Public Service Announcement :)

Through my exhaustive research of the adoption process, I have come across many blog posts, videos, books and accompanying literature that addresses the language associated with adoption. Now, those of you that know me well would  agree that I am not, at times, the most politically correct individual..... So this cute video brought to you by Rain City Church to address all of the well-intentioned comments and questions directed towards adoptive families.

If You Wouldn't Say it About a Boob Job.....

On a moderately serious note, check out this list from AdoptiveFamilies.com which explain some Positive Adoptive Language

Always the teacher, I would hope this post provides an illuminating look at the perspective of adoptive families and children.
 

National Adoption Day!!!

November is Adoption Month and is a great way to inform people about the process and importance of adoption, as well as to clear up many misconceptions.
Check out this link to learn more about adoption and foster care in the US:
National Adoption Day
November 9th was the first-ever World Adoption Day (and also my little Beth's birthday!). Check out this video to learn more:
World Adoption Day

The paper chase...

The entire adoption process relies heavily on "paper work". I have and will continue to spend hours every week completing the necessary documentation. Now, you may be wondering, how hard could it be to fill out a couple forms??
umm....... First of all, waaay more than a couple. Second, this is not a simple fill-in-the-blanks and be done with it process. Third, there is an entire acronym-filled language you need to learn just to understand the "where to send" and "What are these for" concerning the forms.

Just so you can understand a small sampling....: I-800a for for USCIS
This form is a general informational form (9 pages for the main form, another 4 for the required Supplement 1 and 3....) that serves to inform USCIS (United States Citizenship & Immigration Services) that you are interested in adopting one or two children from a specific (Hague) country. (If the country is not part of the Hague Treaty, you need to use a different form first.... ). It must be completed and sent, along with a nice fat check, to a lock box facility, where it will then be sent to OK, then processed, after this point it will be reviewed. Following review, if approved the recipient will receive a letter to be fingerprinted (again- but this time at a USCIS facility) and the form returned for final approval of background check. If not approved, additional documentation may need to be submitted, or you have to start all over.
Once this process is complete, you can then take the I-800a approval, along with the rest of your dossier (more on this later....) and send it to the country from which you are attempting to adopt (this is, after the "authentication" process- more on this later...).

Is your head spinning yet??? Mine is....