Adoption Blog

China Program Newsletter

2010-03-19T18:36:32-04:00

All families in the paper-chasing stage, waiting stage, or referral stage of their adoption should have received a newsletter by email from their Family Coordinator today. Any family who did not receive this email should contact their Family Coordinator.

Families should be receiving communication from staff on a regular basis. If your family is not receiving emails, please be sure to check your spam filter settings to be sure that emails from @awaa.org are allowed to be received. If emails are not being received regularly, families may need to contact their email provider to see if their email settings need to be adjusted.

CEO Update

2010-03-19T18:34:45-04:00

Spring is finally here in Virginia! We are excited that more families in our China Program were matched with referrals recently – congratulations! Congratulations, also, to the family that passed court in Kazakhstan!

I have been praying for the families in our Ethiopia Program that learned of a new process working with the Ethiopian Court. I know many families are not happy about this change. Changes like this can be very frustrating – especially when they happen at a time that disrupts families’ plans or adds unexpected burdens. Our agency has been in prayer for you and we believe the Lord will use this change to bring about great things which we cannot foresee.

Don’t forget to sign up for the Christian Alliance For Orphans Summit – I’m looking forward to seeing many of you there!

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” -Hebrews 10:24

-- Brian Luwis, CEO

AWAA's Public Facebook Fan Page

2010-03-15T16:18:24-04:00

Families, please be aware that our AWAA Fan Page on facebook is publically visible – meaning that anyone with an internet connection can access this page, the information presented on it, as well as pictures and videos. Our desire with making this entire page so readily available to the public eye is to be able to share, with as many people as possible, the miracle of adoption and all of the joys that it brings.

We wanted to be sure that we were clearly communicating with you just how accessible this page is, so that each person can make an informed decision as to whether or not they feel comfortable with sharing information and/ or pictures on this page.

We trust that you will make the best decision for you and your family.

Licensed in California

2010-03-11T17:17:41-05:00

We are pleased to announce that America World Adoption is now licensed to conduct home studies in the following Calfornia counties: Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernadino, San Diego, Ventura and Santa Barbara. New families in those counties will now be able to work directly with America World through the entire adoption process! The office is located at:

AWAA-CA
765 The City Drive
Orange, CA 92868
(866) 698-8683
(866) 698-9084 FAX

A very special thanks to Maureen Hodge and Elizabeth Alexander for all of their hard work and dedication to make this licensure happen! Praise God for His continued faithfulness to our agency as we make every effort to best serve our families and orphaned children around the globe!

China Program – Dossiers Reviewed through April 2009

2010-03-11T11:51:29-05:00

The CCAA has confirmed that they have completed the review of dossiers that were registered with their office before April 30, 2009. This means that families who were LID through April 30, 2009 have had their dossiers reviewed. The CCAA completed 12 months of dossier review. The timeframe for the dossier review process will vary as it is based upon the number of dossiers that are logged in during the particular month(s) that is(are) currently under review.

**Families should note that the CCAA will generally contact an agency when there is an issue with a family’s dossier, when it is being reviewed during the dossier review stage. Although a family may not be questioned during the review stage, a family could still be questioned at the referral matching stage, though this is less common.

Facebook and Upcoming Events

2010-03-11T11:11:28-05:00

America World on Facebook
If you have not already become a “fan” of America World on Facebook we invite you to do so. Join over 1000 other “fans” by going to http://www.facebook.com/pages/America-World-Adoption-Association/56163286512 . You can share photos of your children, watch our videos or post to the wall. We would love to hear from you!

Adoption Information Seminars
America World has over 25 seminars now scheduled across the nation with more being added daily. If you are considering adoption, or know of someone who is, this is a great opportunity to learn about America World’s programs, the home study process and meet with America World families. March seminars are being conducted in Detroit, MI; Shreveport, LA; Clementon, NJ; London, KY and Lincoln, NE. April seminars will be conducted in Dahlonega, GA; Winston-Salem, NC; Seattle, WA; Portland, OR; Hood River, OR; Chicago, IL; Cameron Park, CA; Des Moines, IA; Klamath Falls, OR; Phoenix, AZ; Humble, TX and Tucson, AZ. Register at www.awaa.org/events.

Note from Brian

2010-03-11T11:08:47-05:00

I returned back from San Salvador late last week – prior to that I was in Honduras visiting with our partners and continuing to work on some of the issues affecting the child welfare system. While in El Salvador I did the same thing, as well as learn more about some pending legislation regarding orphans and continue to advocate on behalf of America World’s families. While in El Salvador I learned more about some of the problems with the previous administration and the less than equitable referral process that has clearly affected our families. The good news is, the new Director of OPA and others in the new administration are working to make the process more equitable and transparent for all families. I was impressed that they are organized and had a clearly structured account of families’ situations. I learned there will be new procedures for processing all dossiers that will not favor one family over another. I am still impressed with Jaime, our representative in El Salvador; he is very professional in his representation of families.

I hope many of you have already signed up for the Christian Alliance For Orphans Summit in Minneapolis; if you haven’t signed up, it’s not too late. This is a great way to connect your church and yourself with the wider Church in orphan care and adoption ministry. There is a great line-up of speakers, presenters and breakout sessions. One of the new things at this CAFO Summit is that adoption training is being offered for parents that are in the adoption process – the training offered is consistent with requirements for Hague Adoption Training and will be led by some of our country’s experts in the field, including Dr. Karyn Purvis.

Additionally, I want to mention that I am still part of a working group that is hopeful to see change in the situation regarding orphans in Haiti. There have been numerous media stories about the child registration process, ‘orphans’ with parents, and other stories which show the difficulty and complexity of aid organizations responding in a way that helps orphans find families. This complexity should not be a reason to simply keep kids in camps and orphanages, though. Every child’s situation should be properly investigated/assessed to determine what family options are available to the child – and every child who cannot be reunited with his/her birthfamily should have the opportunity for a family through domestic or inter-country adoption.

I know there have been some big changes in our agency’s Ethiopia Program this week. We’re in prayer for all the families that have been affected by either a longer wait and/or an unexpected change in their travel plans. There are advantages and disadvantages to the Ethiopian Court requiring prospective adoptive parents appear in court – and we hope that families will understand and respect the right of the Ethiopian Court to make this decision. Our agency is going to work to the best of our ability to help families navigate these changes.

There is an interesting article in Newsweek this past week about intercountry adoption written by an adult adoptee. The author rightly points out that there has been a dramatic decline in the number of intercountry adoptions over the last years.

Your prayers for our agency’s work are greatly appreciated.

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” -1 John 5:14-15 NKJV

- Brian Luwis, CEO

Families For Orphan Act

2010-03-04T14:52:02-05:00

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is reviewing the Families For Orphans Act. Please take an opportunity TODAY to email this Committee and let them know you support this important piece of legislation.

You can email: Laura Winthrop, Laura_Winthrop@foreign.senate.gov, and address your email to:
The Honorable John F. Kerry
Chairman
U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Tell Senator Kerry:
I support the Families For Orphan Act, a bi-partisan bill that would create a State Department office and an Orphan Champion/Advocate. This Champion and the Office would build capacity in countries to enable families to raise their children at home instead of putting them in orphanages, and reunite kids currently living in orphanages with a safe family member or adopted by loving parents in their own country. The bill also includes inter-country adoption as part of the solution when it is determined to be in the best interest of the child and a permanent family is not available domestically.

Your simple email can make a difference.

Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit VI

2010-03-03T17:06:41-05:00

Do you want to hear amazing speakers like John Piper, Mary Beth & Steven Curtis Chapman, Tom Davis, Al Mohler share about orphans, adoption and foster care? Are you wanting to learn how to start an orphan/adoption ministry in your church, or engage your church leadership in adoption ministry? Maybe you are looking for resources for children facing emotional or physical challenges?

The 2010 Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit is what you are looking for. There will be over 40 different workshops to choose from throughout this two-day event. You will also be able to connect with many adoption, orphan care and foster care organizations and meet hundreds of other attendees across the nation.

Make your plans and register now.

Adoption Tax Credit Letter Template

2010-03-03T16:59:18-05:00

Recently, in our Adoption Tax Credit Information post we encouraged families to contact their congressman or senator, in order to ask them to work to increase the tax credit for 2011 and all subsequent years, as it is a very important resource for many families. (You can find your representative’s contact information at https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml.)

In order to make this easier for families, here is a simple template:

The Honorable FIRST NAME LAST NAME
U.S. Senate or U.S. House of Representatives
OFFICE ADDRESS
Washington, D.C. ZIP CODE

Dear Senator LAST NAME:

My family and I are your constituents in NAME OF TOWN. We request your support of The Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act of 2009, H.R. 213 (FOR HOUSE) or S.2816 (FOR SENATE).

The adoption tax credit that this legislation would make permanent is very important to my family and me. Without this significant financial assistance, we would not have been able to adopt our beautiful son (or daughter), NAME. I am including a photo of my son/daughter.

As you may know, adoption expenses can easily exceed $20,000, a significant sum to most families. Without the adoption tax credit, it would likely be very difficult or impossible for many families to adopt. Through this adoption tax credit, I believe that many more children will find new, loving families like my own.

I urge you to co-sponsor H.R. 213 (FOR HOUSE) or S.2816 (FOR SENATE). This legislation is very important to me and I, along with other adoptive families across the nation, will be following its progress through Congress. Thank you in advance for your support of this legislation that truly serves children who need families.

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME