Speaking up about ethical concerns in the
adoption world is not a popular thing to do. This topic is polarizing,
particularly in the world of blogging and social media, and can invoke strong
feelings in readers. When an
adoptive parent (AP) or a prospective adoptive (PAP) has concerns about their
adoption agency, the parent often struggles with finding their voice.
Often, parents remain silent about
ethical concerns in their adoption process because they fear that their
adoptions will be cancelled or that their agencies may make the process harder
for them. Families in process have already invested time, emotion, and finances
into their adoption and often worry that this will be all for naught if their
adoption is terminated or cancelled (often times, this happens under the guise
of a referral being “lost” or a child suddenly becoming “unadoptable”).
Agencies threaten that they will not refund money due to contractual
obligations or they point out unenforceable "gag clauses" or
"online restrictions" to threaten the PAP into silence. Agencies and
adoption workers who label themselves as "Christian" may tell PAPs
they are going "against God's will" by speaking up about concerns
since the agency is doing "God's work for orphans." PAPs and APs are
called "anti-adoption" by agencies and other adoptive parents if they even
hint at an ethical problem with an agency, country or program. Those that do
express concern are told they are "going to close the country to
adoption" or that they will anger the sending country.
To truly understand how many families are
unwilling or unable to speak out about ethical concerns, it is crucial to
understand just how the process works and how PAPs become so emotionally
invested. In international
adoption there are many red flags that may alert PAPs to potential issues (http://www.reformtalk.net/2012/09/28/list-of-red-flags-in-international-adoption/). However, these red flags are often not seen until parents are well into the program, and have
invested both financially and emotionally in their potential child(ren). The financial investment is obvious:
international adoption is costly, and parents may have written checks for tens
of thousands of dollars before the referred child is legally theirs. The emotional side may be less obvious,
but it is no less real. Typically,
PAPs wait for a length of time between referral and travel. As the parents
wait, the child begins to feel like 'theirs" even though the adoption is
not finalized and they do not have physical or legal custody. Just as
biological parents do, PAPs go into a nesting stage and tell their friends and
family about the child(ren) that they are hopeful will soon join their family. Often,
PAPs share the news of an adoptive sibling with their children already at
home. An entire community of
people becomes invested in the adoption -- frequently well before it is
definite that the child will absolutely become the PAPs’ legal child. Ending
the adoption because of ethical concerns, or having the adoption cancelled by
the agency because they spoke out about those ethical concerns, causes
emotional turmoil for PAPs and everyone who has shared in their joy. The termination
of an adoption also likely results in the loss of a significant amount of
money, which for many PAPs means the end of their adoption dream. For these reasons, PAPs are incredibly
reluctant to speak out about ethical concerns in their adoption programs.
It isn’t necessarily easier for APs who have
completed the process to talk openly about adoption ethics. Adoptive parents who speak up about
concerns after their child is home can also be bullied into silence by PAPs.
They are told that they are making things harder for families in process by
speaking about concerns. They are told they are being "selfish" and
"hypocritical." An adoptive parent with a child home may not have
seen problems or realized concerns until the end of their adoption, or may have
feared agency retribution during their adoption and waited until their child
was safely home to warn parents in process or new clients signing onto a
program. Instead of being seen as assisting these new parents or parents in
process, they are seen as a problem. Ethical concerns, they are told, have no
place in adoption discussion.
It is because of these concerns that most
adoptive parents never feel able to speak up about ethics in adoption. More new clients sign onto the program,
and more parents feel alone in their concerns when red flags appear. The
ethical problems are never addressed because everyone is afraid to speak. If these issues are not
fixed, the sending country may ultimately end adoptions due to rampant
corruption.
This all could have been prevented. Things
could have looked much different had experiences have been heard and
valued.
A group of very brave adoptive parents from
Haiti are speaking up about concerns with their international adoption program. They
have banded together in solidarity to create a blog to express and voice their
concerns about the exploitation of children in Haiti. These parents should
be lauded for their bravery and emotional fortitude in the face of extreme
pressure from their agency, various organizations and fellow PAPs.
Alarmingly, the stories told by these parents
may have connections to adoption programs in other countries. The same players facilitating adoptions for
children and families in Haiti are also working to facilitate adoptions in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo.
MLJ Adoptions,
is an Indiana based for-profit adoption agency run by attorney Michele Jackson.
This adoption agency has partnered with Giving Hope Rescue Mission, run by
Heather Elyse, to facilitate the adoption of Haitian children by North American
families. MLJ Adoptions is also incredibly
active in the world of Congolese adoptions, claiming to have facilitated more than 50% of all international adoptions in Congo.
Sincerely,
Concerned adoptive parents of DRC children
5 comments:
MLJ Adoptions, Inc. (MLJ) did hope to clarify the information contained in this post. While MLJ was approached by Giving Hope Rescue Mission (GHRM) to partner, we have decided to pursue different partnerships in Haiti. MLJ has not completed any adoptions with GHRM.
The information was taken directly from MLJ's website. On May 17, 2013 the following is found on their website, "We will be working together with our partner crèche, Giving Hope, to place children in permanent, loving homes. And like the stitched together stripes of the Haitian flag, we look forward to working in unity with Giving Hope in the best interests of the Haitian children we serve."
Read more: http://mljadoptions.com/MobileBlog.aspx?articleID=815#ixzz2f5zPRWui
In addition, on the Giving Hope Rescue Mission Website, it states on the home page, "We work with MLJ Adoptions an adoption agency based in Indiana. If you are interested in adopting in Haiti you can find more information at MLJAdoptions.com." (http://www.givinghopehaiti.org/)
I can post an addendum below the letter above if you could please comment again with a link to the MLJ website and the Giving Hope Rescue Mission website where it states officially that MLJ does not partner with the Giving Hope Rescue Mission.
"I was inspired to write this blog when Heather of Giving Hope Rescue Mission in Haiti mentioned the term "Waiting Well" in reference to the international adoption process. She is an amazing advocate for orphans and adoptive mothers. She has touched and transformed many orphans' lives and she is able to really understand the big picture and the little details included in the wait." - Michele Jackson, 4/24/13 http://mljadoptions.com/MobileBlog.aspx?articleID=795#ixzz2f6WxYo2I
"Interested in learning more about adopting from Haiti? Giving Hope Rescue Mission currently partners exclusively with MLJ Adoptions. Well-known for their integrity, skill, experience and compassion, MLJ helps unite forever families from across the world!" - Heather Elyse, http://www.heatherelyse.com/#!recommendations/cpnx
"Congrats to the agencies approved to do adoptions in Haiti!!
I am really excited to see Giving Hope Rescue Missions- contracted partnering Hague licensed Agency on this list!
MLJ Adoptions Inc!!
I am beyond thrilled to be working with such an amazing licensed Hague agency located in Indiana!!! We love you MLJ Adoptions Inc... and Congratulations from your Giving Hope family from Haiti!!!!!!!!!!! We look forward to a long lasting relationship and friendship!!
Woo hoo!!! Looks like lots of kids will be going home!! I will be posting new info on how to adopt on a later posting!! So be on the look out!! I will also be posting websites and links later on so you can get to know MLJ Adoptions, and see why we love them so much!
I am doing the Happy Adoption Dance!! Woo hoo!!!" - Heather Elyse, January 17, 2013 via GHRM Facebook page
Holly and company, well written! And kudos to you who signed gag clauses and are continuing to share your stories and speak truth. I have a lawyer contact who is willing to help families in that situation navigate their rights.
Are there adoption organizations that work with DRC that you DO recommend? Husband and I are looking into adoption but not until later on down the road. Just trying to get the best information possible!
Post a Comment