Intercountry Adoption Guidelines

The incidence of foreign adoptions from the nations of South America, Eastern Europe and Asia has greatly increased as a result of the drastic decrease in the number of adoptable babies from western nations. This book, written by adoption workers and legal scholars from twelve 'sending' countries, presents, for the first time, details of those countries' adoption laws and procedures as well as international agreements governing foreign adoptions. Intercountry Adoptions constitutes an important and long-awaited reference book for potential adoptive couples, child care workers, legal experts and social service agencies.

With essays by well-known adoption practitioners and researchers who source empirical research and practical knowledge, this volume addresses key developmental, cultural, health, and behavioral issues in the transracial and international adoption process and provides recommendations for avoiding fraud and techniques for navigating domestic and foreign adoption laws. The text details the history, policy, and service requirements relating to white, African American, Asian American, Latino and Mexican American, and Native American children and adoptive families. It addresses specific problems faced by adoptive families with children and youth from China, Russia, Ethiopia, India, Korea, and Guatemala, and offers targeted guidance on ethnic identity formation, trauma, mental health treatment, and the challenges of gay or lesbian adoptions

Inside the Adoption Agency provides a glimpse inside the fascinating world of international adoption and explains the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, which is revolutionizing a process that was previously uncontrolled and marred by scandal. "Jean Erichsen gives order to the often overwhelming mix of foreign and domestic requirements and provides the reader with many heart-warming and humorous moments as well." -Laura Kalish, attorney "Jean Erichsen has a lively and entertaining style of writing that makes this book hard to put down." -Sandra Carlson, LCSW "What I really appreciated about this book was how clearly it spelled out the total dependence of agencies and adoptive parents on the whims of the host countries." -Ruth Arnold, adoptive parent "This fascinating book will give the reader a renewed appreciation of the dedication and hard work by which trustworthy adoption professionals arrange for homeless children overseas to join their new American families. The Erichsens' unique historical perspective provides an understanding of why the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption will be coming into effect in this decade, in an effort to insure sound adoption agency practices with well prepared adoptive parents." -Deborah McCurdy, founder and supervisor of social work, Beacon Adoption Center Jean Erichsen is one of the leading pioneers of intercountry adoption. Part history lesson and part "how-to guide," this book provides valuable insights and information from someone who has witnessed and shaped intercountry adoption practice for the past twenty-five years. -Thomas Atwood, President and CEO, National Council For Adoption

This book offers a comprehensive exploration of the complex landscape surrounding international adoptions within the Indian context. Embark on a journey through the corridors of legislation, regulations, and policies governing inter-country adoption in India. This handbook serves as an indispensable resource, providing legal professionals, adoption agencies, policymakers, and concerned individuals with a thorough understanding of the nuanced and ever-evolving framework. This is not just a legal manual; it's a guide for ethical, informed decision-making. With navigational aids, practical guides, and procedural outlines, the handbook ensures that readers can traverse the adoption process with confidence and clarity. This handbook is your indispensable companion. Illuminate the path forward, informed by a profound understanding of the laws and policies that shape inter-country adoption in India.

This study explores the best interests principle in intercountry adoption. It investigates what role the best interests principle should play in intercountry adoption and the overall conditions required for it to do so in keeping with the rights of the child. Sections include: best interests, human rights and intercountry adoption; the role and purpose of the best interests concept in a human rights context; the changing role and purpose of intercountry adoption; determining children's best interests in intercountry adoption; and ensuring the right conditions for a best interests determination in intercountry adoption. While there is general agreement that the best interests of the child should be the paramount consideration in intercountry adoption, there is no consensus on who decides what is in a child's best interests or on what basis that decision should be made.

Adoption has always had a political dimension. Its potential use to achieve political ends has been evident throughout history and in many different cultures. In Roman 1 times an emperor would adopt a successful general to continue his rule. In Ireland under the Brehon Laws the reciprocal placements of children between clans was 2 an accepted means of cementing mutual allegiances. In Japan the adoption of non-relatives was traditionally seen as a means of allying with the fortunes of 3 the ruling family. The willingness of governments to use adoption as a political strategy was apparent, for example, in Australia where it was used to further 4 the assimilation of indigenous people. It is now present in the phenomenon of intercountry adoption where the ?ow of children, particularly in the aftermath of war, is often politics by proxy and which arguably attracts the involvement of 5 some countries for reasons of economic and political expediency. Adoption does not function in isolation. It plays a distinct role within the c- text of family law proceedings. The extent to which it is available as a resource for children in the public care system or as an adjunct to marriage proceedings is essentially politically determined. It is itself susceptible to political in?uence. 6 In fact direct political leadership, exercised ?rst by President Clinton and then 1 See, Gibbons, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Harrap, London 1949 at p. 30.