Hey Josh | Change a lifetime
July 11, 2010 by Adoption Information and Laws
Filed under Fostering & Orphanages
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May is National Foster Care Month Change a lifetime @ www.FosterCareMonth.org
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Fathima Rifqa Bary, 17, ran away from her home in New Albany, Ohio, because her Muslim family threatened to murder her for converting from Islam to Christianity. Hear Her Story: www.youtube.com Read More As of September 2, 2009: **Fathima Rifqa Bary: Runaway Ohio teen goes back to court on Thursday:** Fathima Rifqa Bary, the Ohio teenager who has become a cause célèbre among evangelical Christians for running away from her Muslim family, returns to an Orlando courtroom today. A judge must decide whether her father — or anyone else in Ohio — poses a threat to her. Meanwhile, Ohio child welfare officials have already concluded it’s safe for Rifqa to return. They want to place the girl in therapy and reunite her with her family. That, however, may not be the conclusion of Florida officials who have had to deal with a flood of e-mail and reaction from thousands of people, many of them including anti-Muslim sentiments, who say the runaway is a hero. Gov. Charlie Crist has received more than 9000 e-mails about the runaway, his office said. For the past two weeks, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has been investigating whether there are any credible threats to Rifqa, 17, a native of Sri Lanka. Agents will present their findings today, something that could signal what happens next. If they conclude no threats exist, Circuit Judge Daniel Dawson could send the girl back to Columbus, Ohio, where her parents have agreed to place her in foster care for at least a month. If …
America – This Saturday at 9pm|8c on Lifetime
July 9, 2010 by Adoption Information and Laws
Filed under Fostering & Orphanages
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Dr. Maureen Brennan, a psychiatrist at a youth treatment center, encounters her newest patient, a sixteen-year-old bi-racial boy named America. Through their sessions, Dr. Brennan helps America come to terms with his roller-coaster life, which began when he was taken by authorities from his crack-addicted mother, and placed into foster care as an infant. Dr. Brennan works to help him open up about his painful past and discover the support and courage he needs to get his life back on track. “America” premieres Saturday Feb 28th at 9pm|8c on Lifetime.
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DCFS advertises nothing but adoption and public assistance for the foster families. Some are wealthy and get food stamps for our kids. Rarely have I ever actually seen it spent on the kids. My children always had marks, were ill and never dressed appropriately for the weather. You can easily tell the difference between the photos of when I had my kids and when they were in foster care. No baby should ever have a black eye. No baby should ever have to wear clothes size 7 when they’re barely one. No baby should ever be sick seven months out of the year. Every baby should get medical attention when they need it. No baby should ever have to wear shoes that don’t fit right, especially without socks, just because they are cheaper. Help me fight. I’m writing a book exposing DCFS as corrupt and expressing the need for DCFS to open an internal affairs department so things can be looked at from a third party perspective. If cops have to do it, so should DCFS! Help me convince a publisher that the people want to know the specifics and want my book to come out. Subscribe, rate, tell all your friends all about my mission to change things.
America – Premieres Saturday Feb 28th at 9pm|8c on Lifetime
July 5, 2010 by Adoption Information and Laws
Filed under Adoption Videos
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Dr. Maureen Brennan, a psychiatrist at a youth treatment center, encounters her newest patient, a sixteen-year-old bi-racial boy named America. Through their sessions, Dr. Brennan helps America come to terms with his roller-coaster life, which began when he was taken by authorities from his crack-addicted mother, and placed into foster care as an infant. Dr. Brennan works to help him open up about his painful past and discover the support and courage he needs to get his life back on track. “America” premieres Saturday Feb 28th at 9pm|8c on Lifetime.
Video Rating: 5 / 5
Choosing Adoption
January 27, 2010 by Adoption Information and Laws
Filed under About Adoption
Let’s begin by asking yourself, “Am I ready?â€. This is a logical place to start because by choosing adoption you are choosing to change the dynamics of your life forever. This of course is said not to scare you away from the idea of adoption but to merely point out the realization of this fact. Once you have done your homework and a lot of soul searching and are still choosing to adopt, you may have come across the most rewarding experience of your lifetime.
With choosing adoption comes many decisions immediately following: What adoption agency will I use? Do I want to adopt a boy or a girl? When I adopt, will the child be an infant? 5 yrs. old? or a teenager? These are all important questions that need to be addressed.
Adoption Agencies
One must be very careful when choosing adoption agencies for obvious reasons. The search for one on the internet, you may find is a challenge. I have done some homework and have found a couple of links that may be helpful:
http://www.adoption.com – In the topics menu under adopting click “guideâ€
http://www.comeunity.com/ – Great for resources
Do I want a boy or do I want a girl?
My wife and I have raised 3 boys and 2 girls and I must say that it is a different experience one from the other, but rewarding all the same. This is a choice that must be thought out and discussed when choosing to adopt. Much has been written regarding adopting a boy vs. a girl and I would encourage you to visit the websites listed above as a source of information. Ultimately, this is a matter of preference. The dedication and commitment to love another human being far out weighs this choice you must make.
Through communication with your spouse, a decision should be reached. Just remember, not everyone gets to choose, so this should be a pleasant choice to make.
Choosing the age of the child
Now this is a tough one. On average more infant girls are adopted than any other age/gender combination. But looking into the various challenge of each age group, may prove to be helpful. This is where you choose how the dynamics of your life will change. Really give this decision consideration when choosing to adopt.
Responsibilities and what to expect by age group:
Infant: very dependent, may keep you up at night, feeding, changing diapers, bathing, washing, wiping, burping, parent/child play time, reading time
1-3 yrs: Crawling, walking, teeth brushing, beginning to talk, bathing, exploring, breaking household items, parent/child play time, reading time, lots of energy
3-5 yrs: Learning ABC’s, asks why a lot, exploring, human sponges, parent/child play time, bathing, child making friends, child brushing their own teeth with assistance from parents, reading time (both child and parent read)
6-8 yrs: Learning, attention span improving, lots of energy, children should be brushing their own teeth, parent child play time, wanting to do more on their own, reading time, teach them how to do chores that are age appropriate, may want to begin organized sports or activities
9-11 yrs: Study habits, learning how to do for themselves, increased chore responsibility, becoming more independent, communicating regularly
12-14 yrs: Preteen and becoming a teenager, hormones, relationships, friendships, study habits, communicating regularly, extra curricular activities, spreading their wings.
15-18 yrs: On the road to becoming an adult, education, future planning, relationships, having the “birds and bees†talk, communicating regularly
Of course this list merely scratches the surface but all in all I think you get the idea. Choosing adoption to begin or extend your family can be very rewarding. It is a big decision and through research and communication, you may find that choosing adoption is the right fit for you and your family.
Remember the best way, when choosing anything, is to be informed.
Thanks to Dan Tannar for contributing this article to our Adoption blog:
