Submitted by Mirah Riben.
Origins-USA, a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Natural Family Preservation and supporting families separated by adoption, is proud to announce that our newly reformatted website has moved to its permanent location on the Internet. Our new web address is http:///www.Origins-USA.org.
There have been many exciting changes as Origins-USA continues to move forward making positive strides toward our goals. Read about our work in family preservation advocacy and forthcoming events for National Adoption BEWARENESS Month. November 10th is RegDay. This is an annual event to increase public awareness of the International Soundex Reunion Registry; a free humanitarian service better known as ISRR. ISRR is a non-profit mutual consent registry dedicated to reuniting adult family members separated by adoption, divorce, or other dislocation. November 30th concludes National Adoption Month featuring a Strange and Mournful Day at Origins-USA.org.
You will also see information for joining one or both of our new email lists, for support and/or activism, and be sure to check out the latest issue of our newsletter: Mothers in Action!
Please be sure to change all of your bookmarks, links, and any place you have our web address in print to read: Origins-USA.org.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Unlearning Adoption: A Review 02407
by Niels H., co-founder of PoundPupLegacy.org
Jessica DelBalzo has written an important book with the inspiring title "Unlearning Adoption", in which she unravels the workings of the adoption industry, the consequences thereof and alternatives to it.
The book starts explaining how the language used by the adoption industry, labeled "Positive Adoption Language", is a deliberate attempt at influencing the public opinion. Jessica DelBalzo then demonstrates what honest adoption language can be like, an approach she uses throughout the book. Wherever she criticizes the adoption industry she offers well thought of alternatives.
"Unlearning Adoption" is an anti-adoption book and though radical in stance, its recommendations and advice are much less radical than the doings of the adoption industry it criticizes. In chapters about past adoption practices, adoption today, foster care adoption and abandonment laws, DelBalzo unravels the workings of the adoption industry, coming full circle with adoption in the media. She covers the demand side pressures of the market place, the myth of open adoption, the reality of Safe Haven laws, the modern incarnations of maternity homes.
The second part of the book deals with the effects of adoption on both adoptees and parents, addressing subjects like attachment, identity formation, crime and substance abuse, post traumatic stress disorder, anger and trust issues. Jessica DelBalzo's portrayal of the consequences of adoption are in stark contrast to the image the adoption industry tries to create, much more disturbing and much more in demand of radical change. That change she describes at the end of her book, looking beyond the borders of the USA, giving an account of Australian inquiries of child placement practices and the following decline of adoption. She addresses open records in Scandinavia and many other countries, Teen pregnancy prevention in the USA compared to other rich western countries and family support measures around the globe.
She returns to the USA, the book predominantly focussing on America, by giving an account of the various adoption reform and abolishment movements, rounding it all off with alternatives to adoption, giving practical advice on how to avoid the grip of the adoption industry on pregnant women, but she also promotes the notion of legal guardianship, in cases where out-placement indeed is in the best interest of a child.
"Unlearning Adoption" is surprisingly complete, given its compact size of 130 pages. That makes it an easy to read and quick introduction to the material. Fortunately Jessica DelBalzo has added many references to websites for those interested in more in depth information. Of course for a book that aims to be an introduction, she is forced to scratch only the surface at times. That does not compromise the depth of her insight, but requires the reader to either read up on the subject or take her words at face value.
Having spent a lot of effort reading up and investigating adoption myself, I would have liked the book to be much more detailed, though that is, understandably, not its aim. As an introduction "Unlearning Adoption" is excellent; it covers much ground and displays a deep knowledge of the subject. This is the material mother's and fathers to be should be informed about and social workers and therapists should be knowledgeable of.
Jessica DelBalzo has written an important book with the inspiring title "Unlearning Adoption", in which she unravels the workings of the adoption industry, the consequences thereof and alternatives to it.
The book starts explaining how the language used by the adoption industry, labeled "Positive Adoption Language", is a deliberate attempt at influencing the public opinion. Jessica DelBalzo then demonstrates what honest adoption language can be like, an approach she uses throughout the book. Wherever she criticizes the adoption industry she offers well thought of alternatives.
"Unlearning Adoption" is an anti-adoption book and though radical in stance, its recommendations and advice are much less radical than the doings of the adoption industry it criticizes. In chapters about past adoption practices, adoption today, foster care adoption and abandonment laws, DelBalzo unravels the workings of the adoption industry, coming full circle with adoption in the media. She covers the demand side pressures of the market place, the myth of open adoption, the reality of Safe Haven laws, the modern incarnations of maternity homes.
The second part of the book deals with the effects of adoption on both adoptees and parents, addressing subjects like attachment, identity formation, crime and substance abuse, post traumatic stress disorder, anger and trust issues. Jessica DelBalzo's portrayal of the consequences of adoption are in stark contrast to the image the adoption industry tries to create, much more disturbing and much more in demand of radical change. That change she describes at the end of her book, looking beyond the borders of the USA, giving an account of Australian inquiries of child placement practices and the following decline of adoption. She addresses open records in Scandinavia and many other countries, Teen pregnancy prevention in the USA compared to other rich western countries and family support measures around the globe.
She returns to the USA, the book predominantly focussing on America, by giving an account of the various adoption reform and abolishment movements, rounding it all off with alternatives to adoption, giving practical advice on how to avoid the grip of the adoption industry on pregnant women, but she also promotes the notion of legal guardianship, in cases where out-placement indeed is in the best interest of a child.
"Unlearning Adoption" is surprisingly complete, given its compact size of 130 pages. That makes it an easy to read and quick introduction to the material. Fortunately Jessica DelBalzo has added many references to websites for those interested in more in depth information. Of course for a book that aims to be an introduction, she is forced to scratch only the surface at times. That does not compromise the depth of her insight, but requires the reader to either read up on the subject or take her words at face value.
Having spent a lot of effort reading up and investigating adoption myself, I would have liked the book to be much more detailed, though that is, understandably, not its aim. As an introduction "Unlearning Adoption" is excellent; it covers much ground and displays a deep knowledge of the subject. This is the material mother's and fathers to be should be informed about and social workers and therapists should be knowledgeable of.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Welcome to A.P.F.P. News!
Welcome to the Adoption Prevention & Family Preservation News Blog. Here, you can expect to find news and information pertaining to the anti-adoption movement, as well as press releases from activist organizations like Adoption: Legalized Lies, Pound Pup Legacy, and Adoption Crossroads.
Anyone is welcome to submit a news release to our site. All we ask is that your release be relevant to the blog and written with honest adoption language. Book and event announcements, editorials, and other submissions are appreciated!
Please email all press releases, and include any contact information you would like printed with your release.
Anyone is welcome to submit a news release to our site. All we ask is that your release be relevant to the blog and written with honest adoption language. Book and event announcements, editorials, and other submissions are appreciated!
Please email all press releases, and include any contact information you would like printed with your release.
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