http://livesayhaiti.blogspot.com/, for information about how Unicef is trying to close adoptions in Haiti (Jan.30th entry).
"Kids abandoned to an orphanage by their birth parent PRE earthquake are now being held in Haiti thanks to pressure placed on the Haitian government by the giant and powerful Unicef."
I may have asked you for your support before, and I know I can count on you, that is why I am asking again - please write to Unicef using the link below, as well as your local MP, or even our Governor General Michaelle Jean or whoever else you can think of about this matter and encourage them to allow adoptive families and children who were legally adoptable BEFORE this earthquake be considered for international adoption. Please pass this on to anyone you think will write a letter and voice their concern. Unicef is severely misguided in their mission to stop all Haitian adoptions. Safeguards already exist and adoptions are and will continue to be carefully monitored. Unicef has a history of being against international adoption. They would rather see scores of children grow up in institutions or on the street without a family than be placed for adoption internationally. Especially in this day and age I find this stance atrocious. We live in a global community. International adoption has its challenges, but challenges that all internationally adoptive families are forced to examine carefully, prepared for by their agencies, and ultimately tackle head on should they go down this road.
While I agree with Unicef that it is in the best for children to stay with their birth family or extended family, this simply isn't always possible. While I believe in the caregivers at Haiti Children's Home and know they love these kids, they will also be the first to tell you that institutional care is not ideal. We are prepared with the fact that we may bring home a 3 or 4 year old child and have to take the time to teach them what a family is. Most of the children at the orphanages have been there since birth. The concept of family is so foreign to them that it is a concept that actually has to be taught. They don't get that 'Mom' and 'Dad' are a special person to them. They are used to many caregivers, some who come in and out of their lives. When children are removed from orphanages, it also creates a space for another child who may be living on the street to have access to a bed, care and regular food and water. I just simply fail to see why Unicef is taking such a hard stance against families like ours and children like the 30 plus at Haiti Children's Home. In taking this stance, Unicef is trying to protect the newly created orphans from this earthquake. I get that these children need to be safeguarded and not swept away to a foreign country. They may have other family who want to take care of them and who love them. But there were close to half a million orphans BEFORE this tragedy. The earthquake created about 50,000 more. There were THOUSANDS of orphans before this natural disaster, and they have paperwork to PROVE that they were already LEGALLY adoptable, dated BEFORE this earthquake. This can be monitored and no one needs to be sent away who they are not sure about. There are families like ours, who were already in the process of adopting one of these orphans who could needlessly be stopped if Unicef continues to apply their pressure.
Adoption is not going to solve Haiti's problems, adoption is not going to solve the problem of orphans or poverty, but adoption is going to allow some children to find a family, and that is priceless, ESPECIALLY now. Please help be part of the bridge home for these children. Be the voice for those who cannot speak for themselves.
Thank you,
To email Unicef, follow this link:
http://www.unicef.org/about/contact_contactusform.html
To email your MP, follow the link below to get the contact info:
FIND YOUR MP:
For just a little more information on Unicef's efforts see these links:
http://betheanswerforchildren.wordpress.com/2010/01/24/haitian-government-announces-new-exit-requirement-for-children/
http://ouradopt.com/adoption-blog/feb-2008/sandrahanksbenoiton/another-look-unicef
http://thehaitilady.blogspot.com/2007/12/unicef-and-haiti.html
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Here is an example of the letter I wrote to UNICEF:
To whom it may concern,
RE: ADOPTION
I am writing in regards to international adoption. I am appalled at your stance in trying to shut down adoptions from Haiti.
My husband and I have been in the process of adoption from Haiti for about 6 months. We have been trying to adopt a child from Haiti Children's Home. In this orphanage, there are 44 children, and only about 10 of them have been matched with families. The rest of these children need a family and many have spent their entire lives in this orphanage. While I understand your concern for the newly orphaned children in Haiti I fail to see your logic in how shutting down adoption will be better for these kids. In Haiti, as with many countries, there are already safeguards in place - I fail to see the need to completely close the door on adoption here.
There were MANY thousands of children who were available for adoption PRIOR to this earthquake who NEED families. Any psychologist would agree, that institutional care is NEVER a better choice than a loving, approved family. Due to the pressure that you are putting on the Haitian government, these children may never get a chance at a loving home such as ours. I know these kids, and I know the caregivers. The care is wonderful, but still cannot compare to the benefit of family. Our child deserves to come home to us. Part of the preparation for international adoption is preparing to embrace the culture of the sending country and adopt the culture into your family. We take pride that we will be able to teach and embrace our child's birth country. Adoptive parents typically end up being their adoptive child's countries biggest advocates.
We want to see Haiti rise up, but please stop interfering with adoption, at least for the thousands of orphans who were paperworked and legally available for adoption prior to this earthquake. Many already had families like us waiting to be matched with them. This is a tragedy for all involved. Please stop your anti-adoption campaign.
