Interview

I interviewed Sammi Spear on 3/20/09 at 2:30 pm in the Dining Commons. I wanted to interview her because I know she's adopted and I wanted to know here point of view on the adoption.
1. Do you remember being adopted?
No. She was adopted when she was born.
2.At what age were you told you were adopted?
At seven. She figured it out one day at her grandmothers house.
3.Do you mind telling people that you're adopted?
No, although she doesn't really tell people.
4.Did you have your name changed?
No.
5.Do you know your birth parents?
Yes.
6.Do you ever visit them?
No. She used to visit them at her grandmothers house. She wishes she could see them more.
7.Do you know the process of your adoption?
She was adopted through family. (family adoption)
8.Were you ever in foster care?
No.
9.How do you feel knowing you're adopted.
It doesn't bother her.
10.Do you know why you were put up for adoption?
She has no idea. She wishes she knew. She says that it's because her parents had no money at the time to care for her.

Response to statistics

I thought that many of the statisctis were very interesting. Especilly the one about mothers placeing thier children depending on how their own mother did in school. There wasn't anything on birth fathers, which to me isn't very surprising...I felt that finding these helped with my final reserch and finding numers to support my research.

Article #11 statistics

I found some statistics that I thought were interesting.

• It is estimated that about 1 million children in the US live with adoptive parents. 2-4% of families include an adopted child.
• 33% of children from foster care are adopted by single parents.
• single parents adopting continues to increase
• most single parents adopting are female, and to adopt an older child who they haven't fostered.
• applicants are self-selective.
• tend to adopt children with special needs
• tend to have more difficulty completing adoptions. 39% making 3 or 4 attempts compared to 18% couples.
• adjustment for children with single parents is the same for children with a couple
• children in single parent homes had fewer problems then those in a couple home.
• 2% of unmarried women place their children up for adoption
• Women who voluntarily place their children up for adoption most likely have greater educational goals
• Adoption planning women often come from higher socioeconomic backgrounds and from intact families that support the adoption
• women whose mother had at least one year of college were 3 times as likely to put their children up for adoption than those whose mother didn't finish high school
• numbers on adoption dropped once abortion was legalized
  
• very few pregnant teens choose to place their children for adoption
• 51% give birth 35% abortions 14% miscarry, 1% place child for adoption
  

Response to the cost of adoption

I never realized just how expensive adopting was. The most you have to pay is 30,000+ for domestic adoption. Foreign expenses are a whole different ballpark. I never realized that a lot of minor stuff comes out of your very own pocket. Travel fees, hotel expenses, attorney expenses, donations, etc. I guess that I'd figured that insurance or somebody paid for most of it. If you adopt public domestic you might not have to pay anything, with the most being $2,500. Thankfully, there are systems that can lower the costs and even pay you back. It may not fully pay you back but every bit counts towards helping to raise your adopted child.

Article #10 the price of adoption.

I found a really great site listing the average prices of adoption. This site listed information for Maine adoptions and was very helpful.The prices they listed are as follows: the cost of a domestic public agency adoption zero to $2,500. A domestic private agency adoption: $4,00 to $30,000+ Domestic independent adoption: $8,000 to $30,000+ Inter country private agency or independent adoption: $7,000 to $25,000. Then
there was an estimation of specific adoption costs. These are a general range all depending on the type of adoption, the state the adoption occurred, whether there's a sliding scale fee depending on income, the country of origin of a foreign born child, the amount of subsidy available for adoption of special needs, tax credits available for reimbursement of adoption expenses, employer adoption benefits, and finally State reimbursement for non-recurring expenses for the adoption of a child with special needs.

Domestic Adoption Costs

	Low	High
Agency fees
Application fee	$100	$500
Home study and preparation services	$700	$2,500
Post-placement supervision	$200	$1,500
Parent physical (each parent)	$35	$150
Psychiatric evaluation (each parent; if required)	$250	$400
Attorney fees
Document preparation	$500	$2,000
Petition and court representation to finalize placement	$2,500	$12,000
Advertising	$500	$5,000
Birth parent expenses (Amount and type of expenses allowable for payment usually restricted by state law and subject to review by the court.
Medical expenses (prenatal, birth/delivery, postnatal for mother; perinatal care for child)	$0 (insurance)	$10,000 - $20,000 (depending on difficulty of the delivery, etc.)
Living expenses (rent, food, clothing, transportation, etc)	$500	$12,000
Legal representation	$500	$1,500
Counseling	$500	$2,000

There is also the cost of foreign adoption, where most of the expenses are paid out of pocket by the family adopting. These fees include: travel expenses, foreign agency placement fees, foreign attorney legal and placement fees, foster and medical care, use of translation and escort services, foreign court filing fee and document fees (birth certificate and adoption decree), the required "donation" to orphanage or agency and passport office fees. Thankfully, there are resources to help lower the cost of adoption. Things like a federal tax cut which is $5,000 for each child and $6,000 for children with special needs. A state tax cut for adopting domestic in that state. Adoption from the US public foster care system which allows parents who adopt for foster care to have the fees be minimum or even waived. Many of the children are eligible for federal or state-funded payments for meeting the child's needs. Some children even qualify for SSI to help pay for their medical needs. Adoption subsidy which is for children with special needs to help pay for their needs. These have to be negotiated before the adoption is finalized. Non-recurring adoption expense reimbursement. This is to pay for expenses after the adoption of a child with special needs has been finalized. This cannot exceed $2,000 and helps pay for travel costs, attorney expenses, home study fees, etc. Employer benefits, adoption loans, and finally adoption cancellation insurance which pays for expenses paid by prospective parents after the birth parent backed down from the adoption.

responce to new bill in Kentucky would prevent gay and lesbian adoption.

Reading this makes me mad and scared. Mad at the fact that people aren't allowing gay and lesbian couples to adopt. Also mad at the fact that this is how they target certain groups without making it seem as if they're prejudice. I never realized so many states already had laws like this put in place. It makes me sad to think of all the children that could go to good, loving homes of unmarried gay, lesbian, or straight couples; but sadly can't because of a law. I don't think people think of everyone when these laws are put into effect. Really shouldn't it be about the children and weather they are happy and their needs are meet rather than the thoughts that putting a child with and unmarried couple is wrong? It makes me scared to think that Maine could be next in making one of these laws.

detor article....new bill in Kentucky would prevent gay and lesbian adoption

I just read an article about a new bill in Kentucky that would prevent unmarried couples from adopting of fostering. There are apparently similar laws in Arkansas, Florida, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, and Utah. People are saying that the law is an attack towards gays and lesbians. However lawmakers are saying that the law would also prevent unmarried heterosexual couples from adopting. The law however wouldn't remove children already in homes with an unmarried couple.

Final focus; further research needed.

For my final research I hope to find more information on the money that goes into adoption. Specifically the money that goes into Maine adoptions. I would like to learn more about home studies and cost and any other areas that might have to be paid for. Statistics really that would wrap everything up. I hope to interview someone who has adopted or was adopted. Also perhaps finding statistics about the age groups of children adopted. I think these would help focus my research if I knew these facts so I could have something to refer to other than people's opinion on adoption.

responce to article # 9 the forgotten children of operation babylift

That is just ridiculous!! How in the world do people not properly file something like adoption papers!! It is not far that the children of operation babylift are now being threatended with deportation when they have lived in the U.S. thier whole lives.

article # 9 the forgotten children of operation babylit.

In 1975, President Ford commenced Operation Babylift. It was an operation that brought 2,500 orphaned babies out of war-torn Vietnam and sent then to loving homes in the U.S. and around the world. Now, thirty years later, many of these once orphans are finding themselves in fear of deportation. All because of improper filing of adoption papers back in the 70's. According to the USCIS, even though they have adoption paper work, a drivers licence, a social security number, and have lived in the U.S. there whole lives, they are considered illegal aliens and could be deported. Many have to go through the immigration process as if they had just arrived in the country before they can be considered a U.S. citizen. Congress acted to fix the problem. In 2001, the Child Citizenship Act, guaranteed that immigrants and foreign adopted children under 18 in the U.S. would get immediate citizenship. However, that does nothing to help the older children who aren't considered U.S. citizens due to faulty filing.

Response to post #8: The TODAY show explores the cost of adoption

I think that it's great that someone is doing something to help families that want to adopt but can't afford it. By submitting an application, that doesn't mean that one will get a grant, but it is worth a shot. I think that they should do screenings fro expectant families. If they do one for adoptive families they should do one on expectant parents to see if they will make good parents. Most foster or adoptive children were taken from bad family situations to begin with so I think that parents should have to go through a screening or test of some sort to see if they will be good parents to begin with. Otherwise you're putting all this children a jeopardy of being stuck with poor parents. Anyway, I think the grants are a good idea and can help many people with adopting. With the organization being non-profit, they must receive many donations in order to hand out yearly grants. However, it will hopefully help many families in the future that are wishing to adopt.

Post # 8 : The TODAY show explores affording the cost of Adoption

This short article from Carrie's adoption blog talks about how the Today Show talked about adoption costs. They featured an organization called helpusadopt.org. The Co-Founders quoted that their adoption agent said that if they couldn't afford adoption that they had to either go into financial ruin or not adopt. They didn't appreciate that answer. They were going to do something to help. Helpusadopt.org in a national non-profit organization that gives grants to adoptive families. The "families aren't judged based on race, religion, marital status, or sexual preference. Families do need to have completed an adoption home study"; where someone from an agencies comes to review your home and family life to see if you're suitable to adopt. Grants range from $500 to $1500. "Applications for June 2009 grants are due Friday, April 17, 2009.

Response to new Maine adoption laws

The site I looked at was informative about the new laws. I think it's nice that the older children have to agree about their adoptive parents and can't be randomly placed with anyone. Who may adopt wasn't very clear about same sex couples, but I think it might fall under unmarried persons unless the gay marriage laws get changed soon. It's nice that anyone of any age can get adopted so then you have a chance of getting adopted when your 18. Even thought the system kicks you out after that. I think that the putiative father info. was talking about the birth fathers and thier right to records after the adoption was finallized. What about the birthmothers? Do they get that right? There was a list of things that the birthparents have to pay for: medical bills, legal fees, etc. Which is good because then the adopting personell won't have to pay for everything on thier own. The infant safe haven lwas are to help infants 31 weeks who aren't with good parents I think. Legal personel take them away to where they are safe. WHich is good for the infant. I wish they were more clear on gay couple adoption. ...

Maine Adoption Laws

Looking for recent Maine adoption laws, I came across a site that has bullets of the new laws. Here's what I found. Parents need to consent to the adoption. Also children fourteen and older must consent with the adoption as well. Parental consent isn't needed when the parent has abandoned the child or has failed their parental responsibilities. Adopted adults 18 and older came get access to their birth records to find out who their birth parents are. The parents of adopted children younger than 18 can get the records for them. People who may adopt are a married husband and wife. An unmarried person, and a resident or nonresident. Anyone may be adopted regardless of their age. Advertising when not an agency is prohibited. There was stuff about infant safe haven laws and regulation of adoption fees and putative fathers...it was kind of confusing but informative.

Liam's Third Response

Samara, I think you are doing a good job describing the difficulties of adopting. It must be very frustrating for adoptions to take as long as three years. There must be some regulations though to protect the welfare of children, and also the rights of the adopting parents. They have to find a good balance between protecting people and having the process move ahead efficiently. I like that you have given examples from around the world. Where in the world do you think the adoption process works the best?

Everett - Response to 4,5,6

I feel that your blog is interesting to read, and well done. Nice job on your citations, 95 each time. Your notes seemed to become slighly less informative as I went on, I don't know if this is because the article was less informative but your article #6 was the weakest of all of them. I felt that you might have been able to give more information on what the man did in the adoption scam. Good work though. Keep it up.

EM

Katie's 3rd Response

Samara, everything in your articles was correct except for your citations, where you did not put the author's surname first (Moran, Katie). Besides that, I thought the information you've been coming across is very interesting and you're doing a good job connecting with it. Have you found anything about adoption in overpopulated countries, where they're trying to encourage it, like China? That would be a different perspective to the article on Russia. Also, do you think you're going to steer your research towards an international level, or focus it within the US? I'm not sure if there are any adoption agencies around here, or in Maine at all, but they would obviously be a good source to get in touch with. If they were willing, you could also talk to parents who have adopted, and find out what it was like, how long it took, how much money, any strains caused by the process, the reasons.
Nice work!

Jeanette's 3rd Response

Hey Samara. I like your blog and I like your focus about a broad rage of topics under 'Adoption.' The notes were pretty informative. One suggestion I want to make is to put more of your thoughts in the responses. They were good, but if you added more of your thoughts, I think it would help you when you have to write your I-Search. I like where this is going!

p.s, Did you hear/read about the new Maine adoption laws that went into effect this past month? The laws gave adults who had been adopted the right to their birth certificate and information about their birth-parents.