harm to children, particularly girls, then we are as guilty as they are. China has no one to blame when they have no one for their sons to marry.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Snakebite Update - Zama
Speaking of snakes, I have an update on Zama (or Zamo), the baby who was bitten on her leg while she was sleeping in her hut in Swaziland. She and her mother, Sizakele, have now been in the U.S. for her surgery and treatment since May 27. She is scheduled for her third surgery to release the scar contractures that have developed due to scarring around the graft site. She is having trouble keeping the front of her foot down, so this will help her get more mobility at the ankle. She has had to stay longer than planned due to the scarring and physical therapy, so money is being raised to help with the expenses. A pancake breakfast in Loma Linda raised $1,050.00! Also, Dr. Bush hosted a multi-family garage sale at his home with the proceeds going to help and $1,550.00 was raised. Some children donated their piggy banks, which was touching. If anyone wants to contribute, the address is;
Medical/living costs: LLUMC Venom Fund #834
Sean Bush, M.D.
11234 Anderson St., Room A108
Loma Linda, CA 92354
Sizakele is 22 and has never had any formal education. She came here with an interpreter and is now fluent in English. She is learning her alphabet and is taking an aptitude test this week to see what reading level she has attained. She has made those around her pause to think about how fortunate we all are, even in these hard times. At the garage sale, she was amazed at how many clothes people donated and surprised that they still had more at home. In Swaziland, she had only three shirts and two skirts. Zama had only three outfits. They had to walk 30 minutes to the river to wash them and bring them home again.
Zama is thriving and can understand English and everything that is said to her She is now 22 months old and very mischevious. Dr. Bush's wife, A'me, will be returning to Swaziland with them next month. We are hoping to get some contacts and information about possibly doing adoptions and setting up an orphanage there. We are contemplating setting up a non-profit branch of our agency, A Gift of Hope Adoptions, called "Gifts of Hope" to fund water wells and orphanage projects in that region of the world. Due to the high incidence of HIV/AIDS, there are many orphans. We are hoping that we can get some of them into good homes and make the others much more comfortable. If you want to help or contribute in any way, there will be many opportunities to help. In the meantime, prayers are good!
They desperately need water wells. Can you imagine drinking dirty river water where people wash their clothes and take baths? Animals cross the river as well. Everyone deserves clean drinking water. I will think about that every time I sip from a bottle of purified water. If you or anyone you know (Make it a boy scout/girl scout project!) would like to help build a well in Swaziland, the fund contact information is;
Hug fund/Zama
All Nations African SDA Church
Verah Mthombeni
Box 1579
Loma Linda, CA 92354
Thank you!
Medical/living costs: LLUMC Venom Fund #834
Sean Bush, M.D.
11234 Anderson St., Room A108
Loma Linda, CA 92354
Sizakele is 22 and has never had any formal education. She came here with an interpreter and is now fluent in English. She is learning her alphabet and is taking an aptitude test this week to see what reading level she has attained. She has made those around her pause to think about how fortunate we all are, even in these hard times. At the garage sale, she was amazed at how many clothes people donated and surprised that they still had more at home. In Swaziland, she had only three shirts and two skirts. Zama had only three outfits. They had to walk 30 minutes to the river to wash them and bring them home again.
Zama is thriving and can understand English and everything that is said to her She is now 22 months old and very mischevious. Dr. Bush's wife, A'me, will be returning to Swaziland with them next month. We are hoping to get some contacts and information about possibly doing adoptions and setting up an orphanage there. We are contemplating setting up a non-profit branch of our agency, A Gift of Hope Adoptions, called "Gifts of Hope" to fund water wells and orphanage projects in that region of the world. Due to the high incidence of HIV/AIDS, there are many orphans. We are hoping that we can get some of them into good homes and make the others much more comfortable. If you want to help or contribute in any way, there will be many opportunities to help. In the meantime, prayers are good!
They desperately need water wells. Can you imagine drinking dirty river water where people wash their clothes and take baths? Animals cross the river as well. Everyone deserves clean drinking water. I will think about that every time I sip from a bottle of purified water. If you or anyone you know (Make it a boy scout/girl scout project!) would like to help build a well in Swaziland, the fund contact information is;
Hug fund/Zama
All Nations African SDA Church
Verah Mthombeni
Box 1579
Loma Linda, CA 92354
Thank you!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Madonna and the Malawi Connection
Am I the only one who is tired of hearing about the Madonna saga? Celebrity adoptions are usually good news and help promote adoption in general and bring a spotlight to the issue that we can't do as mere mortals. However, when I read about people bypassing the rules and jumping to the front of the line simply because they can, it bothers me. News reports say that Madonna is adopting another young child from Malawi and that one parent is deceased and one parent is living. Then, why is that child in an orphanage and available for adoption? Relatives are crying foul because they fear that they may never get to see the little girl "Mercy" again. I wonder why, if they care about her welfare, they leave her alone in an orphanage instead of taking her home to be raised with family. I'm definitely on board with the adoption of children waiting for a home in orphanages overseas. However, Malawi doesn't allow foreign adoptions. Then, why is Madonna allowed to adopt there? Foreign governments in third world nations have always had a problem with adoption corruption. The new Hague Convention regulations are meant to eliminate the problems caused by the absence of laws and rules to oversee adoption and to bring all countries in line with a common standard of practice. Guatemala, for instance, has been plagued with adoption corruption including alleged kidnappings simply to facilitate adoptions to foreign couples. We're on the right track in making all countries comply with strict standards and practices. It will be interesting to see if Malawi and Madonna are made to comply.
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