Waiting Families & Vulnerable Children Deserve Better

It's been a tough week and a half for the Vietnam adoption community. First, a dramatic AP article, then another warning from the US Embassy, followed by the most detailed release of information we have received from the DOS since Vietnam reopened to adoptions, and a backlash response from the DIA setting a referral deadline in place for September 1:

"The Vietnamese side will continue to process applications that it receives before July 1 and meet all requirements. The applications for which no suitable baby is found before the expiration of the agreement on September 1, 2008, will be returned to the US," Long said. (from Vietnam will not renew US child-adoption agreement, Vietnam News, 5/2/2008)

Was it the DOS/USCIS intention to encourage the DIA to shutdown adoptions by essentially using the AP for a worldwide press release? It certainly felt that way.

Was there mismanagement of appropriate diplomacy when DOS released their 2 most condemning reports through indirect public announcements (VVAI in November and AP in April)?  Again, it felt that way. But I'm not sure what previous attempts were made by the DOS to first communicate these issues through more appropriate means. Nonetheless, it would seem that there was either a failure to foresee the likely consequences, or a clever calculation of what could happen and a willingness to accept the result that would follow.

But is DOS or USCIS responsible for leading us to where we are today? Though they make an easy target and have an embarrassing record of incomplete communication and poor decision-making, they didn't lead us here. Intercountry adoption is a broken system and the irregularities outlined by DOS are representative of bigger, more systematic, problems. Problems that I believe are rooted in these 6 issues.

Though complicated, I truly do not feel they are beyond fixing. Step by step, we are making progress. And with sacrifice, I think we can transform the system. But that doesn't make this week easier for any of us. I've battled bouts of discouragement all week.

A recent commenter was right on the money. Without action, the words I post here are empty. And how does any of this help the families waiting right now? Sadly, I don't think it does.

My heart breaks for the waiting families now left in a position of uncertainty. I wish I could say that everyone who is waiting will have the opportunity to adopt a child from Vietnam. I know the need is here. Every week I visit orphanages and see hundreds of children in need of homes. These aren't children who have been taken from their families. They're children who wait in orphanages and deserve families - whether they come from Vietnam or abroad.

Nhan isn't living in an orphanage, but like many of the children living in orphanages, he was abandoned:

"Shortly after giving birth Nhan’s poverty-stricken, 16-year-old mother abandoned him in a banana plantation in the central province of Quang Nam. When Nhan was found three days later, he was barely alive." (Vietnam News, April 29th).

These types of stories are not few and far between. There are thousands upon thousands of children who need our help. In some cases, opportunities will arise to work with the mother and help her keep her baby. In other cases, it may be possible to place the child in the home of a relative or another Vietnamese family. Other times still, intercountry adoption will be the best way to get a child into a family. And for those who will likely remain in orphanages, the conditions need to be improved and a greater focus should be placed on preparing these children for the future.

But we also have a duty to the children who do have families. In order to protect these children, I agree that we need to make some policy changes, close the loopholes, and crackdown on agencies. I just wish the solution wasn't one size fits all.

Comments

[Susan]

I am a preadoptive parent who is unsure where my future lies at this point. I am greatly upset about this situation. It seems as if a few bad people are ruining this for everyone. It is unfortunate that the press only focuses on the bad and not on the good things that are going on in Vietnam and of the ethical adoptions for children needing families. I support children remaining with their birthfamilies, but for this to happen these woman need to be provided with education, food and medicine for their babies. To simply tell a poor young mother to raise her baby or make it difficult for her to give it up for adoption is unethical, unless you are going to give her the resources to do so. If not international adoption would be better, since the child gets a better life and the mother can dream about the life their child may have. When you are very poor dreams may be all you have.
I think that the public should be given the whole picture when it comes to Vietnam, not just those cases where things went wrong. The public needs to see how wonderful it can be when a birthmother who is unable to care for her child gets the gift of having their child get a better life. Isn't this every parent's dream- to give your child the best possible ife. The public also needs to know what happens when US agencies are no longer in a province, like BacGiang, where about ten babies died of the Rhno Virus which could have been treated. Are their deaths any less important than those babies who were kidnapped??? But the media does not discuss these poor souls.

[Annette]

Dear Tad:

I am trying to make sense out of all that is happening in Vietnam. My husband and I were in Vietnam to adopt two infants in October. They were in Phu Tho and we came about the time the new processing laws went into affect. We saw the baby boy and held him, but were sent home to reapply. The baby girl was in the hospital, she was ill. Our referrals were lost in January and we are waiting for new referrals from another province. I am hoping you might share your insight with us.
1. First of all, I am concerned about the allegations of wide spread illegal adoptions. What is your opinion of this? How widespread do you think this corruption is? Does it affect a small number of adoptions or is it affecting a large number of them. I thought perhaps the investigations uncovered a relative few and corrected or not allowed those adoptions to take place...but are illegal adoptions in the majority and how can we help prevent this?
2. What can PAP's do that will be proactive and be appropriate action in encouraging the governments to try to continue to complete adoptions? I'm seeing petitions, and requests to write representatives but I'm not sure what organizations and which letters are of the greatest benefit...or if it is best to just do a personal letter reflecting my own personal feelings. Do you have a suggestion as to what organizations best represent the concerns...there is a letter by Ethica, and a petition by Bring our Children Home....what about these organizations? IS there another, or are there groups that you feel best understand and are best representing the needs of all concerned with Vietnam adoptions? Is there anything we can do to encourage the two governments to try again?
3. How do we know if we are working with an agency that is doing legal adoptions in Vietnam?
4. How do we know if our government is handling things appropriately? I personally feel that some of the things they have done and the way they have handled this situation was inappropriate and less than respectful and diplomatic...how can this be addressed in an appropriate way?
I hope you can share your insights with me concerning some of these questions and add additional insight into the situation in Vietnam. I have greatly appreciated the information you have shared and would like to receive more. Thank you for what you are doing.

[Lisa]

Thank you for continuing to post. Your opinions and viewpoints always have a way of helping me clarify my own thoughts on the current events in VN adoption. As things progress, please let us know of any actions that AP's, PAP's, etc can take that might be of some value. Also, any insight into humanitarian aid opportunities and such that are particularly worthwhile would be much appreciated.