Vietnam update: No new adoptions at this time

CALLS TO ACTION

Ethica’s Call to Action on the Mercy James Case

Ethica is calling to action to raise funds to assist Mercy James to be cared for within her country with her extended family of origin. The annual average salary in Malawi is $160.00. If we provide those funds for the care of Mercy James for the next 14 years, we believe not only could she stay with her family, but she should also be able to be educated within her own country. Therefore we are challenging the adoption community to help us raise $2,240 for Mercy James.

 

Letter From the President

Wealth, Poverty and the Child’s Best Interests

It’s interesting how the public is drawn into celebrity adoptions and is beginning to explore the complex issues surrounding wealth, poverty, and how they play into building or in some cases, the need to rebuild families. I live in Michigan and work as a social worker here. Ironically enough, Michigan is also Madonna’s home state. Food banks are scrambling to meet the demands of hungry families and the state has the highest unemployment rate in the country. Now more than ever we can empathize with struggling families and the terror that comes with the need to feed and care for our children. Now more than ever we can empathize with the daily realities of families in developing countries. Most of us would recognize that tearing a family apart and institutionalizing our children, or placing them into adoption, would be a last resort. Yet, many of us are ready to condemn a Malawian grandmother for fighting to keep a child when it seems like the child’s best interests can be met by a wealthy stranger.

Adoption Is Not the Only Way to Help a Child

Ethica launched a fundraising campaign this week in response to the Madonna adoption case. We have received numerous positive comments back from many people, as well as donations for the cause of keeping Mercy with her family in Malawi. Thanks to those folks who got involved with our call to action.

We received some impassioned comments from other folks as well.

In The News

Vietnam update: No new adoptions at this time

From the Department of State Office of Children’s Issues:
June 2009
U.S. citizens cannot register a new adoption in Vietnam at this time. The Government of Vietnam has stated its intention to introduce new adoption legislation and to institute reforms in the adoption process, and has indicated that the anticipated new legislation and implementing regulations may take [...]

Orson Mozes pleads guilty, awaits sentencing

A former Montecito businessman who swindled $800,000 from 59 hopeful parents through his adoption business, pleaded guilty in Superior Court yesterday to 17 felonies and a white-collar crime enhancement.
…
Although the man won’t be sentenced until July 14, Senior Deputy District Attorney Paula Waldman said he most likely would be sentenced to three years and four [...]

 

Articles and Resources

Tuberculosis Screening and Treatment

Changes to Tuberculosis Screening and Treatment for immigrants are being implemented in stages in different geographic areas; these changes may affect travel for adoptive families, particularly for those families adopting HIV positive children.  Specifically, on October 6, 2008, the Department of Health and Human Services and Center for Disease Control (CDC) published an Interim Final [...]

New Academic Articles on International Adoption

Ethica is pleased to share three new academic articles on international adoption, surrogacy, and fraud.  Many congratulations to our Board member Usha Rengachary Smerdon on her article.
“Crossing Bodies, Crossing Borders: International Surrogacy Between the United States and India” by Usha Rengachary Smerdon

“Sold Into Adoption: The Hunan Baby Trafficking Scandal Exposes Vulnerabilities in Chinese Adoptions to the United States” by Patricia J. Meier and Xiaole Zhang

“Inside Story of an Adoption Scandal” by Arun Dohle