According to UNICEF, there are 990,000 orphaned children in Nepal. But, for the two N.B. adoptive families who are in Nepal and praying to come home with the precious children, only two children “count” today. Thank you for praying for all of the American families who are in Nepal, who have been matched with orphaned children, and those who “unmatched” continue to believe that God called them to adopt from Nepal.
New Beginnings is no longer accepting applications for the Nepal adoption program. For all “abandonment cases,” with the exception of those that are already in “the pipeline,” the U.S. State Department suspended adoptions on August 6th, 2010. The State Department stated that the pipeline cases would continue to be processed in the same memo.
Adoptive families in “pipeline” cases were provided with additional information about travel late in the day on August 11th.
For more information, please visit http://adoption.state.gov/news/nepalalerts.html
Katie is 18 years old. She’s in high school, and she’s a straight-A student. She’s involved in several clubs in her school, and she’s the Senior Class President. Katie is well-known and well-loved by all who know her. And she’s also pregnant. Or she was, rather.
When Katie started experiencing several symptoms of pregnancy, she tried to brush the nagging thoughts aside that she just might be. She thought that could never happen to someone like her. Just to prove to herself that she wasn’t pregnant, just to get rid of those nagging thoughts, just to sleep a little better at night, she decided to take a home pregnancy test. Not because she thought she was pregnant…of course not. She just wanted to prove she wasn’t. But when two pink lines appeared on her pregnancy test, she was shocked. Something had to be wrong with the test. So she decided to go a more reliable route to find out that she wasn’t really pregnant. She went to the local Sav-A-Life and got a pregnancy test, which also tested positive. Right there in the Sav-A-Life office, right in front of the counselor she was meeting with, she lost it. Katie cried until she didn’t have any tears left. And then she listened to her counselor, who began calmly discussing her options with her. The counselor mentioned that Katie might want to consider taking the Options class offered by the Genesis program with New Beginnings. Katie agreed that it sounded like a good idea, and together she and her counselor called the Genesis director to plan a time to meet.
Calmed down and finding an ounce of hope in her soul, Katie left the Sav-A-Life that day. But the longer the day wore on, the more scared she got. She couldn’t think about carrying this baby to term. What would everyone think? How would she cope? How much would her life change? Desperate, Katie began planning an abortion. She called the abortion clinic and scheduled an appointment in a week. Meanwhile, she skipped her follow up appointment at the Sav-A-Life and her Genesis appointment. She ignored the phone calls from her counselor and from the Genesis director. Guilt knawed at her insides, but she pushed it away.
A week later, Katie walked out of the abortion clinic. She thought she would feel relieved, but she felt hollow instead. She walked to her car, climbed in, and put her head on the steering wheel before she burst into tears.
Desperation drives a person to do things they wouldn’t normally do. Another girl, another teen pregnancy, leading to another desperate choice. One more baby who won’t know what it is to live and laugh and love. This is our fight…not against, but for girls like Katie who are hurting, broken, and desperate. They need to know they’re not alone, and they need to know that death for their child is not the only way out. That’s what we’re here for. By God’s grace, to join in the effort to rescue unborn children and to rescue girls like Katie from making choices they will regret and grieve for a lifetime.
We appreciate the leadership role that has been undertaken by the U.S. State Department and Special Ambassador, Susan Jacobs in regard to Nepali adoptions. With numerous rumors and accusations about Nepali adoptions (some probably true and some probably false), the commitment of Secretary Hillary Clinton and Ambassador Jacobs to promote more ethical adoption practices in any country is encouraging.
For the most up-to-date information on Nepal adoption, please visit U.S. State Department-Nepal adoption
Regarding the 7/20/2010 State Department Conference call on Nepal adoptions, please visit StateCall.
Whether or not to parent a baby is an important choice! When making this choice many factors need to be responsibly considered. To help you decide whether or not this is the right time for you to become a parent, you need to look carefully at why you would choose to parent a baby at this time. Is it because you’re lonely? You believe it’ll keep you’re relationship together? You’ll have someone of your own? You desire unconditional love? You feel pressure from family or friends? Maybe having a baby will help you grow personally?
List your top three reasons why now is a good time to parent a baby. As you review those reasons, do you feel you are making a good choice at this time? Why?/Why not?
Below are some healthy and unhealthy reasons to parent a child. Add some of your own…
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UNHEALTHY |
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Here are some really good quotes I ran across about children on Compassion International’s website:
“Children are great imitators. So give them something great to imitate.” -Anonymous
“You have to love your children unselfishly. That is hard. But it is the only way.” -Barbara Bush
“An aware parent loves all children he or she interacts with — for you are a caretaker for those moments in time.” -Doc Childre
“The soul is healed by being with children.” -English proverb
“Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them.” -Lady Bird Johnson
“Children are our most valuable natural resource.”-Herbert Hoover
“Why is it that a child’s death amounts to a tragedy, but the death of millions is merely a statistic?” -Patrick McDonald
“Only where children gather is there any real chance of fun.” -Mignon McLaughlin
“If I could relive my life, I would devote my entire ministry to reaching children for God!” -Dwight L. Moody
“Let us be the ones who say we do not accept that a child dies every three seconds simply because he does not have the drugs you and I have. Let us be the ones to say we are not satisfied that your place of birth determines your right to life. Let us be outraged, let us be loud, let us be bold.” -Brad Pitt
While some church organizations waiver on the issue of abortion, we commend the ALJC and its General Superintendent, Pastor Robert Martin, for proclaiming that all human life is sacred in their Articles of Faith. By taking a firm stand on the value of every human life, the ALJC movement sets itself apart in Christiandom.
Have you considered the fact that the Lord refers to King David being a man “after God’s own heart,” in relation to the fact that David believed that human life was absolutely sacred in God’s eyes? (Psalm 139).
Where do you stand? Are you afraid of stating that “life begins at the moment of conception?” Think about it…
”and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (I Corinthians 6:19-20).
Have you considered the fact that making an adoption plan comes with a price for a good and caring birthmother? Cast away any thoughts you have about a birthmother being so hard-hearted that she “gives” her baby away. She is not giving a child away, but rather is making an adoption plan that is well thought out and planned because she cares.
There is also the adoptive family side of the equation. About once or twice a year (it is rare), someone calls and asks how much it costs to adopt. I sometimes hear folks whine about the cost…the same folks who are driving a nice new car…and I have zero sympathy for them. If a child isn’t worth more than their car then they don’t deserve to have a good and honorable birthmother hero choose them anyway.
Adoption is modeled after God’s plan for his people. Is adoption okay? Well…God thought so…
Tom Velie, President of New Beginnings
P.S. Please visit us at www.NewBeginningsAdoptions.org
Over the past few days, it has come to my attention that some do not understand the heart of New Beginnings. In 1982 and 1985, Debbie and I adopted our beautiful daughters from South Korea. I was a home-builder (construction) in Wisconsin at the time, and when I changed full-time careers after moving to Mississippi, child welfare and adoption work was the natural direction to take. After graduating from the University of Mississippi and the University of Southern Mississippi, and after many years of child welfare work in various settings, I joined New Beginnings as the President in 2002.New Beginnings was founded in the mid-1980’s, and in 2003 we made the decision to develop international adoption programs so that other children could find safe and loving homes…just as our daughters found with us.
International adoptions are complicated and often involve more than one adoption agency, as well as facilitators, attorneys, government entities and others. International adoption agencies typically work in specific countries. The “top” agency or attorney (some countries allow attorneys or even facilitators to be involved) in each case is usually referred to as the “primary provider.” The primary providers operate the programs, have the overseas contacts, handle the application process, handle the dossier process, communicate with the families, help coordinate travel and visa approvals, are responsible to verify that post-placement or post-adoption reporting requirements are met, and “hold the adoptive applicant’s hand” through the process. New Beginnings is a Primary Provider in Poland, Nepal and the Ukraine and has never been a Primary Provider in any other country, including Guatemala or Russia.
In international cases, other than those where New Beginnings is acting as the Primary Provider, we typically provide only home study and post-placement work under the direction of the Primary Providers and the within the parameters established by the child’s country of origin.
We believe that New Beginnings has an excellent and well-trained team of social work service providers. Our workers are required (under Hague guidelines) to have a minimum of 30 hours of adoption-related training every two years, in addition to their other social work training. These trainings emphasize the requirements for home studies, post-placement reports, USCIS and Hague guidelines, and all other information that is a part of the adoption processes.
Below you will find the statements I provided Daily Journal, along with the very comprehensive guidelines our agency follows when conducting a home study.
Sincerely,
Tom Velie
PRESS RELEASE - JUNE 8-9, 2010, PROVIDED TO DAILY JOURNAL
“6/8/10
Whether we wanted to or not, as a licensed and accredited adoption agency, New Beginnings is not free to confirm or deny who may be clients of the agency. This is standard, licensed adoption agency practice.
While it seems that cases involving adoption often make the news, child abuse or neglect for any child, whether adopted or biological and whether it occurs in public or private situations, is tragic and deplorable.
Good adoption agencies and professionals continually reexamine their procedures and policies. For example, because of past issues across the country involving adoption facilitators, we do not provide certain services to them. Procedures to promote and improve adoption for the benefit of children are constantly evolving through the positive efforts of the U.S. State Department, the Council on Accreditation and excellent organizations such as the National Council for Adoption.
Research shows that adoption is of tremendous benefit to children; as a group, adoptive children are shown to have better opportunities and to live in better circumstances than biological children. Research also shows that adoptive families have above average strength in family dynamics.
In fact, adoptive parents are the only parents who must endure a very stringent investigative process prior to becoming parents. The home study process, no matter how thorough, conscientious and accurate, covers only a space in time, and unfortunately, there is no investigative process that is perfect, whether it is adoption, pastoral searches in churches, screening Sunday school teachers or substance screening for employees.
Within the State of Mississippi, New Beginnings actively promotes laws and processes to improve adoptions. In fact, New Beginnings, with the assistance of Representative Holland and Senator Nunnelee, was the primary proponent of the law that requires a basic home study for adoption in Mississippi–something that was not required until 2008.
6/9/10 - Journal
My previous statement was written to provide the Journal with a positive and truthful statement about adoption and the adoption process. I’m sorry, but I cannot comment further, and would certainly hesitate to respond to any allegations about a particular case, whether we were or were not involved, that were made under the emotional circumstances that we have read about in the Journal.
We are hopeful that the Journal will continue to investigate the complicated scenario of intercountry adoption you have presented in past articles, as it undoubtedly involves many adoption agencies, facilitators, attorneys, government entities and others. It certainly seems that it would have been impossible for anyone to have legally adopted several children, particularly in the same age group, through the international adoption and governmental process without an extremely extensive network of those parties involved.
As a Hague accredited agency through the Council on Accreditation, New Beginnings requires all adoption workers to acquire a significant amount of ongoing training on an annual basis.
Tom Velie
President”
9.04: GENERAL HOME STUDY INFORMATION
A. NBICFS shall require an adoptive home study to assess the applicant’s appropriateness to be adoptive parents. The home study process shall include at least three face-to-face visits for a domestic adoptive home study and four face-to-face visits for an international adoptive home study, individual interviews with each member of the household and one visit with the entire family for final approval. The period of time between the first visit and the final visit cannot exceed six months. Mississippi Code 1972 Annotated, 93-17-12 and 93-17-13 document that an international home study is considered current for a period of 18 months from the date of approval.
9.05: HOME STUDY OUTLINE [H96.47(a)(3)]
A. The following guidelines outline information and requirements for home studies. In addition, USCIS may from time-to-time issue more specific guidelines and rules. In all cases, USCIS requirements apply and supersede the following policy. ALL HOME STUDY WORKERS MUST REVIEW THE CURRENT “USCIS HOME STUDY GUIDELINES - HAGUE ADOPTION CONVENTION” PRIOR TO CONDUCTING THE HOME STUDY.
B. International home studies must be completed by a worker who complies with all Hague Convention training requirements. This applies to both Hague and non-Hague countries.
C. NBICFS shall require the following criteria for each home study on the prospective adoptive parent(s), which shall be recorded in the adoptive record (all-relevant data will become a part of the official home study report). All initial reports, and any supplemental statements, submitted to Mississippi ICPC, USCIS or the Department of Homeland Security, must include the following [H96.47 (a)]:
1. Record interviews including time spent, dates, where held and who involved. Also include all dates of additional contacts and with whom.
2. Motivation for adoption and, for international, why they chose that
country [H96.47 (a)(1)]. Must be country-specific in all cases.
3. Adoptive parents and all household members’ identity names, alien registration numbers (if applicable) and birthdates to be verified by birth certificate. The birth certificate number and the issuing state will be noted in the home study [H96.47 (a)(1)].
4. Background of parents, siblings, description of relationship and frequency of contact [H96.47 (a)(1)].
5. Social environment, including brief description of hobbies, community-spiritual-family support networks, extended family support and their attitude toward the applicants’ adoption plans [H96.47 (a)(1)].
6. Education and employment history.
7. Date of marriage compared with marriage certificate, including couple’s feelings toward one another, decision-making and process of problem resolution.
8. If previously married, list names, dates of marriage and divorce, and reason for divorce.
9. Medical history and exam, doctor’s name and date of exam, general health, documentation that each family member has no communicable diseases, specific illnesses or disabilities which would interfere with the family’s capability to care for a child, including HIV test, TB test, and VDRL testing. Also applies to children already in the home [H96.47 (a)(1)].
10. Documentation that the adoptive couple is eligible (child’s country of origin requirements) and suitable (physically, mentally, and emotionally stable) to adopt internationally [H96.47 (a)(1)(2)].
11. Children in home, including child’s name, age, if they live in the home, hobbies and educational level. Opinion of adoption, based on child’s level of maturity.
12. Health insurance and if it will cover adoptive child at the time of placement.
13. Identified guardians, their names, addresses and profession.
14. Description of home and neighborhood.
15. Income, assets, liability, net worth, life insurance, monthly/annual
budget.
16. Parenting experience.
17. Adjustment of birth children or previously adopted children.
18. Child-rearing patterns, including discipline (verify no plan for the use of corporal correction).
19. Child-care plan.
20. Verification of the home’s compliance with all city, county and state guidelines pertaining to water and sanitation system, fire codes, etc. Home must have suitable number of smoke detectors and at least two fire extinguishers (one in the kitchen).
21. For every adult member of the prospective adoptive parents’ household, a Criminal Background Check, Child Abuse Registry check and any other pertinent information that may affect the final determination must be provided [H96.47 (a) (4)] [H96.47 (h)]. USCIS-specific guidelines for securing information will be followed and the results documented within each home study.
a. Definition (8 CFR 204.3): As per 8 CFR 204.3 (e) “Adult member of the prospective adoptive parents’ household” means an individual, other than a prospective adoptive parent, over the age of 18 whose principal or only residence is the home of the prospective adoptive parents. This definition excludes any child of the prospective adoptive parents, whose principal or only residence is the home of the prospective adoptive parents, who reaches his or her eighteenth birthday after the prospective adoptive parents have filed the advanced processing application (or the advanced processing application concurrently with the orphan petition), unless the director (USCIS) has an articulable and substantive reason for requiring an evaluation by a home study preparer and/or a fingerprint check.”
b. Verbatim questions to be answered “Yes” or “No” by all applicants:
(1) Do you have any history of alcoholism?
(2) Do you have any history of drug addiction?
(3) Do you have any history of substance abuse?
(4) Do you have any history of domestic violence?
(5) Do you have any history of sexual abuse?
(6) Do you have any history of child abuse?
(7) Have you ever been arrested?
(8) Is this your first home study?
(9) Have you ever received an unfavorable home study?
(10) Have you ever begun a home study and stopped the process for any reason?
(11) Have you ever been rejected as prospective adoptive parents or foster parents?
c. Include a certified copy of documentation showing the final disposition of each incident which resulted in arrest, indictment, conviction, and /or other judicial action for anyone subject to the home study, including a written statement giving details, including any mitigating circumstances surrounding each arrest, signed, under penalty of perjury, by the person to who the arrest relates.
d. Include the agency involved in each prior terminated home study, along with dates, locations and reason for termination.
22. Comments from personal references (minimum of four).
23. A full and complete statement of all facts relevant to the eligibility and suitability of the prospective adoptive parent(s) to adopt a child under any specific requirements identified to the Secretary by the Central Authority of the child’s country of origin [H96.47 (a)(5)].
24. A statement regarding counseling and training provided to the prospective adoptive parents. Note: Acceptable training models include (1) National Council for Adoption’s (NCFA) online course, (2) the University of Alabama-Birmingham’s “Preparing for International Adoption” Clinic course, or (3) courses provided by Supervised or Exempt Providers (must meet H96.48 standards, P7.3) [H96.47 (a)(3)].
a. The NCFA course, entitled “The Inter-country Adoption Journey: Hague-Compliant Training from the National Council for Adoption,” is outlined below:
(1) Module 1: Hague Overview Objectives
(2) Module 2: The Inter-country Adoption Process Abroad Objectives
(3) Module 3: General Characteristics and Needs of Children Objectives
(4) Module 4: Referral Information Objectives
(5) Module 5: Multiculturalism Objectives
(6) Module 6: Post-Adoption and Post-Placement Reporting Objectives
(7) Module 7: Wrap-up and Certification Objectives
25. Child desired including gender, age, and desired health status.
26. Determination/assessment and recommendation for adoption including age of child, medical conditions, male/female, twins, siblings, etc. Specify if willing/able to provide care for a child(ren) with special needs and any other recommended restrictions on the characteristics of the child to be placed in the home [H96.47 (a)(1)(2)].
27. Applicants’ plan for discussing adoption with the child and how they plan to maintain the child’s ethnic culture.
28. Document all referrals for additional assessment, the outcomes of the assessments and the impact on the potential adoption.
29. Any other information requested or required by the Secretary, the Central Authority of the child’s country of origin, USCIS, ICPC or other regulatory entity.
30. A statement in each copy of the home study that it is a true and accurate copy of the home study that was provided to the prospective adoptive parent(s), Mississippi ICPC or DHS [H96.47 (a)(6)].
31. Include the following statement: “New Beginnings International Children’s & Family Services received Hague Accreditation from the Council on Accreditation (expires March 18, 2014).”
32. The home study preparer must personally sign the home study, and any updated or amended home study. The home study preparer’s signature must include a declaration, under penalty of perjury under U.S. law, that :
a. The signer personally, and with professional diligence reasonably necessary to protect the best interests of any child whom the applicant might adopt, either actually conducted or supervised the home study.
b. If the signer did not personally conduct the home study, then the person who actually conducted the home study must be identified.
c. The factual statements in the home study are true and correct, to the best of the signer’s knowledge, information and belief, and the home study preparer has advised the applicant of the duty of candor, specifically noting the ongoing duty of disclosure of new events or information, which may require an updated or amended home study.
33. The home study must be submitted to USCIS within 6 months of its completion.
[Policy Manual: 2/22/10]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New Beginning’s International Children’s Family Services
Tom Velie, LMSW
President
In the mid-1980’s Debbie and I adopted two baby girls from South Korea. They are now adults and Debbie and I have become grandparents. After many years of child welfare work in various settings, I joined New Beginnings as the President in 2002. In 2003 we made the decision to develop international adoption programs so that other children could find safe and loving homes…just as our daughters found with us.
While it seems that cases involving adoption often make the news, child abuse or neglect for any child, whether adopted or biological and whether it occurs in public or private situations, is tragic and deplorable.
We have provided safe and loving homes to over 500 children, provided help in crisis situations to birthmothers at the Erwin Maternity Care Center, and provided other adoption services to families throughout Mississippi.
New Beginnings remains committed to providing quality, professional adoption and home study services to the birthmothers and families of Mississippi. While, the average reader of the Daily Journal may have a false perception that certain portions of our work are optional, that perception is just that-false. International home studies include criminal background and child abuse registry checks, FBI fingerprinting, home visits that include viewing every accessible area, reference checks and several hours of intense interviews. Workers are instructed to complete a thorough checklist - I am proud of the work they do in sensitive circumstances.
The home study process, no matter how thorough, conscientious and accurate, covers only a space in time, and unfortunately, there is no investigative process that is perfect.
Sometimes our confidentiality guidelines are misunderstood or unappreciated, but they are necessary and required of licensed and accredited agencies. Nothing hinders us from doing our best for every case and every child.
New Beginnings has an excellent and well-trained team of social work service providers. Our workers are required (Hague guidelines) to have a minimum of 30 hours of adoption-related training every two years, in addition to their other social work training.
Adoption agencies work at various levels in each adoption case. International adoptions are especially complex and often involve more than one adoption agency, as well as facilitators, attorneys, government entities and others. International adoption agencies typically work in specific countries. The “top” agency in each case is usually referred to as the “Primary Provider.” The Primary Providers handle the entire process of adoption, and “hold the adoptive applicant’s hand” through the entire process. New Beginnings is a Primary Provider in Poland, Nepal and the Ukraine and has never been a Primary Provider in any other country, including Guatemala.