FacePalm Friday

Welcome to this week’s edition of FacePalm Friday.

This is where your hosts will list their top picks for this week’s FacePalm moment—something they learned or read about this week that caused the FacePalm to happen (you know, the expression of embarrassment, frustration, disbelief, shock, disgust or mixed humor as depicted in our Rally FacePalm smiley).

We invite you to add your FacePalm of the week to our comments. Go ahead and add a link, tell a personal story, or share something that triggered the FacePalm on the subject of child welfare or adoption.

Your Host’s Selections:

Orphans Dreaming About US Families

This article about today’s Both Ends Burning March makes some self-serving assumptions that all kids in orphanages do is dream about their possible US families. Make no mistake-this campaign is not about kids dreaming of their biological families or possible families in their own country.

“Chuck Johnson, president and CEO of the National Council For Adoption [says] “We simply can’t stand idle any longer. Orphans all around the world dream of a loving, permanent family to call their own. Our hope is that Step Forward for Orphans will bring attention to the problems in inter-country adoption that must be addressed now.”

Chuck, why don’t you ask the kids (the ones who are still alive) featured in our How Could You? archive about their dreams and if THEY think that quickening the process in the broken, corrupt system is a good idea? Hmmm?Why don’t you share how the actions of your agencies have effected country shutdowns?After you do that, then we can really talk about reform.

As for the great cross-pollinator who wants to “work with all adoption stakeholders to improve the system of international adoption so more orphaned and abandoned children can have families,” you FIRST need to ADMIT and ADDRESS what the agencies that you have teamed up have done. You need to shine your little in the dark holes of the business practices of your little adoption colleagues.

Ethiopia Paperwork Issues are Just a “Puzzle”

We can always count on Adoption.com blogs  for some . “Lately, I have seen several accounts of families who are stuck in the limbo of yet another waiting period — the wait between their court dates and their Embassy appointments.”  No way!

“Additionally, the US government is requiring more documentation as they review cases for final approval. Many families and agencies are being asked to submit more documents before the adoption can be finalized. This process can add two to eight weeks between the court date and the Embassy appointment.” Hmmm…I wonder why? Must be that “bureaucracy” again

“Surely, anyone can see how difficult that wait would be, especially when parents have already met and bonded with their child. However, many agencies are requesting patience from families as they work together to meet these new guidelines. After all, no one wants to wrongfully adopt a child. If anything, these new requirements give all stakeholders more confidence in the process.”

“Until then, remember that everyone involved in your adoption process is working to serve the best interest of the child. To quote my new friend from the blogosphere, “You will find that with international adoption, the pieces are always shifting and constantly changing throughout the process. And things never happen as you might guess they would.” She has that last line right.