Independent Adoption Center » international adoption

IAC Family Featured on ‘Celebrity Baby Scoop’

Sarah Bryson — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:36:39 +0000

IAC alumni Bill Horn and Scout Masterson finalized their adoption last month in the good company of celebrity friends Tori Spelling and her husband Dean McDermott. Congratulations Bill and Scout!

The IAC family, known as the ‘Guncles’ on the hit reality series Home Sweet Hollywood, say they always knew that they wanted to build their family through adoption and chose the Independent Adoption Center because of our experience working with LGBT families.

Bill and Scout express how ‘lucky’ they feel and how the relationship they have with their daughter Simone’s birthmother is ‘really special and wonderful.’ Their gratitude and love for Simone’s birthmother and her godparents, Tori and Dean, shines through in this endearing open adoption success story. Get the Celebrity Baby Scoop.

For more information on LGBT adoption and the IAC read the following blog posts:
IAC Recognized by Human Rights Campaign for Best Practices with LGBT Families
Wait Times for Adoptive Placements in LGBT Families
Gay and Lesbian Parents Raise Well-Adjusted Children: IAC Families Participate in Groundbreaking Study

If you are considering placing your baby for adoption visit the following blog to learn more:
I Heart Adoption Blog for Women Considering Adoption

Radio Interview with IAC Counselor Jennifer Bliss

Ann Wrixon — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 17:19:59 +0000

KCLU National Public Radio: Dr. Goldsmith interviews IAC LA’s Co-Branch Director and Open Adoption Counselor, Dr. Jennifer Bliss, PsyD, MSW, LCSW on open adoption.

Part 1: Fears & Myths of Openness
IAC counselor, Dr. Jennifer Bliss, talks in this radio interview about open
adoption. One of the radio hosts reveals he is adopted and was found by his
birthmother when he was 25 years old, and is now in touch with his extended
birth family including his birth nephews. Dr. Jennifer Bliss, addresses some
of the common myths and fears about open adoption. She also talks about some
of the differences between domestic and international adoption.

Part 2: Defining a Birthparent’s Role
The radio interview with IAC counselor, Dr. Jennifer Bliss, continues. Dr.
Bliss answers a caller’s concerns about a birth parent wanting the child
back after a few months or a few years. Dr. Bliss explains how seeing the
child happy and healthy in the adoptive home reassures birthparents that
they made the right decision. It does not make them want to take the child
back. She also explains the role of adoptive and birth parent in the child’s
life.

Part 3: Effects of an Open Relationship
This is the final installment of the radio interview with IAC counselor, Dr.
Jennifer Bliss. Dr. Bliss listens to the concerns of a caller who is an
adoptive mother. The caller is very concerned about the contact her now
teen-aged daughter is having with her birthmother. Dr. Bliss talks about
appropriate boundaries, and tries to offer the adoptive mother some new ways
to think about her situation. She also talks with the radio host about the
legacy of open adoption. How important it is for adoptees to be reassured by
their birthparents that they were wanted. They were not given away or given
up, rather they were placed for adoption out of great love.

Please Listen. We’d love to hear your comments!

Russian Adoption Controversy

Ann Wrixon — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 17:25:24 +0000

Like many people around the world, I watched in horror as the story of the young boy sent back to Russia by his adopted U.S. parent unfolded. Also, like all of us watching the media reports I realize that I cannot possibly know the entire story. Furthermore, since the IAC is only involved in domestic infant adoption I have no expertise in either international adoption or older child adoption. Instead, what I would like to focus on is the need for adoptive families to get support and resources if they need them.

First, I would like to point out that most adoptions are successful. Although there are no statistics, most experts agree the number of disrupted adoptions is small. This is especially true in domestic infant adoption as we do at the IAC. This is not to say that all adoptions are completely smooth sailing. Any number of issues can arise after adoption finalization. Sometimes, these are just normal family issues, such as siblings arguing, or minor learning problems in school. Other times, there can be a more troubling problem, such as a serious mental health diagnosis.

There can also be problems stemming from the adoption itself. For example, an adoptee might be having identity issues because they do not look like the other members of their family. Perhaps they feel depressed because their birthmother has lost contact.

Sometimes it is hard to tell if a problem is the result of the adoption or if it stems from other family issues. In any case, it is important to get help. First, call your adoption agency. Some agencies have on site resources you can access, but all social workers will listen and help you find the resources you need. Adoption social workers also have expertise in issues related to adoption and can help you to sort through the problems and make a plan to address each of them.

Anyone planning to adopt should educate himself or herself on adoption. This is especially true for those considering older child placements, but this is also true for infant adoptions. Most importantly, once you adopt be vigilant about problems in your family. Contact the adoption agency sooner rather than later to get support and direction to other resources you may need.

The Haiti earthquake

Ann Wrixon — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:57:40 +0000

One of the many tragic side effects of the Haitian earthquake is that many people are now aware of the issue of child trafficking. As most people know ten American missionaries were arrested in Haiti after trying to take 33 Haitian children across the border to the Dominican Republic.

Although the Independent Adoption Center (IAC) is not involved in international adoptions, nor do we have any knowledge of whether or not these missionaries were involved in child trafficking it does recommit us to our mission of openness in adoption. We can certainly imagine the anguish any family would feel who did not know what had happened to their child. This is the same anguish birth parents feel when they relinquish their child for adoption, but are then banished from the child’s life. They never know if their child is happy and thriving. They have no way to know if they made the best choice for their child. In addition, every child, no matter how happy and well adjusted they are in their adopted homes, wants to know about their biological parents. This is completely natural, normal, and healthy.

For adoptive parents as well it is natural to want to know where did your child’s beautiful blonde curls came from, or if her artistic nature is something that runs in her biological family. What is her ethnic background? Even more importantly, are there illnesses that she may be susceptible to due to her family’s medical history?

IAC supports international adoption, including Haitian adoptions, but we do encourage openness in adoption. Often even orphaned children can maintain contact with extended family. Openness also diminishes the possibility of child trafficking.

If you are interested in finding out more about adoption in Haiti please visit the following web sites:
Joint Council on International Children’s Services
Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute