Adoption Blog

Families for Orphans Coalition News

Families for Orphans Coalition
N E W S

February 3, 2010, Washington, DC – In light of the tragedy in Haiti and to help meet the needs of the 30 million orphans worldwide, the Families for Orphans Coalition wrote to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee today to urge immediate consideration of the Families for Orphans Act (H.R. 3070 and S. 1458).

The chaos resulting from the January 12th earthquake in Haiti has emphasized the vulnerability of children and demonstrated the need for a focused global strategy addressing children living without parental care.  If enacted, the Families for Orphans Act would create the Office of Orphan Policy, Diplomacy and Development within the Department of State responsible for implementing comprehensive strategies to encourage the preservation of biological families and help children without parental care find safe, legal, permanent families – ideally in their country of birth.  It would also fund research to ascertain the number of children living without parental care worldwide -- the importance of which has been further underscored by the wide range of estimates and unknown number of Haiti’s orphaned children.   In addition, the Families for Orphans Act includes interventions such as family preservation, reunification, domestic adoption and intercountry adoption, if it is determined to be in the best interest of the child and a permanent family is not available domestically.”

“When devastating natural disasters such as the earthquake in Haiti occur, we must act immediately to mitigate the impact on children by meeting their most basic need – permanent family care,” the letter to Congress read.  “If the office proposed in the Families for Orphans Act had been in existence prior to Haiti’s earthquake, much of the current chaos surrounding the protection of Haiti's orphans could have been averted.  Had the thousands of children who were known to have no parents or family able to care for them prior to the earthquake been documented, plans could have already been underway to find families for them through domestic or international adoption, instead of being relegated to what may be years in a refugee camp and a lifetime without parents.  This tragedy is compounded because of the growing waiting lists of people with new awareness of the plight of these children who are interested in adopting them.” 

The earthquake in Haiti is the third catastrophic natural event in the past decade, after the Tsunami of 2004 and the devastating earthquake in China in 2008 that has left many thousands of children without a family of their own.  The Families for Orphans Coalition stated that having the love and protection of a permanent family is a basic human right for every child.  “It is time for the United States to take a stronger leadership role on behalf of all those children without parents who, whether through natural crisis, parental death, abuse, or neglect, are forced to face life alone and with little hope for a secure future,” the letter read.  “We cannot, and must not, turn our backs on these orphans.”

There is a preponderance of research consistently proving that a nurturing, permanent family environment is the best predictor of a child’s future prospects.  Families are essential to the healthy development of children, and children who grow up without a family of their own are far more likely to experience homelessness, incomplete education, violence, teen pregnancy,   unemployment, emotional disorders, depression, and suicide.

CEO Update

Haiti’s orphans
As many of you have seen, there have been lots of news stories focusing on orphans in Haiti.  Tonight at 10pm EST, on CNN Anderson Cooper is going to continue focusing on orphans.  Previously this show emphasized the need for adoption and pointed out that even prior to Haiti’s earthquake, the child welfare system was inadequate at finding homes for children.  My hope is that this will continue to show the need for a comprehensive restructuring of Haiti’s child welfare system.

America World’s Rwanda Program
We have nine families in Kenya processing visas for their Rwanda adoptions!  This is our largest group yet for Rwanda and we’re very excited for these families.  We will be in prayer for these families that their time in Kenya goes smoothly and that their travel home is safe. 

Christian Alliance For Orphans Summit
I’ve been a big proponent of adoptive families participating with the CAFO in the past – and this summit in Minnesota is gearing up to be the best yet.  I am writing to you with lots of advance notice so that you can sign up and attend this event.  I have loved meeting AW families at previous CAFO summits.  Speakers at this event include John Piper, Steven Curtis & Mary Beth Chapman and many more.  You can find more information about the summit at this link.  I will be there and hope to see you there.

Orphan’s Ticket Home Campaign
Thank you!  In 2009 we raised over $170,000 in funds towards our Orphan’s Ticket Home campaign.  This money was used in a variety of ways to help ensure that fewer orphans are languishing in orphanages without anyone seeking to find families for them.  We couldn’t have done this without your help and support.  When we stared this campaign in 2008, our goal was to raise $1 million in five years; we can still do this with your help.  In 2010 we hope to raise over $250,000 so that by 2012 we meet or exceed our goal.

-- Brian Luwis, CEO

Haiti Adoptions Latest Update

There was a White House conference call this afternoon about Haiti adoption in which members of the Administration from the Department of State, US Agency for International Development, Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives and the Public Engagement Office of the White House participated.  Unfortunately, there is a large amount of government bureaucracy that is opposed to adoption as an appropriate response to the orphan crisis in Haiti.  While we fervently believe all efforts should be made to keep families intact – with a crisis of this magnitude we know there are thousands upon thousands of children in need of permanent families.   I would encourage you to write to public@who.eop.gov and let them know what you think.  I’ve already drafted a short email and plan to send the following: 

“I don’t think the US government is doing enough to help orphans in Haiti.  The efforts to work with orphans who’ve already had their adoptions completed is commendable – but this is less than one percent of the orphans in Haiti.  Adoption should be an option for children languishing in orphanages and if our government is going to be spending tens of millions of dollars to help rebuild Haiti, it should start with the premise that the most vulnerable – Haiti’s children – are given an opportunity to be raised in a family.  If a family isn’t available in Haiti we shouldn’t allow borders to be barriers to these children growing up with a mom and dad.”  

On a positive note, as a response to this crisis, many member of Congress, including Senator Landrieu, are further promoting the Families For Orphans Act of 2009, a bill which will establish an office in the Department of State to engage in policy formation and diplomacy to promote orphans’ need for permanent and safe families.  This is legislation that our agency supports.

I’ll continue to update you regarding news pertaining to adoption from Haiti and the ability for families to adopt from that country.  We have been encouraged that there have been a number of families who’ve contacted us about their interest in adoption after learning about Haiti.  More information about our program can be found on our programs page.

Haiti Adoption Update

We have had such a positive response to our posting about Haiti adoption.  We’ve heard from many families that are interested in more information once it becomes available.  If you’d like to add your name and e-mail address to this list, please email info@awaa.org with “Haiti Adoption Interest” in the subject line.

I spoke with someone today whose family is strongly considering adopting after he and his wife learned of the plight of orphans in Haiti.  After they learned a few days ago that adoption from Haiti isn’t readily available for new adoption cases, he and his wife are now considering adopting a child from another country.  We believe that God is using the tragic events in Haiti to help a child who is in need of a family – even though that child isn’t in Haiti. 

I know that God works in mysterious and unpredictable ways – and I wonder if this tragedy in Haiti isn’t God’s way of showing us that there are orphans all over the world in need of families.  Instead of an earthquake, tens of thousands of children have been left as orphans in Ethiopia because of HIV/AIDS, poverty and famine; your family can get more information about Ethiopia adoption by going to our website or emailing ethiopia@awaa.org.  In Rwanda, the aftermath of the genocide, HIV/AIDS and extreme poverty have left many children as orphans; this is one of our newest programs and we’ve been encouraged to see the results; families can email a Rwanda Family Coordinator at rwanda@awaa.org.  Our China Waiting Children Program has children available age six months to fourteen years including young children with minor and medically correctible special needs; please email waitingchildren@awaa.org for more information about this. 

I encourage you to pray and seek the Lord’s will for your family.  And please continue praying for those in need in Haiti – a crisis of this magnitude will require years and years of help – and I pray that by the mercy and grace of God this will not be a time when orphans are left by the wayside, but that permanent families will be sought for them.

-- Brian Luwis, CEO

Haitian Adoption

I am writing to update those who are interested in Haitian adoption.  I participated in a conference today involving USCIS, US Dept. of State and the Dept. of Health and Human Services.  At this time, the only children being processed for visas are those children who either had their adoption finalized within Haiti prior to the January 12th earthquake or those children who’ve already been accepted as a referral by families working with an adoption service provider.  New adoption cases aren’t currently being processed. 

There is consideration of a policy to allow children in desperate circumstances to enter to the United States on a special humanitarian visa – but there are not yet details regarding which children might qualify and what their status would be regarding adoption. 

There is still much chaos and confusion in Haiti and many families are still trying to locate their loved ones.  We were encouraged to know that the US government is very serious about not placing children who could still have a family or would not be appropriate for adoption.  Our hearts and prayers are going out to the people of Haiti – especially the orphans in that country.  When Haiti does have children available for adoption it is our agency’s intention to help find families for those orphans.  If your family is interested in Haitian adoption, please email info@awaa.org with the subject “Haiti adoption interest.”  We’ll compile a list of names and email addresses and inform families when there is more information.

-- Brian Luwis

Waiting Children Video

I want to thank those of you who responded to our year-end Orphans Ticket Home campaign.  It was encouraging to have some of you support this work.  I hope you all enjoyed receiving the 2010 calendars.  Every year I look forward to receiving this calendar and I’ve heard positive feedback from some families already. 

In the beginning of the new year, I thought I’d take a moment to remind you that our staff meets for prayer every morning from 9-9:15.  We generally read a chapter from the Bible and/or a devotional reading and then spend time praying for the day, our work, waiting families, traveling families and, of course, praying for the kids that are waiting for homes.  We want to know how we can be praying for you.  Email your family coordinator if there is something we can be in prayer for – especially as it pertains to your adoption or a child you’ve adopted.  We have seen God’s faithfulness in answering prayers over the years – and we hope that many of you will join us in praying for God’s wisdom and grace for our work.

A new year is here; families that have been waiting for a long time might find a new year a huge milestone which they didn’t expect:  “How come my adoption isn’t finished yet – I thought this would be done in 2009…”.  I want to encourage you that our LORD knows the timing of everything and encourage you to trust Him and His sovereignty.  I remind myself that the Apostle Paul said, “… if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”  (2 Cor. 5:17).  As new creations we can look with faith into the future and know that God, “Knows the plans I have for you…plans to prosper, not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

At the beginning of a new year, it’s also a good time to look back on our past year and thank God for the many things that we have to be grateful for; I am particularly grateful that God was so gracious to our agency financially in 2009 – a tough year economically for our country, but still we managed to stay within our budget.  We are grateful for the work we’ve been able to support through the Orphans Ticket Home campaign.  In 2009, we saw the first Orphan’s Sunday event with the Christian Alliance For Orphans.  We are grateful for the hundreds of children who we placed into families this year and for the many new families that we’ve begun working with.  We have much to be grateful for and we look expectantly to 2010 and pray that God would continue to use America World in building families according to His plan of adoption. 

Finally, I wanted to share a video with you all that I’m really excited about.  We interviewed and filmed a few families that took part in our China Waiting Children Program and this video is the result: www.allenfilm.com/awaa.  We will be putting this on our website, but wanted to send it to you so you can enjoy.  We’re grateful to all the families that allowed us to interview them and use the interviews to help inform more families about the Waiting Children Program.

A New Year with Orphan's Ticket Home

I pray that you had a wonderful Christmas holiday, celebrating our Savior’s birth, with family and friends!

In some small way, I hope that the calendar gift has helped you to enjoy this season even more and that it communicated, in part, America World’s sincerest gratitude to you for the part that you have played in God’s plan of adoption. 

I wanted to take a brief moment to thank you.  You may not know it, but your participation with our Orphan’s Ticket Home campaign is saving lives.  One such life that has been touched and given a hope through your generosity is that of “Marco” in Honduras.  The following report is from one of the team members at the Honduras Permanency Center supported by the Orphan’s Ticket Home campaign:

 
In 2005, when “Marco” was 2 years old, he began living in an orphanage in Honduras after he was abandoned by his mother. We learned through our investigation that his father has never been in his life.  Even as severe as this situation seems, Marco’s case was inactive in the child welfare system – nobody was working to find a family for Marco, until the Permanency Center staff came to his aid.

Our team was able to take this case on and pour in time and resources over the last 10 months.  Our staff has collaborated with the government child welfare office to do the psychological evaluations, social work investigations and legal steps necessary to move through the system.  The funds we have received for Orphan’s Ticket Home have subsidized Marco’s medical tests and media publications necessary for moving his case forward.  Our lawyer, who was assigned to Marco's case, was diligent to not let details fall through the cracks and to always keep his case moving through the bureaucratic system. 

Much like putting together a puzzle, we had to resolve many things in Marco's file in order to make sure that he was legally adoptable.  In early October 2009, the court declared Marco legally abandoned, opening up the path to adoption.  His case has been officially assigned to the adoption committee and there is already a family who is looking for a boy in his age range.  We hope that Marco is with his new adoptive family in a matter of a few months.

 

Marco does not know who you are but he will soon know the love of a permanent family because of you.  As the New Year begins and many people make resolutions and plans to better their lives, please consider partnering with America World in our Orphan’s Ticket Home campaign in order to make an orphan’s life better.  Help us bring hope to the other “Marcos” in Honduras, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Rwanda and China through Orphan’s Ticket Home permanency work. 

Would you help us give another child like Marco the opportunity for a family by purchasing a $300 ticket today?  Just click this Orphan's Ticket Home link and fill in the credit card information and you’ll have helped another child on the path to getting a family. 

Sincerely,

Brian Luwis, Founder and CEO of America World Adoption

End of the Year

I’m back in the office this week, after having been to China to meet the new director of the CCAA.  He seems like a great fit for that position – he is excited about his role in helping build families and he expressed a sincere desire to help orphans in his country.  Although my time in China was brief, it was good to have met with him, meet with our staff in Beijing and one of the travel guides we use.

We’re excited for all the families recently back from Rwanda, Ethiopia & China.  It was great to meet a few of the Rwanda families while I was traveling last week.  I enjoy meeting families in country – it’s a joy to see them with their children.

We’ve had a busy week, which always seems to happen at the end of the year.  We have the office Christmas dinner on Monday night – it’ll be nice to spend time with co-workers outside of the office.

The 2009 inter-country adoption statistics have been put out by the Department of State.  As many of you can guess, there has been a dramatic decrease in adoptions this year.  My prayer for 2010 is that many countries will be more amenable to inter-country adoption as an option for children in their care. 

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince Of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his Kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with Judgment and with Justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.  ~Isaiah 9:6-7

CEO Blog

I am writing this blog from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  I had an opportunity to meet with government officials and with our staff in Ethiopia the past couple days.  AW’s new transition home has made great progress in the last few months and I’m proud of the improvements in care, medical attention and other important details which have been implemented.  I also had an opportunity to meet with the US Consulate in Addis.  I will be traveling on to Rwanda from here, to meet with our staff, the Ministry and hopefully other like-minded organizations doing work to care for orphans in Rwanda.  Your prayers for these two trips are appreciated.

Back at the office things are in full gear following the Thanksgiving week.  We’ve decorated for Christmas and we’re excited about new referrals in China, Rwanda and throughout the programs at our agency.  As we’re approaching the winter months, I thought I’d mention that our agency follows the federal government’s policy on working during inclement weather.  If the federal government is closed due to the weather, we will make sure this is reflected on our phone voice mail and our staff’s email. 

Be on the lookout for the 2010 AW calendar.  It’s going to be printed next week and I know our staff and many families look forward to getting this every year.  You may want to consider giving this calendar to a family member for Christmas – this is a huge hit with grandparents!

This is a busy time of the year for everyone, with Christmas parties, shopping and all the hoopla associated with Christmas.  It’s always a discipline for me to ensure I don’t let Advent get away!  This is a wonderful time of year to reflect upon the coming of Christ.  I think of Mary and Joseph expecting a child – a child Joseph was adopting.  I also know that the holidays can be a difficult time for families wanting a child and experiencing a longer wait than they expected.  For those of you struggling with this wait, my prayer is that this Advent you’ll experience the joy and peace of Christ to sustain you through your wait.

National Adoption Day and Preparation for 2010

Tomorrow is National Adoption Day!  This is a day when many adoptions are finalized in the United States – particularly for adoptions from the US foster care system.  This is also a day when lots of media attention will be focusing on adoption and can be a time when many people hear about adoption and consider adoption for the first time. 

I read a story earlier this week about a high school football team in Texas that went out of their way to make a group of kids without close family connections feel special.  Although this story isn’t specifically about adoption – it reminded me of the importance of children growing up in families.  If you have the opportunity, I think you’ll enjoy reading it.  Also, there is a movie that came out today about adoption – it’s a true story – the movie is called The Blind Side and tells the story of a family that adopted a teenage boy who became a great football player. 

We have a new Family Coordinator, Aimee, in our China Department.  Aimee comes to us with previous experience in foster care and adoption advocacy and will be a huge asset to our organization.  We’re grateful she’s able to join us.

We spent time this week focusing on strategic planning, next year’s budget and goals.  In a review of this year’s budget and strategic goals, I was reminded of God’s faithfulness to our agency and our reliance upon Him for our future needs.  America World wants to be wise stewards of the money we’re entrusted with – while providing quality service to families and ensuring that we treat our staff in an equitable and appropriate way.  Every year our Board of Directors requires that we form a budget that realistically forecasts next year’s work while ensuring that our agency is fiscally sound and appropriately staffed.  We haven’t finalized the 2010 budget yet and we appreciate your prayers for us as we undertake this process.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. -2 Peter 3:18

-- Brian Luwis, CEO