To those who advocate adoption reform, what are YOU doing to change things?

Question

Please be specific about what government agencies and specific people you are contacting.

Answer 1

I support a residence for teenage mothers that helps them to parent their children.  Our current government has a policy of privatizing aid to families in need so I support this private organization that prevents adoption.  It is the most effective way to reform - just help people to avoid the corrupt adoption system altogether.

Answer 2

I advocate for adoptee rights and write to legislators on a weekly basis.  I am a member and support numerous organizations dedicated to this cause.  

I am an American Adoptee but I was raised in the UK.  I spend alot of money flying back to the States to participate in reform activities and I won't stop until things improve in the USA for Adoptees

I do my bit for adoptee rights but am wary of posting my personal info here on Y!A?  thanks for asking this question though.  I hope it will spur more people into action for the sake of the littlest adoptees

and you?

Answer 3

Thanks for asking!

I am a member of Origins USA

http://www.origins-usa.org

I donate money to UNICEF, the international children's charity that is opposed to inter-country adoption:

http://www.unicef.org/media/media_41918....

I have donated to, and hope to attend the Adoptee Rights Protest in New Orleans in July 2008:

http://www.adopteerights.org/

I have been a contributor for an Internet based program, The Adoption Show:

http://www.theadoptionshow.com/

Answer 4

Me personally? Why let me tell you, I am the Secretary of Orgins USA, sitting on the Board of Directors since July of 2007. I am a member of One Voice, No Secrets! Both groups are activist groups in support of adoption reform and Adoptee and Natural Family Rights, OUSA also is a staunch advocarte of Natural Family Preservation. If you go to our website Origins-USA.org you will find there a letter of all we have accomplished in the last year. There is also much information for natural mothers, and adoptees, as well as adoptive parents, and prospective adoptive parents, you may find it quite enlightening.  (if they have the cojones to read it and try to understand it.) Note please I am not speaking of all adoptive parents or prospectives, some of you truly get it and I applaud you all for trying your best to help solve the problems we have in infant adoption here in the Good Ole' USA) I am also a member of other groups here in my home state working for the changes needed in infant adoption. I advocate Kinship Care and Legal Guardianship over adoption, and have helped to craft position papers to put before my states legislative body to further reform here. I also belong to a group dedicated to helping mothers who were victimized by Seymour Kurtz and his ring of baby selling "agencies." I work with our local Department of Health and Human Services to educate and help prevent needless seperation of mothers and children, and also help children who were removed from their homes and placed for adoption to start the search process for themselves and to help educate them about adoption and it's life long effects on both mothers and their children.

What do you do?

ETA: Oh  my now I got thumbs down for being honest about what I do? Or was it the cojones line that got me those? LMAO as if I care either way..

Gershom, I am proud to work with you too! Rock on!

Answer 5

Well, despite being both bashed and dismissed, I keep sharing my story with anyone willing to listen in the hopes that society can be made more aware of the complexities inherent in adoption.  The BEST way to effect change in society is by changing the attitudes in society.  While government can play a role in those changes, government cannot legislate attitudes.  As long as society is ignorant of the problems with adoption, there will never be sufficient pressure on government to effect change.  I support public protests and letter-writing campaigns to state legislators.  Those are important efforts.  I also think that educating the public is just as important.  

What do you do?  Or do you think everything is just fine and doesn't need to change?

Answer 6

The thing I'm doing to change adoption reform is to use a condom each time I have s*x.  The reason adoption reform is a problem is because there are too many dumbasses in the world who don't practice safe s*x and end up getting pregnant and then have to give the poor baby up for a adoption.  It's like people nowadays are part rabbit the way they breed.

Answer 7

School Nurse...the question should be asked of you..

What do you do to advocate reforms? Most adoptees would like their adoption records for personal reasons, which is their right. However because of state laws, they are denied access.

You say you adopted 28 years ago, so I would think as an adoptive parent you would be a little bit more understanding. From your question I take you don't get it when it comes to adoptees wanting reforms so they can have access to their records.

So, again as an adoptive parent could you show a little more heart to those adoptees who want access to their records? What are you going to be doing about that?

Answer 8

I don't think you've searched "too hard" because I've answered this same question a few times, only each time, my list gets longer!

What are YOU doing? anything? You say you "adopted a baby girl 28 years ago" what does that do to HELP ADOPTION REFORM? nothing.

I am organizing the Adoptee Rights Demonstration along side with bb_church who doesn't post here, but I didn't want everyone to think i'm taking ALL the credit, but it IS alot of volunteer work for one of the best causes I can think of at the moment! http://www.AdopteeRights.net check it out, donate, support us, join us in New Orleans and be a part of Adoptee Rights HISTORY! We'll be protesting at the Annual State Legislatures Convention on July 22, 2008. Incase you didn't know, they are the people who have the power to unseal our currently sealed records! )

I have a segment on The Adoption Show called "angrates action alerts" and this months show is on Donor Conceived people and all the rights THEY are being denied, which parallel adoptees and our lack of rights. We're being so discriminated against its enough to give the non adopted or donor conceived an identity crisis!

I too am a member of Origins-USA ( the group Mary is the secretary for )

I am a member of b*****d Nation where the reform groups for all of the states pushing for open records come together, learn, unite and build our army! I actively work against sealed records through this group, and recommend anyone who is serious about reform to join!

I actively write, and call my legislatures to work on getting bills passed in my state to change open records and reform the system. Right now its pretty standard writing, i'm trying to make my name and case familiar with her so when i shake her hand at the protest and introduce myself, she'll know i'm there and I mean business!, i've had a couple of calls back even which is really cool to here a voice mail from Audra Stricklands ( who supports open records )and Tom McClintock's office!

I blog ( http://withoutatribe.blogspot.com), advocate and write articles to my paper ( although none have been printed )

Next month I'm going to be on a TV show talking about the protest for the local channel in my area that goes to over 1 million homes.

I'm a member of Foster Care Alumni of America and tonight I made a  postcard and I'm going to send it in so that it can be on this page: http://www.fostercarealumni.org/postcard...

I am also just looking into the training to be a CASA volunteer, a friend of mine who "aged" out of the foster care system thanks to this "non perfect world" came over the other night and shared with me how rewarding it is for her, and shes really got me jazzed on the idea, so i'm setting that onto my list of goals and made the call today to see what I have to do to start the process.

Answer 9

I am fighting the State of Delaware.

My ex-girlfriend had another guy do a voluntary paternity on my daughter and in effect, stole her. I found out that these types of things happen to guys alot.

Nobody listened to me for years despite begging at every state agency. I finally filed a lawsuit against the State of Delaware in the US District Courts. We now fight it out at a federal level and the State now must defend itself for it actions.

If you want to read a little, check out my website.

Rights of the Unknown Father

http://searchingforkim.com/?q=node/40

This was a draft that ended up having to be used a bit early due to the state trying something stupid.

Answer 10

I have contributed and will continue to contribute to the Adoptee Rights protest in New Orleans next July.

I co-administrate a large online support group for adult adoptees, volunteering a LOT of my time to my fellow adopted adults (and even some teens have joined).

I write to my state representatives, I write to my local newspaper, I do what I can when I have time in the political arena.

I speak up for adoptee rights issues instead of sitting quietly by simply because my a-parents were "good" and I grew up "happy".  I also take into consideration the millions of children who are adopted, the rest of the adult adoptee population, and will fight this cause for THEM.

I keep a blog which is read by adoptes, first parents, and adoptive parents which is a source of support, encouragement, and education.

Answer 11

I have not contacted government representatives yet because when I do, I want to be fully informed of the history of why adoption and birth records were sealed in California, and what happened the last three attempts to open the records.  I want to know who approached the representative, who wrote the bills, who protested them into being amended to garbage bills, etc...  If there is to be another attempt to open the records, than I want to be fully prepared for the pitfalls already existing in our history.

In the mean time while I am gathering information, I help with the emotional support to expectant mothers who are worried if they have the strength to gather up all the resources surrounding her so that she doesn't have to be separated from her child/children. If I can help stock a nursery, or help find shelter/home, or point her towards the resources that can help her... I feel like I have helped towards the cause of family preservation.

Also, if I am local, I also see if I can encourage the expectant mother's family members to also meet that need. Sometimes a gentle encouragement can remind them that pulling together can be a positive solution than leaving a child behind.

I do all that I wish was done for me in the same situation.

Edit to add the link to when I last answered this question:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Answer 12

i co-direct a teen sexuality education site. one of the boards that i moderate is designed to help young women with unintended pregnancies examine all options for their pregnancies.  we provide information about adoption laws, common practices, and some of the not-so-nice outcomes of adoption plans.  we also help them to access assistance if they are interested in parenting.

personally, i have attended rallies in my home state, written letters to legislators advising that they remove "adoption" language from school s*x education curriculum,  make open adoption agreements legally enforceable, advocating for adoptee rights to birth records and addressing racism in adoption practices.

Answer 13

I live in Australia - where adoption records are OPEN and all adoptions are now state administered (no private adoptions - no big money being made from the acquisition of babies).

Adoptions only occur AFTER a mother has tried to parent - with financial and emotional support given to her - to try to keep mother and baby together.

We're about family preservation down here.

Here under 500 adoptions per year - there (USA) over 130,000.

In the meantime - I do try to raise awareness of the plight of my US adoptee family.

I blog, I frequent forums, I help to lead those that wish to search for their origins in the right direction through providing links etc, I give support to those that are struggling with their search and reunions, I am heavily involved in support groups here (in real life) in Australia, I do my bit to let people know the real side of adoption - a side that I was too scared to even talk about for so many many years (because I was always told that I should be grateful for my situation - even before anyone even 'knew' of my full story!).

Oh - and I also donated to the Adoptee Rights protest in New Orleans in July. (I have my fingers crossed that I can join them on the day - but sadly airfares from OZ are not very cheep.)

If adoptions must happen - adoptive parents need to understand better how to treat their adoptees.

A great many adoptees are already messed up from being separated from their mother and family.

Having uneducated a-parents - can mess them up even more.

Answer 14

I help run an online support group which gives adoptees a place to gather for support and discuss reform. I have raised funds in order to donate to the Adoptee Rights Protest in New Orleans in July 2008 and will be attending:

http://www.adopteerights.net

In the past I have met with legislators in person and currently belong to a local triad group - yes, even an adoptive mom belongs - who are working towards getting records opened in Missouri.

And, while the following things don't necessarily fall into the category of reform I think they go hand in hand:

I just donated a heap of stuff to a local home for pregnant teens who want to parent. I have donated to SOS villages. I do volunteer work with adopted children and have spoke in person to hundreds of adoptive parents who attend Jane Brown's seminars - you can easily google her to find more info.

I'm sure there's more but I'm now sitting here wondering why on earth I feel I need to answer to you as to what I'm doing. Why would the fact that you adopted 28 years ago cause you to have interest in what *I* am doing for reform?

You requested to join our forum last week and told me directly it was because you are an adoptive mother and thought you could help. So what specifically is it in regards to reform that you would like to do to help?

Answer 15

I am writing legislators in all states.  I am attending the adoptee rights protest.  I write newspapers across this country.  I discuss adoption reform in real life.  I have helped mothers and fathers fight for their children.  I have actually helped one father retain his rights.

Answer 16

I have attended legislative hearings in California and Nevada on adoption related matters and have testified at some of them.

I write letters to lawmakers in all states about adoption related legislation.

I write to newspaper editors about adoption reform issues.

I have co-built and maintain Websites for adoption reform-oriented organizations such as

Arizona Open,  http://www.arizonaopen.org

Arizona Search and Support,  http://www.arizonasearch.org

Measurable Rights,  http://www.measurablerights.com

I donate and/or am a paying member of adoption reform organizations including

b*****d Nation: The Adoptee Rights Organization, http://www.b******s.org

and the National Day of Adoptee Rights Protest,  http://www.adopteerights.org

I see a variety of work being done!  There are so many areas of adoption, so it's good that everyone in reform has his or her own "niches."