We should have acted yesterday…we must act now.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee have before them The Families for Orphans Act; a bi-partisan bill that would create a State Department office and more importantly a “Champion for Orphans”. This Champion and the Office would build capacity in countries to enable families to raise their children at home or be adopted by loving parents first in their own country or else in another.

Growing up in a family is a basic human right.  The United States has a rich and successful history of protecting such rights all over the world.  When we have stepped forward to provide leadership in an area of great social need, the difference has been measurable.  The orphans of the world need this type of leadership and they need it now.

Call or e-mail to your Members of Congress asking them to become Co-Sponsors of the Families for Orphans Act. You can find your Representative at www.house.gov and your Senators at www.senate.gov. Feel free to use the following text as a guideline:

“As one of your constituents I am requesting that you support the “Families for Orphans Act” by becoming a Co-Sponsor of the legislation now. We would be better prepared to respond to the needs of orphans in Haiti if the leadership it calls for was already in place.  We ask that you stand up for the millions of children around the world growing up in orphanages without the love and support of a permanent family. For information on becoming a Co-Sponsor, please contact Senators Landrieu or Inhofe or Representatives Watson or Boozman.”

2.  Demand Action

Call or email the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee.  Ask them to pass the Families for Orphans Act.

           Senate Foreign Relations Committee Phone: (202) 224-4651
           Chairperson’s Email: click here

           House Foreign Affairs Committee Phone: (202) 224-4651
           Chairperson’s Email: click here

 3.  Speak with One Voice

Sign the Families for Orphans Act petition.  To sign click here.

4.  Get The Word Out

Have a blog?  A Facebook page?  Do you Tweet?  How about an email account?  Send this Call To Action to those who care about children.

• Coordinating emergency response in Haiti
• Creating and distributing a critically important database of families and orphans used to
  • identify children and get emergency relief to them
  • update and inform adoptive parents,
  • update and inform aid & relief organizations, US government efforts and Members of Congress
• Creating and distributing a database of orphanages  used to:
  • direct emergency relief and transportation to the orphanages
  • provide instructions regarding immigration to the US
  • update and inform adoptive parents,
  • inform aid & relief organizations, US government efforts and Members of Congress
• Raising awareness with the public and with government decision makers
• Educating and informing government policy makers including the Department of State, Department of Homeland Security

Overview:
Overview South Korea has had an adoption program for over 50 years. There are rumors that the program may close within the next 5 years, but those are just rumors at this time. The reason for this rumor is that Korea truly would like to end international adoption and is strongly encouraging the populace of Korea to adopt their orphaned children.

At this time, however, Korea remains a rock-solid program. The children are placed in foster families at birth, received excellent medical care and a social background of the birthparents is available. In addition, Korea requires the very least amount of paperwork from adoptive families. For families that qualify, Korea is an excellent choice.

Love The Children has an excellent South Korea program for married couples of  a minimum of 3 years and you must be under 45 years old at the time of referral.

Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival in China, Tet in Vietnam, and Sol in Korea, is the most important and the longest of all festivals in Asian communities around the world. The date of the new year is determined by the lunar calendar, so festivities begin with the new cycle of the moon that falls between January 21 and February 19 and traditionally lasts for two weeks. Each year is named for one of 12 symbolic animals in sequence. The animals, in their sequential order, are the rat, ox, tiger, hare, dragon, serpent, horse, ram, monkey, rooster, dog, and boar.

During this period, towns and villages are decorated with colored lanterns, floral displays, and brightly colored banners emblazoned with New Year greetings. Preparations traditionally begin in the home the week before the New Year, when families thoroughly clean their houses to symbolically sweep away all traces of misfortune. They also pay off debts, add a new coat of red paint to doors and windowpanes, and decorate the home with flowers. To avoid bad luck, parents warn their children to be on their best behavior and to avoid the use of vulgar expressions. On the evening before the New Year, families gather for a feast of special dishes. Each dish has symbolic meaning, signifying good luck and prosperity. At midnight, families light fireworks to attract the attention of benevolent gods and to frighten away evil spirits. The fireworks last until dawn, although celebrants may sporadically light more fireworks for the next two weeks.

On the first day of the New Year, people put on new clothes to symbolize the discarding of the old year and its misfortunes. Then they take gifts to friends and relatives. The gifts usually include special rice flour cakes and fruits such as kumquats and oranges.

Among the most spectacular festivities of Lunar New Year are the dragon and lion dances. As many as 50 or more people support long dragons and lions made from vibrant paper and cloth while dancing in processions down city streets. The dancers perform to the beating of gongs and drums, while other celebrants perform acrobatic displays. Some of the performers may occasionally reach up to take red money packets or fruits and vegetables hung from storefronts. The celebrations end on the 15^th of the Lunar month; this day is called the Lantern Festival. The Lantern Festival is an event in which merchants hang lighted paper lanterns outside their shops. Many of the lanterns rotate with the heat of the candles they contain. Children often parade through the streets during the lantern festival, carrying lanterns of various shapes and patterns

The U.S. Embassy in Bogota, Colombia is pleased to report that the judicial strike that had been impeding intercountry adoptions in Colombia has been resolved and normal adoption processing has resumed.   Prospective adoptive parents may proceed with their adoption plans in Colombia.

Joint Council reports that USCIS has announced a very positive ruling concerning the I-600A process

In summary, it is their understanding that, effective immediately, families who filed Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition, prior to April 1, 2008 and whose USCIS approval of that petition (aka the I-171H) has not expired, will be able to proceed with their adoption under the I-600A process if they take certain steps while their approval remain valid. This means that families with valid Form I-600A approvals will not be required to transition to The Hague process via Form I-800A. In order to maintain their status as ‘grandfathered’ cases, families with non-expired Form I-600A approvals must request a one-time free extension. Then, prior to the expiration of the one-time free extension, families must file a new Form I-600A and pay the appropriate fee.

Families with a Form I-600A approval that has expired and who have not obtained an extension or filed a new Form I-600A, will need to undertake the Hague process. The Hague process will also apply to any petitioner who has not completed their adoption by 2014.

Joint Council notes that their interpretation of the ruling is offered as a courtesy only and should not be used in making determinations or decisions. Please refer to the full text of the announcements made by USCIS and can be found at USCIS ANNOUNCEMENTS and USCIS Q&A when making decisions.

Remember November is National Adoption Month and that is just around the corner, the best way to “celebrate” adoption is by getting more involved with your adoption agency and/or by continuing your adoption education.  Please consider attending one or more of the adoption conferences below.  These conferences are for people interested in considering adoption, those who are waiting to adopt and for those experienced adoptive parents.

Monday, November 3, 7:00 pm:  Adoptive Families of the Capital Region’s 13^th Annual Adoption Fair.  Marriott Hotel, 189 Wolf Rd., Albany, NY. http://timesunion.memlink.com/default.aspx

Saturday, November 8, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm: Adoption Resource Network 17th Annual Conference:  The Changing World of Adoption, Bay Trail Middle School, 1760 Scribner Road, Penfield, NY  14526.  http://www.hillside.com/Services/Adoption/conference.htm

Sunday, November 23, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm: The 28^th Annual ADOPTIVE PARENTS COMMITTEE(APC) Adoption Conference:  Adoption… Where The Joy Begins.  Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, 1300 York Avenue at East 70^th Street, New York City, New York.  http://www.adoptiveparents.org/