Ethica: A Voice for Ethical Adoption

WELCOME TO ETHICA

Ethica Founder and President Trish Maskew Departing; Successor Named
Trish Maskew, president of Ethica, is leaving the group she founded in 2002. Melissa Griebel, current vice-president and director of domestic policy, will succeed Maskew as President on June 20, 2008.

Maskew is leaving Ethica’s Board of Directors to accept a position at the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Immigration Litigation, where she will begin working this fall.
Continued on Press Release
U.S. Department of State Letter of Appreciation

Ethical Voices for Adoption - Join the Chorus
Ethica has launched a fundraiser in order to meet the demand for our services including crisis management (visas, new adoption policies, fraud, etc.) as well as research and policy (training for adoption regulators, state and federal law reviews, etc.). Our goal is to raise $20,000 by May 23rd. For roughly the cost of one adoption, your support will help us continue assisting thousands of families. In the past 5 years alone we have assisted over 8,000 families. This year we expect at least 2,000 more. We need your voice. Please Join the Chorus.

Thank you.

Support Ethical Vietnamese Adoptions
Ethica encourages adoption community to alert their representatives to the possible closure of Vietnamese adoptions to American citizens, and to the need for additional oversight in order to protect Vietnamese and American families from exploitation. Voice your concerns here.

Blankets for Babies--Emergency Relief for Vietnamese Orphanages
Ethica has established an emergency fund for Vietnamese orphanages where children are suffering from a virulent form of rhinovirus. We have been given permission to enter these orphanages with blankets, formula, heaters and clothing. We have 3 days to raise the needed funds. Please help us help Vietnamese children!

Frequently Asked Questions about the Hague Convention
The Hague Adoption Convention is scheduled to enter into force for the United States on April 1, 2008. For answers to the most commonly asked questions about the Convention, please visit our Hague FAQs.

Ethica Meets with U.S. Department of State and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Discussions focused on situations in Vietnam, Guatemala, Ethiopia, and Liberia. Details can be downloaded here.

Operation Identity: Cooperating to protect the identity of Vietnamese Orphans
Operation Identity is an Ethica project designed to encourage the accurate reporting of children's identities, and to curtail the skyrocketing abandonment rates in Vietnam.

Vietnam and Guatemala Initiatives
Vietnam
Ethica is active in advocating for clarification on the current situation in Vietnam and on new guidelines introduced to curb troubling activities including illegal activity regarding cash payments to orphanage staff and using an unlicensed adoption agency to facilitate adoptions. More information on our efforts can be read here.

Guatemala
Ethica is currently advocating for families who need their children's birth certificates from Mixco and Sayaxche. To add your family to the final advocacy list please sign and fax this release form and
send us the child's name, date of birth, PGN status and dates, your family name, and contact info. More news on Guatemala can be read here.

Top 10 Reasons to Get to Know Ethica

Ethica would like to thank everyone who had participated in the Adoption Ethics and Accountability Conference held in Arlington, VA from October 15-16th. Almost 300 participants discussed challenges in domestic and international adoptions. Some highlights included:
- The Future of Guatemalan Adoptions Forum
- Meet the Bloggers Cocktail Reception
- Over 80 speakers from the adoption community, policymakers, and service providers.

Audio CDs of the conference panels and workshops, including the Guatemalan Adoptions Forum can be ordered here.

Ethica and the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, our conference co-host, welcome your comments. Please feel free to contact us at info at ethicsconference.net .

Intercountry Adoption Endangered--Read the Statistics!

Why Should the Adoption Community Care about Ethics?

CONSUMER PROTECTION

Consumer Alerts!
Report: Adoption Regulation and Consumer Protection
Reporting Complaints: What You Should Know

LEGISLATION AND ADVOCACY

ICARE (Intercountry Adoption Reform Act S. 1934)
Hague Regulations
IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act)
Romania Adoption Law

ETHICA PROJECTS

Certificate of Citizenship Project
Crisis Management and Case Advocacy
Project Ethica
Liberia Aid Project
Shoebox Project

ABOUT ETHICA: NEWS AND INFORMATION

We Believe...
What Makes Ethica Different
Receive Breaking News Alerts
Ethica 2003 Highlights
Volunteer Opportunities

Ethica, Inc. 8639-B 16th St. #156 Silver Spring MD 20910 (301) 637-7650 ethica@ethicanet.org

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NEWS

2008-06-13

Ethica Founder and President Departs***Zambia Ends Suspension***DOS Statement on Expiring Vietnam MOU***Nepal's New ICA Terms***FL Lawyer Suspended ***NC Adoptive Mother Convicted of Murder

2008-05-30

USCIS Implements Required DNA Testing for Vietnamese Adoptions

2008-04-25

Embassy Warning on Vietnamese Adoptions***Arrest Warrant for Adoption Facilitator***Israel Sanctions Overseas Gay Adoptions***International Adoption Problems***OK Reviews State Adoption Laws***

2008-02-21

Vietnam's Trafficking Network***Irish Migrant Adoptions***Adoption Agency Investigation***

2008-02-13

***Hague Status of the Republic of Georgia***Vietnamese Adoption Facilitator Summary judgment***States Unsealing Records***Domestic Adoptions Reconsidered***Fewer Foreign Children Adopted***

2008-02-08

***New Guatemala Registration News***

2008-02-13

***Hague Status of Republic of Georgia***Vietnamese Facilitator Summary Judgment***States Unsealing Records***Domestic Adoptions Considered as International Adoptions Drop***Fewer Foreign Children Adopted***

2008-01-31

***Important Information on Guatemala Registration***Update on Vietnam***

2008-01-28

USCIS Announces New Guatemalan Adoption Legislation***USDOS Advisory and FAQ on Vietnamese Adoptions***

2008-01-25

Kentucky Adoption Changes Leaves Dad in Limbo***Indiana to Spend $4M to Boost Adoptions***Gay Families Seek to Lift Adoption Restrictions***Philippines Launch Campaign Promoting Domestic Adoption and Foster Care***

2007-11-05

U.S. Embassy Announcement on Vietnamese Adoptions

2007-10-25

USCIS Announces Changes to Vietnam Adoptions

2007-10-09

Ethica Statement on Guatemalan Adoption Changes***Department of State Advisory on Guatemalan Adoptions***Denmark Lifts Ban on Indian Adoptions***Canadian Court Quashes Open Records Law***

2007-07-16

Russia Renews Adoption Agencies' Licenses***Florida Supreme Court on Birthfather Notices***Study on Troubled Homes vs. Foster Care***VT Foster Care Eligibility Age Extended***

2007-05-22

***Guatemala Re-Affirms Hague Convention***

2007-05-17

***USCIS announces new processing times for Guatemala***

2007-05-16

***Nepal Suspends Adoptions***CO Governor Signs Second-Parent and Gay Adoption Bill***OH Attorney General Sues Foster Care Agency***

2007-04-20

***Iowa law allows foster kids right to see siblings***Michigan Foster Care Heads for Trial***Florida Agency Cited for Contempt of Court***

2007-04-16

***Michigan Attorney General Provides Contact Information for Families of "Waiting Angels" adoption facilitator***Minnesota suspends license of Reaching Arms International***FBI investigates Flordia Foster Home Group***

2007-04-08

Ukraine: New Intercountry Adoption Law Changes

2007-03-06

Announcement from the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine

2007-03-01

Ethica Appoints New Executive Director

2007-03-07

Federal indictment against Focus on Children adoptions from Samoa

2007-03-02

Guatemala Releases Manual on Good Adoption Practices

2007-02-22

Department of State Cautions U.S. Citizens adopting from Guatemala

2007-02-18

Notice From USCIS Regarding Chinese Government's New Requirements

2007-02-16

Statement from Department of State on Guatemalan Adoption Protocol

2006-10-05

More information on false letter in Guatemala; meeting on Hague implementation

2006-10-03

Amrex Investigation Begins: Families Urged to Contact FBI

2006-09-29

Important Info re: letter from Guatemala President's Office

2006-09-28

Important Announcement from Department of State re: Guatemalan Adoption

2006-03-30

***Important Notice and Q and A from the State Department on Guatemala and the Hague Convention***Michigan Releases Report on Minorities in Foster Care***Update on Moldovan Adoptions***Ukraine establishes new adoption authority***

2006-03-28

***Ethica releases comments on Final Hague Regulations***

2006-03-28

***APHSA Releases New ICPC Guidelines****

2006-03-12

***State Department asks for help from U.S. Citizens who have adopted from Ukraine***

2006-03-17

***Court decisions affect birth father rights***Florida's adoption law unfair say birth fathers***

2006-03-10

***3,000 children in Kansas wait for homes***Michigan tries to keep more families together***California Budget Cuts may impact family caregivers***Kansas Bill Adding 'Child's Best Interest' as Adoption Factor Passes

2006-02-28

Hurricanes squeeze state foster care budgets***European Research on "The global market for adoption"***Advocates make sure foster kids have voice***School choice for Maryland's foster kids

2006-03-18

As the battle over gay adoption heats up around the country, check our site for the latest updates.

2005-09-27

***China ratifies Hague Convention***Ukraine suspends acceptance of adoption dossiers***Florida suspends license of KidzFirst***Guatemala law passes 2nd reading***Liberia Travel Warning

2006-02-14

*** Department of State issues final Hague regulations ***

2005-06-15

***Vietnam/U.S. agreement on adoptions***Important News from Ukraine***

2005-06-14

***US and Viet Nam initial agreement to resume adoptions***

2005-04-29

***Azerbaijan Suspends Adoptions***

2005-02-25

Romanian Government Requests Views of Non-Governmental Organizations on Child Welfare Law.

2005-02-14

The Belarusian Government signed a decision amending the law on adoptions on January 4, 2005.