FEW FOREIGN ORPHANS FIND U.S. HOMES
FEW FOREIGN ORPHANS FIND U.S. HOMES
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By JoAnn Jacobsen-Wells, Staff Writer
Published: Sunday, July 29 1990 12:00 a.m. MDT
Summary
Thousands of foreign orphans may never find homes with American families because of new restrictions by governments overseas.
American agencies say fewer and fewer countries today are willing to make children - especially healthy infants - available for adoption by U.S. citizens.
Thousands of foreign orphans may never find homes with American families because of new restrictions by governments overseas.
American agencies say fewer and fewer countries today are willing to make children - especially healthy infants - available for adoption by U.S. citizens."Last year we placed 150 children and probably will place half that many this year," said
Merelene Helpenstell,director of adoptions for
Adoption Advocates International, the agency, based in Port Angeles, Wash., that for seven years has represented many Utahns in international adoptions.
"We are not discouraged but kind of changing our focus."
At least for the time being, other agencies in Michigan, New York, Colorado and elsewhere also are having to look closer to home for adoptable children.
Five years ago the scenario was much different.
Hundreds of Korean children were adopted by Americans; they made up the largest group of adoptable children abroad. Today, few Korean children find homes in the United States.
"Some (U.S.) agencies are still placing children from Korea, but the numbers are much fewer than they were a few years ago," Helpenstell said.The reason?
"Economically and socially Korea is working to be recognized as a country that's able to meet the needs of children in their own country."
Adoption Advocates no longer places children from Korea. For a year, orphans from India also haven't been available because one of the country's adoption agencies is still in the process of relicensing.
"It also was a good source of children in the past - and may be again," Helpenstell said. The Indian program was one of the most flexible - allowing unmarried Americans, older couples and those with large families to adopt.
The situation is almost as bleak in other countries.
The few Thai children available are mostly boys, over age 4. And in Mexico and Taiwan, very few and only very "special-need" (physically or emotionally handicapped) children are being released for adoption.
"Because the medical care there (in Taiwan) is becoming more and more advanced, the special needs of the children we are able to place are more serious," Helpenstell said. "Children who might not have survived a few years ago are now surviving."
Adoption Advocates doesn't have "a direct line" with government or private agencies in Romania, Central and South America. But Helpenstell said adoption programs are operating in those countries.
Most, however, require travel by adoptive parents, which can be very expensive. In most cases, it also means working independently with a foreign attorney - a practice some Utah adoption consultants advise against.
"If I were going to do an international adoption, I'd go with an agency that dealt with that country, knew the country's laws and had placed children in United States in the past," advised Mary Beth Rodd, adoption counselor with the Children's Services Society. "In other words, go with a record - an agency that knows what it's doing. The agency protects the child and protects the family."
It's not the first time foreign governments have invoked stringent adoption laws.
"And one thing we know about international adoption is that things change," Helpenstell said. "We can tell you how things are today, but it doesn't mean they will be like that tomorrow."
Adoption Advocates, remaining flexible with changing times, has a new focus. It's concentrating on the placement of American black, biracial and drug-affected infants, plus those infected with the AIDS virus.
"There's a great need for parents who can take these children," said Helpenstell, referring specifically to the onslaught of AIDS babies. "But it takes special folks with special training to do that."
Adoption Advocates offers training to families "that have the strength needed to parent the children we have to place."
Each child - whether American or Taiwanese - is important to the agency.
"We take a lot of joy in each placement that we make. Each child has special qualities, and we work to find the right family for that particular child," Helpenstell said. "The joy doesn't come from the numbers, but seeing each child - whatever his special needs are - placed with a loving family."