HOTTER THAN HELL

Is it just me? It seems that life is crazy all the way around. Shorty, my favorite horse, has been crankier than a rattle snake. He has been charging, biting, and kicking everything in sight. My cat, Smoky, has been irritable too. The dogs are just plain hiding out. I know that we are going to have a solar eclipse soon. We are the rise with another moon. Two of my sisters are having issues with their kids acting up. Heck mine are too. Is it just the heat? What gives folks? I know that we have been facing 100 degree plus weather here. We have had several fires this year as well.

GOOD GRIEF

I found this article today. Doesn't the author realize that her child is an adoptee too? Geez my adoptive mother doesn't even remember the date that she brought me home. She celebrates my birthdate, not the date that she got me. Disgruntled adoptees is not a good term to put into an article. She came off as entitled to me. That term is most definitely not a unifying one. I wonder what will happen if her adoptee becomes a disgruntled adoptee. Many adoptees can have a good adoption but we are disgruntled over the way adoption is practiced in the United States. Its just another example of "gotcha day."

Here is the story.

Happy Adoption Day or not?

POSTED July 28, 10:37 PM

Friday was our son's third adoption day so we behaved as many adoptive families do, we celebrated. We have long believed that the day our family finally became a family was a day to celebrate, much like AJ's birthday is a day of celebration.

AJ's birthday is the day of his birth, the day he was born to his birth mother. His adoption day is the day a Russian judge signed papers to proclaim that we could be a family and we are proud of that.

Unfortunately, many people don't believe that we should be allowed this family celebration because they believe we, as adoptive parents, are celebrating the day he was "ripped" from his biological family.

What many people don't understand (and I am talking about some disgruntled adoptees) is that every adoption is different. When we went to Russia we unknowingly adopted a special needs child. We adopted a little guy who may never cognitively understand the concept of a birth mother even though he may somewhat grasp that he was adopted from an orphanage and that he lived there before we came to him.

He answers questions about his adoption day, about his orphanage or about Russia. But to him they are just scripts. At the age of five he tells us he lived in Russia but he does not understand it.

So, when we celebrate his adoption and being a family it is to remind him of who he is, where he came from, and just how much we love him. He had a difficult time attaching to us so it is so wonderful to see him smile at us and tell us how much he loves us.

So, what did we do to celebrate? We did what he has been wanting to do for months (and what every little boy wants to do). We took the train downtown to the city. We ran an errand to the Guatemalan Consulate and then walked down Michigan Avenue. AJ loves to window shop.

The one store he wanted to go into? The Disney Store...

After one surprise purchase at the store our hunger pains drew us to Ed Debevic's, a classic Chicago stop. Unfortunately, AJ's sensory issues got the best of him and he ended up eating his french fries on the train. He did, however, love the orange pop and the dancing servers.

On the tran ride home he boasted to every passerby that he got a new firetruck for his adoption day and he was as proud as he could be. For him it was about the special day and spending time with us not about being "ripped from his birth mother". As he gets older and asks more questions the day may be filled with more grief and the celebration may be more of just a dinner or a card but it is the day we remember becoming a family...becoming three.

CHECKING OUT AN AGENCY

I was checking out the previous adoption agency, Buckner International. I went to the COA website.

Here is the message that I received:

Reported Attack Site!

This web site at www.coanet.org has been reported as an attack site and has been blocked based on your security preferences.

Attack sites try to install programs that steal private information, use your computer to attack others, or damage your system.

Some attack sites intentionally distribute harmful software, but many are compromised without the knowledge or permission of their owners.

What this message means:

What is the current listing status for www.coanet.org/front3/?

Site is listed as suspicious - visiting this web site may harm your computer.

Part of this site was listed for suspicious activity 1 time(s) over the past 90 days.

What happened when Google visited this site?

Of the 5 pages we tested on the site over the past 90 days, 5 page(s) resulted in malicious software being downloaded and installed without user consent. The last time Google visited this site was on 07/27/2008, and the last time suspicious content was found on this site was on 07/27/2008.

Malicious software includes 5 scripting exploit(s). Successful infection resulted in an average of 0 new processes on the target machine.

Malicious software is hosted on 1 domain(s), including verynx.cn.

Has this site acted as an intermediary resulting in further distribution of malware?

Over the past 90 days, www.coanet.org/front3/ did not appear to function as an intermediary for the infection of any sites.

Has this site hosted malware?

No, this site has not hosted malicious software over the past 90 days.

How did this happen?

In some cases, third parties can add malicious code to legitimate sites, which would cause us to show the warning message.

Next steps:

• Return to the previous page.
• If you are the owner of this web site, you can request a review of your site using Google Webmaster Tools. More information about the review process is available in Google's Webmaster Help Center.

Now I am sitting back laughing my big butt off. Oops!!!!!! I wonder what happened.

BUCKNER IS NOW DOING RUSSIAN ADOPTIONS

Before the prospective adoptive parents go running to adopt in Russia, there is some vital information that you folks have got to know. Buckner is a Texas adoption agency. I have a few places that you need to read and research yourself in order to proceed with this agency. In Texas, one of the good things is that you can research an agency and its reputation with the state. Buckner is not a good agency. There are no ifs or ands about it. They are a NCFA member agency. I believe one of the founding members. They are also members of the JCICS.

First things first. You can go to the Texas Family and Protective Services website. Click on the Residential services. You will see adoption services. It will take you to a list of adoption agencies. You can check any of them out yourself. You can review the complaints and inspection violations of all the adoption agencies. Buckner has several branches. They all have complaints. Buckner also does domestic infant and foster care adoptions. Many of the complaints are basically not getting enough background information on prospective families, not getting background checks on its employees and volunteers, personnel training is not done adequately, and a few others. They have a history of slap shod work.

Here are the financial facts just for Buckner International according to Guidestar for 2006.

Gross receipts were $7,586,822.
Total assets were $213,614,260.

Five Highest Paid Employees (financial compensation plus benefits):

Patricia Puckett, Payrol Manager, earned $74,141.
Bruce Johnson, Controller, earned $113,853.
Russell Dilday, Director of Communications earned $95,702.
Pat Williamson, Executive Assistant, earned $88,907.
Rita Boothe, MG Total Comp, earned $88,277.

Highest Paid Contractors:

HRHG Benefits Services, Inc, earned $607,641 for employee benefits.
HR Houston Group earned $246,229 for Human Resources.
Grant Thornton earned $82,047 for auditing purposes.
Buchanan and Associates earned $160,156 for Information Systems support.

Highest Paid officers:

Kenneth Hall, President and CEO, earned $358,721.
David Kihneman, Executive VP and Chief Operating Officer, earned $308,267.
Tony Lintelman, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, earned $234,775.
Jack Davis, Vice President and General Council, earned $236,964.
Scott Collins, Vice President of External Affairs, earned $170,103.
Steve Ingram, Vice President of Information Services, earned $163,142.
Lloyd McWilliams, Vice President of Facilities Management, earned $171,051.

They also paid $18,000 to a political advocacy group for the purpose of educating and informing legislators about issues that potentionally present a negative impact on those served by Buckner's programs. I guess this was the NCFA.

Other organizations that they are associated with:

Buckner Children and Family Services.
Buckner Adoption and Maternity Services.
Buckner Retirement Services
Rio Grande Children's Home.
Baptist General Convention of Texas.

The article in the Dallas Morning News states that they have now received accreditation from the Russian Federation. Here is the press release:

Buckner International, the Dallas-based, Baptist-affiliated charity, reports that its adoption operation has been re-certified by Russia. Here's a press release:

Buckner Adoption Receives
Accreditation from Russia

By Jenny Pope
Buckner International

DALLAS - Buckner Adoption and Maternity Services received its official accreditation certificate from Russian authorities July 28, completing a two-year process that caused Buckner to suspend Russia adoptions until the notification was received.

"We are so thrilled to receive this good news," said Debbie Wynne, director of Buckner Adoption. "Russia is our oldest international adoption program, so it's a privilege to be able to continue serving these children and to find them loving homes."

"It has been a long process, but we're so thankful to the Russian government for working with us to get to this point," said Albert Reyes, president of Buckner Children and Family Services. "Having this accreditation means Buckner is able to provide loving homes for Russian orphans."

In May 2006, Buckner Adoption's annual accreditation expired. Laws required Buckner to file paperwork as an official Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in Russia before reaccreditation would be renewed, Wynne explained. From that point, the Ministry of Education had to review paperwork and receive signatures from multiple government agencies in regions across the country.

There are currently 38 U.S. adoption agencies accredited to facilitate international adoptions from Russia.

"The good news about all of this is that Russia passed a law which provides accredited adoption agencies with a non-expiring certificate," Wynne said. "We used to have to reapply for accreditation each year."

With the non-expiring certificate comes much stricter regulations and close monitoring to assure adoption agencies are working with utmost integrity, she said.

"It has been our goal all along to continue to operate with the highest standards in adoption," she said. "We want to show them that they made a good decision."

There are currently 20 families who have waited for more than two years with Buckner to adopt children in Russia.

Felipe Garza, vice president of the ministry and missions group at Buckner, said his heart goes out to the families who have been waiting for two years to complete adoptions in Russia through Buckner.

"There are 20 families who have been waiting and can now send in their dossier to get started," he said. "Talk about faith and patience. There's finally a light at the end of the tunnel."

It is Buckner's goal to move these families forward in their adoption as quickly as possible, he added.

"Buckner will seek new ways to develop its Russian adoption program to help meet the needs of Russian children," he said.

Part of the new development includes providing the government with support, education and training to facilitate their own domestic adoption and birth parent counseling programs.

There will be some "starting over," Wynne explained, to establish new relationships and learn new regulations in the country. "It's going to take a little time.

"We need prayer to help us move through this transition and re-establish things quickly."

With more than 700,000 estimated orphans in Russia, there is still a huge need for adoptive families; especially families open to adopting older children and sibling groups.

"Most of the children we see available for adoption are 5 years old or older," Wynne said.

In addition to facilitating adoptions from Russia, Buckner works with several orphanages, providing consultation, staff development, foster care, and humanitarian aid. Russia was the first country Buckner entered in 1995 when the Dallas-based organization began working outside the United States.

THE FRENCH ARE JEALOUS OF THE AMERICAN ADOPTION INDUSTRY

This is just sickening. Really sickening. You have to read it to believe it. They are going back into Cambodia. Its not just Americans who have this disease.

Here is the link and the story.

From The Times

July 29, 2008

Gap-year mission to find baby orphans for France

Adam Sage in Paris

From building homes in shanty towns to helping to save rainforests, travelling to exotic locations for well-meaning projects has long been a gap-year rite of passage for many a 19-year-old. This year French volunteers have been set a more challenging task: to scour the world for orphans for childless families in France.

The volunteers - described as a Gallic Peace Corps - will be asked to put prospective parents in touch with abandoned children in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America.

The government plan follows claims that France has been outflanked by Spain, Italy and the United States in the fiercely competitive world of international adoption.

However, critics question whether school and university leavers have the experience or tact for what are likely to be highly delicate missions.

“My qualm is that the legalities, moralities and ethics of inter-country adoption are very complex, and students coming out of university will not be prepared for that,” said Julia Fleming, of Oasis, the UK overseas adoption support group.

Rama Yade, the French Under-Secretary for Human Rights, said yesterday that the first group of volunteers would arrive in Cambodia next month before being sent to 20 other countries over the next year.

They will be based at French embassies under a programme financed in part by the Foreign Ministry and in part, Mrs Yade hopes, by private donations. “They are going to use their talent and their generosity in a fine cause with a mission to improve the access for children without parents and to help them to get out of institutions as quickly as possible.”

Ministers also hope that state intervention will curb the sort of initiative that sparked outrage last year when six members of Zoe's Ark, a small French charity, were arrested in Chad as they tried to fly 103 children back to France. They said the children were orphans from neighbouring Darfur. But it emerged that most were from Chad and a few were not orphans. The case illustrated what critics say are the risks of international adoption. “Everywhere there are unscrupulous intermediaries ready to steal babies and sell them to people wanting a child,” said Jean-Jacques Choulot, a paediatrician and author of the French Guide to Adoption.

Mrs Yade said: “My aim is to put order back in all this.” Her initiative follows the launch in 2005 of l'Agence Française de l'Adoption, a government agency based on a model developed in Scandinavia and Canada, meant to help couples in what is often an administrative and human minefield.

But childless French families claim that they are still at a disadvantage. A total of 30,000 families - mostly couples unable to have children but also families with children and single people - have been approved as adoptive parents by the authorities. With only about 800 French children adopted every year, most prospective parents look abroad. Last year, however, 3,162 foreign children were adopted by French families, a 20 per cent fall since 2006. French families say they have been pushed to the back of the queue in former colonies such as Vietnam and Mali because they do not have the diplomatic support or financial clout of wealthy Americans.

ANOTHER ADOPTEE IS ON THE LOSING SIDE

This came up in the google alerts again. Another adoptee is on the losing side of the law. This girl lost her country. Her adoption was not done completely. Her citizenship papers were not filed. Her adoptive mother dies. Her family basically abandons her again. She pays for her crime of forgery. Homeland Security steps in again. They put her in jail for deportation. In doing this, she violates her probation from the other offense. Because they can't get a control on the illegals in this country, they go after the adoptees. Why isn't the NCFA and the JCICS jumping on this to help these adoptees? Oh that is right, they have already made their profit. Time to move on right.

It is simply a famous fuck you to the adoptee. It doesn't matter your nationality, citizenship or even your humanity. Shame on the adoption industry for leaving the adoptee out in the cold. You are hurting the adoptees of this country with this kind of shit. That infuriates me. In time we shall see more and more of this coming out.

Here is the story:

Meth, adoption, and deportation
By Rebecca Walsh, Tribune columnist.

Shepherd was one of those women who is going to save the world - one sponsored child in Guatemala, one stray cat at a time.
Before she died of breast cancer in 1991, Shepherd adopted eight children, paid 50 cents a day for another dozen around the globe and took in every lost pet she found. She kept important documents in two tote bags in her car. They were eventually stolen. And she died before she could file citizenship papers for her youngest - a little girl adopted at 3 months old from India.
None of those details should matter.
Except that 12 years later, Kairi Shepherd got caught forging checks to pay for her meth habit. Erlene Shepherd's quirky record-keeping went on trial. And as a result, her daughter has been snared in the morass of sometimes conflicting American immigration laws - legally adopted, a permanent resident, but still facing deportation to a country she never knew.
"They tell you you slipped through the cracks and that's your luck," she says.
Kairi Shepherd's troubles started with her mother's death when she was 8 years old. She was passed between older siblings (her maternal grandmother suggested offering her up for adoption again). A co-worker introduced her to meth - for its bursts of energy and appetite-suppression - when she was 17. In 2003, she was charged with forgery. Immigration came calling. Then she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
She has been in jail most of the past year, detained by Homeland Security, shuttled between four county jails from Ogden to St. George, sometimes allowed to take her MS medication, sometimes not.
All of which is to say: Enough already.
"Yes, she made mistakes. And she should be held accountable. But she has been," says her older sister, Kristi Tafoya. "Why aren't adopted children protected?"
Prosecutors use their judgment in cases where mothers and fathers leave their babies to bake to death in the car, with maliciously repetitive drunk drivers, or when con men bilk their LDS ward members out of millions. But not, apparently, in this all-important application of post-9/11 red tape.
Unable to staunch the flow of undocumented immigrants slipping over the Mexican border, government lawyers are going after the ones they already know about, the ones they can: immigrants who came here legally, then broke the law. Immigration and Customs Enforcement regional spokeswoman Lori Haley says the agency works closely with local law enforcement to identify those who should be deported. Kairi, it seems, is on that list.
She is not unique in Utah. Immigration officials also tried to deport 25-year-old Samuel Schultz last year after he was convicted of felony car theft. Schultz's mother adopted him from India when he was 3 years old and she, too, did not complete his citizenship paperwork. He appealed all the way to the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver, which upheld his deportation order.
Congress has attempted to streamline adoptees' citizenship applications. Until 2000, parents simply had to fill out a form before a child turned 21. Erlene Shepherd's daughters believe she filled out the paperwork but never filed it before her death. After 2001, legal international adoptions automatically confer citizenship on children adopted by U.S. citizens. But 26-year-old Kairi's birthday missed the new deadline by a matter of months.
Twice, immigration Judge William Nixon has dismissed the government's Notice to Appear against her - once because everyone involved in the case, including prosecutors, assumed Kairi's legal adoption would grant her citizenship, and a second time because her volunteer attorney Alan Smith argued the government could not refile its Notice to Appear to try to change Nixon's original ruling. Undeterred, local ICE prosecutors have appealed to the agency's Board of Immigration Appeals.
"It's really a garden variety case of how bureaucracy operates," says Smith. "From their standpoint, they're just doing their job. From my standpoint, I would like a little more equitable discretion to be exercised in a situation like this, where you have a young lady who has gotten off on the wrong foot."
Kairi has left a 40-pound box of supplies - clothing, a pair of shoes, pre-paid phone cards - with Immigration, just in case. If she is deported and India accepts her (the country has refused to take in U.S. deportees in the past) she and her sister plan to buy a plane ticket to London. She won't even leave the airport in Delhi.
"She'll die in India," the older sister says. "If [deportation] happens, she's got to be OK."
Meantime, Kairi has been charged with violating her probation for the original forgery charge. She didn't notify her probation officer she was being held all those months in jail by Immigration. A hearing is scheduled for Aug. 4.

CHANGES IN ANOTHER COUNTRY

It seems like more and more countries are putting restrictions in their adoption laws. Azerbaijan is another country to do just that. I am also sure that there will be additional changes to come out of Russia. From what I understand on Russia, they follow the U.N. convention on the rights of the child.

In this article, the Azerbaijan government is requiring visitation and reports on the child for up to three years after the adoption. They also make it very clear on how the adoption fees will be charged. The other interesting part to this is the agency has to be Hague accredited but they also have to be accedited by the State Committee for Problems of Family, Women & Children. Its only by the looks of it for two years.

Here is the article.

Azerbaijan endorsed order of certification of adoption by foreigners and non-citizens of the country

Baku, Fineko/abc.az. The Cabinet Ministers issued Decision #166 from July 22, 2008 on approval of “Order of certification of bodies given juridical support in the area of adoption to foreigners and non-citizens of Azerbaijan. The Cabinet press service reports that foreigners and non-citizens of Azerbaijan can adopt children in the country through central bodies of juridical support of certification.

Activity of accreditation body bears non-commercial character. The accreditation body cannot receive unfounded finances relating to adoption or any other profit. The body can be paid necessary finances relating to expenditures, including for legal assistance, wage to employees, registration of documents and gathering of data about life of children. Cost of services is defined by the signed agreement.

Accreditation authority is given for two-year period. Bodies of foreign countries acceded to the Hague Convention on Protection of Adopted Children can acts in Azerbaijan if central bodies (State Committee for Problems of Family, Women & Children) give a relevant permit.

Accreditation bodies should provide data within 24 hours to central body abut depth of the adopted child, treatment towards the adopted child, non-adaptation of the child in the new family, refusal from adoption or transfer of the child to another family.

Bodies desiring to get the right of accreditation can be decline in case provision of false information, negative reference, difficulty to protect the child and in other cases.

Accreditation bodies should report to central bodies about conditions of life and raising in the family of the adopted child. In the first year of adoption a report should be submitted for 7 months after five months of adoption have passed. The second report should be submitted for at least 13 months after 11 months of adoption, the third one for at least 19 months after 18 motnhs of adoption, the fourth for at least 25 months after 23 months, the fifth or at bat least 37 month after 35 months of adoption. In necessary cases the report can be presented after three years and before the adopted child reached his lawful age.

Accreditation bodies should keep confidentiality of data and documents presented in the process of adoption.

BE AWARE VERY AWARE

This came out of the Waco newspaper. I have heard that in some states CPCs were investigated. I know that the one in my area preys on women, both married and single. If you are poor, they want your baby.

Here is the link. Here is the story.

Shell game on women's health

Last updated July 24, 2008 1:22 p.m. PT

JOHN YOUNG

WACO, Texas -- Please, someone. Pull the plug on this administration.

Justify it by the energy savings alone, megawatt hours that could be better used, now squandered in lame-duck lamentations.

More so, justify it in averting what lamebrain rule changes are likely in this administration's waning days.

Consider a directive that in one lunging swing would redefine abortion to include basic birth control, and at the same time acutely undermine health services for poor women.

The Department of Health and Human Services is considering draft language that would do two destructive things: (1) qualify organizations that oppose contraception to accept Title X family planning money; (2) fundamentally alter the definition of abortion to include many forms of contraception.

Abomination No. 1 is funneling to so-called crisis pregnancy centers money that's supposed to help poor women avert pregnancy and otherwise deal with health-care issues.

Often operated by abortion foes, crisis pregnancy centers help women deal with an unwanted pregnancy through adoption.

Meritorious though that is, it is light years removed from the work of Title X-funded women's health clinics. They provide contraception, do cancer screenings, test for HIV. They also, yes, counsel women with fertility problems about how to get pregnant.

The fact that some of these clinics perform or refer for abortion makes them targets for destructive shell games with funding.

The Texas Legislature in 2005 directed $5 million in family planning funds to crisis pregnancy centers. It also took $20 million over two years away from traditional family planning providers and sent it to federally qualified health centers. That's a health-care segment that handles a broad range of health needs but don't specifically fill the niche traditional women's clinics do.

The clear intent of both of these initiatives was to undercut funding for women's clinics like Planned Parenthood, with their traditional role of using public funds to provide family planning and health care to the poor.

This has served as a double wallop for some agencies that do the heavy lifting for helping poor women stay healthy and control their reproductive destinies shy of abortion.

Planned Parenthood in Austin has had to stop offering free services to some of its poorest clients, limiting its no-cost services to those under 20. Though those 20 and older get reduced-price services, some can't afford even them.

Yes, let's make a tough job tougher -- the job of preventing pregnancies that end up in abortion. More abortions. Great policy.

Speaking of the latter, an ideologue's thrust is attempting to redefine abortion to include basic contraception, thereby matching the claims of people who oppose both. The HHS directive would prevent the recipients of federal dollars from discriminating against employees who oppose contraception and consider certain forms of it abortion.

Family planning organizations say this rule would be tantamount to redefining abortion and therefore conception. The accepted definition of the latter is the implantation of the fertilized egg. Some anti-abortion groups call the birth control pill and the morning-after pill abortifacients, though they prevent implantation of the egg.

Redefining abortion to include basic birth control could preclude federal funding for affected forms of contraception, as funding of abortion is prohibited.

That's the amazing thing about these many attempts to undermine family planning. Our tax dollars don't pay for abortion. What our tax dollars do with these agencies is prevent abortion in the most effective, real-world way we know -B birth control -- understanding that some people are going to have sex whether the purity police want it or not.

So, who's for pulling the plug? And for flipping the switch for sane policies supportive of family planning?

THE DISTORTION

Heck we don't need the NCFA to sabotage us. We have Bastard Nation and its fearless leaders to do that. Maybe the leaders are together with them. Lord knows there are tons of pictures of Marley in front of the NCFA building and staff members in the past. Just like they throw around that I worked for Abrazo Adoption Services.

Sabina aka Baby Love Child and aka Sleeps With Bastard is Marley's mouthpiece. Marley has referred members of OriginsUSA to Sabina's blog. After the protest, Marley did it again referring people to Sabina's blog. It all coincided on the day of the protest. It was an accidental coincidence when

First to get a few things straight. The Adoptee Rights Demonstration was being run by Kali Koultas and Ron Morgan. It was Ron's idea to protest at the National Conference of State Legislators. He had been pushing it for as long as I can remember in the last two years. Kali and he got together. They put this idea into motion. Everything was in Kali's name. Approximately a week before the greatest hoopla ever created, Bastard Nation told both of them that they were pulling out. It was a numbers issue plain and simple. Ron asked for a DISCUSSION about rescheduling it for later due to numbers. I mentioned that there were folks raising money to come to the event. I along with the others were against this idea. Ron requested a link. I provided it for him. I found out that night what was being done. I did call Elizabeth at the agency to advise that there were issues with this. I received an email from Sabina accusing me of working for the agency. For those that don't know Texas, I live near Wichita Falls. The adoption agency is in SAN ANTONIO. That is an eight hour drive away from me. I didn't go into detail because I DID NOT UNDERSTAND THEM FULLY. For this, I was kicked out of the legislative committee. I was not asked my side at all on this. I was summarily dismissed without being allowed to defend myself.

The story of Abrazo and me is a simple one. I worked with one of their relinquishing mothers. If it had not been for her, I would not have a relationship with them. That mother sang their praises. Elizabeth contacted me. I checked them out thoroughly. I joined their forum and reviewed back five years. There is none of the entitlement that you see in most places. I have emailed and corresponded with them because I really need an insider's view of adoption. The relinquishing mothers of that agency participate in the forum just as the adoptive parents. I ended up helping three people find members of their families and extended families. I would NOT take any money for it. Sabina and Marley took a good deed that I gave freely of my heart and they made it dirty. One of the women that I helped was a Gladney mother. They decided to put their money where their mouths were. Granted it was not done right but we all have learned from it. Yes the agency did contribute in the beginning. They also offered to give us tax exempt status for our donations. Bastard Nation sure as hell did not do that. Also, Bastard Nation did not own the Adoptee Rights Protest. That falls squarely on Ron and Kali. They had no say in the donations period. Maybe Bastard Nation is angry because the Adoptee Rights Protest and the Abrazo Adoption Services raised money and Bastard Nation wasn't able to raise a dime on their own. I don't know and frankly I don't care. I personally and several others will not be renewing their memberships as a result. They are a little too willing to bite the hands of those that feed them. What Abrazo did with the money raised is their business and only their business. They don't owe anyone an answer to that question especially Bastard Nation. For all we know, they may have donated it to Bastard Nation just to spite them.

Some other facts that many have failed to keep in mind. Ron was supposed to keep in contact with Abrazo and he didn't. He was supposed to keep in touch with the Louisiana folks. The Louisiana folks all told me that he never contacted them. They waited for him to do this. I know many know this already. Ron has also stolen money from CalOpen. This is their magnificent hero. So before we start throwing people under the bus, all of us did some wrong at some point. We are not perfect.

What Sabina and Marley fail to realize is that we have documentation. We have emails from them with all of this information. It will all be public information in due time. It will all come from the horse's mouth herself.

After they pulled out of the protest, low and behold we had people coming out of the woodwork. Telling us "thank God, they are out of the protest." Boy was I shocked! I have ignored the innuendos and the rude tacky comments.

The leaders of Bastard Nation chose to pull out. Now they are saying its time to bring them back in. Sorry you snoozed and thus you lost. For those that think they hung the moon, if they do this to us, they will do it to you as well. We were among some of their most loyal following until they went rabid.

SUCCESS

The Adoptee Rights Demonstration was a success. We protested, they listened, and in the exhibitor's all they listened some more. Many people showed up. We had adoptees from all over the world come to visit in New Orleans.

I thank Kali Koultas and Michelle Edmunds for their incredible hard work. Ron, thank you for the wonderful idea. We will continue in your honor with this new tradition. It was a first time venture but we did it. Next year's will be bigger and more great. We all have to start small. Hopefully we will see some profound changes in the legislative year ahead.

The Adoptee Rights Demonstraters Rocked big time.

OOPS

I know the mothers of the past will get a giggle out of this.

Here is the link. Here is the story.

LOWELL

Adapting after a betrayal

Agency struggles after major theft

By Jennifer Fenn Lefferts, Globe Correspondent | July 24, 2008

In its 101 years, the Florence Crittenton League adoption agency has weathered economic downtowns, fewer domestic adoptions, and tougher guidelines for adoptions in foreign countries.

But today, it may be facing the biggest challenge yet - its betrayal by a longtime employee who stole $637,000 from the Lowell-based agency over a period of seven years.

Natalie Fleury, who worked for 19 years at the agency as a bookkeeper and office manager, is scheduled to be sentenced next week after pleading guilty to 15 counts of mail fraud and five counts of tax evasion. Her husband, Thomas Fleury, pleaded guilty to five counts of tax evasion in the case.

Ilze Keegan, executive director of the agency, is looking forward to putting the ordeal behind her. The past two years have been difficult, she said, as the agency tries to rebound from the financial strain and the pain and shock of the embezzlement.

"I wish I had been more suspicious, but I wasn't," said Keegan, who has worked at the agency since 1981. "I am so angry. It was so needless."

Natalie Fleury had been stealing from the agency since 1998, authorities said, but the theft wasn't discovered until April 2006, when the agency's auditors noticed $12,000 missing from one of its accounts.

Keegan said when the auditors asked Fleury for deposit slips, she got upset and quit a few days later. The agency then asked the bank to go through the accounts.

Investigators found that Fleury would make out a check to a vendor and ask Keegan to sign it, then erase the vendor's name and write in her own. When the bank statement came, she would alter it to reflect payment to the vendor, agency officials said. When there wasn't enough money in the agency's operating account to cover the checks, money was moved from a savings account.

During that time, Fleury bought a new home, a recreational vehicle, and an annuity, said Keegan, who says she hopes the agency can recoup some of that money.

Officials said no adoption was ever stalled or put at risk, but the embezzlement has left the agency in a precarious financial situation. The theft put a big dent in the savings account that had been built up to provide a safety net. The reserve was there to help the agency survive periods of declining adoptions, which it has seen in the past year, Keegan said.

Adoptions typically decrease during tough economic times, she said, but the agency also isn't seeing as many adoption opportunities. Fewer countries are allowing foreign placements, and those that do have instituted stricter guidelines, Keegan said.

In a busy year, the agency arranges between 30 and 40 adoptions, mostly from China and Russia. Last year, it completed 15.

Keegan has had to lay off a part-time office worker and cut back on support services and programs for adoptive parents.

"If we had our safety net, we could have done more for people," she said. "We could have had more speakers, more events, be more nurturing with clients. Now we have no safety net, and it's scarier. We're still open. We're still trying."

The agency has taken several steps to improve its operations and financial accountability since the theft.

David Ponte, who was president of the board when the fraud was discovered, said his priority was making sure the agency was stable moving forward. The board hired a consultant to examine the agency's operations and to recommend improvements. A computer system was put in place, replacing the task of bookkeeping by hand. Keegan now opens all the mail herself, and checks require two signatures, not one. And the agency has been open and honest about the incident, Ponte said.

"I think we did everything we could," said Ponte, who for reasons unrelated to the scandal no longer serves on the board. "We looked at where we were and what we needed to do. I think we were headed in the right direction."

Families served by the agency apparently haven't lost faith. Many say they are fully behind Keegan and will do what they can to make sure the agency survives. Keegan had written to families in May, explaining what happened and asking for donations. The families have sent in more than $26,000.

Stephanie and Vernon Sewade of North Andover, who adopted a daughter in 2003 from Russia, has stayed involved with the agency and makes an annual donation.

"Our experience was so positive," Stephanie Sewade said. "We've donated to help keep the agency going for other prospective parents. At other places, you were a number. Florence Crittenton personalized it."

Sewade said she feels betrayed by Fleury, who she says knew the emotional and financial struggles families go through in the adoption process.

"People refinance their homes, take loans on 401ks," Sewade said. "She knew them. She befriended us, we trusted her, and she stole our trust."

William Levitsky of Westford, who was 3 when he was adopted 13 years ago, said he is forever grateful to the agency.

He was born in Belarus with a club foot, and no one knew early on how well he would walk. Today, he's an avid soccer player who says he'll be disappointed if he doesn't make a pro team someday.

"I'm so lucky to be adopted and to have such a great family," he said. "For someone to take that chance away from a child is inhumane. Honestly, it's just an unbelievable thing to do to a nonprofit organization that helps people."

Sewade and Levitsky both said they plan to attend Fleury's sentencing hearing next Tuesday.

Fleury faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each count of mail fraud. She faces up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each count of tax evasion.

Attorneys for the Fleurys did not return calls.

Jennifer Fenn Lefferts can be reached at jflefferts@yahoo.com.

DOCUMENTED PROOF

I think this was the first article out. I am however seeing it everywhere on google alerts. I feel for all of those involved. Hopefully they will pop not just the "mafia" but also the agency involved.

Here is the story. Here is the link.

Evidence of Guatemalan baby trade

Officials in Guatemala say they have the first irrefutable evidence that a child was stolen and put up for adoption in the state system.

The National Adoption Council used genetic evidence to confirm the account of a mother who recognised her baby in the company of an American woman.

The baby was abducted by armed men last year but tracked down by her mother.

A false birth certificate and a bogus DNA test were used to indicate that the baby was born to another woman.

Toddler Esther Sulamita was reported stolen on 26 March, 2007.

She was in the process of being adopted by an unidentified US couple when her mother, Ana Escobar, recognised her in the National Adoption Council's offices.

Widespread abuse

Jaime Tecu, director of a team of experts reviewing all pending Guatemalan adoptions, said the DNA test results represent the first time officials have been able to link a baby reported stolen by its mother to the adoption system.

"This is the first time that we've been able to show, with irrefutable evidence, that a stolen child was put up for adoption," Mr Tecu said.

Ana Escobar said armed men had locked her in a storage closet at the family's shoe shop north of Guatemala City and abducted six-month-old Esther.

Mr Tecu said officials will investigate the lawyers who handled the adoption, the doctor who signed the falsified DNA tests, and anyone else associated with the process.

"This was run by a mafia, and we are going after them," he said.

The Guatemalan congress tightened laws on adoption in December, to try to prevent abuse of the adoption system.

In May the authorities suspended the adoption of some 2,300 children by foreigners and are reviewing each case to check if the babies were genuinely being offered for adoption by their birth mothers.

Guatemala is second only to China as the source of babies adopted by US parents, and intermediaries can be paid thousands of dollars to arrange an adoption.

Last year, more than 4,700 Guatemalan children were adopted by Americans.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/7522678.stm

COA STANDARDS - HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Here is the Human Resource Management portion of the COA standards. There are some issues with this one that I wonder about. Since many agencies use CPCs to attain "product," many of those folks are volunteers. Many CPCs are also a front for the adoption agency. I do also know that states regulate adoption differently. They also have different requirements.


Introduction:

In the social and human service field, an organization’s workforce is its greatest asset. Since employee and volunteers perform the tasks and provide the services that fulfill the organization’s mission, it is incumbent upon Human Resource Management to develop and implement strategies, plans, and programs necessary to attract, motivate, develop, reward, and retain the best people to meet the organization’s goals and objectives. The significance of Human Resources Management is that the capacity to attract and retain a stable, qualified workforce is the foundation for achieving positive results for the people the organization serves.

Human Resources Management also holds important implications for risk management. Sound, consistently applied human resources practices help reduce the risk of employment litigation and costs. Sound practices help protect another of the organization’s most important assets: its reputation in the community.

Work Environment.

The organization provides an equitable work environment that is supportive of organizational productivity, diversity, and stability.

• The organization does not unlawfully discriminate against any person or category of persons.

1. Policy prohits personnel from engaging in any form of harassment as defined by federal, state or local law.
2. The organization prohibits preferential treatment and nepotism with regard to hiring, supervision, and promotion.

Got major issues with this one. Aren't they discriminating against adoptees? Oh yea that is right only six states have adoptee access. However they actively fight against those rights. What about their policies of denying rights to parents? By humilating, coercing, stealing. Oh that is right. Hard to prove. What about the gay community? Many of the religious based religions deny gays the privilege of parenting. Oh that is right. They only believe in married couples. Gay couples in most states can't get married. There are too many agencies that have couples or family members working for them. These people will cover each others proverbial behind.

Human resources planning.

The organization assess its workforces as part of annual planning and prepares for future needs by:

• Comparing the composition of its current workforce, including the number of employees, skills and demographics with projected workforce needs.
• Determining how to close gaps when possible, through recruiting, training, or outsourcing.

Recruitment, selection and deployment.

The organization hires enough qualified personnel to meet the demands for services.

• Job descriptions and selection criteria:

1. State qualifications, job expectations, essential functions, and responsibilities.
2. Include sensitivity to the service population, culturally and socioeconomic characteristics
3. Are reviewed and updated regularly.

• Recruitment and selection procedures include:

1. Notifying personnel of available positions
2. Verifying references and credentials of personnel and independent contractors.
3. Providing applicants with a written job description.
4. Giving final candidates the opportunity to speak with currently employed personnel.
5. Retaining hiring records for at least a year.

• Screening procedures for new employees, contractors, and direct service volunteers include appropriate, legally permissible, and mandated reviews of state criminal history records and civil child abuse registries to determine the appropriateness of hiring prospective personnel who will work:

1. Work in a residential programs.
2. Provide direct services to children, the elderly, or other persons determined by the organization to be vulnerable or at risk.

• An organization that recruits and selects personnel with specific cultural traits or other characteristics establishes that selectivity is:

1. Legally permissible
2. Reviewed and approved by the organization's governing body.
3. Appropriately considered a bonafide qualification.

• Organizations that deploy volunteers to provide direct services specify their roles and responsibilities.
• The network has a uniform and fairly applied credentiality process that accesses and confirms the qualifications of licensed independent contractors /providers who provide network services and are not employed by a member or a community partner that includes:

1. Verification of licensure, education, and other relevant board certification, where applicable.
2. Experience delivering services to the populations served by the network.(Again, is this anyone who has performed adoptions? What about those agencies that have been shut down? What about people like Jeannene Smith who bounced from agency to agency? )
   
3. The professional judgement of at least three peer professional references with regard to competence and prior satisfactory levels of performance.
4. Information about pending challenges, provisional status, previous suspensions or denials of licensure to practice.(Does this include Jeannene Smith? I don't know how many agencies have shut down and reopened under another name and still get accredited.)
   
5. Publicly available information or official information regarding professional liability actions or ligation relevant to the provision of network services.
6. Information about involuntary termination, reduction of professional staff privileges, or discharge from professional employment obtained prior staff affliations or employers.

• The network verifies that personnel of network partners and network provider organization who provide clinical services to network clients.

1. Possess relevant licenses and for credentials.
2. Are receiving appropriate supervision.

Satisfaction and Retention

The organization promotes a high level of personnel satisfaction and retention. ( I wonder if this applies to CPS situations. They are still failing this in many states. I wonder if it also is affecting the agencies that are working in the states where privatized foster care exists.)

• The organization promotes open communication and collaboration among disciplines and staff levels by:

1. Holding regular team, organizational and divisional meetings as appropriate to the organization.
   
2. Appropriate feedback to personnel about their suggestions and recommendations.

• The organization enourages initiative, creativity and innovation and rewards and recognizes the contributions of employees.
  
• The organization establishes personnel satisfaction and retention goals and measures rate of personnel turnover and personnel satisfaction.
• The organization takes action to address staff satisfaction and retention concerns.
• The organization establishes a formal mechanism through which employees can express and resolves grievances which includes:

1. How grievances are filed, to whom and who will make the final determination.
2. Timely written notification of the resolution and explanation of any further appeal, rights and recourse.
3. Documenting responses and actions taken.
4. Maintaining a copy of the notification of resolution in the personnel record.

Human Resource Practices

Human resource practices are equitable and consistenly applied.

• The organization complies with applicable laws and regulations governing fair employment practices, and contractual relationships
• All personnel receive and confirm in writing receipt of an up to date employee policies and procedure manual that articulates current:

1. Conditions of employment.
2. Benefits.
3. Rights and responsibilities of employees
4. Other important employment related information.

• Total compensation and benefits are reviewed regularly in relation to industry practices and legal and regulatory requirements.
• The organization analyzes employment practices, and when the cultural characteristics of its defined service population, the organization implements a plan that:

1. Establishes goals for recruitment, employment and promotion. (Congratulations on the number of babies you sold.)
   
2. Includes a timetables for correction.

• To ensure compliance with legal requirements the organization reviews its use of contingent workers, including independent contractors, leased workers, volunteers, and temporary employees with respect to tax law, wage and hour laws, and other applicable employment and labor laws.

Performance Evaluation.

The organization holds personnel accountable for their work performance.

• Every full time and part time employee and volunteer receives a written annual performance evaluation conducted by the person to whom he or she reports.
• Performance evaluations assess job performance, and emphasize self development and professional growth, in relation to:

1. Specific expectations defined in the job description.
2. Organization-wide expectations for personnel.
3. Objectives established in the most recent evaluation and objectives for future performance as they relate to the organization's mission and goals.
4. Development and professional objectives.
5. Recommendation for further training and skill building.
6. Knowledge and competence related to the characteristics and needs of service recipients, if applicable

• Personnel have the opportunity to sign the performance evaluation, obtain a copy, and provide comments.
• The organizaiton monitors quality of services provided by independent contractors.

Personnel Records.

The organization maintains personnel records.

• Personnel records are updated regularly and contain:

1. Identifying information and emergency contacts.
2. Application for employment, hiring documents including job postings, and interview notes, and reference verification.
3. Job description
4. Compensation documentation as appropriate.
5. Pre-service and in-service training records.
   
6. Performance evaluation and all documentation relating to performance, including disciplinary actions and termination summaries if applicable.

• Personnel records contain health information or preports for annual physical examination, appropriate to the job position or when required by law.
• Access to personnel records is limited to authorized personnel on a need-to-know basis.

• Personnel may review, add, or correct information contained in their records, in accordance with applicable law. (Oh they get to look at their own records but adoptees can't.)
• Personnel who leave the organization voluntarily have the opportunity to participate in an exit interview.
• The network maintains a record for independent providers that contain:

1. Identifying and contact information.
2. Documentation related to the network and credentialing process.
3. Documentation of quality monitoring of practioner performance.
4. Documentation of relevant training.
5. Performance evalutions and all documentation related to performance, including disciplinary actions and termination summaries if applicable.

With adoption agencies having so many of their employees being related to someone on the governing board, how can they do a fair and equitable performance evaluations? What about the many agencies that have closed shop and opened up in another town under a new name? These agencies are still being accredited. An agency director recently told me that Texas and other states are forgoing actual licensing of these agencies because they are COA accredited. That is a scary prospect. There isn't an independent party giving these agencies a license. These agencies seem to be paying for the licensing and accreditation without following the rules.

A FRIEND IN NEED

I met someone new today. Granted we spoke a few times via email but we spoke for the first time today. The phone call was a couple of hours long. She holds three positions on the footstool of adoption. That makes her particularly interesting to me. She is a complex and very caring woman.

Her name is Jill Ekstrom. I can tell you that she was worth the wait. Yes she is a confidential intermediary by legal terminology. However she is not the confidential intermediary by my standards or for that matter, many adoptees' and mothers' standards. I have spoken with five CIs in my journey. Four of them are people that are good people. She however tops the others. I asked her reunion rate. As I figured, it was high.

Her situation was a set up all the way around. It is not the way that I thought. Her fingerprints were not found in the area that the records are kept. They never found a single record that was supposedly stolen in her possession. Their proof was that she reunited a mother with her supposed son. She didn't have any records of that adoption file.

The police sting had gotten an adoption file. They basically stole an adoptee's first identity. They even got a copy of his current driver's license. Neither the adoptee or the natural mother had a clue what was going on. The so called $850.00 fee goes between court costs and a private investigator that works with her. This investigator is prior law enforcement. They moved jurisdiction from Davis county. Why? Jill had worked with many of the judges in that area.

Here is the set up. Jill had been in reunion with her brother for ten years. He had shall we say fell into a bad path. He raped her nineteen year old daughter. She quized her daughter about the incident. She then questioned and confronted her brother. He admitted that he raped her daughter. She then took it to the Davis County prosecutor. This prosecutor chose not to pursue the rape. He set up this sting operation. Why? Her brother in wanting to avoid being charged caluded with the police on this. He said that she stole the records. So the prosecutor, still peeved at her for pushing the issue, set up the sting. There were originally 21 counts. It was dropped to 5 counts. It was one sting operation for one case. Enquiring minds want to know how one natural mom being found led to five counts.

When she was arrested, she was rear ended by a federal marshal. She re injured her neck. She has health issues which are all well documented. The other bad part is that the public defender didn't want to defend her. She visited with three different ones. She didn't fire them. The county send in a new one every time she had a court date. She was told that the public defender wouldn't call in witnesses and would not take this to a jury. She had three minutes to decide whether or not to plea no contest or hire an attorney.

What really irks me is that this woman's civil rights to a jury trial were violated. The court now wants to have her get a medical evaluation. The prosecutor of Davis County got away with the set up. There would not be another state that would have allowed this to go further. Only in Utah. Only in Utah.

Now her story will be on the internet. Her story will not be silenced. Hopefully the judge will see this post and realize that she was telling the truth.

Just another reason why adoption needs to be changed.

BICENTENNIAL MAN

After watching this movie, I think this movie has some strong adoption themes. What do you think?

HAVE YOU DONE YOUR WALK FOR A CURE?

This is something that I believe is a good cause. In fact, I know that Alzheimer's was in the news even today. I had over heard CNN discussing a new drug that is currently being tested. There was a discussion of a new vaccine. There is a reason why I mention it is because my father in law may have it. It would be nice if there was a cure coming in the future. It would be nice to see him back to his old cantakorous self. I would love to see him laugh when I tell my mother in law that I am voting for Obama. He likes to watch her get mad. Its a funny site. I would like to give him back this memory.

Alzheimer's Memory Walk

In over 600 communities, there will be walks for the cure in the fall. Its time for all Americans to stand for their family members, friends and other individuals who suffer from this disease. This event raises awareness and funds for the support and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. I will be checking into the Wichita Falls area to see if they will have one here.



By teaming up with the Alzheimer's Association, you will be helping find a cure for a disease that currently robs everyday folks like you and me of their memory. Lets make it count. Lets find a cure for this disease. Lets give people back their lives and their memories.

ONLINE ADOPTION AGENCY IN TROUBLE

Adoption.com got into trouble not too long ago for violating state discrimination laws. I am not sure if this agency is connected to Adoption.com. The similarities in the story lines does make me wonder. So I decided I am going to snoop a little bit to find out more about this online adoption agency. It is called ParentProfiles.com. Yep they are connected to them. Just look at the bottom of the page and they are listed as online resources. This company is in a different suite than adoption.com. So yep they are connected. Adoption.com and its companies are in hot water again.

Here is the story and the link.

Online Adoption Agency Denies Service to Gays

By Deb Price, Creators Syndicate
Posted on July 21, 2008, Printed on July 21, 2008
http://www.alternet.org/story/92230/

Like many other couples wanting to adopt, Rosario Grennaro and Alexander Gardner eventually found themselves wanting to tap the geography-defying power of the Internet.

"We wanted to raise children. And we thought we could provide a loving home to a child that didn't have one," says Grennaro, an IBM computer researcher.

"We heard about people using the Internet. And it seemed very cost-effective because you reach everybody," he adds.

But as the couple researched Websites that help birth mothers find loving permanent homes for their babies, they were disturbed to learn that the popular ParentProfiles.com only allows "one male husband and one female wife" couples to use its Internet-based adoption-matching service.

Even couples like Grennaro and Gardner, who married in Canada and whose marriage is recognized by their home state of New York, aren't eligible. The Website says eligibility is restricted to marriages "legally recognized in all states in the United States."

During their research, Grennaro and Gardner learned that the Arizona-based operators of ParentProfiles.com settled a lawsuit in California brought by another gay male couple. In that case, the Website's operators decided not to do future business with any California couples.

That settlement followed a March 30, 2007, preliminary order by a San Francisco federal district court judge allowing the California gay couple's lawsuit to go to trial.

"Where an out-of-state business solicits California customers and does business with customers living in California, California has an interest in ensuring that the out-of-state business does not discriminate against the California customers," Judge Phyllis J. Hamilton wrote in Butler v. Adoption Media, LLC.

Like the California gay couple, New Yorkers Grennaro and Gardner are accusing the Web-based business of violating state anti-discrimination laws.

With the help of Lambda Legal, they've filed a complaint with New York's attorney general.

ParentProfiles.com did not respond to my requests for comment.

"In effect, (the site's operators) have posted a sign on the door to their business announcing that lesbian and gay couples will not be served there," the couple's complaint states.

"Our state should not be a safe haven for out-of-state Internet companies that solicit business from our residents while openly advertising that they discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, sex and marital status," the complaint continues.

Lambda attorney Kevin Cathcart expects businesses, insurers and lawyers will watch the New York complaint closely because of its potentially far-reaching impact on the e-commerce world.

Rules for navigating in cyberspace are still evolving. Already, this brave new commercial world has transformed such ordinary transactions as collecting sales taxes or placing $5 bets on a roulette wheel into cutting-edge controversies.

"We believe the Web is not something you can hide behind to avoid state anti-discrimination laws," Cathcart says. "The Web doesn't exempt you."

Going low-tech, Gennaro and Gardner kept searching by placing newspaper ads. They adopted a newborn in January.

Now, 7-month-old Matilde enjoys smiling at one set of her grandparents, who live in Italy, via a Web camera.

"We love being parents," says Grennaro, adding that he and his husband hope to adopt next time with the help of the popular Internet service. "We don't want Matilde to be an only child."

ANOTHER WACKED BIRTH CERTIFICATE STORY

I worry about this issue because of my own amended birth certificate. Its a matter of time before I get hit with this issue. Indiana just doesn't seem to care about the harm that its doing to the adoptees from that state.

Here is the link. Here is the story.

Women unite to expose passport double standard

By Kevin Sieff/The Brownsville Herald

July 20, 2008 - 10:54PM

Patricia Austin and Imelda Hart were brought together by passports: the one Austin had, and the one Hart was fighting for.

Because Hart was delivered in the Rio Grande Valley, where a number of midwives have been convicted of granting fraudulent birth certificates, her passport application was questioned and later denied. She was unable to convince the U.S. Department of State of her birth certificate's authenticity.

Austin, on the other hand, who was delivered by a midwife in Jackson, Tenn., received her passport in less than two weeks.

"I was born to a midwife and I didn't have this problem," Austin said. "Why are they asking so much of Imelda and not me?"

Austin was appalled by several cases like Hart's, which had become small-town news in the central Florida community where both women now live.

Together, she and Hart went to work trying to illustrate the apparent double standard: Of two women, both of whom were born to midwives, and both of whom are the daughters and granddaughters of American citizens, why is only one able to secure a passport?

They posed the question to U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam, R-Fla., and U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla. Though both politicians agreed to look at Hart's case, she has yet to receive her passport after being denied in July 2007.

In the meantime, she was forced to cancel a planned honeymoon to Europe.

"Don't tell me that you're doing this to everyone born to a midwife. Don't tell me this is procedure," Hart said. "It's because I'm from the border. It's because I'm Hispanic."

In an irony not lost on Hart, the government has asked for evidence that her mother was detained upon entering the country before going into labor. The U.S. Office of Passport Services has suggested that such information might prove the legitimacy of Hart's American birth.

"My parents were here legally," she said, "and now that's being held against me."

Although Hart lived in San Benito for only the first few months of her life, her experience has provided insight into one of the region's most serious problems. In the Valley, hundreds of residents are now struggling to secure their passports.

But in Central Florida, Hart's situation is rare. The only other people she knows who have been unexpectedly denied passports were also delivered to midwives in South Texas.

"I thought border security was about keeping people out," she said, "not about keeping them in."

Just like this woman has become, we too will be prisoners of our country or worse sent to a country that we have never known.

COA STANDARDS ON ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT

How are these agencies governed? This series is going to long and ongoing. I will concentrate on the adoption side of things for infant domestic, international and foster care accreditation as I get further along into this. The next portion on this section is of course governance. Each state does govern and regulate adoption differently than many others. I will copy much of the standards to here with my commentary in red.

GOVERNANCE according to the COA website.

Introduction:

COA’s Governance standards address several developments related to the concept of leadership: public sector discussion influencing accounting in the nonprofit sector; evidence found in the mental health literature of an association between the leadership and culture of a human service organization and the achievement of positive outcomes; and efforts to strengthen the theoretical and practice connection between governance and leadership. Current trends and knowledge, in addition to broad-based expert consensus and common understanding, point to the importance of these standards. The governing body's influence also is reflected in core concepts found in the five otherAdministration and Management Standards sections.

The standards draw upon results of recent studies that examine how excellence develops over time in non-profit organizations. Other recent scholarship underscores the role of leadership in governance and promotes consideration of consistency between type of organization and type of governing/advisory function, and a “good fit” between advisory approach, member composition, and an organization’s governance demands. Community responsiveness is considered to be as important as meeting oversight responsibilities.

The organization is legally authorized to operate as:

• a nonprofit organization with a governing body incorporated or authorized to conduct business in the state where it operates or is headquartered and has a duly promulgated charter, constitution, and/or bylaws.
• a nonprofit organization organized as an identified sub-unit of a religious body that has legal status or is an identified sub-unit of another legal entity recognized under state law;
• a corporation sole; or
• a for profit organization organized as a corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, limited liability company, or association with a duly promulgated charter and other appropriate governing documents.

Governing body and community representation.

The organization's governing body is sufficiently active, capable, and diverse to guide, plan, and support the achievement of the organization’s mission and goals.

• The governing body sets a tone of responsible stewardship and ensures policies and performance uphold the public trust.
• The governing body:

1. reflects the demographics of the community it serves;
2. represents the interests of the community it serves; and
3. serves as a link between the organization and the public or community.

• The governing body or advisory board reflects:

1. governance expertise, including leadership ability and policy development skills;
2. relevant business experience;
3. financial expertise;
4. knowledge of consumer issues and trends;
5. familiarity with and access to community leaders, political representatives and other relevant local organizations;
6. public recognition and respect; and
7. commitment and ability to fundraise or to connect the organization with potential resources.

• The network management entity establishes and maintains a stakeholder advisory group that serves as a bridge between the network management entity and the community and it:

1. includes representatives of relevant community groups, consumers,parents,service providers, advocates, and others with an interest in the success of the network at achieving its mission or purpose;
2. provides information and feedback to the agency about services, outcomes, the perception of the agency within the community, and other information that would help the network better serve its covered population and the community; and
3. serves in an advisory capacity only and does not assume governing body or management responsibilities.

Mission.
The organization informs the public of its mission and remains knowledgeable about community needs and strengths.

Community involvement and advocacy.

The organization informs the public of its mission and remains knowledgeable about community needs and strengths.

• The organization conducts ongoing community outreach and education to communicate:

1. its mission, role, functions, and capacities; and
2. the strengths, needs, and challenges of the individuals, families, and groups it serves.

• The organization collaborates with community members to advocate for issues of mutual concern such as:

1. Improvements to existing services.
2. Filling gaps in servies.
3. The full and appropriate implementation of applicable laws and regulations regarding issues concerning the service population.
4. Improved supports and accomodations for individuals with special needs.
   

• The organization works in active partnership with service recipients to:

1. ensure appropriate advocacy support;
2. assist with access to the full array of services; and
3. mediate barriers within the service delivery system.

Organization of the governing body.

The governing body exercises leadership through a functional, effective structure.

• The governing body establishes in the organization’s charter, by-laws or similar document:

1. the organization’s structure and scope;
2. its responsibilities, including number of meetings held per year and their quorum;
3. the body to which it will delegate interim authority; and
4. a process for assessing and implementing responsibilities, such as establishing task forces/committees.

• The governing body establishes in writing:
• Eligibility requirements for membership;
• mechanisms for recruitment, selection, rotation, and duration of membership; and
• mechanisms for election of officers and duration of terms.

• Governing body members:

1. receive an orientation that addresses membership responsibilities and the organization's mission, history, goals,objectives, structure, methods of operation, and organization activities;
2. are introduced to key staff members; and
3. tour the facilities and become familiar with day-to-day operations.

• The organization maintains a governing body manual that includes governing body-approved policies and up-to-date minutes and records of all meetings.

Governance Responsibilities.

In fulfilling its fiduciary responsibilities, the governing body:

1. Reviews management's implementation of an effective strategic planning process
2. Reviews risk identification and management processes to prevent loss of reputation, vital resources, and adopts policy.
3. Develops and adopts pokicy
4. Provides financial oversight, adopting changes to policies considered necessary based on reviews and evaluations
5. Anticipated the need for and develops resources.
6. Reviews achievement of the organization's objectives through operations and services
7. Enhances and promotes community-organization relationships.

• Governing body members adhere to the organizations conflict of interest , including disclosure of any financial interest in the organization's assets and business transactions.
• Strategic planning responsibilities include:

1. Envisioning and setting the organization's strategic direction.
2. Supporting an inclusive , management directed, organization-wide long term planning every four to five years.

• The organization's governing body reviews and approves the long term plan framework to ensure the planning encompasses:

1. A review of the organization's missions, values, and mandates.
2. An assessment of strengths and weaknesses.
3. Measurable goals that flow from its mission and mandated responsibilities.
4. appropriate strategies for meeting identified goals, including consideration of the organizations continued development and sustainability and possible need to redirect, eliminate, or expand services to respond to change community demographics and needs.

• Resource development responsibilities include:

1. Establishing targets and goals
2. Ensuring adequate resources to support the organization's services.

• The governing body understands and exercises appropriate stewardship in fulfilling financial duties.
• Responsibilities regarding the executive director include:

1. Appointment of the executive director.
2. Collaboration with the executive director.
3. Delegation of the authority and responsibility for the organization's management and policy implementation to the executive director.
4. Oversight and annual evaluation of the executive director's performance and compensation.
5. Approval of the executive director's employment activities outside the organization to ensure they do not interfere with his/her administrative responsibilities.
6. Development of a written plan for delegating authority in the absences of the chief executive officer and/or designating an interim chief executive officer if necessary.
7. Evaluation of the effectiveness of its partnership with the executive director at least every two years.

• At least annually, the organization, with the involvement of the governing body, assess areas of overall risk to the organization that include, but not limited to:

1. The continuing ability to pursue strategic goals.
2. Compliance with legal requirements, including licensing and mandatory laws, fiscal accountability and governance.
3. Insurance and liability issues.
4. Contracting practices.
5. Any research projects that include service recipients as participants

Oversight of Investments

An organization that invests funds has controls to ensure the proper management of investments, including a committee established by the governing body that:

• Follows and biennially reviews an investment policy that outlines acceptable levels of risk criteria for contracting with investment advisors or firms, and protocols for making investment decisions.
• Oversees and reviews both investment of funds and the management ,purchase or sale of real estate securities and other assets.
• Ensures practices conform to applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
• Reports the status of investments and investment recommendations to the governing body.

Executive Director.

The executive director effectively collaborates with the governing body, promotes a healthy organizational culture, and operates and manages the organization's operations.

• The executive director primary responsibilities are:

1. Management of organization
2. Implementation of organizatino-wide,long term strategic planning and periodic reviews.
3. Encouragement of timely, engage mission oreginetd board deliberations.
4. Work with the governing body to ensure adequate resources.
5. Development of policies governing the organization program of services, planned, and coordinated with the governing body.
6. Attendance at all meetings of the governing body or advisory board, except those held to review the executive 's performance status, or compensation.
7. Provision of early stage information that requires creative and critical governing body thinking.
8. Provisioon of regular reports to the governing body on the organization's operations, finances, and implementation of the long term plan.

• The executive director inspires, directs, and works effectively senior management to provide technical and managerial processes and activities that maintain a positive, productive, ethical culture.
• The executive director is qualified by:

1. An advanced degree from an accredited college or university in a field related the organizations mission and services.
2. At least five years of related leadership experience
3. Competence in administering services to families, adults, youth or children.
4. The skills to oversee human resources and financial management matters.
5. The ability to work effectively and proactively with other community providers and local, state, and federal entities.
   

All through this, there is mention of what the community needs and desires are. In adoption, the community is adoptees, natural parents and adoptive parents. These adoption agencies are NOT paying attention to its community members. They are not willing to make changes to incorporate their opinions, needs and thoughts. Adoption is a human service. It should reflect the human side of the issue.

They use faith based agencies which in turn force their philosophies on mothers and adoptees. LDS Church is a perfect example of this. They believe that women can't be mothers without a marriage license. You have right to life groups who have set up crisis pregnancy centers to convince women to relinquish. It doesn't matter if these women are married.

There is enough documentation that the adoption agencies are not wanting the normal folk to know. That they are coercing natural parents. They are bypassing and using loopholes within the law to continue to do this.They lie to adoptees about their information. In fact some CIs are known to alter and change the information. They lie to adoptive parents about their children's background.

They also treat adoption like its a manufacturing business. I take serious issue with being someone else's product.

SICKENING JUST SICKENING

I can't write about it. This woman should not have been let out of jail. She was found guilty on two charges of baby stealing. She was sentanced to 3-10 years in jail. A woman lost her life and a child lost his mother. I can't write about it because this baby boy was due on my birthday. Sorry you can read the full details at Baby Love Child. My heart just sank into the pit of my stomach.