Wednesday, November 2, 2011

NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH, 2011
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION

As a Nation, one of our highest responsibilities is to ensure the health and well-being of our children.

Really? Then why not help mothers in crisis instead of legalizing and encouraging abandonment through "Safe Havens" and allowing untrained adoption practitioners working in unregulated adoption agencies to find legal loopholes to exploit and coerce mothers in crisis who are not provided free legal  counsel as are those charged with criminal offenses.

While Australia apologizes for past forced adoptions and has stopped those practices, it is business as usual here in the states, Mr.President, with mothers being offered "open adoptions" without being informed that the contact agreements are unenforceable.

With generous hearts and open minds, we strive to make sure all children grow up knowing they have a family that shares with them the warmth, security, and unconditional love that will help them succeed.  And yet, more than 100,000 children in America await this most basic support, and still more children abroad live without families.  During National Adoption Month, we celebrate the acts of compassion and love that unite children with adoptive families, and we rededicate ourselves to the essential task of providing all children with the comfort and safety of a permanent home.

Why, Mr. President, are we as a antion not making more attempts to locate extended family for these children and supporting them to love and care for their own kin? Stranger foster parents and some adopters receive fnaicla aid not available to grandparents  or other natural family who might likewise be able to provide the love and care with that help.

The decision to adopt a child has brought profound joy and meaning into the lives of Americans across our country.

Yes it does! But it does so only as a result of the loss, spearation and lifelong pain of the families who are torn apart as a aresult of not receivng the asistsance they needed to remain intact. Every adoptionbegins with a traegdy and creates lifelong irreversiblee grief and feelings of rejection and abandonment. It is second best for all parties and sgould be a last resort, not something encouraged with tax dollars.

Parents are moved to adopt for reasons as unique and varied as the children they embrace, but they are unified by the remarkable grace of their acts.  Adoptive families come in all forms.  With so many children waiting for loving homes, it is important to ensure that all qualified caregivers are given the opportunity to serve as adoptive parents, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, or marital status.

What about more opportunities for naturual familes? What about stopping the attack on father's rights, particualrly in the state of Utah?  Why not care enough about the process of adoption to set up federal regulation of thenearly 5 billion dollar loosly regulated adoption indusrty that handles interstate and international import and expost of children?

My Administration remains steadfast in our support of adoptive families and children in need of homes.

But does little to nothign to assista and protect natrual families. 

Earlier this year, I signed the Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act, which reauthorizes child welfare programs and makes new provisions to help reduce the amount of time young children are without permanent families.  I also signed the Healthy, Hunger¬-Free Kids Act to provide balanced, nutritious meals to all children in the foster care system.  Last year, during National Adoption Month, I signed the International Adoption Simplification Act, which removed unnecessary regulations and barriers to international adoption.

Yeah, that's the ticket - remove "barriers." Keep the pipline flowing eventhoughthe adoption of chidlren form outside the US is totally contrary to help[ing the childrne in foster care find "permanent fmailies" as you claim is you claim is your goal and primary concern.

These efforts come in addition to the Adoption Tax Credit, which was extended and expanded as part of the Affordable Care Act to make adoption more accessible to American families.  Through these key pieces of legislation, my Administration is moving forward with our commitment to stand with youth in foster care and find new ways to encourage adoption.

Oh yes, $13000+, plus, plus, plus for adopters!

Adoption has become a part of many Americans' lives and has contributed to the character of our Nation.

A nation continueing to do what Australia has apologized for doing, instead of prioritizing Family Preservation.

As parents and as family members, it is our task to do all we can to give our children the very best.

Why not give adopted citizens access to thir own originalirth certificate then?  How is it "best" to deny all American adopted coitzens the same rights all other non-adopted citizens have?

In caring for our youth and putting them before ourselves, we make a lasting investment not only in their future, but also in the prosperity and strength of our Nation in the years to come.  This month and throughout the year, let us recommit to ensuring every child is given the sustaining love of family, the assurance of a permanent home, and the supportive upbringing they deserve.

Sustaining love? Sustaining, really? By encouraging them to be taken from their first families and given to new ones?  By encouraging states with financial incentives to move them as quickly as possible through the system so their natural families cannot disprove false allegations?

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2011 as National Adoption Month.  I encourage all Americans to observe this month by answering the call to find homes for every child in America in need of a permanent and caring family, and to support the families who care for them.

Support ALL families, Mr. President, especially those struggling. The number one reasons for adoption placements if poverty!! Additionally, I urge you to read the report, "Shattered Families: The perilous intersection of immigration enforcement and the child welfare system" by the Applied Research Center. There are at least 5,100 children currently living in foster care who are prevented from uniting with their detained or deported parents and if nothing changes, 15,000 more children may face a similar fate in the next 5 years.
  • Families are more likely to be separated where local police aggressively participate in immigration enforcement.
  • Immigrant victims of domestic violence are at particular risk of losing their children
  • ICE detention obstructs participation in Child Protective Services' plans for family unity.*
Stop giving tax incentives for infant and international adoptions!  

Recognize the rights of adopted persons as equal to non-adopted!

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.

* More about immigration and child welfare here.

1 comment:

Susie said...

Fabulous post Mirah! I have a draft started responding to this speech also ~ but instead of finishing it I am now just going to link to yours here. You say all that I want to, much better than I could.

RussiaToday Apr 29, 2010 on Russian Adoption Freeze

Russi Today: America television Interview 4/16/10 Regarding the Return of Artyem, 7, to Russia alone

RT: Russia-America TV Interview 3/10

Korean Birthmothers Protest to End Adoption

Motherhood, Adoption, Surrender, & Loss

Who Am I?

Bitter Winds

Adoption and Truth Video

Adoption Truth

Birthparents Never Forget