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Update on Ethiopian Adoption Suspension

The U.S. Department of State posted an Adoption Alert on May 2, 2017, providing additional information on the recent suspension of adoptions from Ethiopia.
 The Ethiopian Prime Minister’s Office announced the immediate suspension of intercountry adoption on April 21. It is not yet known how long the suspension will last.
According to the Alert, the Office of Children’s Issues and the U.S. Embassy are continuing to work with the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs (MOWA) and the Prime Minister’s Office to learn more about the terms of the suspension. They are also urging the Ethiopian government to allow continued processing of cases that were in progress prior to the suspension.
Questions about pending cases should be directed to your Adoption Service Provider. Questions about adoption-related visa applications or immigrant petitions can be directed to consadoptionaddis@state.gov; you can also copy the Office of Children’s Issues at adoption@state.gov if you wish.
For updated information, continue to monitor adoption.state.gov.  

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News

What You Need to Know About the Department of State’s Annual Intercountry Adoption Report

The U.S. Department of State has released the 2016 Annual Report on Intercountry Adoption. It’s a fairly dense document that provides statistics about intercountry adoptions that took place between October 1, 2015, and September 30, 2016, but don’t worry. We’ve broken the text down for you in a few short bullet points.
Here’s what you need to know.
The Department traveled to 30 countries and identified three challenges that affect intercountry adoption:

The U.S. issued 5,372 immigrant visas to children who were adopted abroad or who came to the U.S. to be adopted, a slightly smaller number than in 2015.
The remainder of the document reports on the number of intercountry adoptions involving immigration to and emigration from the United States, as well as which countries were involved. To see those charts, as well as charts requiring the average times and average fees for adopting from different countries, read the full report here.

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Adoptive Family News

Listen Up: It's National Infertility Awareness Week!

“You never know how badly you want something until you are told that it may not be possible.”

This quote appears on the home page of the National Infertility Awareness Week website, and it is one that many couples can relate to — especially if they have been affected by infertility.
National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW) was started in 1989 by RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association. The week of April 23–29, 2017, is dedicated to bring awareness to the disease of infertility that affects roughly 1 in 8 couples in the United States. Infertility does not discriminate on race, age, religion, or financial background. The goal of NIAW is to educate the public about infertility, and hopefully empower people to do something to make a difference in the lives of millions of Americans who live with the disease.
NIAW was finally designated a federally-recognized health observance by the Department of Health and Human Services in 2010. This designation is important as it helps the public become educated about infertility. It also validates the painful experiences of those families affected by the disease. Infertility can seem so isolating to those suffering. Participating in NIAW helps break down the walls of loneliness and shows support for those struggling.
So how can you get involved? There are many ways, from participating in events, hosting events, or even just posting your support on social media. Here are some examples:

During NIAW, consider taking a moment to raise awareness and spread the word about the 1 in 8 couples desperately wanting to become parents.

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News

Ethiopia Suspends Intercountry Adoptions

On April 21, the U.S. Department of State issued an adoption alert stating that the Ethiopian Ministry of Women and Children (MOWA) is suspending its processing of intercountry adoption cases, effective immediately. It is not yet known how long the suspension will last.
The Department of State urges MOWA to complete processing cases that were in progress prior to the suspension.
If you have a pending Ethiopian adoption case, questions should be directed to your Adoption Service Provider. For questions about an adoption-related visa application or immigrant petition, contact consadoptionaddis@state.gov. You may copy the Office of Children’s Issues at adoption@state.gov if you wish.
For updated information, continue to monitor adoption.state.gov.

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Adoptive Family

6 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day

Earth Day is observed each year on April 22. The first observance was in 1970, when 22 million people took to the streets to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment. Today, it is observed in almost 200 countries.
Educating people, especially children, is increasingly important in our world today. The children of today are the ones who will make a difference in how our world evolves over time. Here are some fun, easy activities to do with your kids to celebrate Earth Day:

While Earth Day is a great time to help our environment, don’t limit it to just one day. Teach your kids that the Earth needs our help every day, and set an example for them to follow.

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Adoptive Family

5 Creative Ways to Raise Money for Your Adoption

At the beginning of 2017, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released a report estimating the cost of raising a child born in 2015. According to the report, it costs a middle-income family roughly $12,300 to $14,000 a year to raise a child. For a family planning to adopt a child, they can expect to add on quite a bit extra in expenses — before the child has even arrived.
The cost of adoption is high. It can be financially challenging for some adoptive families to fund their adoption. But don’t let the cost of adoption dissuade you from choosing this method of growing your family. Here is a list of some creative fundraising ideas that can help offset some adoption costs.

Have a Garage Sale

You will need to make space for your new addition, so this is a great excuse to declutter your house and sell what you can. Start with Craigslist or EBay for selling larger items, like appliances and exercise equipment. Smaller items can be sold on EBay also, as well as at a garage sale, or on a local swap-and-shop site (such as through Facebook). Check consignment shops for selling name-brand clothing.

Get Personal

Send a personal fundraising letter to family, friends, co-workers, and fellow church parishioners, explaining your story and goals. Set up a webpage to collect online donations (such as YouCaring or GoFundMe), and explain the procedure in the letter. Answer potential “how to help” questions in the letter. Start a blog to keep everyone posted on your journey.

Sell Your Hobby

Take your hobby or talent and turn it into a small business. Etsy is a well-known website for selling handmade items. If you are in education, create your own worksheets or lesson plans, and sell them on Teachers Pay Teachers. If your hobby is more of a service, like cooking, photography or web design, consider giving lessons to others.

Host a Tournament

While these events take more preparation, they have the potential to earn a lot of money for your adoption fund. There are many options — 5k walk/run, golf tournament, softball tournament, dodgeball tournament. Consider asking local businesses for food and drink donations during the event. Create a t-shirt to commemorate the event, and include it in the participants’ registration packet.

Get Cooking

Hosting a benefit meal is a great way to raise money. This doesn’t have to be anything extravagant. Keep the food simple and easy to cook in bulk — pancakes, spaghetti, chili, hot dogs, hamburgers. Enlist friends and family to help cook and serve. Another successful food fundraiser is a bake sale. Again, ask friends and family to contribute baked good (homemade or store-bought), and sell them for $1 apiece.

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Adoptive Family

7 Ways to Celebrate Spring with Your Little Ones

Spring is here! When winter breathes its last breath, a collective sigh can be heard the world over as people pat themselves on the back for having survived the past three (or more!) months of cold, snow and clouds. What a relief to be able to be outside for an extended period of time! And as the days get longer, there’s more time to enjoy all that Mother Nature has brought out of hibernation.
If your children cannot spend another minute indoors, here are some fun springtime activities to get them out of the house. After all, summer will be here soon enough, and you’ll be looking for indoor respite from the heat and humidity!

Make a homemade bird feeder

Take an empty toilet paper roll, cover it in peanut butter, then roll it in bird seed. Voila! Hang it from a tree and keep track of the different birds that visit your feeder.

Take a nature walk

Spring is a great time for a nature walk, as everything is blooming, growing, and coming out of hibernation. Take along a nature scavenger hunt checklist to keep track of what you see along the way.

Learn how plants grow

This is an easy experiment to do with your kids. Put a dried lima bean in a plastic sandwich bag with a wet paper towel. Tape the bag to the window for sunlight. In a few days, you’ll see the roots develop and eventually a sprout will come out of the bean. To further explain the process to your kids, read From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons.

Plant some vegetables

Now that your kids understand how plants grow, it’s time to test their green thumb. This can be as big or as little as you’d like. Short on space? Herbs can easily be grown indoors in small pots. If you have space in the yard, plant vegetables that are hearty and easy to grow, so your kids don’t get frustrated. Tomatoes, lettuce and beans fall into this category.

Grow a butterfly

Your kids will love seeing the life cycle of a butterfly in action! Insect Lore sells a container of five or six caterpillars. Follow the enclosed easy directions to watch a caterpillar transform into a butterfly.

Dye Easter eggs

Spring brings the holiday of Easter, and if you celebrate, there are so many fun Easter-related activities you can do with kids! Dyeing eggs is a perennial favorite, and the process has evolved over the years. You can still buy the simple kit with colored tablets to dissolve in vinegar. How about using shaving cream and food coloring? You can find the directions here.

Have an Easter egg hunt

Once you’ve dyed those eggs, it’s time to hide them and let the kids find them. You can also buy plastic eggs at the dollar store and fill them with treasures for the kids to find — candy, money, crayons. Get your neighbors involved and have the hunt span across a few yards.
Spring won’t be here long, so make the most of it! Shed your winter coat and enjoy the season!

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News

Save Adoptions Calls for Help Lifting Adoption Suspension in Nepal

In September 2016, the U.S. Department of State proposed new rules regulating international adoptions. The rules, if implemented, would drastically impact hopeful parents’ ability to pursue intercountry adoptions.
The adoption community responded with a petition to withdraw the proposed rules, which gained more than 27,000 signatures. In addition, 88 adoption service providers signed an open letter to the Department of State urging them to withdraw the proposed regulations.
The State Department announced on April 4, 2017 that the regulations had been withdrawn.  
Now, SaveAdoptions.org is continuing to advocate for easier intercountry adoptions by highlighting the blanket suspension of adoptions from Nepal, which has been in effect for more than six years.
Adoption supporters are invited to sign the plea to lift the Nepal adoption suspension at SaveAdoptions.org.

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Adoptive Family

Traveling to Adopt – What to Pack and How to Prepare

When a family makes the decision to adopt, they begin an often lengthy process of preparation for their new member. There are piles of paperwork, interviews, and home studies to complete. There is a house to prepare and necessities to buy. While all of this seems like it can take forever, your new family member may be ready to join you sooner than you think!
Some families are presented with an adoption opportunity in advance, and may have a number of months to prepare for traveling to meet their child. Other families may find out their new addition was born yesterday! Regardless of the timing of your adoption opportunity, think about what you’ll eventually need when you get the call. Traveling in adoption is unique, exciting and nerve-wracking. Here are some tips for traveling on short notice.

What to Pack

If you know the mother’s due date, start setting aside travel items a few months in advance. Even if you don’t know when your child will arrive, make a list of items you’ll want to pack. You don’t want to miss something when you’re scrambling to leave.
Here are some things you’ll want to pack:

It is very easy to over-pack for a baby. Keep in mind that most baby necessities can be purchased wherever you are. The hospital usually sends new parents home with a few days’ worth of diapers, wipes, and formula. Replenish your stock at a local store. Wait to purchase a car seat until a day or two before the baby is discharged. The hospital will not allow you to take your child home without a properly installed car seat.
This is an exciting time! Relax and prepare as best as you can. Don’t let the hustle and bustle of last-minute travel overwhelm the joy you’ll feel when you finally meet your new addition.

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Adoptive Family Birth Parent

What is an Adoption Specialist?

Whether you are an expectant parent or hopeful adoptive parent, choosing adoption is a big decision. You have a lot to consider before starting the adoption process and will need someone to support and guide you through the ups and downs.
The support of friends and family members can have a huge impact on your adoption experience. Also important is the help of an adoption specialist.
Adoption specialists serve many purposes and fill many roles. They are educators, counselors and advocates for prospective birth parents and adoptive families. Their services include (but are not limited to):

For Birth Families:

For Adoptive Families:

Along with their official roles, an adoption specialist also plays the role of “friend”. The adoption process can be overwhelming and confusing at times. An adoption specialist can steer you in the right direction, ensure all your needs are being met, and provide reassurance along the way. They are a confidante and a cheerleader.
And most adoption specialists would probably say this is their favorite role to play — one they are privileged have.

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