Adoption
By Cyd Katz, WHYY's Children's Service
Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy's and adopted child, was once quoted as saying, "People ask me. 'What about gay adoptions? Interracial? Single Parent?' I say. 'Hey fine, as long as it works for the child and the family is responsible.' My big stand is this: Every child deserves a home and love. Period."
Let's face it, in today's world, more parents are considering adoption. Even celebrities such as Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Madonna, and Sheryl Crow are doing it. There are many reasons to adopt, whether it is because you are unable to have a child yourself or because you want to give a possibly unwanted child a good home. However, this is a very sensitive topic, and when families make the decision to adopt they are faced with a multitude of challenges and choices. It is important for families to know there is a lot of support for the questions that they will be faced with.
VIEW
There are many television shows, documentaries, and films that have featured the topic of adoption. Here are a few:
- Arthur: Binky gets a sister from China
From PBS Kids
On an episode of the Arthur show, his friend Binky Barnes gets an adopted sister from China. According to Adoptive Families Magazine, the episodes are a "must-watch," carefully and thoughtfully written to portray the emotions of a new big brother waiting for the arrival of his little sister. Binky's mother even sews a bai jia bei or quilt of 100 wishes in anticipation of her new arrival.
- Sesame Street: Episode 4130
There's a lot of excitement on Sesame Street because Gina is adopting a baby! Gina explains adoption: "There's a baby who needs love and caring for, and I want to be the person to provide those things."
- "Unlocking the Heart of Adoption"
Sheila Ganz's documentary, filmed over the course of several years with input from families around the entire spectrum of adoption, is intended to educate, encourage dialog, and raise awareness. This film bridges the gap between birth and adoptive families through diverse personal stories of adoptees, birthparents and adoptive parents in same race and transracial adoptions interwoven with the filmmaker's story as a birthmother revealing the enormous complexities in their lives with fascinating historical background.
- "Seven Core Issues of Adoption"
In this documentary, Sharon Kaplan and Deborah Silverstein discuss the issues of loss, rejection, guilt and shame, grief, identity, intimacy, and mastery/control with an audience of triad members. This is an excellent choice for support groups and adoption educators.
DO
WHYY Children's Service invites you to join our panel discussion on Adoption.
WHYY Children's Service Presents: In the Sprit of Family
Families and Adoption: Panel Discussion, Information, and Reception, Sponsored by Acme Markets
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Location: WHYY - Independence Foundation Civic Space
150 North Sixth Street, Philadelphia, PA
6:00 to 6:30 p.m. - Reception
6:30 to 8:00 p.m. - Panel Discussion
Panelists:
Maxine Chalker, MSW - Founder and Executive Director of Adoptions from the Heart
Gloria Hochman - Director of Communications, National Adoption Center
Act 48 and PQAS accreditation is available for educators.
To RSVP to this event or more information call: 215-351-1235 or RSVP here »
Adoptions from the Heart (adoptionsfromtheheart.com) is one of the largest placing agencies of domestic infants on the East Coast. In 2005, 122 infants were placed through Adoptions from the Heart's open domestic adoption programs. Adoptions from the Heart prides itself on being one of the first agencies in the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware area to place children by "open" adoption. Open adoption provides the adoptive parents with the unique opportunity to "get to know" the birth parents of their child, enabling them to answer questions that their children might pose to them as they grow.
Phone: 1-866-251-1397
The National Adoption Center (www.adopt.org) expands adoption opportunities for children living in foster care throughout the United States, and is a resource to families and to agencies who seek the permanency of caring homes for children.
READ
The following books are for parents who have adopted children and want information on how to raise these children, as well as approaching the topic of adoption with them:
Adoption Parenting: Creating a Toolbox, Building Connections by Jean MacLeod and Sheena Macrae
Featuring over 100 contributors overseen by EMK Press writer-editors MacLeod and Macrae, this book is a virtual one-stop shop for adoption information for readers at any knowledge level. Divided into chapters like "Sleep," "Claiming," "Language," and "Food," it touches upon major issues in brief essays written by adoptive parents, adoptees, and therapists.
Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew by Sherrie Eldridge
Eldridge brings an original approach to the topic of adoption. In an attempt to inform adoptive parents of the unique issues adoptees face, she discusses adoptee anger, mourning, and shame and adoption acknowledgment while using case studies to illustrate how parents can better relate to their adopted child.
Who Are My Real Parents? by D. L. Fuller
A children's book about two best friends named Polly and Enchilada. One day Enchilada notices something different about Polly. She is a panda bear, but her parents are brown bears. Enchilada asks the question that every adopted child will hear at some point: "who are your real parents?"
We Belong Together: A Book about Adoption and Families by Todd Parr
In a kid-friendly, accessible way, this book explores the ways that people can choose to come together to make a family. It's about sharing your home and sharing your heart to make a family that belongs together.
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