Interesting sites about adoption

Exploring Adoption Blog

About Lifebooks

What is a Lifebook

Adoption Lifebooks website. This site also offersa Free Adoption Lifebook Newsletter - Sign up for it here


Yahoo Listserv and Group on Lifebooks

The Backwards Lifebook: Using a different technique makes a book that is accessible to all who need to use it. - Free and downloadable.

Attachment Therapies

Therapy treatments:

Reports on various forms of Attachment Therapy

Theraplay

Library Search for Child and Welfare Issues

Family Attachment Narrative Therapy, about and links

Family Attachment Narrative Therapy


Books related to Attachment:

The Dr Sears line of baby books teaches concrete ways to promote attachment with your child. It is not especially geared toward adoption but is very helpful.

Attaching in Adoption by Deborah D. Gray is another great book that discusses attaching with your child.

Hague Convention

Article about Hague Convention on Adoptive Families Magazine website

List of Accredited, Temporarily Accredited, and Approved Hague Adoption Service Providers (adoption agencies), as listed by the US Secretary of State.

• Intercountry Adoption Section of Hague Convention
• Transition Cases and the Hague Adoption Convention
• Hague Full Text
• Hague FAQs
• ETHICA: Voice for ethical adoption

On Wednesday, 12 December 2007, the United States of America deposited its instrument of ratification of the Hague Convention of 29 May 1993 on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, which it had already signed on 31 March 1994. In accordance with its Article 46(2)(a), the 1993 Convention will enter into force for the US on 1 April 2008. What is the Hague Convention? Officially known as The Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Intercountry Adoption , it is an international adoption law created to:

• Ensure that adoption takes place in the best interest of the child
• Ensure that adoption processes respect the fundamental rights of the child
• Prevent the abduction, sale or trafficking of children
• Once a country has signed and ratified the Convention, it means that it has agreed follow certain intercountry adoption rules.

Some countries have signed and ratified the convention; some have not. Others are at various stages in the process. This means that intercountry adoption practice varies according to whether the two countries involved are "Hague" countries or not. Several countries that are common points of origin for children adopted by Americans have not agreed to the treaty, including Vietnam, Russia, Ukraine and Ethiopia. Here is a list of the 68 States / Regional Economic Integration Organisations are Members of the Hague Conference on Private International Law. Kazakhstan is not one of them.

Articles on the Hague Convention:

• U.S. joins international treaty on adoptions (CNN)
• U.S. Joins Overseas Adoption Overhaul Plan (NYT)

Interesting fact: Each year, the Department of State publishes a report listing the top 20 countries of origin for U.S. adoptions in the preceding year. Over the last 15 years, 40 different countries were in the Top 20 Countries of Origin for U.S. families. Of these, 13 are currently closed or effectively closed (meaning that the number of children being adopted has fallen to 26 or less each year including orphan petitions filed by immediate relatives or those living in the foreign country. Former numbers ranged from 79-1122 per country, with an average of 306). An additional 4 countries are closed, reportedly temporarily, to investigate concerns or establish new procedures.

Here is a current (Jan 2008) list of "Hague" countries, effective October 2006. Note that Kazakhstan, a country that does not allow referrals, is not included in this list. US implementation of Hague will not affect adoptions from non-Hague countries. I would expect that PAPs would continue to travel overseas blind and to select a child once in-country (if their agency is abiding by Kazakh law). If a current non-Hague country decided to sign and implement the Hague, I imagine (just guessing here) that there would be a period of time during implementation when adoptions may be somewhat impacted, but that adoptions would then resume under the rules for Hague.

Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Canada, Chile, People's Republic of China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Guatemala, Guinea, Hungary,Iceland, India, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Republic of Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand,Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Venezuela

Positive Adoption Language

Language is a powerful way to convey positive adoption messages. Below are some most common terms which can unintentionally denigrate an adoptive family, along with a preferred term. With practice, they will become more natural, and will convey a positive attitude about adoption.

Often heard -Preferred

Unwanted child - Waiting Child

Foreign child - Internationally-adopted, child/child born in ____

Adoptee - Adopted person

“What a lucky child” - “Children are a blessing”

Keep a child - choose to parent

Adopted child* - Child or (son/daughter)

Give up a child - Plan an adoption

Do you have any of your own children? - All children in a family are their parents’ own children. If necessary to distinguish children born into a family, preferred term is birth child.

*Adopted is only a qualifier if adoption is relevant to the discussion

Stolen from "A" is for Adoption

More is available here

and here

Sleep Issues!

Sleep and Adoption from the Center for Adoption Medicine from the University of Washington Medical Center

Children's Medical Group page on bedtime issues

Potty Issues: Get the scoop on the poop!

Toilet Training Guides and Quick Facts About Potty Training from the Center for Adoption Medicine at University of Washington Medical Center

Early Intervention (National Program )

The National Early Intervention Program is a federal entitlement for all children under the age of three under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act. In some states services are free, in others there are co-payments for services. Read more about Early Intervention

• State by State Listing of Early Intervention Programs
• Early Intervention Resources
• Florida's Early Intervention System
• Florida and State Family Resource Information

Great Advice from Kaz Adoption Families

Advice from the Bilbros Traveled 2007 to Almaty.

Advice from Stacey: 2007 to Semey. Sorry, you'll have to scroll down to Sept 18th posting entitled "Helpful Hints"

Almaty Advice from the Woods and bonus - Advice Addendum

Gena and James Lloyd recommend:

• Take a cheap umbrella stroller as they are expensive there. Most everyone will tell you that. We took a pack too to carry him but it turned out that we got large 8mth old who weighed much too much to carry. The stroller can be used for entertainment, feeding chair and is invaluable in the airport. If you get there and dont need it what's the worst, you leave it there.
• Take mix and match clothes and just wear them over and over again, they do. That will leave more room for other stuff and the washers will wear out your clothes there in due time.
• Do take little kleenex packs as TP is rare in public or you may pay "as you go" seriously you get like 4 tissues for 10cents. I got sick, food poisoning, and had to pay for TP each time I entered the bathroom. I even had the translator tell the lady and she didn't care.
• You do need to take over the counter meds like Pepto, Asprin etc and for the baby oral gel teething swabs came in real handy.

PlaceMaker: Packing lists! Jennifer M

After getting home: School issues

Download various articles:

• Adoptive Families Magazine has lots of links to articles and handouts, with sample letters and how to handle trickly school assignments
• Education and Internationally Adopted Children: Working Collaboratively With Schools
• International Adoption: Information for Parents and Educators (2004) National Association of School Psychologists
• The Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute's Policy & Practice Papers
• article from Teaching Tolerance magazine article "Out of the Shadows"

Transitioning from Home to a School Setting:

• Planning Transitions to Preschool

Helping family and friends understand about adoption:

• Institute for Adoption Information offers a brochure Why It Is Important To Understand Adoption

Helping teacher understand about adoption and curriculum:

• An Educator's Guide toAdoption Brochure -its around $8
• Teaching Tolerance Magazine
• "A" Is for Adoption: a teachers’ pocket guide to adoption issues in the classroom at Cradle.org
  order the book Adoption and the Schools from Families Adopting In Response
  order DVD/Video "I Wonder…” Teenagers Talk About Being Adopted from Families Adopting In Response
• Adoptive Families Magazine has lots of links to articles and handouts, with sample letters and how to handle trickly school assignments

Parenting Resources: Prevention

The Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida is a private, nonprofit corporation whose mission is to identify, fund, support and evaluate innovative prevention and early intervention programs that improve the health, education and life outcomes of Florida's at-risk children and families.

Founded in 1980, The MENTOR Network is a national network of local human services providers offering an array of quality, community-based services to adults and children with developmental disabilities or acquired brain injury; to children and adolescents with emotional, behavioral and medically complex challenges; and to elders in need of home care. The Mentor Program's Early Intervention Program Service Provider finder by US state.

Also please view postings on:

• International Adoption Child Health
• Adoption high-risk issues.

Oye! traveling home & adjusting

Flying with Kids's website

Transitional issues for when you get home:

The International Adoption medical program of the University of Minnesota's Transition Issues: Sleep for International Adoption Children This addresses what to do during the first weeks home when the exhaustion of jet lag may be the cause of sleep interruptions for both parent and child.

International Adoption Child Health, General

Here are links to State by state listing to find an International Adoption Doctor:

• by the American Academy of Pediatrics
• by the University of Minnesota
• by Adopt Vietnam
• The majority of your communications with the IA doctor will be from out of country, so don't get hung up on having a local doctor unless you want.

Links to Links on Adoption Health Issues

• ComeUnity's Adoption Health site
• Orphan Doctor website

Lots of articles to read:

• Start here: Tons of articles and information to download from the University of Minnesota
• Links to articles on Adoption Medicine from Adoptive Families Magazine
• Four articles by Deborah Borchers, M.D., walk parents through evaluating a referral, preparing for the adoption trip, and completing a post-adoption medical assessment.
• Several articles about all sorts of medical topics at Adoptiondoctors.com Medical Archives

General Research:

• The Association for Research in International Adoption (ARIA) website is a central location that seeks to disseminate the findings of research to the international adoption community. The site also contains links for adoptive parents to learn more about the issues that may impact internationally adopted children.
• An overview of the impact of institutionalization on internationally adopted children "Raising the Post-Institutionalized Child" on the Neuropsychological and Family Therapy AssociatesProviding Comprehensive Assessment and Innovative Treatment. This website also has articles on Institutional Autism and Neuropsychological Evaluation and Rehabilitation of the Post Institutionalized Child

International Adoption Doctor's links to health information:

• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Links to General Health of Children:

• National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' 2007 General Health Information Clearinghouse
• 2008 Information Centers and Clearinghouses Home This document is compiled annually by the National Health Information Center, which is a service of the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), Office of Public Health and Science, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Updates to this document are available on the Internet at http://www.health.gov/NHIC/Pubs/. To order printed copies of this publication, contact the ODPHP Communication Support Center, P.O. Box 37366, Washington, DC 20013-7366; fax (301) 468-3028.

Visit the post on Growthcarts and Developmental Milestones

Visit the post on High-Risk health issues that address RAD, FAS, SPD, etc

Adoption Listservs

Single Mothers by Choice

FAS Adopt listserv for families that have adopted children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrom. More chat groups for FAS

Russian Phrases (stolen from Catalina's blog)

1. Preevyet ("hi" - much shorter and easier to say than hello which is zdras-vootye)
2. Dobre den / ootra / vecher (if you prefer something more formal - "good day, morning, evening")
3. Kak dela? ("how's it going?")
4. Normalno (standard answer to #3 meaning "fine")
5. Kak zavoot? / menya zavoot... ("what is your name? my name is...")
6. Eezveneetse ("excuse me")
7. Mozhna? ("may I?" then just pantomine what you want to do)
8. Ya nee puneemayo ("I don't understand")
9. Skolka? ("how much?" you can add 'sto-eet' to the end to add "does it cost?" but pointing together with just the one word should get your point across to a vendor who wishes to sell you something)
10. Ya hachoo ("I want/would like" - for ordering in a restaurant)11. Na starovia ("to your health" - when toasting for the umpteenth time, just before you pour that N=X glass of vodka in the nearest plant)
11. Shto eta? ("what is it?" not polite to ask when dining at someone's house - especially if you add "the heck" to the middle)
12. Spaseeba ("thank you" - if done enthusiastically with a smile will label you as a goofy American!)
13. Doh sveedanya ("goodbye")
14. Pivo ("beer" - one for the guys), afterward, if needed, gehday twalyet? (self-explanatory)16. Eedtee sooda ("come here")
15. Eta ("that one" useful when pointing at the pastries)
16. zdes / tam ("here" or "there" - add to eta if you didn't get the pastry you wanted)
17. Moe sin / maya dochka ("my son" / "my daughter")
18. Ya loobloo tebya ("I love you")

State Department's to do list for living abroad

The State Department has a great list of things to do when you'll be traveling for a long time. I've edited it to keep it brief and specific to our needs, but if you want to read it in its entirety, you can.

This material was originally written for employees and family members assigned to an American Embassy or Consulate abroad, but most of it is practical advice that would be useful to anyone living outside of their own country.

Before boing overseas, make a list of the following and leave with a trusted contact at home:

• Passport numbers and dates of issue
• Bank account numbers
• Credit card numbers
• Insurance policy numbers
• Car registration, serial, and license numbers
• U.S. driver’s license numbers
• Social Security numbers (including children’s)
• Current prescriptions, including eyeglasses
• Contents and location of safe deposit box(es)
• Assets and debts
• Names and addresses of business and professional contacts

Put the following into your safe deposit (making copies of the items if you will need them at post, and get one if you don't already have one):

• Copy of will(s). Do not put original of will in safe depository. Originals should be left with lawyer or executor.
• Power of attorney (one of the originals)
• Birth and marriage certificates
• Naturalization papers
• Deeds
• Mortgages
• Stocks (or leave with broker in case you want to sell)
• Bonds (or leave with broker in case you want to sell)
• Insurance papers - life, car, house, medical, and household effects (HHE)
• Current household and personal effects inventory

In addition, do the following:

• Execute a current power of attorney
• Make sure your wills are up to date, too
• Consider getting an ATM (automatic teller machine) card for your bank account that can be used all over the country. Make sure both spouses know the PIN (personal identification number).
• Put checkbooks, bankbooks, credit cards, some travelers checks, and a small amount of cash in a safe (but easily accessible) place.
• Keep a list of regular billing dates for all recurring expenses -- insurance, mortgages, and taxes. See the sheet I used to track this
• Be certain your emergency contact person is capable of dealing with an emergency. Make duplicates of all personal address lists.
• Discuss with your immediate and extended family what to do in case of an emergency.
• Give them the emergency telephone numbers for your agency.
• If you have children you're leaving at home, choose a surrogate parent and supply that person with a current power of attorney for medical or other emergencies in the event you need them to care for your children unexpectedly.
• Keep immunizations up to date and recorded in your yellow shot card.
• Plan for pets.
• Learn some of the local language to help you in an emergency.
  In the local language, write your personal information, emergency contacts, and essential telephone numbers and put this in your wallet to carry with you at all times.
• Learn the location of the closest hospital, police station, and friendly embassy in the regions where you will be staying.
• (The rest of this document is geared toward emergency evacuation for people residing in the country, so I didn't include it).

Fellow mommy blogger Jennifer M (thank you!) also recommended that you create a document that is in both English and Russian with the following information:

• your name
• your in-country contact's name, address, and phone number
• contact info for your state side coordinator and your travel agent
• Kaz travel insurance (not the private stuff obviously, but just contact info)
• your airline phone number for the Almaty office, your layover city, and the states
• basically any other pertinant contact info you think is important.

Make a copy for each piece of luggage and have each paper laminated (I didn't do that part and was just fine). Right before you zip up your bags, stick your sheet in right at the top of each bag. Not only will you have all your contact information very handy, but if a bag gets lost, the finder will be able to get in touch with your in-country people.

Baby's food & sleep needs

Food & fluids:

Baby:

• Birth to 6 mo: Bottle-feeding/formula: 2-2.5 oz per pound
• 6 months to a year: up to 8 oz per feeding
• Give babies 4-8 oz of water per day.
• Formula for infants (2.5 fl oz (75 ml) of formula each day for every 1 lb (450 g) of body weight. Babies younger than 1 year rarely need more than 36 fl oz (1065 ml) of formula each day.

Toddler: 1-2 year olds, daily:

• 1,000-1,300 calories;
• protein needs: 1 gram per pound;
• Fluids for toddlers: 1.5 oz ounces per pound per day, mostly in thre form of milk, formula or water but limit milk to 24 oz per day (whole milk/Sears) and less that 4-6 oz daily of juice for a child between the ages of 1-6 (tooth decay/ADA).;
• ideal balanced nutrition: 50-55% carbs; 35-40% fats; 10-15% proteins.

Sleep:

• 6-12 Months: 14 hours a day (nap plus night)
• 1-3 years: 10 to 13 hours
• Preschoolers: 10 to 12 hours
• 6-9 years: 10 hours
• 10-12 years: over 9 hours, up to parents to judge
• Teens: 8 to 9.5 hours
• Read more at http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/general/sleep/sleep.html

Transitional issues for when you get home:

• The International Adoption medical program of the University of Minnesota's Transition Issues: Sleep for International Adoption Children This addresses what to do during the first weeks home when the exhaustion of jet lag may be the cause of sleep interruptions for both parent and child.

Welcome to a work in progress

This is a test of a resource for myself for when we are in Kaz. There was just WAY too much to put on my Mission: Adoption blog! Most of this I'll print out real small and take with us. But I also thought this may be something you would also like to use as a resource.

Kazakh Adoptive Families is a great resource and I dont want to replicate it but I wanted something with what I wanted, and knew where I could find, thus... here it is.

The order of the posting is pretty random in terms of dates, so please use the side bar that organizes the topics. A lot more info to come. Some will be copyrighted materials I can't share which is why I'm making it private.

Let me know if there is something specific I should share or gather for you.

AND PLEASE DO COMMENT AWAY!

Setting Blogger to English from Russian

While traveling in Kaz, your blog may change to Russian! How do you change the language?

Go to your blogger account (account is счет/Password is пароль).

On the very top top of the page on the right side, click on the first blue word after your email (Dashboard or possibly "Приборная панель").

Then you have file tabs (like 3 files laying on top of each other. Select the middle one (Settings or possibly "Параметры настройки"). There are 8 subcategories - select the third one (Formatting or possibly "Форматирование"). The 6th one down is Language "Язык". Select English (Английский). Hope this helps!

EMERGENCY when in Kaz

Ambulance
For a municpal ambulance in Kazakhstan, call 03 or 79-73-73, 79-84-40, 79-85-71, 79-79-81 (ask for the head doctor of the shift). For a private ambulance, call the VIP Hospital at 619-710, 611-280, 621-280, or 621-288 (adults only) or the International SOS Clinic at 581-911 or 8-300-744-1111.

Medical facilities
Medical care in Kazakhstan is extremely limited. Shortages of essential medical supplies are common. Most expatriates go to the VIP Hospital in Almaty (ph. 616-789, 613-888) or the International SOS Clinic in Almaty (11 Luganskogo St, Almaty; ph. 7 3272 581 911 - 24 hrs, 913-030, 8-300-744-1111 - cell) or Atyrau (River Palace Hotel; 55, Aiteke bi Street; ph. 7 3122 586 911). Both the VIP Hospital and International SOS offer 24-hour emergency care. For a guide to other medical facilities in Kazakhstan, go to the U.S. Embassy website. Many doctors and hospitals will expect payment in cash, regardless of whether you have travel health insurance. Serious medical problems will require air evacuation to a country with state-of-the art medical facilities.

Pharmacies
Many drugs are in short supply. There is a list of "essential drugs" which are regulated by the state, but the quality of other medications is not assured. If you need medication, you can call the InfoService on Availability of Medications at 003 or 532-934, or call Pharmacy #2 at 73-12-69 or 73-07-07.

In the case of a life or death emergency involving a U.S. citizen call (8-727) 250-4901 (011-7-727-250-4901 from the U.S.) during business hours. After hours or on weekends, call (8-717) 270-2200 (011-7-717-270-2200 from the U.S.) and ask for the duty officer.

If your family needs to contact you because of an emergency at home or because they are worried about your welfare and cannot reach you directly, they may call the State Department's Citizens Emergency Center at (202) 647-5225. The State Department will relay the message to the U. S. Consular Section nearest you. The American Citizen Services Unit will attempt to locate you, pass on urgent messages, and, consistent with the Privacy Act, report back to your family.

Embassy of the United States of America in the Republic of Kazakhstan:
Hrs: Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m. -6:00 p.m., execpt American and Kazakh National Holidays.

Ak Bulak 4,Str. 23-22, building #3,
Astana 01001
Astana, Kazakhstan
Phone: +7 (7172) 70-21-00
Fax: +7 (7172) 34-08-90
email: info@usembassy.kz

The U.S. Embassy Branch Office in Almaty:

97 Zholdasbekov St.Samal-2
Almaty, Kazakhstan 480099
Phone: +7 (7272) 50-76-12
Fax: +7 (7272) 50-48-67

Consular Assistance to American Crime Victims can help American crime victims with issues such as:

• Replacing a stolen passport;
• Contacting family, friends, or employers;
• Obtaining appropriate medical care;
• Addressing emergency needs that arise as a result of the crime;
• Obtaining general information about the local criminal justice process and information about your case;
• Obtaining information about local resources to assist victims, including foreign crime victim compensation programs;
• Obtaining information about crime victim assistance and compensation programs in the U.S.; and
• Obtaining a list of local attorneys who speak English.
• Consular officials cannot, however, investigate crimes, provide legal advice or represent you in court, serve as official interpreters or translators, or pay legal, medical, or other fees for you.