Adoption News & Events
We know that many of you are interested in more information about adopting the children in Haiti who were affected by the earthquake. At this time, the only children from Haiti who may be coming to the United States are those whose adoptions were already underway before the earthquake. Even for these children, much of the paperwork has been destroyed and it may take some time before the children can actually come to this country. For the countless other children, the priority of the disaster recovery team is to focus on immediate physical and medical needs and assist in the reunion of family members who have been separated by the disaster. As a result, it will likely take a long time before children affected by the earthquake may become available for adoption.
The Department of State provides more information at http://adoption.state.gov/news/Haiti.html
Meanwhile, we urge you to think about the thousands of children in this country who live in foster care and wait for families to adopt them. If you have not yet worked with an agency to have a “homestudy” or adoption profile done, you may want to consider doing that now. Please contact us for additional information or with any questions you may have.
Media may call Gloria Hochman 215-588-0506
Adoption Program for Members of the LGBT Community
Finally, just before his 18th birthday, Sheldon got the gift he had dreamed about for twelve years. He walked into Philadelphia Family Court with the two people who would that day become his official, legal parents.
"We were just slightly nervous," remembers his dad. "In the back of your mind is always the thought that maybe they'll figure out some reason we can't do this." But all went smoothly, and there was a party afterward for friends. Two months later, members of both parents' extended families were invited to a "Covenanting" ceremony where Doug Brunk and Lloyd Bowman wrote the words that were in their hearts and committed to being Sheldon's parents forever.
Brunk and Bowman are two of an increasing number of gay men and women who are adopting children who now live in foster care. Their son, Sheldon, now 19, was 17 when he came to live with them. They plan to adopt again.
The National Adoption Center, based in Philadelphia, has launched a program for members of the gay community to advise and support them as they consider adoption and begin their adoption search. Together with the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund, an information session was held in March.
"DVLF incubated the LGBT community assessment project of the City of Philadelphia and The Philadelphia Foundation," said Perry Monastero. "One important finding that Chris Bartlett and his team at the Philadelphia Health Management Corporation uncovered is 29% of households surveyed has a child in the home. Sheldon, one of our board members, comes from one of those households."
While the Center has always welcomed gay men and women as candidates for adoption, it is now becoming proactive, encouraging those who may be considering adoption, but don't know how to begin, which adoption agency to approach and who need support during the adoption process.
There are 114,000 children throughout the country living in foster care who wait to be adopted; 1,600 are living in the Delaware Valley. Most children are school age and many, like Sheldon, are teenagers who still hope for a permanent family. Since 1972, the Center has helped find families for more than 21,000 children.
Sheldon's parents spoke at the March 25 event along with Ken Mullner, the Center's executive director, and Perry Monastero, executive director of DVLF.
For additional information, contact Ken Mullner at 215-875-0323.
Save this date! September 27, 2010
WAYNESBOROUGH COUNTRY CLUB in Paoli, Pennsylvania.
More information.