Pregnancy and Adoption Resources

        The challenge is to not be complacent. On Sunday, January 17^th Pro-Life Believers in America will celebrate Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. How will you celebrate this day?

      Aaron is one of the neatest 15-year old boys around. Dark hair and olive skinned, highly intelligent, active in his church youth group and the pride of his godly parents and grand-parents, he embodies “life” and happiness. Aaron’s mother came within ONE HOUR of aborting his life. One hour before her scheduled abortion, she told her mother of her plans. Her mother and a caring and loving pastor’s wife pleaded with her to call New Beginnings. She listened, she humbled herself to those who truly love her and she came. Aaron lives, because one mother cared and because the pastor’s wife knew about New Beginnings. Will you celebrate with Aaron this Sunday?

      This special day comes at a crucial time for the Pro-Life Movement in America.  Our current President has stated that society “shouldn’t punish a birthmother with a child.”  This same warped thinking is being used to make abortion even more available, as Pro-Life non-profits (just like New Beginnings that you are such a vital part of) struggle to make budget ends meet. being reduced by those who have no place for God and his purpose for mankind. How will you celebrate Sanctity of Human Life Sunday?

     You can decide to celebrate Sanctity of Human Life Sunday by going to www.NewBeginningsAdoptions.org and clicking on the “Donate Now” link. By taking this simple action, and by making a generous, secure, online gift, more Aarons will have an opportunity to experience life. Celebrate by joining with other Believers who are taking this simple action.

    Your personal, church or organizational gift of $500, $250, $100, $50 or $25 will be designated to reaching more birthmothers with hope. God will multiply every gift for His glory.

     After you have given, please celebrate Sanctity of Human Life Sunday by also:

• calling your Pastor and asking him to share this information on Sunday,
• forwarding this message to your friends and ask them to celebrate with you and Aaron, and
• praying for birthmothers–almost 3,800 “little Aarons” will lose their life in America today while some do nothing.

        New Beginnings has battled against this evil toward children for over 25 years.  By offering crisis pregnancy counseling (24/7 by Debbie and Renae), by offering professional Christ-centered adoption services, and now through birthmother parenting education New Beginnings is changing lives. Because you helped today, you can rejoice with us as we celebrate this Sunday.

NEW BEGINNINGS ADOPTION & FAMILY SERVICES

Tupelo, Mississippi

2009 SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES

Domestic Adoptions

New Beginning’s domestic adoption program is one of the foundations of our ministry to women in crisis pregnancy.  With the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, the number of birthmothers opting to carry their pregnancy to term has decreased dramatically.  Coupled with the greater acceptance of single parenting, the number of single pregnant women deciding to carry their child to term AND to place their child for adoption has dropped to less than 1%.  The challenge for New Beginnings is to make sure that women with an unplanned pregnancy know the truth of what confidential or open adoption (the level of confidentiality or openness is entirely the birthmother’s choice) has to offer them and their expected child.  Debbie Velie (Domestic Program Director, LBSW) and Renae Hellen (LBSW), our birthmother counselors, have done a very effective job of counseling with women and supporting them even when they do not choose adoption.

Unfortunately for honest birthmothers and adoptive families, the world of domestic adoptions has changed dramatically over the last 10 years.  Where the emphasis used to be on the counseling of birthmothers to make good decisions for their expected child, the field is now dominated by for-profit, non-licensed adoption facilitators.  These organizations typically charge $20,000 or more just to connect a family with a birthmother.  The revenues generated enable them to have a very attractive presence on the internet and to advertise in newspapers and yellow pages throughout the country.  Frequently birthmothers seeing these ads have no idea where the facilitator is geographically located and personal counseling is often waived in favor or receiving financial assistance with their pregnancy expenses.

We have placed 16 children for adoption through our domestic program thus far in 2008 and are currently working with six birthmothers who are making an adoption plan for their expected child.  This compares with the placement of 17 children in 2008, but there are still a few days left in December!

Since some families choose to adopt independently through adoption attorneys without the benefit of pre- or post-adoption services, we also provide homestudies in Mississippi for these families at a very reasonable cost.  In addition to increased outreach to churches, hospital social workers, school counselors and partnering with other Christian agencies around the country, we are seeking to build our domestic adoption program through advertising that targets the most vulnerable, pregnant birthmothers.

International Adoptions

We have experienced both successes and disappointments with our international adoption program this year.

Hague Accreditation: It is impossible to overemphasize the importance of attaining accreditation under the Hague Inter-Country Adoption Act.  New Beginnings achieved 2-year temporary Accreditation in April 2008 and will finalize its 5-year Accreditation process in January 2010. This has been a long, arduous and expensive process.  But without it, we would be crippled in our efforts to reach out to the orphaned children of the world with the hope of permanent families.  Marcus Davenport (International Program Director) has become our resident expert “on all things Hague,” and our President, Tom Velie (LMSW) is an evaluator for the Council on Accreditation for site visits for other agencies.  Our current Hague Accreditation does not expire until April 2010 so we are very comfortable with achieving our 5-year Accreditation in plenty of time.  It is significant to note that several agencies which were denied Hague Accreditation have closed their doors.  Even for countries which have not implemented the Hague Treaty, the gold standard for quality of services is Hague Accreditation by the Council on Accreditation.  In addition, New Beginnings has the largest and best qualified team of Hague-qualified social workers in Mississippi. We are very thankful for the Lord’s help in achieving this level of professionalism.

Nepal Registration:   Twenty-five American adoption agencies are registered in the country of Nepal and New Beginnings is thankful to be one of these agencies. Ten adoptive family dossiers are on file with the Ministry of Women, Children & Social Welfare in Kathmandu, Nepal awaiting their matches with children. Ten more families are in the process of completing their dossiers for 2010. Unfortunately, political unrest in Nepal has delayed the administrative process of matching the children in Nepal, but we are told that a new minister is now in place and that the process may proceed more smoothly.

Our Nepali Humanitarian Service Coordinator, Mr. Bobby Adhikari, through generous donations made by a wonderful Christian family, and through the “New Beginnings of Nepal” monthly partnership program donors, opened an orphan home for 10 children in June 2009. What a great testimony this is to the vision of the New Beginnings Founders, Stephen and Evelyn Drury, and to the dedication of “Brother Bobby.”

Poland:  New Beginnings is now licensed with the Polish government to provide adoptive services in Poland and is accepting applications for this program. We have hired our Polish Representative and adoptive families can have confidence that their adoption process will proceed smoothly. This program is ideal for the adoptive family that is interested in adopting children over the age of five (some younger children may be available in sibling groups).

Other countries: New Beginnings is in the process of investigating and possibly opening other country programs in several countries. Information will be provided on this website when details are finalized. We are carefully considering other opportunities to reach out to children in orphanages in other parts of the world, but do not want to duplicate already successful programs by our partner agencies.

Summary: It is difficult to write such a short summary of the activities of our agency for an entire year.  Our staff has done a remarkable job under very trying circumstances and I am proud of each of them.  Some are well known to our clients and some work behind the scenes.  But each has made a contribution to our mission.

Please join us in praying for increased activity in 2010 and the opportunity for more children to find their permanent homes. Every Child Deserves a Forever Family.

Just wondering…

If Jesus, the Christ, died on Calvary for “the sins of the whole world,” as the Bible tells us. And, if that amazing death and it’s life-giving awe applies to every man that will ever be born. And, if He knows all about each and every one of us before we are born (Psalms 139).

Then…He died for the unborn child.

Now…if the even unborn child is worthy of the death of the Jesus…do you suppose that life just might be priceless…and worthy of life?

Just wondering…

Mississippi is the host to a wonderful program…Choose Life Car Tags.

When you purchase your next license plate please remember that Choose Life License Plates support crisis pregnancy centers and adoption programs like New Beginnings in your state.

Choose life also provides training to these centers as well as free resources like literature and grants for the needs of the centers.

A lot of the office staff (Tom, Debbie, Brenda, Marcus, and Stanton) are in St. Louis MO this week for the UPCI General Conference. We have a booth in the Exhibit Area.  Come by and see us if you have any questions about New Beginnings or just want chat!

Stanton

The title isn’t original–Edgar Allan Poe made it famous in 1843.Candy’s (name changed)  statement reminded me of Poe’s title. For several weeks she blocked the reality and the end result of her upcoming abortion-choice. Just like the narrator in Poe’s story, she claimed sanity. Candy’s sanity wasn’t so much in question as was her spiritual state. She said it…”I was denying that the ‘mass of tissue” in me was a human life.”

Then there was the “dumb” requirement.Candy had to endure a sonogram before getting rid of the problem. “Just a quick procedure and then we’ll proceed” the abortion nurse told her.

The beating heart…the part of the “mass of tissue” that was pulsing…regularly…strong…in tune with it’s Creator. it was the telltale heart. Then it was “the appendage.” Yes, the little part of the “mass of tissue” that said “It’s a boy!”

“You mean…I’ll be killing my son?” Candy asked in disbelief. Disbelief that she almost committed an act as inglorious as the narrator’s in Poe’s short story. In Poe’s story, the heart beats under the floorboards of the house until the narrator goes mad.

In Candy’s story, the narrator (Candy) realizes the power of the heart before she commits the tragic act of abortion. And then…Candy’s next series of choices…tell my parents…endure the barrage of hurtful words…make an adoption plan (adoption is a loving choice…a choice that both you and your child can live with)…meeting the adoptive parents…giving birth…crying…laughing…filled with joy…crying.

The telltale heart is still beating. It beats in the chest of a healthy little boy who was/is loved by two sets of parents…a birthparent set and an adoptive parent set. He is loved and he will love. His is the telltale heart in this story.

Candy is the hero!

TV

P.S. Thinking of what to do tonight? Abortion in Mississippi is not the answer that will bring peace. Adoption in Mississippi or anywhere in America will bring peace. Did you know that only the Prince of Peace can bring Peace? That’s another story. 800-264-2229 - BIRTHMOTHER HOTLINE.

She called in the afternoon…just a normal call. “Can you help me get an abortion?” was the question. I shared with her the option of adoption. Her response? “I could never give my baby away to someone else…that would be cruel.”

What was I hearing? A loving adoptive family and a permanent home…cruel? Ending a child’s life…caring?

The truth, based on research, is that children raised in two parent adoptive homes have better outcomes than any other group of children, other than those raised by their biological parents in intact two parent homes.

Is adoption a cruel act or a self-less act? Is adoption an act of love and caring? If I could reach the baby of that birthmother who called adoption cruel….I wonder…what would he say?

Repurposed…That’s a word that’s been in the back (sometimes the front) of my mind for the past year.  I did this bible study named…Repurposed last summer and I honestly haven’t been the same since.  Through viewing the life of Nehemiah, I was shown how God can take even the most broken things and use them for His Kingdom…in essence Repurposing them from hopelessness to usefulness, from crumbling to thriving.  All this from a story about a guy rebuilding some city walls with a bunch of refugees.  It’s all about taking something broken down and destined to be cast aside and restoring it to beauty!

That’s where adoption comes in.  Adoption is the ultimate act of Repurposing that we can perform.  In essence, an adoptive parent and birthmother are taking a child that statistically will fall into a life of crime and purposelessness and placing him or her in a family that will help that child find meaning and hope.

Abortion just seems to run counter to everthing good in life.  I’m not trying to be insensitive, but it seems as if it’s an admission that there is no hope for anything but a bleak existence, that things can’t Change…that the place you’re in is the place you’ll always be in…That there is no way to be Repurposed into something new…

Adoption not abortion is the answer to the BIG question of “How do we curb the rising crime rates associated with children growing up with absent parents or no parents?”

Children (contrary to popular representations in media) are not consumer products…they are unique individuals with souls and dreams and aspirations of their own…if the path they’re born into seems broken and bleak, that path can be Repurposed in a very real way through the gift of adoption…birthmothers who place for adoption are not women who just want to get rid of a kid…they are women who are most concerned about the welfare of the child inside of them…

Repurpose some things in your life…consider adoption…

HOTLINES: Debbie - 800-264-2229 and Renae - 866-218-0138

At New Beginnings we call them “good birthmothers.” No, they aren’t all choosing adoption. However, the “good” ones have one common thread. All of them are more concerned about the welfare of the infant’s life within them…both prior to birth and after birth. They care!

Visit us: www.NewBeginningsHELP.com

Genesis Program: If you’re anywhere near our office in Tupelo, Mississippi, please call us about this educational series for birthmothers. Courses include “Boundary Setting,” “Budgeting…how much does it cost at Wal*Mart?,” and many other mom and baby classes for pregnant teens.

Free literature: Please call us for free information.

Hurrah! We just found out the Nepalese orphanages are starting to send children’s profiles to be matched with New Beginning’s families by the Nepal Ministry which handles adoptions in Nepal.  This is a really exciting time as we work to give these children a better life!

Also!  New Beginnings has recently confirmed Michael Reagan as the keynote speaker for this year’s Celebration of Adoption on October 20th, 2009. Michael is a popular author and radio/ tv host who is the adopted son of Ronald Reagan! 

New Beginnings is also looking for Volunteers and Teams and Hole Sponsors for the Annual Golf For Life on May 5th!

Thanks for all your support and help!

Stanton Blaylock (you can reach me at 662-842-6752 or stantonblaylock@nbicfs.org…ask for Tom Velie if I’m not available…tomvelie@nbicfs.org)

So I’ve cobbled together a few things for some information on abortion and mental health.  I hope you find this informative and helpful.

The links take you to text sources for the article…not the www.newbeginningsadoptions.org page

In discussing abortion, and abortion for the mother’s health, it is absolutely crucial to know what “health” means, legally and in practice, regarding abortion. “Health” was defined in detail by the U.S. Supreme Court. The Court said that abortion could be performed: “. . . in the light of all factors — physical, emotion-al, psychological, familial, and the woman’s age — relevant to the well being of the patient. All these factors may relate to health.” Roe vs. Wade, January 22, 1973

And in its companion decision, “Maternity or additional offspring may force upon the woman a distressful life and future. Psychological harm may be imminent. Mental and physical health may be taxed by childcare. There is also the distress for all concerned associated with the unwanted child, and there is the problem of bringing a child into a family already unable, psychologically or otherwise, to care for it.“  Doe vs. Bolton, January 22, 1973 44

In a concurring opinion, Justice Douglas further elaborated what “health” meant when, in law, it related to abortion. He detailed if she had to: “endure the discomforts of pregnancy; to incur the pain, higher mortality rate, and aftereffects of childbirth; to abandon educational plans; to sustain loss of income; to forego the satisfactions of careers; to tax further mental and physical health in providing childcare, and in some cases, to bear the lifelong stigma of unwed motherhood.” Roe vs. Wade, January 22, 1973

This definition of “health” has been adopted internationally. As a result, in any nation, if abortion is al-lowed for the woman’s “health,” that country permits abortion on demand unless other aspects of its laws add restrictions.

The World Health Organization of the United Nations defined it as including social, emotional and economic well being of the woman as defined by the woman herself.

Let’s narrow it down to mental health, in the psychological sense, and ask–are there mental health reasons for abortion?

No! The woman with mental health problems is far more likely to experience post-abortion emotional and psychological problems than a more stable woman.

Four classic references here are these: “Women with a history of psychiatric disturbance were three times as likely to have some psychiatric disturbance” after an abortion as others who had no such history.”   E. Greenglass, “Abortion & Psychiatric Disturbance,” Canadian Psych. Assn. Jour., vol. 21, no. 7, Nov. 1976, pp. 453-459

Dr. Charles Ford and his associates at UCLA reported the same finding. “The more serious the psychiatric diagnosis, the less beneficial was the abortion.“  C. Ford et al., “Abortion, Is It a Therapeutic Procedure in Psychiatry?” JAMA, vol. 218, no. 8, Nov. 22, 1971, pp. 1173-1178

“The more severely ill the psychiatric patient, the worse is her post-abortion psychiatric state.”    E. Sandberg, “Psychology of Abortion” In Comprehensive Handbook of Psychiatry, 3rd ed. Kaplan & Friedman Publishers, 1980

All of these support the original official statement of the World Health Organization in 1970: “Serious mental disorders arise more often in women with previous mental problems. Thus, the very women for whom legal abortion is considered justified on psychiatric grounds are the ones who have the highest risk of post-abortion psychiatric disorders.”

Then “mental illness” as a reason for abortion is just an excuse?

Precisely.

What about psychological problems after abortion?

When your authors wrote Handbook on Abortion in 1971, there were a few murmurings about post-abortion problems, but little was known. We then saw the negatives as mostly physical.

When we wrote Abortion: Questions & Answers in 1985, physical damage, while still a major problem, was given less emphasis, and negative psychological aftermath was being seriously investigated. With the publication of this book, far more is known about what is now called Post Abortion Syndrome which clearly is a post traumatic stress syndrome.

A Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome?

Yes. This type of problem was first seen in large numbers in Vietnam veterans, but did not manifest it-self until a decade after they returned. The same ten-year delay has been evident with abortion. T. Keane, Vietnam Vets Trauma disorder level at 15%, Am. Med. News, L. Abraham, Dec. 2, 1988, p. 2

What is Post Abortion Syndrome (PAS)?

Many women are very ambivalent about getting aborted but do go ahead. Those around her told her (and she told herself) that it wouldn’t bother her. When symptoms occur, she tells herself it can’t be the abortion causing them, and then into play come her two major psychological defense mechanisms:

(more coming Wednesday)