On November 5, 2006, the New York Times wrote about international adoptions from Guatemala. The article has both compelling facts and what I belive are some erroneous criticisms. Right now U.S. attempts to improve the process (the Hague treaty) could result in the U.S. cutting off thousands of legitimate adoptions every year (as has happened elsewhere). As with all regulatory systems, we need to find rules that prevent most problems, but are not so burdensome or unrealistic that they bring the legitimate system to a halt (e.g., we have traffic laws and drive on the freeways even though people are killed and maimed on the freeways).
Below is my letter to the editor and some additional thoughts. We worked through Adoptions International www.adoptionsintl.org and were particularly impressed by their professionalism and integrity. They also work hard on keeping the Guatemalan process open and honest. While not every agency handles things well, the process appears to do an excellent job of giving birth mothers a viable adoption choice, providing excellent transition care in foster homes, and finding permanent loving homes for the babies.
Other good resources are: www.familieswithoutborders.org (information about Guatemalan adoptions and areas of concern) and http://www.guatefam.org/process.htm (a detailed description of the thorough and transparent adoption process on Guatemala).
This is an interesting article about how well meaning critics can misunderstand issues raised by international adoptions (I don't know much about it though so I don't have a firm opinion on its arguments): http://www.adoptionpolicy.org/pdf/4-28-05CAPSaraDillonadoptionarticle.pdf
Thoughts? You can e-mail me at guat-adopt@northtakoma.com
|
Mark Freedman November 5, 2006 Letters to
the Editor Re: "Guatemala System Is Scrutinized as Americans Rush In to Adopt" November 5, 2006 To the editor: Please accept for consideration the following letter. I have drafted both a short version and a longer version. I would be honored if you would print either. LONGER: I read "Guatemala System Is Scrutinized as Americans Rush In to Adopt" with great dismay while my eight-month old daughter from Guatemala slept soundly nearby. I fear that anecdotes and ideals will trump facts and reality causing a shutdown of an excellent and transparent system of adoption that annually connect thousands of needy babies with loving homes. Every country has flaws in its adoption system, including Guatemala and the U.S. In Central America, Guatemala is the only country with a functioning international adoption process. The combination of rampant poverty, virtually non-existent birth-control for poor women and in some countries absolute bans on abortion traps thousands of women and children in a cycle of desperation. Women choosing adoption deserve a realistic opportunity to find good homes for their babies, in addition to deserving access to birth control and improved economic conditions. Our many friends from El Salvador were shocked to learn that international adoptions from their country are almost impossible despite a desperate need for homes for thousands of children. Guatemala's highly transparent system has strong protections for the rights of mothers and the needs of children. It includes a social worker interview with the mother and substantive reviews by both the family court and the national Attorney General's office. Additionally Guatemala's model private foster care system provides loving Guatemalan homes and full medical care for these babies-often from birth. While ideally birth mothers or their families could raise all of their children, the reality is that for many of these children the only other options are overburdened orphanages without government funding or begging in the streets. While the Guatemalan system, like our own, has room for improvement, the U.S. should reject unnecessary proposals that would stop almost all adoptions as has happened in other countries. Instead, we should work towards making international adoptions more available throughout Central America. The pressures that contribute to adoption abuses will decrease greatly as more needy children have access to loving homes, not fewer. SHORT: I read "Guatemala System Is Scrutinized as Americans Rush In to Adopt" with great dismay while my eight-month old Guatemalan daughter slept soundly nearby. I fear that attempts at improvement will effectively end all adoptions as has happened elsewhere. Guatemala is the only Central American country fully open to international adoptions. Every year, thousands of Guatemalan women seek new homes for their babies. Throughout Central America poor women and children struggle with rampant poverty, virtually no birth-control and limited or no abortion services. The other options are often orphanages (without government funding) or begging on the streets. Guatemala's transparent system protects mothers' rights and children's needs. It includes substantive reviews by social workers, the family courts and the Attorney General's office. A foster care system developed by private attorneys provides loving transition homes for these children and full health care. Like our own system, theirs can improve, but the U.S. should reject unnecessary proposals that would stop almost all adoptions. Instead, we should work towards making adoption available throughout Central America to connect more children seeking families with loving homes, not fewer. Very truly
yours, |
My
letter is short because The New York Times asks for submission with less
than 150 words. Here are some additional thoughts.
We carefully researched adoption options and chose to adopt from Guatemala. We wanted to adopt from a country where children needed homes, and also from a country in which the adoption system was honest and centered on the best interests of the children. Like the United States, their system relies heavily on the work of private attorneys and social workers. It empowers women by giving them a viable adoption choice. The government does not fund orphanages and does not have much of a government system for this need. Instead, private attorneys and social workers have filled the gap. They created a system that does a remarkably good job caring for these babies and getting them to loving homes. Of particular merit is the foster care system and health care. Our experience was typical. Shortly after birth, our baby went to a loving foster home. She was raised as a part of the family. She also had monthly visits with a U.S. trained doctor. We had regular contact with the foster family. We visited Guatemala twice and had the honor of taking care of our daughter for a weekend each time. When we brought her home, at seven and a half months, she already knew us and had a healthy transition from one loving home to another. We expect to maintain contact with the foster family. We chose Guatemala in part because we were providing a home to a child in need and we knew that she would have good emotional and physical care in the months between birth and when we brought her home. While the Guatemalan system is not perfect, it is the only Central American country open to international adoptions. Thousands of babies in need go without homes every year. In my opinion, the best way to improve the system is to open other Central American countries for adoption. As more children in need of homes become available, there will be less pressure on the Guatemalan system and thus less incentive for abuses. There is no question that thousands of babies in Central America are born to women who would like to find them new homes. The right system makes that possible. |