One of Disney Junior’s beloved characters, seven-year old Doc McStuffins, will be welcoming a new sibling in the spring episodes. Unlike Doc and her brother, the new member of the family will be adopted! Doc McStuffins focuses on the titular character Doc, who wants to be a doctor and devotes her time to fixing broken toys. With the help of a magical stethoscope, she takes off on adventures of all kinds, traveling in time and bringing her toys to life. Some of these animated toys make regular appearances in the episodes. Also important to the show are Doc’s family members – her mother is a doctor, her father is a stay-at-home dad, and she has a younger brother named Donny. On March 4, the new series of Doc McStuffins episodes, will begin, and the new storyline will focus on the family’s journey to adopt a baby. The preview (which you can view on YouTube) approaches adoption in a very positive way, and the whole family expresses its excitement over the new addition to their “forever family.” The new storyline will make a great resource for parents who want to introduce their child, adopted or not, to the subject of adoption. Be sure to tune in to the Disney Channel on March 4 for the beginning of the series! References:
On Monday, the Nebraska Legislature’s Judiciary Committee voted to forward a bill that would ensure the permanency of adoptions for adoptive parents. If the bill passes, it will ensure that parents will not lose their parental rights in the event that contact agreements with the birth parents change. Under this bill, parents would not risk losing their parental rights to their child, even if their agreement for contact is broken. The purpose of the bill, lawmakers say, is to protect the home environment and stability of adopted children. The movement passed in a 6-1 vote, but some legislators are in opposition. Senator Ernie Chambers argues that the bill would leave birth parents disadvantaged. Now that it has passed in the Committee, the bill will move on for further review. References:
After a hold on adoptions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 159 children are finally being released to their adoptive parents, most of whom are American. After a spike in the adoption of Congolese children in recent years, the government put a hold on the process to review cases, expressions concerns such as child trafficking issues. This left hundreds of children effectively stuck, their adoptive parents waiting to welcome them into their homes. Last November, the DRC signed off on exit visas for around 70 children, and after mounting pressure from other countries, they are beginning to lift the suspension on adoptions little by little. References:
Jep and Jessica Robertson, stars of the show Duck Dynasty, bring adoption to the spotlight in their spinoff show Jep and Jessica: Growing the Dynasty. The show revolves around the couple and the latest addition to the Robertson family: the baby boy they adopted.
Thanks for the love! This has been a crazy, awesome ride but so worth it! Me and Gus signing out! #JepAndJessica pic.twitter.com/ps0MMcLdGJ — Jep Robertson (@JepDuckman) January 21, 2016
Thanks for the love! This has been a crazy, awesome ride but so worth it! Me and Gus signing out! #JepAndJessica pic.twitter.com/ps0MMcLdGJ
— Jep Robertson (@JepDuckman) January 21, 2016
Jep and Jessica named their baby boy Jules Agustus, calling him “Gus” for short. The new TV series has been created to follow the couple as they raise their new baby, along with their four biological children. Other members of the Robertson family are sure to make regular appearances on the show, but the focus lies on Jep and Jessica. Jep and Jessica met in 2001, and they were married later that year. After having four children – Lily, Merritt, Priscilla, and River – Jessica encountered some health risks that prevented her from getting pregnant again, and it wasn’t long before the family started thinking about adoption. Now that they have brought the baby home, they couldn’t be happier. Jessica told Life & Style Magazine, “We wanted it to happen for so many years, so to actually have him and hold him and know he’s actually ours and we’re his forever family, we’re excited.” Follow the family’s journey on Jep and Jessica: Growing the Dynasty, which premiered on January 20, 2016.
A bill that would give Indiana adoptees an opportunity to access their adoption records was approved by the state House committee on Monday. The bill passed in an 11-2 vote and will now move on to the full House. For Indiana adoptees born between 1941 and 1993, the approval brings them one step closer to being able to obtain their birth records, which are currently sealed. The bill seeks to give adoptees access to their records while still maintaining the privacy of the birth mothers who choose to keep their adoptions closed. A version of the bill was rejected last year as a result of similar privacy concerns. Following the approval, the bill is now advancing to the House floor. References:
For waiting families, adoption is an exciting journey that will help them finally realize their dreams of parenthood — but it is also a long process that can be overwhelming, uncertain, and at times, emotionally draining. If you are looking for ways to support a friend or family member through the ups and downs of adoption, here are some steps you can take through every stage of the adoption process:
The initial steps of the adoption process are often some of the busiest for families hoping to adopt, followed by what can be a long, difficult wait to find a prospective birth mother. There are several ways to show your support of your friend during this phase of the process: Offer emotional support. One of the best things friends and family can do for hopeful parents through every step of the adoption process is to be available and offer emotional support. Let the adoptive parents know that you are there if they need someone to talk to, and allow them to share as much or as little about their adoption process as they want Learn about adoption. There is a lot to know about adoption, and it can be overwhelming for adoptive families to dive into the topic alone. Learning about the adoption community and adoption processes will help you better understand the challenges your friend may be facing. Offer financial resources. Adoption can be expensive, and many adoptive families look for ways to reduce adoption costs. Attend any fundraisers that the family hosts, or offer to help organize a fundraiser on their behalf.
When the phone call finally comes informing the family that they have been chosen by a prospective birth mother, it is a time of excitement and celebration. When your friend shares the news that they’ve been selected for an adoption opportunity, there are some things you can do to join in the celebration and show your support: Provide a service. Many adoptive families need to travel when it is time for the baby to be born — often at a moment’s notice. Offer to housesit or watch your friend’s other children when it is time to for them to travel to the hospital. Host a celebration. Some families have an adoption shower when they receive an adoption opportunity to help them prepare for their new baby. Ask your friend if they’d like to have a celebration — just be understanding if they’d prefer to wait until after placement. Help them prepare. Even if your friend is not comfortable decorating the nursery or having a baby shower, they will likely need to make some preparations before the baby is born. Offer to lend them any essentials you have on hand, like a crib, until they are ready to start purchasing baby items.
When the adoptive parents return home with their child, they will face an entirely new set of challenges — parenting a newborn baby! Help them adjust to life as new parents and show your support of the family they created through adoption: Welcome them home. Leave a sweet surprise for the new family, whether it’s balloons tied to their mailbox, flowers delivered to their door, or a home-cooked meal. Help with everyday tasks. Parenting a newborn takes a lot of time and undivided attention. Let your friends know that you are always available and willing to help wherever you’re needed. Offer to run errands or help with the new baby or the family’s other children. Learn about adoptive parenting. Adoption is a lifelong journey that will continue to impact your friend’s life, as well as their child’s. Learn about positive adoption language, and be sensitive to all members of the adoption community and the challenges they may face. Every new parent needs support and encouragement, regardless of how their family is created. Offering your time, emotional support and practical help throughout the process will make your friend or family member’s adoption journey that much easier — and strengthen your friendship in the process.
Is she adopted? What are your real parents like? Are you going to give the baby up?
For anyone touched by adoption, insensitive questions and comments like these are all too common.
While certain words and phrases may seem innocent to those who are unfamiliar with and curious about adoption, this negative adoption language can be harmful for all members of the adoption triad.
Here are five of the most common negative adoption terms, along with alternatives that you can use to promote a more positive and accepting view of adoption.
The role of adoptive parents and the love they have for their children is very “real,” and the term “real parents” dismisses that. Instead, use the term “birth parents” or “birth family” when referring to a child’s biological parents — this is more respectful of both families and the important role each plays in the creation of the family.
Qualifying a family as being “adoptive” implies that they are not a true family or that they are somehow second best. Instead, just say “family,” “child,” or “parents.” There’s no need to qualify it with the adjective “adoptive.”
Women are not “giving up” by choosing adoption. In fact, birth mothers are making a proactive, positive and selfless decision when they place their children for adoption.
The term “keeping” objectifies the child and diminishes the difficult choice a woman makes when deciding between adoption and parenting. “Choosing to parent” is more respectful of women considering adoption, as well as their children.
Adoption can be a very positive experience for all members of the adoption triad, and it’s something to be celebrated — but it also does not define a person’s identity. Saying a person “is adopted” suggests that adoption is their sole defining characteristic.
Instead, a person “was adopted” into a family, and now that person is a part of that family.
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By using the correct vocabulary when talking about adoption, you can help spread adoption awareness and encourage others to view adoption in a more positive light.
In the wake of the movement by many states to give adoptees access to original birth certificates, the state of Missouri has joined the conversation. A House committee voted on a bill that would help adoptees obtain their sealed information. At present, the original records of Missouri adoptees are sealed to protect the privacy of the birth parents. Like the other states that have been discussing adoption bills, Missouri is working to provide information to the adoptees while still maintaining that privacy. With the consent of the birth parents, adoptees would be able to access their original birth certificates and other information once they turn 18. References:
Among the 21 bills signed into law by Wisconson Governor Scott Walker is one that may allow some adoptees to obtain the identities of their birth parents. The bill stated that if the birth parents were deceased, adoptees could have access to their basic information. Furthermore, the new law will allow adoptees to give permission to the Adoption Search Program to give their identifying information to their birth parents. A parent or guardian of a deceased adoptee may also request access to medical records. The law gives some adoptees an opportunity to access their medical records and information on their birth parents, provided that it does not violate the privacy or confidentiality of the birth parents. References:
Between 200 and 300 Ontario adoptions have been put on hold as a result of drug testing from the discontinued program Motherisk. Because the program has been discredited, the adoptions must now be reviewed before they can proceed. In some cases, the children have already been placed in their adoptive homes, but they must wait for the adoption to be finalized. In other cases, the children are still waiting to be placed with their adoptive families. It is unclear how long these families will have to wait to complete their adoptions. Currently, an independent commission is reviewing cases in the hopes to help families finish their adoptions as quickly as possible. References:
