Children waiting for adoption are not hard to find.  I would like to be able to share some of these kids with you!

11/16/09

Girl “Sophie”, Asia, est. age 11 months old, Special Need Hepatitis B positive
Boy “Brock”, Asia, 22 months, Cleft Lip and Palate, Lip Repaired
Pictures and more information here (plus 16 other little friends).
http://www.aacadoption.com/adoption/waiting_children.aspx

China Special Needs adoption site here :
http://www.nohandsbutours.com/
See the special needs page at the No Hands But Ours site for some information on the above listed special needs.

Today, I am going to spotlight on an agency and their Ethiopia program.  I have not used this agency although I have spoken with the director of the Ethiopia program.  She was in Ethiopia one of the times I spoke to her.  I believe we have a KTM member that is using this agency.  As with any agency, do your research to find out if they are known as ethical. It is an important consideration.
The agency is Celebrate Children International. Read to the bottom to find out how to obtain a password to view more extensive information.
Right now, according to their website:
In Ethiopia....
They have 14 waiting boys (ages 4-15).
http://celebratechildren.org/coppermine/index.php?cat=46

They have 10 waiting girls (ages 6-13)
http://celebratechildren.org/coppermine/index.php?cat=47

They have 10 sibling sets (ages 3-14)
http://celebratechildren.org/coppermine/index.php?cat=48

To find out more:
In compliance with the regulations of the Ethiopian government and international Hague accreditation, we keep all images of Ethiopian children behind a login/password security measures. If you wish to have access, you must directly contact Celebrate Children, International at (407) 977-2810.

There is also a long list of children (individuals and a couple of sibling groups) available from Taiwan.
See their information here.
http://celebratechildren.org/coppermine/index.php?cat=33

Today, a little something about Domestic Adoption.

There are several avenues to Domestic Adoption (children here in the USA).
Here is an article that summarizes these:
http://www.citizenlink.org/FOSI/bioethics/adoptionpolicy/A000007977.cfm

Illinois Public Adoption Opportunities
http://www.adoptinfo-il.org/

These listings are from a larger list at:
http://www.adoptuskids.org/Child/ChildSearch.aspx

Another Illinois agency through Lutheran Social Services
http://www.adoptionillinois.org/

Other listings:

http://www.adoptamericanetwork.org/2003/children.html

http://adopt.org/wednesdayschild/

Again, there are other avenues beyond the ones listed here. Many adoption agencies have domestic programs, too.
 
Local Adoption Ministries are a good place to go for guidance.
For Chosen out of First Christian Church Champaign,  .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Ann McKinney is a central IL Mom who has adopted both domestically and internationally. She might be able to answer some questions. You can reach here through the contact page here:
http://www.treasuredadoptions.org/treasuredadoptions/default.aspx

Today’s waiting kids are here:
http://waitingtoblossom.blogspot.com/

Today’s waiting kids reside in several countries.
This is a link to the waiting children of Holt Intl.
Click on an area of the map for children of that region.  For some countries there are short biographical descriptions of the children, and for other countries there are the descriptions plus a picture. 

http://www.holtinternational.org/waitingchild/photolisting/

Today, I need to share with you about some very special waiting children. 
If you grew up in the70s, 80s and 90s you may have many notions about HIV/Aids. I know I did!
However, are all of our notions correct? Mine were not. 

There is so much information available about caring for HIV+orphans either through adoption or support.  In this post, though, I will share three things.  ( Even if you know you would NEVER adopt an HIV+ child, please consider reading this post just to raise your level of awareness. Plus see number 3 below for a few things anyone can do. )

Three resources:

1) A video about an Illinois family that has adopted HIV + children from Ethiopia and who have started Project Hopeful to educate families about children with HIV/Aids
Please watch this video
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/video?id=6806301
Here is a link to project hopeful
http://www.projecthopeful.org/

2)Frequently Asked Questions about HIV/Aids. Were your ideas about HIV correct?
These are from HIV to Home.
http://fromhivtohome.blogspot.com

But isn’t HIV contagious? HIV is a very fragile virus, and there are very specific ways that it is transmitted. HIV is only transmitted when the virus enters the bloodstream. This only occurs through sexual contact; through the use of contaminated needles or other sharp instruments, or receiving a transfusion of HIV-infected blood products; and from a mother who is HIV-infected to her child during pregnancy, childbirth, labour and delivery, and breastfeeding. HIV transmission does not occur with normal household contact. It is not transmitted through tears, saliva, mucous or other bodily fluids. It is considered a “communicable” disease - meaning you can’t simply “catch” it. In addition, when an infected person is on treatment, the levels of HIV in the blood are brought so low that they are considered undetectable - meaning the possibility of transmission - even through intimate or blood contact - is that much more remote.

Aren’t these children going to die after their families bring them home? Many people don’t realize that the prognosis for children on treatment for their HIV is excellent. They are expected to live long, normal lives. In fact, in the west, HIV is now considered a chronic illness rather than the terminal disease it used to be. Sadly, this isn’t the case for those HIV infected children living in resource-poor settings, where 50% of infected and untreated children are not expected to live past the age of two.

Is it true that you can have HIV and not develop AIDS? Absolutely! There are over 20 medications approved by the FDA for the treatment of HIV, and more are in development. These medications bring the levels of the virus so low in the body that the virus can be considered undetectable in the bloodstream. Patients receiving treatment for HIV can expect to live long, healthy lives without developing AIDS.

What about all of the children who don’t get adopted? We recognize that adoption is only a band-aid answer. It is one small piece in a big puzzle - we seek to partner with organizations providing holistic, sustainable care for HIV+ orphans in-country.

What if I catch HIV from my child? Many people don’t know that HIV is a very fragile virus. As soon as it leaves the body, it begins to die. There are no documented cases of HIV transmission through casual household or school contact. HIV+ children can (and do!) share cups, baths, pools, dishes, bathrooms, etc.! In addition, when children are on treatment for their HIV, the amount of the virus in their bloodstream can be brought so low that it is considered “undetectable” – meaning the amount of the virus in the blood, even through contact with blood, has been brought so low that the possibility of transmission has become even more remote.

What if no insurance company will cover my child? Here’s the great news! It is a legal requirement that all adopted children be added to group insurance plans without pre-existing condition clauses in all 50 states! And many states also require that private insurance plans do the same! In addition, all 50 states have funding programs that will assist with the costs of HIV treatment within specified income guidelines. For specific information on your state’s programs and insurance requirements, please request our State Fact Sheet for your state.

To view the “Tell me a bit more about HIV” handout, click here. To receive a state fact sheet, please email Bethany Hunter, coordinator of the blog, Positively Orphaned, at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Also available at HIV to home is a 65 minute webinar all about adopting HIV+positive children.
http://fromhivtohome.blogspot.com/2009/08/webinar.htm

3)Each of us can make a difference. Here are 5 things you can do.
http://abushel-and-apeck.blogspot.com/2009/11/world-aids-day-five-things-you-can-do.html

I know I am over my three, but here is
An adoption agency to contact for more information about adopting HIV+ children from Ethiopia.
http://www.adoptionadvocates.org/welcome/entry.php

AND FINALLY IF YOU ONLY GO TO ONE SITE, MAYBE IT SHOULD BE THIS ONE….
http://www.positivelyadopted.com/home2.aspx

More waiting kids tomorrow….

Today’s waiting kids are part of a special program in Ethiopia.  Please read about this program here. 
http://www.ywamethiopia.com/adoption_program.php

There are a few waiting children on their waiting child list.  However, they can tell you more about their program and the children available.  If you are interested in this program, email from their site or call.
Here is the contact information page link:
http://www.ywamethiopia.com/contact.php

All adoptions through YWAM Ethiopia go through an agency called Children’s House International. We have a few families here at KnownToMe that have used this agency or are in the process of using this agency.  If you are interested, you can Contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to hear about her experience with CHI (Children’s House) and to contact other families here at KTM that are using this agency. 

YWAM ethiopia also maintains a blog about Ethiopia and adoption from Ethiopia. 
http://thatwemightbeadopted.blogspot.com/

Rainbow Kids is a fantastic site full of articles, stories, agency information and PHOTOLISTINGS of waiting kids!

Right now there are 821 children listed at RK.  To read about these kids and see the pictures of some of them all you need to do is register. 

Here is the place to register:
http://www.rainbowkids.com/userlogin.aspx

You can also sign up to receive updates when new kids are added. 
Don’t forget about all the great articles and adoption information too at Rainbow Kids.

A precious international adoption ministry
http://www.reecesrainbow.org/

http://www.reecesrainbow.com/newsite/waitingchildgallery.html

Today’s kids are part of a program to place older children from China.
Certain agencies are invited to specific orphanages. The agencies have a gathering or camp for the kids, and they interview each of the children.  There are a few agencies that are a part of this program. 

One is Madison Adoption Associates. They will soon have a list of children available from their most recent camp.  Some of these children are very young.  Some have minor special needs. Some are healthy. 
http://www.madisonadoption.com/china-waiting.htm
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MAAWC/

Another agency with this program is Christian World Adoption.  By entering your information, you can get access to their list of children.  There is information, pictures and a short video of each of the children. 
http://www.cwa.org/HopeProject.aspx

Two more
http://www.wacap.org/WaitingChildren/JourneyofHopeProject/tabid/177/Default.aspx
WACAP often offers a $2,000-$4,000 grant for the adoption of these children.

http://asiahope.blogspot.com/

This is the last day I planned to post about waiting kids as November is coming to a close (National Adoption Month). I hope the waiting kids posts have been helpful.  I am always happy to share more if you email me .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  !

Today, I would like to leave you with some glimpses into the homes of adoptive families.  Let’s call it an intro to “adoption culture”. 
I have tried to choose blogs that give some of the “real” story not just the picture-perfect one.  Enjoy!

1)
http://www.aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/
Bringing home number 11. Adoptions domestic (several) and intl (Ugandax2, China Special Needs x almost 2)
Don’t miss her post on how to afford adoption
http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/2009/01/middle-of-night-thoughts.html

2)
http://www.nogreaterjoymom.com/
bio, special needs China (hep B), waiting for their daughter -special needs Ukraine (down syndrome)

3)
http://www.abushel-and-apeck.blogspot.com/
Mom to lots. Some adopted from Ethiopia ( HIV+). Working through attachment issues. Many helpful adoption posts.

4)
http://buildingtheblocks.blogspot.com/
Mom to bio, foster system adopted and intl. adopted children, signs her posts Be the Change

5)
http://www.kellerfamilyof9.com/
Full Hands, Full Hearts, several children adopted who were born drug exposed, now doing an EMBRYO adoption, more details here than you might want to know

6)
http://www.nihaoyall.com/
Mom to 4 bio, almost 5 special needs kids from china, Excellent photography

7)
http://www.nationsaroundourtable.blogspot.com/
On their way to Ethiopia right now for number 11 (bio and intl. adoption)

8)
http://james127.blogspot.com/
Mom of 4, bio and adopted, lots of good adoption stuff here.

9)
http://shininghopegiftfromgod.wordpress.com/
Our own KnownToMe Jen, 5 kids, 3 bio, 2 from ET last summer, Laugh and enjoy

10)
http://impresseduponourhearts.blogspot.com/
Our own Kathy Garrison, 4 kids, 3 bio, 1 baby boy from Ethiopia, so far…

There is so much experience here in these blogs.  I have talked to many adoptive parents that have said that reading of the experience of others helped them to really consider whether adoption was for them.  Read, pray and consider.

One more thing, here is a link to the video Don made of our daughter Tovah’s adoption story. I don’t have a blog to offer, just some travel journals and videos of our girls’ adoption stories.  Here is Tovah’s. Warning, it is 4 songs long or so!!
http://www.vimeo.com/2333884