Rainy Days and Mondays.
Say goodbye to that nasty case of the Mondays! From here on out we will be referring to this day of the week officially as “Media Mondays,” so come on and get excited with us. Consider this your one stop shop to view all current adoption news from the past week, including country and domestic updates, relevant articles, book recommendations, interesting websites, even how we are seeing adoption being talked about in movies, television, the media, etc.
At GWCA we know that you, the parents, are our experts so we are calling for your help. Our desire is to make this as interactive as possible, so if you ever have any suggestions about things to add please comment below or E-mail them to Mary at mary@childrenofallnations.com.
This past week in adoption:
- NBC’s Parenthood.
This T.V. drama produced by NBC is never one to shy away from current, and sometimes controversial, issues. This past week was the season’s finale of Season 4 and as adoption lovers we encourage you to check it out! This show will add color to your story and you’ll be shaking your head in knowingness. The series bravely follows issues of domestic adoption including a birth father’s non-consent, a birth mother’s regret, disruption, older child adoption, and attachment disorders.
- Official Russian ruling.
On Tuesday, The Russian Supreme Court ruled that families who had been issued court approval to adopt before January 1, 2013 would be able to bring their children home to the United States. This includes families who are currently in their 30 day waiting period after court approval. This is helpful news for the approximately 52 families who are past court approval.
- Intercountry Adoption Numbers Continue to Decrease.
A report issued by the U.S. Department of State this past week chronicling the decrease of American families adopting foreign-born children over the past eight years. See the full report from the National Council for Adoption here:
- One family’s story and their journey to their son.
With the near 60% decline of international adoption into American homes since 2004, this writer tells the story of one family who has been waiting for more than 4 years to bring their son home. See the full story here:
http://world.time.com/2013/01/10/caught-in-the-international-adoption-slowdown/
PETER RAD FOR TIME
Frank and Gabrielle Shimkus in their Pennsylvania home.
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Read MoreA Time to Celebrate.
It’s finally that time of the week…it’s FRIDAY! Time to relax and enjoy your down time surrounded by family and friends you love.
Before you kick start off your weekend, the staff at GWCA wants to take a minute to thank YOU! Without adoptive parents and families like you, we would not be making the strides we are in Chinese adoption. We cannot thank you enough for being such champions in adoption, and it’s our honor to come along side and fight with you. Your family is the reason a child now has a place called home. That is reason for celebration enough!
So kick off your shoes and have a ball this weekend!
Read MoreGreat Wall China Adoption Blog: January 16, 2013
Dear Great Wall Families,
It is getting chilly…winter is definitely here! Many of our families are in the middle of traveling or possibly just got home from picking up their kiddo from China! Re-adoption is so important to finalize the adoption process, so I would love to tell you more about this process and why it is key for all families to complete.
GWCA Re-adoption and Finalization Services-
Many families make the journey to China to pick up their child and finalize the adoption in the child’s country of origin. While this is a special part of the adoption journey, it is also very important for a family to re-adopt their child in the United States.
Why re-adopt in the United States?
- To gain a domestic Adoption Decree and Birth Certificate, issued in a form that is accepted in all domestic courts and recognized by American institutions. There have been some cases where U.S. courts have not been able to “recognize” a foreign adoption decree, and/or children have not been able to participate in activities that require a United States Birth Certificate.
- Domestic adoption and birth records are available in the United States. The replacement of foreign birth certificates and adoption records may be impossible to obtain. At a minimum, the replacement process may be very time consuming and expensive.
- To change the name of the child: If there is a change to a child’s legal name after their entry into the United States, a family must re-adopt, and then re-apply to USCIS for a new Certificate of Citizenship to establish this revision.
- To request an amended date of birth: Sometimes, an adopted child may appear older or younger than the original date of birth. If medical evidence of a different date of birth is obtained, it is possible to request an amended birth date during a re-adoption, and then re-apply to USCIS for a new Certificate of Citizenship containing the revised date.
- To guarantee your child’s right to inheritance in every state: Not all states recognize the validity of foreign adoption decrees in all legal cases. If there were ever a question as to whether a child was eligible to receive inheritance or other legal benefit, the re-adoption provides a domestic record of a child’s legal status.
- To obtain school benefits: From a practical stand-point, many school systems
require a domestic final order of adoption or domestic birth certificate in order to qualify for activities, benefits, etc. In some instances, colleges require a domestic final order prior to admittance.
If you have questions on re-adoption services, you can email Lizzie Krog at lizzie@gwca.org
Sincerely,
Lizzie Kovach
Adoption Consultant/Outreach and Promotions Manager
Read MoreGreat Wall China Adoption Blog: January 9, 2013
Happy New Year GWCA Families,
GWCA wishes everyone a happy and healthy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. Today, I wanted to share some great adoption news:
**Adoption Tax Credit Update: we are still waiting for final details, but the bill permanently extends the adoption tax credit, set at $10,000. After being scaled for inflation, it may come close to the 2012 amount of $12,650. Families with incomes under $150,000 will get the full credit, and it will slowly phase out for higher incomes. The American Taxpayer Relief Act is available to read here.
Additionally in 2012, GWCA/CAN has matched 228 children from all over the world with their forever families. We have also had 224 orphaned children come home to their forever families!
If you want to find out more about our China adoption program, you can do so here. We want to find homes for even more children in 2013!
Sincerely,
Lizzie Kovach
Adoption Consultant/Outreach and Promotions Manager
Read MoreReady to get started?
