Adoption Awareness: a way you can care for orphans TODAY!

Even if you don't feel the call to adopt, you can get involved in orphan care. And here's a simple way to get involved today...

By now, most of you have probably heard about the decision in Ukraine to go forward with a vote to halt international adoption until an inter-country agreement is in place. Please take a moment to write to your senators & congressmen, then encourage your friends and family to contact do the same!


Below you'll find a letter that you can use, or write your own.
To send a letter to your congressman:
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

To send a letter to your senator just click on the state and follow the link:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Please help us get the word out!!
________________________________________________________

Dear (name),

I am writing to you today regarding a VERY urgent situation. Many families in the US are currently in the process of adopting children from orphanages in Ukraine. Most of these children are older or disabled. American families adopting these children offer them what may be their only opportunity at a normal and productive life free of crime, prostitution, or institutionalization due to illnesses that are treatable in the United States. I personally know one of these families.

On November 3, 2010, the Ukrainian parliament voted to proceed with voting on legislation that would halt all international adoptions until inter-country adoption agreements are in place (see the State Dept. announcement at http://adoption.state.gov/news/ukraine.html) . At this point, all that is needed for this to become law is one more vote in Ukrainian parliament and a signature by the Ukrainian president. This could happen any day. If it does, many families and innocent children will be greatly affected. I personally know one of these families.

I am writing to you to urge you to act quickly on this matter by 1. Contacting your Ukrainian cohorts and requesting a consideration of revision of the law to allow adoptions to proceed while the agreement is being drafted (as was done in Russia) and 2. Work with your colleagues in congress to begin drafting this agreement so that it is ready to go in the event the law passes.

Thank you for your timely consideration of this urgent matter!

National Adoption Awareness Month

Today marks the beginning of National Adoption Awareness Month. As in years past, I hope to blog every day of the month. But unlike years past, I have more on my plate (namely, one 32 lb. blessing that keeps us VERY busy!), so it may or may not happen...

I am starting a series on families touched by adoption. The intro article was published today, so click HERE to check it out. While you're there you can subscribe to the articles. And please be sure to click on the slideshow (on the left hand side) to see some of the beautiful faces of adoption.

If you are in Georgia and you've been affected by adoption in any way and would like to participate in this series, please email me HERE. I still need several more stories to finish out the month.

Atlanta Adoptive Families

As you may or may not know, November is National Adoption Awareness Month. And November is right around the corner!

I'm getting set to write a series of articles called Faces of Adoption, highlighting Georgia families that have been touched by adoption in one way or another. The series will appear on my Examiner page (here).

It could be that you have adopted, are thinking of adopting, you were adopted, you are a birth mother that chose adoption, or you have foster children.

If you fit the bill and would be willing to participate, please email me HERE. I'd like to focus on a minimum of 2 stories each week, and still need several more to make that happen.

Thanks!