Midwest Voting Mom

Delivering Veronica's Petition with 20,000 signatures -

2012-01-24T23:44:00.002-06:00

Reporter Haley Hernandez followed @Save_Veronica to Columbia today, look who they spoke with about the Indian Child Welfare Act ... http://ping.fm/MWk43

Delivering the Petition with 20,000 signatures to South Carolina leaders -

By: Haley Hernandez | WCBD
Published: January 24, 2012

On New Year’s Eve, Jessica Munday watched helplessly as her close friends, Matt and Melanie Capobianco were forced to hand over their adopted little girl, Veronica, to her birth father.

Now Munday and Stephanie Brinkley (a Charleston adoption attorney) are on a mission to "save Veronica.”

“Rather than sit on the sidelines and just say ‘how sad’, I wanted to say ‘how sad, what can I do?’” Binkley said.

Tuesday they went from one government office to another, starting in Charleston and driving up to the State House in Columbia, delivering a petition from supporters of the organization.

Kathy Crawford, the district director at Congressman Tim Scott's office said it’s a shock that this could happen to a family, “a child could be taken away from the only mom and dad that they've ever known and you know, we hope that the courts will do the right thing.”

The organization delivered the petition to lawmakers with more than 20,000 signatures. In an unscheduled visit, Governor Haley spoke with Munday and Brinkley and empathized with the Capobiancos.

“If you have a child you know that's just like the precious part of your life and so my heart breaks for them, I will be happy to take this,” Gov. Haley said taking the petition. “The federal delegation and I communicate about a lot of things, because it is a federal issue doesn't mean I can't at least say "what are y’all doing about this?" so I'll be happy to ask the questions, be happy to see what's going on if anything.”

“I'm thankful that she was so receptive to us being there and so compassionate about what's happened,” Munday said after speaking with the governor.

“This is a matter that affects the people they represent, it represents a South Carolina couple and a South Carolina child and that child needs to be heard so it's great that they are receptive that we're trying to be a voice for Veronica when she can't represent herself,” Brinkley said about lawmakers listening to their concerns.

SaveVeronica.org is still taking signatures for their petition. Lawmakers said they will try to get a copy to the Senate committee that will hear the case.

------------------------------

My Question: When is the Senate Committee going to hear it? I doubt they have any plans to put it on their agenda - we will need to do lots of pushing to get it there - and lots more to get a fair hearing!

2012-01-14T17:49:00.001-06:00

Please see this video - What happened to Veronica has happened to so many kids all over the US ... http://ping.fm/xwc0k SaveVeronica

Save Veronica! Help Bring her Home Soon!

2012-01-11T03:11:00.002-06:00

(Psychologist who witnessed Veronica's transfer comments on the detrimental effects - Click Baby Veronica to hear an audio of the interview.)

We want you to be aware of an injustice that has occurred to a two-year-old South Carolina child named Veronica Rose and her adoptive parents. Two years ago Veronica’s Latina birth mother chose Matt and Melanie to love, nurture and raise her child. To this day, Veronica’s birth mother remains committed to her decision and Veronica has been a thriving, happy child residing in a stable, nurturing environment. On or around Jan. 4, 2010, the birth father signed papers agreeing to give up his daughter.

However, because Veronica has some Cherokee heritage from her birth father’s side of the family, the Cherokee Nation intervened in the adoption proceedings and argued that this happy, healthy two-year-old be transferred to her birth father. Because of a federal law known as the Indian Child Welfare Act, a family court judge ruled that she be immediately transferred to her biological father.

The ruling placed the rights of the birth father and tribe above the best interests of this small child. Child-bonding experts agree that removing her from her home and family would be devastating and have long-lasting consequences. Numerous child psychologists stated this would be detrimental to any child. Yet on Dec. 31, Veronica was handed over to her biological father as if a possession without rights.

We believe that children need protection and should not be removed from loving, nurturing environments. We understand the premise of this law is to protect children; however, in Veronica’s case it has been used inappropriately.

Former U.S. senator Jim Abourezk (SD) authored ICWA. According to the Charleston Post and Courier, after reviewing Veronica's story, Abourezk called the interpretation in this case "something totally different than what we intended at the time."

"That's a tragedy," he said. "They obviously were attached to the child and, I would assume, the child was attached to them."

According to the 2000 census, approximately 75% of people claiming to have American Indian or Alaska Native ancestry live outside the reservation. Further, interracial marriages are a fact of life. It is must be recognized that most children of heritage live off the reservation and have extended family that are non-tribal. Though supporters of the Indian Child Welfare Act say it has safeguards to prevent misuse, Veronica and numerous other multi-racial children across the U.S have been hurt by it. Children who have never been near a reservation nor involved in tribal customs are affected. The Cherokee Nation alone is currently tied up in about 1,100 active Indian Child Welfare cases involving some 1,500 children.

Tragically, under the Indian Child Welfare Act:

1) Some children have been removed from safe, loving homes and placed in danger
2) Equal opportunities for adoption, safety and stability are not always available to children of all heritages
3) The Constitutional right of parents to make life choices for their children, for children of Indian heritage to associate freely, and for children of Indian heritage to enjoy Equal Protection has in some cases been infringed upon.

We want more than anything for Veronica to be allowed to come home. As our elected representatives, we urge you to protect Veronica’s rights in all possible ways as well as make legislative changes that will prevent this from happening to any other child again. While we understand you are unable to interfere in court proceedings, we ask you to speak out on this issue and let your constituents know clearly where you stand. We also ask you to sponsor legislation and encourage fellow Congressmen to support the amending of the Indian Child Welfare Act to:

1. Guarantee protection for children of Native American heritage equal to that of any other child in the United States.
2. Guarantee that fit parents, no matter their heritage, have the right to choose healthy guardians or adoptive parents for their children without concern for heritage.
3. Recognize the "Existing Indian Family Doctrine” as a viable analysis for consideration and application in child custody proceedings. (See In re Santos Y, In Bridget R., and In re Alexandria Y.)
4. Guarantee that United States citizens, no matter their heritage, have a right to fair trials.
• When summoned to a tribal court, parents and legal guardians will be informed of their legal rights, including USC 25 Chapter 21 1911 (b)“…In any State court proceeding for the foster care placement of, or termination of parental rights to, an Indian child not domiciled or residing within the reservation of the Indian child's tribe, the court, in the absence of good cause to the contrary, shall transfer such proceeding to the jurisdiction of the tribe, absent objection by either parent…”
• Under the principles of comity: All Tribes and States shall accord full faith and credit to a child custody order issued by the Tribe or State of initial jurisdiction consistent within the UCCJA – which enforces a child custody determination by a court of another State – unless the order has been vacated, stayed, or modified by a court having jurisdiction to do so under Article 2 of the UCCJA.

5. Include well defined protections for Adoptive Parents.
6. Mandate that a "Qualified expert witness" be someone who has professional knowledge of the child and family and is able to advocate for the well being of the child, first and foremost.
7. Mandate that only parents and/or legal custodians have the right to enroll a child into an Indian Tribe. Because it is claimed that tribal membership is a political rather than racial designation, we are asking that parents, as U.S. citizens, be given the sole, constitutional right to choose political affiliation for their families and not have it forced upon them.
• Remove the words “or are eligible for membership in” 1901 (3)
• Remove the words "eligible for membership in" from 1903 (4) (b), the definition of an ‘Indian child’ and replace with the words "an enrolled member of”

Save Veronica Supporters Worldwide
www.saveveronica.org
www.facebook.com/saveveronicarose
www.twitter.com/save_veronica

2012-01-10T01:01:00.001-06:00

'Save Veronica' video is now featured on CAICW You Tube Channel - http://ping.fm/JdpRk

2012-01-05T13:34:00.001-06:00

Follow @Save_Veronica and help us start a trend by tweeting "I'm on board to help SaveVeronica - http://ping.fm/Gg5OC PLEASE RT

2011-12-30T21:59:00.001-06:00

Today- "The judge denied our stay. They are taking her Sunday @ noon...nothing gradual" - PLEASE pray for a miracle for this family!

The Birth of Jesus, Our King - Luke 2:1-20 (NIV)

2011-12-24T14:52:00.001-06:00

The Birth of Jesus
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Luke 2: 1-20 (NIV)

On a cold winter night, nothing is better than a hot cup of tea

2011-12-02T22:00:00.001-06:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Epoca International. All opinions are 100% mine.

Cozy with family on the living room couch, enjoying hot tea and good conversation.

The Tea Bag Buddy is a neat new item that creates a solution to some of the tea drinker's most common problems - See this Video to see what I mean

The Tea Bag Buddy provides a great way to secure the tea bag string while covering the mouth of a tea pot or mug, trapping steam to keep tea hotter when brewing for optimum flavor and temperature. The 100% silicone product will keep the tea drinker's fingers cool while squeezing excess water from their favorite variety of tea bag, and its deep wells provide a convenient way to hold the used tea bag between uses. Available in three fashion-forward colors, the Tea Bag Buddy is sure to become a tea drinker's new best friend!

2011-11-13T05:43:00.001-06:00

Visit CAICWs Google+ Page, too! - http://ping.fm/m5gjr Children adoption family tcot foster ICWAhurts

Equal Protection for Indian Kids - Our Brothers and Sisters in our Republic

2011-11-08T09:36:00.006-06:00

My husband and I did not give birth to our children to benefit Tribal Government. Our family does not care about Tribal sovereignty. We do not want our children to be used to garner more funds for corrupt tribal government. We are US citizens, who are supposed have a right to choose political affiliations.

The Indian Child Welfare Act is simply bad law. Children are being hurt by it. It needs to be changed.

We have 30 days to get 25,000 signatures in order for our petition to be reviewed by the White House.

November is National Adoption Month - Let's do this Petition as our part in helping children this month. We need 6250 signatures a week to meet that goal. Let's pray for God's help and get started.

On Nov 19, Nat'l Adoption Day, families, adoption advocates, policymakers, judges and volunteers will come together and celebrate adoption in communities across the nation. We are setting a goal of 10,000 signatures by that date.

Please Sign the Petition and Use every method you have to share this link - http://wh.gov/bvZ - If everyone could get just 10 people to sign the petition and share it with at least 3 of their friends, we'll have it made!

Thank you friends!

TEXT OF PETITION:

We petition the Obama Administration to:

Ensure that Children of tribal heritage are guaranteed protection equal to that of any other child in the United States

Across America, children who had never been near a reservation nor involved in tribal customs have been taken from homes they know and love and placed with strangers chosen by tribal social services. This includes MULTI-racial children with minimal heritage.

Because of poorly thought out law called the 'Indian Child Welfare Act';

1) Kids have been removed from safe, loving homes and placed in dangerous ones.
2) Some families, Indian and non-Indian, have felt threatened by tribal gov't and have had no money to get legal help.
3) Equal opportunities for adoption, safety and stability are not always allowed to children of all heritages.
4) Constitutional right of parents to make choices for their families is being interfered with. Some tribal families don't want to be on the reservation.

SIGN AT http://wh.gov/bvZ

.
.

2011-10-04T09:18:00.001-05:00

Want to help? PLEASE Call These Congressmen and Tell them about the ICWA Teach-In, Friday, Oct 28, in DC... http://ping.fm/1nHtz pray

Don't lose ALL Your Data and Documents Like I Did!

2011-09-20T19:01:00.001-05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Carbonite for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I lost my hard drive two times in just the last nine months. Both times without warning. The first time, I had to buy a whole new computer. The second time I was able to use the warranty for a new hard drive. I was fortunate to have backed up some files onto a CD three years prior - but lost virtually everything from the most recent years... pictures, documents, even a manuscript I had been working on.

It wasn't because I had been visiting malicious sites. I don't do that. One tech suggested that the insert for the cord had been damaged at one point and that might have caused the initial crash, but there wasn't anyway to know for certain and there there was no explanation at all for the second crash.

So I have learned my lesson and hope to be able to others avoid the same tragedy. One way to do that is with the use of an online back-up. Carbonite unlimited online backup works automatically and continually in the background backing up files whenever your computer is connected to the internet. IN ADDITION, you can access your backed up files from any computer or on your smartphone or iPad with a free Carbonite app.

For only $59 a year, you can have Unlimited computer backup for your PC or Mac with anytime-anywhere-access. Further, you can try it free for 15 days, no credit card required, and then get two free months if you decide to buy. Check out the Carbonite website.

-Mention the offer code BLOGAD gets two free months with purchase

Carbonite:
-Takes worry out of computer backup by securely and automatically backing up the files on your PC or Mac to one of Carbonite’s highly secure, state-of-the-art data centers.
-Works continually in the background, automatically backing up your files whenever your computer is connected to the internet.
-Completely automatic, secure, simple, and unlimited.  Once your files are backed up by Carbonite, you can access them anytime, anywhere, from virtually any Internet connected device.
-Offers free mobile apps so you can access, enjoy and share your files from your iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Android or Blackberry Smartphone.

Founded in 2005, Carbonite has safely recover over 7 billion files that otherwise might have been lost forever! It’s easy, fast, and hassle-free to get your backed up files back.

Click here to go to the Carbonite Website!

Should Republicans deliver Rebuttal to Obama's Jobs Speech?

2011-09-07T19:48:00.000-05:00

I was surprised and DELIGHTED that the GOP are not bothering to make a rebuttal. That's the most wonderful decision I have seen either side make in this last few years of constant political gamesmanship. Finally, somebody is saying, "why bother with another lame, rhetorical, boring speech?" Finally - someone has gotten off the soapbox and refused to bore us any further with meaningless nonsense! Hooray for the GOP!

Now if only Obama would follow that lead and get off his non-stop campaign mode. After all that has been said, he still doesn't understand that no one is interested in his empty speeches anymore. We all know that it's going to just be 'same-ol, same-ol', and that nothing is actually going to be done to increase jobs and improve the economy.

Obama CAN'T improve the economy because he still believes socialism is the way to go - despite all the failed socialist and communist states in the world.

We all know that - so why bother sitting through another speech.... I can't see anyone but the most ardent liberals tuning in. Which is probably another reason why the GOP decided not to bother. None of their constituency will be tuning in and everyone knows it.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/09/07/should-republicans-deliver-rebuttal-to-obamas-jobs-speech/#ixzz1XJhvxplb

Learn What ICWA is Doing to Children -

2011-08-22T13:01:00.006-05:00

CAICW has received confirmation from Senator Hoeven’s office today: The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs will allow CAICW to hold a ICWA "Teach-in" on FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28th, 9am to 1pm in the Senate Committee for Indian Affairs hearing room in Washington DC.

Dr. William B. Allen will be their main speaker and we expect the information and material to be exceptional. Dr. Allen is a Professor in Political Science, the former Chairman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights under Ronald Reagan, and a strong opponent of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)

Remember – the Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare (CAICW) is the ONLY national organization advocating for families who have lost or are at risk of losing children due to application of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and has been advocating for families since 2004.

Feb 26, 2011— “We need help! This child will be dead in this woman's hands. We feel the good fight to do what's right but fear this child will be severely marred.”

April 7, 2011— “I have no were else to turn. My girls and i are in desperate need of help. If there is anyway you can help us please contact me as soon possible day or night…”

May 18, 2011—”our kids were taken yesterday. The pain is difficult to bear. We love these kids so much. This will be there third family placement since coming into foster care almost 2 years ago.”

ALL are welcome to come join and support CAICW there. Come on Wednesday prior and spend a couple days visiting with the offices of your Senators and Representatives - and invite their staff to come attend the Teach-in!

Please share this post with friends and relatives who might be interested!

Also - They still have SAMARITAN Discount cards available for sale to help with expenses ;)

Contact LISA if you would like one or would like a few to share some with friends!

Lisa- writeus@caicw.org

Website http://caicw.org

Twitter: http://twitter.com/CAICW ( @CAICW )

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fbCAICW.org

DONATIONS NEEDED for Teach-in expenses! Thanks!!! :) - Click this Link for direct donations to CAICW, a 501c3 non-profit

.

2011-08-18T12:02:00.001-05:00

Tribal govt is very effective at playing victim card, never mentioning realities behind ICWA http://is.gd/b5X3qN kids abuse family

Pawlenty is acting like a jerk

2011-08-12T10:53:00.000-05:00

What's with the nasty sniping at Bachmann? How does that make any political sense? He's got to take Romney down to become a frontrunner, and to do that he's got to show leadership, character, and good ideas. Sniping at Bachmann is just a turn off. He appears petty and nasty. Yuch. By sniping at her, he also appears to be agains the things she stands for - the conservative, get back to the consitution and balanced budget ideals. A definite turn off to people like me.

2011-07-19T13:12:00.001-05:00

Please add CAICW to your circles on Google+ - Thanks! http://ping.fm/8Cboz

2011-07-19T12:43:00.001-05:00

Together for Adoption's Nat'l Conference Oct. 21-22 Phoenix: http://ping.fm/Qna2h Mission living, gospel, and orphan care Adopt family

Jose Antonio Vargas - time to grow up.

2011-07-12T15:35:00.002-05:00

.
Jose Antonio Vargas, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who recently resigned his position after admitting he was an illegal immigrant and had been hiding the fact since he was 16-years-old, sent me an email today. In his email he asked me to sign a petition.

He said, "More than 6,000 ... from all over the country have joined me in calling for a new national conversation on immigration -- and I'm bringing all of their voices with me when I go on the Colbert Report... Would you add your name now, so I have a huge number to announce on the show?"

He said that three weeks ago, he had "published an exposé in the New York Times" about his life story: coming to this country as a boy, learning English, and embracing America.

He says that he quit his job because he was tired of remaining silent and now wants to "strike up a more civil, inclusive debate about immigration."

Does he really? Does having a more "civil" debate honestly mean being open to what I have to say and considering it?

Jose Antonio Vargas - No, you can not add my name to your list of supporters. But I do agree that we need a national conversation on immigration - an honest one.

You say your story is "the tale of a hard-working immigrant who defines the American dream: achieving success against great odds, working hard, and even earning a Pulitzer Prize" for reporting. You go on, "Still, despite everything I've achieved, the law still says I am not technically an American. I am undocumented."

But I say your story is one of a series of liberal, dishonest mentors assisting you in hiding from the laws of this country - rather than doing the right thing and help you become legally documented.

You ask Americans: "What would you do if you found out at age 16 that you didn't have the right papers?" and say that as a journalist, your job is to ask questions that spark conversation.

Here is my answer. I would do just as I did in Canada when the visa’s for my entire family ran out and we were denied new visa’s in Calgary. We left the country and did not re-enter until we had valid visa’s again.

This is the kind of honesty that my mother taught me, and it is what I – a widow – taught my nine children to do.

Yes, I had children who cried about leaving the college campus we had been living on for five years. My youngest daughter, age ten, curled up in a ball on her bed and wept. My husband - her father - had died of cancer only a year earlier. The campus had been a place of stability, love and safety during a very difficult time of their lives, and now I, a widow with little resources and no home in the states, had to pack them up and leave with no promise that we would be able to come back.

But the law in Canada is just as valid as in the United States. We had no right to be there after our visa's ran out. I taught my children to obey the law, and then I taught them to be strong, not fear, and take the proper steps to become documented again.

That is what the "mentors" that "helped you" avoid the law should have done for you. Are you open to that part of the "conversation?"

The next time our visa's ran out, in 2007, we accepted it and moved back to the States. Five of my children enrolled in a U.S. public school for the first time. All missed their friends back in Alberta

You are no longer 16. It's time to man-up.

.

.

CAICW Needs Help! Desperately -

2011-06-07T12:55:00.000-05:00

Hey wonderful peoples – with school out, does anyone have extra time?

We could really use your help – prayer wise as well as hands on.

I am the administrator of CAICW – but only a volunteer in a one man office - and have to work as an RN to support my family. I am doing the best I can, but it ends up being slow – much too slow. It breaks my heart that I can’t move any faster than I am.

Right now:
1) An attorney in the Twin Cities is working on draft legislation to present to Congress
2) We are setting up a seminar for Congressmen, teaching reality of ICWA.
3) We NEED help fundraising
4) We NEED website work on caicw.org
5) We NEED help monitoring this facebook page
6) We NEED another newsletter out

– I appreciate anything you can do – Thanks so much for your prayers -

I am Elizabeth (Lisa) Morris, Administrator
Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare (CAICW)
PO Box 253, Hillsboro ND 58045
administrator@caicw.org
http://caicw.org/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/CAICW
To Donate:
https://npo.networkforgood.org/Donate/Donate.aspx?npoSubscriptionId=1004119&code=Email+Solicitation

2011-03-15T09:00:00.001-05:00

PLEASE help ensure 'Best Interest of the Child' in Custody for kids of EVERY heritage. Donate Today ~ http://ping.fm/H8zZ0 tcot family

2011-03-07T23:25:00.001-06:00

THE WEBSITE IS BACK UP! - Thanks so much for your patience. Debit card expired - Forgot to change card on auto Debit (need Secretary!)

2011-02-10T13:56:00.001-06:00

DECIDED: Senators need to understand: Welfare of children shouldn’t be political ie ICWA; it MUST be abt Best Interest of Child tcot ado

2011-02-10T02:26:00.001-06:00

Disappointing - Coburn no longer on Senate Commtt for Indian Affairs. Unsure what that means as far as continued support for ICWA hearings.

2011-02-05T21:21:00.001-06:00

Michelle Bachmann's aide is going to talk to Bachmann (who is a foster mom) about ICWA. Urges us to also connect w/ Committee members tcot