Indiana Open
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We are the adoptees, first families and adoptive families. We write this blog as one. We encourage you to visit our site for valuable search and activism information.
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Adoptees and Military Veterans
Its not often that I see something that I as an adoptee can relate to and enjoy. There is a new website that I did not know existed. It is dedicated to adoptees, birth parents, and adoptive parents who just happen to be military veterans at the same time. A majority of who I am today is because of adoption, military service, and motherhood. It is wonderful to see such a website. I am thrilled that the military veterans are stepping up and helping us in the cause for adult adoptees and their families.
An Important Announcement from Bastard Nation
According to the Daily Bastardette, Bastard Nation has issued an important statement on the status of Haitian orphans entering the United States. Indiana Open as well as Texans for Adult Adoptees OBC Access supports their efforts in making sure that these children are protected.
Please distribute freely
For the last week, Bastard Nation, like the rest of the world, has been watching the devastation of Haiti. The images are frightening, sad, and heartrending, especially those of the children.
We have also watched with alarm the rush to rescue Haitian children by adoption. Within three days of the earthquake, Catholic Charities of Miami had set up a scheme modeled on Operation Pedro Pan, a joint State Department-CIA-Miami Diocese project in the early 1960s to separate children from their parents, creating young pawns in the US war against the Castro government. Although “Operation Pierre Pan” in Haiti is on hold, at least for now, numerous evangelical churches and ministries, adoption agencies, secular organizations, unfinalized adoptive parents and other individuals--many with conflicts of interest--have joined the rescue mission call to remove children immediately, no matter what their family status, to the US for the purpose of adoption.
Haiti is still under rubble. Aid is slow to arrive. Survivors are spread out in shelters and camps, or live in the streets. The dead are unnumbered, unknown, and unnamed. Family members continue to search for each for other, and it will take weeks or even months for final conciliation.
The rush to relocate orphans, quasi-orphans, and potential orphans internationally is ripe for coercion and fraud. Adoption agencies, church agencies, and ministries especially--along with fraudulent and predatory “child welfare” agents--have much to gain from fast removal. The trafficking of Haitian children for sex, servitude, and adoption operated in Haiti before the quake. It certainly operates now. The unethical and possibly unlawful mass transfer of traumatized children, many with family status unknown, to foreign shelters, foster care, and adoption agencies, removed from their culture and language, with little hope of family reunification cannot be allowed or tolerated. We urge US State Department and other US authorities in Haiti to (1) remove private special interests and those with conflicts of interest, such as adoption agencies and ministries, from the child welfare decision-making process and (2) halt the evacuation of children and their placement for adoption in the US.
We also urge the State Department to suspend pending adoptions. Haitian paperwork is lost or destroyed. Rock Cadet, the judge most responsible and knowledgeable about pipeline cases, died in the quake. Though the US Embassy survived, US paperwork is probably unavailable for some time, if it still exists. Without proof of Haitian court or Embassy status, any adoption removal from the country, without thorough background investigation and due process, is illegal and not in the best interest of the child
Needless to say, no new adoptions should be processed
US.
We understand why people want to open their arms and hearts to the children of the Haitian earthquake, but adoption is not emergency or humanitarian aid or a solution to Haiti’s ongoing problems. The immediate rescue effort in Haiti should focus on emergency services, individual and family care and family reunification, not family, community, and cultural destruction and the strip-mining of children.
This statement has been faxed to the US State Department.
A Closer Look at Current Legislation
I wanted to do a closer and more in depth look at the legislation affecting adoption in the state of Indiana.
SB 70 is being presented by Senator Boots and has been referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Adoption and paternity proceeding. Requires a petition to establish the paternity of a child who is the subject of an adoption proceeding to be filed in the court having jurisdiction over the adoption proceeding. Provides that a person contesting an adoption must file either a motion to contest the adoption or a petition to establish paternity.
It is fairly simple but as I said yesterday, my concern is how the fathers are notified. Are they contacted directly? Are they sent notification before or after the birth of their child? I have seen cases where they were notified before their birth of their child and after the birth of their child.
SB 140 is being presented by Senators Zakas and Broden and has been referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Adoption matters. Provides that a man who is barred from establishing paternity under the adoption statutes is prohibited from establishing paternity by filing a paternity action as next friend of the child or requesting a prosecuting attorney to file a paternity action. Prohibits a person who has executed a written consent to the adoption of a child by a certain person from executing a second or subsequent written consent to the adoption of the child by another person, unless certain conditions apply. Removes provision that allows a father who receives a notice of adoption after the birth of the child to contest the adoption by filing a paternity action. Removes provision under which the consent of a putative father to the adoption of a child is irrevocably implied if the putative father, after receiving a notice of adoption after the birth of the child, fails to file a paternity action. Provides that the putative father registry provisions do not apply if, on or before the date the child's mother executes a consent to the child's adoption, the child's mother discloses the name and address of the putative father to the attorney or agency that is arranging the child's adoption. Provides that a putative father's motion to contest an adoption must be filed in the court in which the adoption is pending. Prohibits a court from granting an adoption if a petitioner for adoption has been convicted of an attempt to commit certain felonies. Authorizes a child placing agency and an attorney to advertise certain adoption information only if licensed under Indiana law. Provides that the crime of unauthorized adoption facilitation does not apply to child placing agencies licensed under Indiana law or attorneys licensed to practice law in Indiana.
This further restricts the father in several instances. That is very alarming in itself because it removes many of the loopholes that fathers can use to contest the adoption of their children. If a mother consents to the adoption of her child, he can not contest the adoption is what sounds like is going on. How do we know that a father is being notified of the adoption of his child in all proper channels?
There is also a bill similar to these in the House of the Indiana Legislature. I can not seem to find it. I am critical of any bill that denies someone their due right process.
Long Time No See
Howdy!!!!! I apologize for not being around much. I have had certain issues to deal with in my every day life that has taken precedence over the profound topic of adoption. I, however, have been keeping in touch with Indiana Legislators and current introduced bills. I have noticed that there is only two bills that have anything to do with adoption this legislative year. They both concern father's rights in the state of Indiana to some extent.
Many folks have heard the story about the twins placed in a single parent home. The twins were conceived via surrogacy. The original story stated that it was an anonymous egg donor. The sperm was a blend of the "father" and an anonymous donor. Another woman carried the twins to birth. Because the home study was improperly done, the adoption has been set aside so that the home study can be properly done. There was also mass confusion on which court should have handled the situation. I also believe that there was a father's rights situation that also got contentious in Indiana.
Both of this bills would make only one court responsible instead of two or more jurisdictions. Both bills have been introduced in the Indiana Senate. SB 70 is fairly quick and to the point. SB 140 is more detailed and involves the putative father registry. My only concern is whether or not the courts, adoption agencies, adoption attorneys and other interested folks will properly inform the birth father of the correct court in which to file his paternity action. It is difficult enough for a father to file on the putative registry. Let alone filing in the proper court. There are so many in the adoption industry who fail to do the proper thing when it comes to notifying someone that their rights are about to be terminated.
Language Meanings and Interpretations
Do you pay attention to terminology? Do you ever seen language meanings and interpretations? I do because I write. I also pay attention to terminology because I am a home school mother. One of the key things that I notice with many adoption groups is that we are always on the defensive. We have to argue around birth parent privacy or abortion issues (abortion vs. adoption).
Adoptee access laws often pits adoptees and their families against the future reproductive choices of American women with abortion vs adoption arguments. It is not our choices involved in those decision making processes of American women. Why should we be held accountable for them? It is not my responsibility what a woman decides concerning HER body. Adoptees have to be concerned with not only pleasing both sets of parents but also the women of this country. Please it is not my job to worry about women's issues along with my own.
Adoptee rights are not about birth parent privacy nor about abortion issues. It is about the adoptee and gaining access to a document that is legally our document. In today’s world, we must have access to a document that proves that we are American citizens. We must have documentation that allows us to continue to prove that we are eligible for our rights under the American constitution.
How do we become inclusive instead of divisive when it comes to our families? The adoption industry often pits birth mother against adoptee. They also pit birth parent against adoptive parent. It is long past the time when we as a group of individuals become inclusive.
Many of the women prior to 1993 (It is more significant if we go back to prior Roe vs. Wade) were coerced. They were manipulated into relinquishing their parental rights. They are often told today when they begin searching that they have no rights. Keep in mind that it is not the birth mothers of this country that are denying our rights. It is the adoption industry itself. Many of these women were given drugs that hurt them in the long run. They need to know what was given to them in order to take care of their health. Just as adoptees are denied access to their original birth certificates, birth parents are denied access to those very medical documents that could help them. The irony of it is that those are their records. They do not belong to anyone else.
Adoptees and birth parents are joined at the hip. Without one, the other would not exist. The same is true for adoptive parents. Without one, the other would not exist. We all need to appreciate that. The right to total confidentiality does not exist in any law, mandate, or statute anywhere in this country.
Confidentiality only exists for medical reasons which HIPAA covers. Birth certificates are held separately from that confidentiality. The right to privacy is often the terminology used. The right to privacy is very limited in its legal definition. It is the right to be left alone. This requires that the freedom of association to be used at some point. A person has to tell another person whether or not they want to contacted. Well that right to privacy and that right to association is violated by state governments and the adoption industry. Birth parents and adoptees are denied those very basic constitutional and human rights.
Adoptee access laws often pits adoptees and their families against the future reproductive choices of American women with abortion vs adoption arguments. It is not our choices involved in those decision making processes of American women. Why should we be held accountable for them? It is not my responsibility what a woman decides concerning HER body. Adoptees have to be concerned with not only pleasing both sets of parents but also the women of this country. Please it is not my job to worry about women's issues along with my own.
Adoptee rights are not about birth parent privacy nor about abortion issues. It is about the adoptee and gaining access to a document that is legally our document. In today’s world, we must have access to a document that proves that we are American citizens. We must have documentation that allows us to continue to prove that we are eligible for our rights under the American constitution.
How do we become inclusive instead of divisive when it comes to our families? The adoption industry often pits birth mother against adoptee. They also pit birth parent against adoptive parent. It is long past the time when we as a group of individuals become inclusive.
Many of the women prior to 1993 (It is more significant if we go back to prior Roe vs. Wade) were coerced. They were manipulated into relinquishing their parental rights. They are often told today when they begin searching that they have no rights. Keep in mind that it is not the birth mothers of this country that are denying our rights. It is the adoption industry itself. Many of these women were given drugs that hurt them in the long run. They need to know what was given to them in order to take care of their health. Just as adoptees are denied access to their original birth certificates, birth parents are denied access to those very medical documents that could help them. The irony of it is that those are their records. They do not belong to anyone else.
Adoptees and birth parents are joined at the hip. Without one, the other would not exist. The same is true for adoptive parents. Without one, the other would not exist. We all need to appreciate that. The right to total confidentiality does not exist in any law, mandate, or statute anywhere in this country.
Confidentiality only exists for medical reasons which HIPAA covers. Birth certificates are held separately from that confidentiality. The right to privacy is often the terminology used. The right to privacy is very limited in its legal definition. It is the right to be left alone. This requires that the freedom of association to be used at some point. A person has to tell another person whether or not they want to contacted. Well that right to privacy and that right to association is violated by state governments and the adoption industry. Birth parents and adoptees are denied those very basic constitutional and human rights.
Demons in Adoption Awards
Many normal folks do not think that adoption is a bad thing. Most folks do not understand what adoption does to it’s participants. I am one of the many adoptees, birth parents, and adoptive parents in the organization, Indiana Open Restoring OBC Access. Adoption entails loss for many of it’s participants. Loss of parents, loss of a child, loss of fertility, and loss of identity are just a few of the issues in adoption.
Adoption incorporates even opposing sides in it’s issues. Adoption makes for strange bed fellows. Pro-life groups, Pro-choice groups, religious groups, the ACLU, and many more come together as one when it comes to reforming adoption.
Pro-life organizations often state that adoption is the answer to abortion. They even fight adult adoptees on accessing their original birth certificates on the false theory that it will increase abortions. In the state of Oregon, abortion rates dropped by 18% in the first five years after Oregon passed Measure 58. Other states that have followed suit have seen the same results. These statistics are misleading in that they base the right of the adult adoptee on the need to reduce abortions. Women have abortions because they can not afford a child at that time. In fact, more women have abortions because of sealed records. Many of the Pro-life groups have gone on to form CPCs in America. This has lead to more coercion in adoption as seen in Kathryn Joyce’s article, Shotgun Adoption.
Pro choice groups are now jumping into the adoption industry with open adoption agencies. Planned Parenthood in Indiana has merged with some of them in order to provide complete family planning. Religious groups have been pushing adoption for decades. Many of the ACLU members are now participants in the adoption industry.
All of these groups pit birth mother against adoptee. Without one, the other would not exist. In many situations, the birth mother and the adoptee have not chosen the circumstances that lead them down this path. This includes birth fathers. You have to understand vital statistics laws in this country in order to see what is wrong. Every non adopted person has access to their birth certificate. The registrar is supposed to give them immediate access to that document upon proof of identity and request. The exception is adoption. Of course, the Privacy Act of 1974 does not define it that way. Adoption is a state issue. Both the adoptee and the birth mother have the right to be left alone. That is the pure definition of the right to privacy. It does not mean that the state nor the adoption industry has the right to deny adults access to their documents.
When it comes to adoption, the adoption industry has the ear of the state and federal legislators. They set themselves up as to be the be all end all of everything adoption. Adoption has become a corrupt, coercive, and deceitful practice. How can anyone say that about adoption? Adoption has become about finding children for potential parents. This entitlement has been encouraged by the adoption industry. It has resulted in disaster. Adoptive parents are being scammed. It is evident in adoption lawsuits. Birth parents are being denied the right to raise their children. Adoptees are denied access to their documents.
One website that has been tracking the activities of the adoption industry has been Pound Pup Legacy. In order to respond to the “self congratulatory practices of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s Angel of Adoption Awards.” Pound Pup Legacy invites you to join in the vote for Demons in Adoption Awards. Some of their nominations reflect the worst of the worst. LDS Family Services and their adoption practices which including shipping birth mothers to other states to prevent the birth fathers from finding out about the pregnancy. The Focus on Children’s Scott and Karen Banks did not receive jail time for defrauding birth parents of their children in American Samoa and placing them for adoption. Another nominee is Independent Adoption Center for plugging their business on WE TV’s Adoption Diaries. The Malawi Government for allowing Madonna’s adoption is another nominee. Please read this press release to view all of the nominees. Please visit this link to visit the voting board and select your choice. While you are at it, browse the site. This website is based on recorded information. This website has collected court documents, news articles from around the world, and government documents.
Adoption incorporates even opposing sides in it’s issues. Adoption makes for strange bed fellows. Pro-life groups, Pro-choice groups, religious groups, the ACLU, and many more come together as one when it comes to reforming adoption.
Pro-life organizations often state that adoption is the answer to abortion. They even fight adult adoptees on accessing their original birth certificates on the false theory that it will increase abortions. In the state of Oregon, abortion rates dropped by 18% in the first five years after Oregon passed Measure 58. Other states that have followed suit have seen the same results. These statistics are misleading in that they base the right of the adult adoptee on the need to reduce abortions. Women have abortions because they can not afford a child at that time. In fact, more women have abortions because of sealed records. Many of the Pro-life groups have gone on to form CPCs in America. This has lead to more coercion in adoption as seen in Kathryn Joyce’s article, Shotgun Adoption.
Pro choice groups are now jumping into the adoption industry with open adoption agencies. Planned Parenthood in Indiana has merged with some of them in order to provide complete family planning. Religious groups have been pushing adoption for decades. Many of the ACLU members are now participants in the adoption industry.
All of these groups pit birth mother against adoptee. Without one, the other would not exist. In many situations, the birth mother and the adoptee have not chosen the circumstances that lead them down this path. This includes birth fathers. You have to understand vital statistics laws in this country in order to see what is wrong. Every non adopted person has access to their birth certificate. The registrar is supposed to give them immediate access to that document upon proof of identity and request. The exception is adoption. Of course, the Privacy Act of 1974 does not define it that way. Adoption is a state issue. Both the adoptee and the birth mother have the right to be left alone. That is the pure definition of the right to privacy. It does not mean that the state nor the adoption industry has the right to deny adults access to their documents.
When it comes to adoption, the adoption industry has the ear of the state and federal legislators. They set themselves up as to be the be all end all of everything adoption. Adoption has become a corrupt, coercive, and deceitful practice. How can anyone say that about adoption? Adoption has become about finding children for potential parents. This entitlement has been encouraged by the adoption industry. It has resulted in disaster. Adoptive parents are being scammed. It is evident in adoption lawsuits. Birth parents are being denied the right to raise their children. Adoptees are denied access to their documents.
One website that has been tracking the activities of the adoption industry has been Pound Pup Legacy. In order to respond to the “self congratulatory practices of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s Angel of Adoption Awards.” Pound Pup Legacy invites you to join in the vote for Demons in Adoption Awards. Some of their nominations reflect the worst of the worst. LDS Family Services and their adoption practices which including shipping birth mothers to other states to prevent the birth fathers from finding out about the pregnancy. The Focus on Children’s Scott and Karen Banks did not receive jail time for defrauding birth parents of their children in American Samoa and placing them for adoption. Another nominee is Independent Adoption Center for plugging their business on WE TV’s Adoption Diaries. The Malawi Government for allowing Madonna’s adoption is another nominee. Please read this press release to view all of the nominees. Please visit this link to visit the voting board and select your choice. While you are at it, browse the site. This website is based on recorded information. This website has collected court documents, news articles from around the world, and government documents.
Adoptee Rights Demonstration: From NOLA to Phill
Indiana adoptees, birthparents, and adoptive parents, it is time to step up. The Adoptee Rights Demonstration is coming to Louisville. It is our chance to make our voices heard across the country. We have the chance to help the ARD win $200 for the Louisville protest.
Here is what you do:
View this video:
Listen up! We need EVERYONE'S help to spread the word about the Adoptee Rights Demonstration, and maybe even help the protest win $200 to go towards expenses for next year's rally!
There's a slide show up on Youtube with pictures from the protests in New Orleans and Philadelphia. The link is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4DQ5iDDEuA
We need EVERYONE to do these three things at the link above:
1.) Rate the video
2.) Add it to your favorites
3.) Leave a comment
Doing these three things all count as 'votes' at Youtube. With enough votes, we'll be pushed to the front of the Nonprofits and Activism page, which will raise awareness about the protest and our issue.
Done? OK next steps!!
Head on over to AdoptionVoices.com and repeat the steps above
http://adoptionvoices.com/video/from-nola-to-philly-the
1.) Rate the video
2.) Add it to your favorites
3.) Leave a comment
These three items all count as votes there as well.
AdoptionVoices is having a contest, and the video with the most votes will win $200. This would be a HUGE help to the protest, as our permit expenses for Louisville will be much higher than at protest-friendly Philadelphia.
Please help!
Thank you!
Here is what you do:
View this video:
Listen up! We need EVERYONE'S help to spread the word about the Adoptee Rights Demonstration, and maybe even help the protest win $200 to go towards expenses for next year's rally!
There's a slide show up on Youtube with pictures from the protests in New Orleans and Philadelphia. The link is:
http://www.youtube.com/wat
We need EVERYONE to do these three things at the link above:
1.) Rate the video
2.) Add it to your favorites
3.) Leave a comment
Doing these three things all count as 'votes' at Youtube. With enough votes, we'll be pushed to the front of the Nonprofits and Activism page, which will raise awareness about the protest and our issue.
Done? OK next steps!!
Head on over to AdoptionVoices.com and repeat the steps above
http://adoptionvoices.com/
1.) Rate the video
2.) Add it to your favorites
3.) Leave a comment
These three items all count as votes there as well.
AdoptionVoices is having a contest, and the video with the most votes will win $200. This would be a HUGE help to the protest, as our permit expenses for Louisville will be much higher than at protest-friendly Philadelphia.
Please help!
Thank you!
Amyadoptee has introduced a Store on Her Sight
I have had friends suggest that I write a book. I have taken that step. I have written one about my experiences with adoption, my search ideas, and my tips for activism. In the appendices of the book are groups and organizations that have the same goals and offer support for all positions in the adoption plane. I also have the current laws as of today. When each state is updated or changed, I will make the necessary changes to the book.
You can find the store here. This website also allows me to let others sell stuff as well. I can currently list up to twenty items on the store site. I plan on writing a total of three books. Each one is dedicated to each group living adoption. I get questions daily asking how to check out an agency. I get questions asking how to fight back against the system. I also get questions on how to do a search. This first book answers the questions for the adoptee. The subsequent books will address the issues of both adoptive parents and birth parents.
This first book is about my story and my research. It is the tips that I used in my search. It is the very tips that other adoptees have used. I have helped adoptees, birthmothers, and yes adoptive parents search for each other. I wrote this book to help others. My personal experiences with my search have colored my adoption. I did not have a problem with it until I searched. The same applies to my adoptive mother and sisters. Because of my research, my adoptive mother is more aware of what I had to deal with. I know that my adoptive father, Frank Stoll, is standing behind me on this as well. I know in my heart that he is proud of this daughter.
Despite my experience in my search, I do not want to discourage any adoptee, birth parent, or adoptive parent from searching. I hope you enjoy it. The money will go towards my goal of hiring Kinsolving. I want to control my destiny. I also want to return that control to both of my birth parents.
Right now there is only one item but be on the look out for other additions. I enjoy working with crafts as do many adoptees. I hope this will be an excellent little shop for everyone.
You can find the store here. This website also allows me to let others sell stuff as well. I can currently list up to twenty items on the store site. I plan on writing a total of three books. Each one is dedicated to each group living adoption. I get questions daily asking how to check out an agency. I get questions asking how to fight back against the system. I also get questions on how to do a search. This first book answers the questions for the adoptee. The subsequent books will address the issues of both adoptive parents and birth parents.
This first book is about my story and my research. It is the tips that I used in my search. It is the very tips that other adoptees have used. I have helped adoptees, birthmothers, and yes adoptive parents search for each other. I wrote this book to help others. My personal experiences with my search have colored my adoption. I did not have a problem with it until I searched. The same applies to my adoptive mother and sisters. Because of my research, my adoptive mother is more aware of what I had to deal with. I know that my adoptive father, Frank Stoll, is standing behind me on this as well. I know in my heart that he is proud of this daughter.
Despite my experience in my search, I do not want to discourage any adoptee, birth parent, or adoptive parent from searching. I hope you enjoy it. The money will go towards my goal of hiring Kinsolving. I want to control my destiny. I also want to return that control to both of my birth parents.
Right now there is only one item but be on the look out for other additions. I enjoy working with crafts as do many adoptees. I hope this will be an excellent little shop for everyone.
