Adoption ARK - Ghana

Blessed by Adoption from Ghana

2012-01-24T16:20:00.000-06:00

Blessed by Adoption

Everyone spends lots of time while they are in the adoption process

imagining what things will be like with a new child from another country

fitting into the family dynamic. So much goes into planning which room

they will go into, talking about bringing a new baby home from Africa with

our 3 year old daughter, and completely failing to learn a single word of

the native language (despite our best intentions). The anticipation only

grew when we received photos and got matched with Eric, and even more when

I made the first trip halfway around the world to spend an hour with him.

But as much as we did to prepare ourselves, the reality of bringing Eric

home was so much better than everything we expected and prepared for.

Seeing the conditions that Eric lived in at both the orphanage and the

village where his parents lived, it was incredible to us that he adapted

so quickly to his new life. It took only a matter of hours for him to be

comfortable playing and spending time with his new family (except for a

couple of weeks that it took to get over the terror of our 13 pound Shih

Tzu). Within days Eric was totally accustomed to the diet in the U.S.

(sometimes more than we would like). And within weeks he was sleeping

soundly in his own bedroom after 2 years of living with 15 other children

in the same 3 room building.

Now that we are 4 months into our journey with Eric, he is speaking about

40 words of English, including the most important words in our language

("more", "please", "thank you", "bless you", and "Mickey"). Watching Eric

run toward me when I get home with his arms out yelling "Daddy" is a close

second place to seeing the joy in all of our kids as they run around the

house playing together.

Life never plays out as any of us imagine. I never would have guessed 10,

or even 5, years ago that I would be blessed with the family we have

today. I tell people all of the time that if I knew the joys of

fatherhood and family earlier in my life, that I would have dropped

everything to find my wife and build my family then. Luckily, fate makes

her own time for us, and I am so grateful for the payoff from our decision

to bring Eric into our lives. I hope every day that people who see him in

our lives might make the decision to go through the same challenges we

faced to bring a wonderful life to another child looking for a family.

Raymond Lamb, Las Vegas, Nevada

Deformed children are being killed in Ghana...Please help!

2011-10-21T20:00:00.000-05:00

Deformed children are being killed in Ghana

Page last updated at Friday, October 14, 2011 7:07 AM // Leave Your Comment

Three-year old John the Baptist, who hails from Gnani, a community in the Yendi Municipality of the Northern Region, was born with a vein defect.

At the age of two, John’s parents wrapped him in white cloths and left him beside a public refuse dump. His condition was bad because his neck and legs were fragile and could neither sit nor stand due to the vein defect.

John’s situation was not different from four-year old Makpato whose parents decided to kill her due to her inability to talk at the age of three.

What John and Makpato passed through is unfortunately the ordeal many children who are born with defects are subjected to in communities such as Saboba, Wodando, Zabzugu, Tatale and Bimbilla.

The common belief among some communities in the North is that children born with deformities are “spirit children” who are evil or a taboo to be sheltered and catered for.

Painstaking information gathered by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) indicates that such babies have distinguished features like, beard, pubic hair, double sex organs (hermaphrodites), protruding eyes, abnormally large head or inability to talk and walk after they hit three to six years.

Other children who bear societal stigma are those who constantly bite their mother’s breast during breast feeding, are born during famine or whose mothers die during delivery.

It is alleged that most of these children are killed or abandoned to their fate. In some instances, poisonous concoctions are forced down their throat after which, they are abandoned in a grove or forest to die.

The parents and relatives of these children have no say with regards to the killing of these children because it is a communal belief which needed to be complied with.

Asked about the cause of such deformities, Dr Anthony Amankwah Amponsem, Paediatric Consultant at Tamale Teaching Hospital said genetic factors, congenital maternal disease and infections, age of a mother, radiation as well as social habits like alcoholism could affect the development of a fertilised ovum.

Most the deformities occur during the first three months of the pregnancy during which most of the body organs are formed.

Birth defects could happen even if partners have no such history in their families or had given birth to healthy children in the past.

These defects, Dr Amponsah said could be prevented while some could be corrected if spotted early.

At the turn of the century, Ghana, along with 189 UN member countries adopted the Millennium Declaration that laid out the vision for a world of common values and renewed determination to achieve peace and decent standards of living for every man, woman and child.

Our nation was the first West Africa country that rectified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly resolution 44/25 of 20 November 1989 with article 49.

Article 23, Clause one, the convention mandates States Parties to recognise that a mentally or physically disabled child should enjoy a full and decent life, in conditions which ensure dignity, promote self-reliance and facilitate the child’s active participation in the community.

The clause two states that, “States Parties recognise the right of the disabled child to special care and shall encourage and ensure the extension, subject to available resources, to the eligible child and those responsible for his or her care, of assistance for which application is made and which is appropriate to the child’s condition and to the circumstances of the parents or others caring for the child”.

The third paragraph also explained that “Recognising the special needs of a disabled child, assistance extended in accordance with paragraph 2 of the present article shall be provided free of charge, whenever possible, taking into account the financial resources of the parents or others caring for the child, and shall be designed to ensure that the disabled child has effective access to and receives education, training, health care services, rehabilitation services, preparation for employment and recreation opportunities in a manner conducive to the child’s achieving the fullest possible social integration and individual development, including his or her cultural and spiritual development .

On the national front the Sub-Part I – Rights of the child and parental duty of Ghana’s Children’s Act 1998 Act 560 enacted by Parliament spells out how a disabled child should be treated by the parent or care takers.

The section 10 clause (1) and (2) says: “No person shall treat a disabled child in an undignified manner. A disabled child has a right to special care, education and training wherever possible to develop his maximum potential and be self-reliant.”

The punishment for offenders of the regulation is that, “Any person who contravenes a provision of this Sub-Part commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding GH¢5 million or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding one year or both.”

A study conducted by the GNA indicates that these laws are either not adhered to or implementation is weak.

An interaction with the parents of one of the deformed victims at Wodando, a community close to Wapuli in the Chereponi District with the GNA revealed widespread belief in the long held tradition that if a “spirit child” is not killed the entire village would suffer a curse.

This custom emboldens parents to harm their deformed children, says Rev. Fr Cletus Akosah who runs a charity for rescued children.

A girl who was the 13th child of her parents could not alter a word when she was growing up compelling her mother to seek both medical and traditional means to deal with the situation.

“When I took her to Wapuli clinic the doctor who diagnosed her said she has fraenulum between her tongue and the floor of her lower jaw, which hinder her speech. This has to be removed before she can speak.

“The doctor said my child is normal. There is nothing wrong with her,” she said.

She said after all efforts have been made to cure her child had failed, people were claiming that they see her in their dreams trying to harm them.

“I had to yield to the community’s tradition that my child is a spirit child and need to be killed or else my family would be banished from the community.”

Rev. Fr. Peter Jabaab Aoyaja of the Gnanie, Good Shepherd Rectorate, told the GNA that he had often threatened people who wanted to kill these children with police arrest.

Within six weeks he was able to rescue about four children from his area saying, “It is becoming alarming. The issue of killing children with defect is serious; government should partner religious bodies and non-governmental organisations to curtail these practices as early as possible”.

Mr John Ankrah, Regional Director of the Department of Social Welfare, in an interview with the GNA described the issue as child molestation and right denial.

“This is the first time am hearing of this issue and is not good in this 21st century. Even if children are deformed, they have the right to live.”

He said his outfit would source funding to embark on social education in the various communities, adding “my office does not even have a vehicle to go to the field”.

Mr Abdul-Razak Alhassan, Acting Regional Director of the Department of Child, reiterated that it is a criminal offence under the Child Act 560 and the UN Convention on Right of a Child for a parent, persons or group of persons to kill a child with defects in the name of beliefs and practices.

He called for synergy between the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service, Department of Social Welfare, Department of Community Development and Department of Children that have the oversight responsibility of child protection to work effectively.

With regards to child’s growth and behaviour, Mr Alhassan Mustapha, a Psychology lecturer, at the Medical School of the University of Development Studies told GNA that children who have deformities could exhibit signs of aggressiveness and may hate their parents and strangers as they grow.

“This is because the communal bond with the family was cut off from such people throughout their life.”

About 30 of the social outcasts have been rescued and temporarily housed by one Rev. Sr. Stan Therese Mario Mumuni, at Sang, 70 miles from the Regional capital, Tamale.

She told GNA that, unfortunately, the home was almost full to capacity and there is little hope that many more children may be accommodated in the foreseeable future.

“The children are brought almost every two to four weeks”. I think no child must die because of crude custom but must live for Christ,” she said.

Chief Inspector Ebenezer Preprah, in-charge of DOVVSU in Yendi told GNA in an interview that the act of killing deformed children is a serious offence under the section 46 of the criminal code, which constitutes murder.

He said a person or any group of persons who flout this law commit a criminal offence punishable by death.

“We have not had any official report yet and if we do an arrest will be affected,” he warned.

Worldwide, physically challenge persons such as Miss Jessica Cox, a pilot and world acclaimed motivational speaker, Mr Ivor Kobbina Greenstreet, of the Convention People’s Party, had excelled in their fields of endeavour and continue to make meaningful contribution in their countries.

Should the authorities therefore look on as talented children are killed because they are deformed or in the name of traditional believes?

God has a plan for everyone in this world and every human being counts.

By Albert Oppong-Ansah

Source: GNA

If you would like to help and adopt a child especially those with special needs, from Ghana, please contact us at adopt@adoptionark.org

April 29,2011 - Fritz Family

2011-04-29T17:33:00.002-05:00

Today Nii went to the court house to pick up the court decree. We have an appointment to file for the I600 at the embassy at 2:00p.m next Tuesday. We would have done it sooner, but the embassy does not allow appointments for I600's on Fridays and Monday is a holiday in Ghana. Tuesday was the next available date. In order to get an appointment, you must email them before you go. They will confirm, you print out the conformation to show at the embassy gate, and bring all of your paperwork. It is important to have all of the necessary documents for them when you drop off the I600 or the processing will be delayed. Let's hope when I go on Tuesday, everything is good to go. I am very ready to bring my daughter home. She is doing well and we are learning to better communicate with each other. She speaks very little English and I speak very little fante twi, but we seem to manage. Everyday that goes by I seem to learn a little more of her language and everyday she learns a little more of mine. Today at the hotel I meet another adoptive mom who was able to pick up her child's visa and bring him home tonight. The little boys was a great interpreter for Elizabeth and I. It was nice to hear him tell me the things she was saying. I often have the wonderful ladies at the hotel help with that too. We have also found a great taxi driver who comes when we need him. He too helps as an interpreter. I am learning the important things like....eat, bathroom, come, don't cry, please, thank you, and I love you.

Easter Sunday at the Children's Home of Hope in Ghana - Fritz Family

2011-04-24T17:30:00.001-05:00

Today we visited the orphanage. I had raised money at home to buy food for the orphanage and today was the day to present it. Elizabeth and I stuffed Easter eggs with candy to pass out to the children in the home. When we arrived, we were greeted very warmly by the house mother. I went on a tour of the orphanage. The home is lacking many things. The children need better mattresses for their beds, books for their library, and clothing. They are currently building a new location because the home is to small to house all of the children. We dropped off rice, oil, biscuits, millo, toilet paper, and many other things. It was greatly appreciated. I had a chance to speak with the children and let them know that people back home loved and cared about them. We prayed together and then they sang me some songs. It was so special. I will never forget their smiling faces.

Court In Ghana, April 21,2011 - Fritz Family

2011-04-21T17:35:00.000-05:00

Today is the day my little Elizabeth becomes a Fritz! During our first adoption, we did not need to attend court. This time was different. I wanted to be able to see what happens in the courtroom. I also wanted to be able to see her before court to help with the visa process. If you do not see a child you are adopting before court, you are typically granted a IR4 visa. This means you will have to readopt when you get home. If you see the child before court, you should get an IR3 visa and when the child enters the US he or she will be an American citizen right away and you do not need to readopt.

Nii picked us up at 8:30a.m. He drove us to the courtroom and when we went inside we took a seat on long wooden benches. The courtroom filled up very quickly. People wanting their cases to be heard, must come first thing in the morning and then their cases will be called. Some people wait all day for their case to be heard. Nii shared that adoption cases for the judge we were waiting to see usually went first. Luckily after waiting only a few hours, due to the fact that the judge was late, we were called second. We went back into the judges chambers with Nii, the attorney, and the social welfare worker. Everything went very well. The proceeding lasted only about 10 minutes. The judge granted us a full and final adoption. From this day forward in the eyes of Ghana law, she is now know as Elizabeth Ofori Fritz. Now on to the embassy process. Although, first we need to wait for the holiday weekend to pass. Just as a sidenote, when attending court with a child, bring water, snacks, and a little something to keep them occupied. The wait can be long and very hot.

April 16, 2011 - Fritz Family

2011-04-16T11:58:00.002-05:00

I am finally able to say I am going back! My first trip to Ghana was this past August. I made the trip with my husband to see our newly adopted daughter. Due to misunderstanding in cultures and God's timing, the adoption had been put on hold. This trip next trip was a trip to complete the adoption of a new daughter I had been placed with, as well as an opportunity to spend and extended time in Ghana understanding Ghanaian culture and doing what I could to help people who were helping the children of Ghana, I would be spending my time teaching reading to some amazing people who work day in and day out helping families in crisis in Ghana. I would also be traveling to different orphanages, assessing needs, and gaining a better understanding of how the children end up in these homes and what becomes of them after they are there. The plan is to travel, meet my daughter, complete court and stay through the embassy process. This long duration in country will leave me with a better understanding of my daughter and her first home.

The flight to Ghana was long, but good. I fly Delta and have not ever been disappointed. They have direct flights out of New York and Atlanta. This seems to make things very easy. On both of my trips to Ghana, the planes have been filled with very outgoing Ghanaian people. They were able to walk me through the customs process, even before I left the plane. This helped to reduce some of the stress of the unknown. Although, let me say, the airport process in Ghana is hot, but very painless. Once you arrive, you exit the plane onto the runway. A bus will pick you up from the runway and move you to the airport doors. This is only about 50 yards from where you plane landed, but you still must use the bus for safety reasons. From there you go to baggage claim. Carts are available for your convenience at no charge near the baggage area. You will also find a Forex window here as well. It is a good idea to exchange some of you money at this point. You may need some money to "dash" the airport porter if you chose to use one. Dashing is he term that is used for tipping in Ghana. Once you have collected all of your bags, you will go through customs. The people working in customs will have you set your bags on the tables. Have your keys available to unlock your suitcases at this point. They may or may not look in all of them. Once you finish with customs you begin to exit out of the airport. Along the way you will meet security workers that will collect your baggage tickets to be sure you have grabbed your correct bags and then you will be on your way. As you neart the exit, you will see Nii waiting to escort you to your next destination.
Nii was a welcome sight this trip! He is an amazing man and a very hard worker. I have been able to see that first hand during our long adoption journey. He greeted me with Ama, an incountry worker who assists him, and Elizabeth, my daughter. She was beautiful. This was the first time I had ever seen her, other than in her pictures. She was tall and thin and was wearing a big smile. I was at a loss for words. What do you say to someone you have never meet, yet already love? What would she understand? Well, I can't say that I came up with any amazing words other than hello, but it was amazing. Her little hand reached out for mine and the smile stayed on her face. Ama told me that she had told the other children that she stayed with that she was going to meet her mommy. That was me! I was the mommy she was going to meet. I am so proud to be able to call myself her mom and fill that void in her life forever. So there you have it....the first meeting. Words can't do it justice.
When I arrived, because of the volunteer work I was going to be doing, I arranged for my own hotel. This did not work out well and we ended up traveling to many hotels before we found one that I was able to stay in for the night. If I had that to do all over again, I would have had Nii book me a room at the Pentagon Inn from the very start. I ended staying in two hotels before I finally ended at the Pentagon Inn. The Pentagon Inn is an average priced hotel that is the most like home. Breakfast is also included in the price. The ladies at the hotel are very nice and also very familiar with adoption. They have wireless Internet, copy availability, and a printer. All of these are very important once you get to the embassy process of an adoption. Not to mention, it is very near the embassy. Traffic is very heavy at times and often unpredictable. The location allows for on time embassy appointments.

Sign up here to receive Adoption ARK's Newsletter.

Our Journey To Ghana-Fritz Family

2011-04-15T11:56:00.000-05:00

My husband Patrick and I chose to begin an international adoption about a year and a half ago. Our hearts called us to Ghana. The Ghana adoption program is a relatively new program and as with any international adoption program, it is regularly changing. Through all the ups and down of this journey to adopt, one thing has remained the same. Ghana is an absolutely amazing country, filled with amazing people and amazing children in need of homes. Though my journey has not been an easy one, I will be forever thankful for the call to Ghana. Ghana is not only the home to my children, it is a place I will always call home as well.

Welcome Home Carroll Family

2011-04-12T14:18:00.002-05:00

They are finally home!!!!!!!
After months and months of planning and paperwork, Corwin and I have been so blessed with 2 beautiful little ones from Ghana Africa.
Our journey started in October of 2009. Corwin and I decided that we needed to add some little feet and a lot of noise to our home. We applied to the Ghana program with Adoption Ark. It is still so surreal that we have finally gotten them both home.
After our application was submitted and our dossier was sent to Ghana, we were finally invited to court in Ghana in May of 2010. We officially adopted Kaden on June 3, 2010 and Madison on June 4, 2010. It was wonderful to meet them both and we were so sad to leave them behind after spending a week with them.
After the adoptions were official, then more paperwork was needed to file for visa's for the kids to come home. So a second trip to Ghana was made in July, 2010 to file at the US embassy for their travel home.
Madison was very sick during the paper chase with Malaria. The waiting for visas was very difficult. Finally on August 20th 2010 they were free to leave the country. Just as they were to get on the plane with an escort to bring them to the US, Kaden's village refused to let him go. Madison made it on the plane though and arrived in Minneapolis on August 24th, 2010. Her new mommy and daddy were so very excited to have her home.
It took many months of negotiation and finally Kaden was released the end of January 2011. The requirement was that one of us would have to travel to the village where Kaden lived to meet the tribal leaders. So I made the trip and finally was home with Kaden on February 2, 2011.
What a journey it has been. 16 months of paperwork and 3 trips to Ghana later... Madison is now 5 years old and loving it in America. After living in an orphanage with 37 kids, she defiantly loves being the princess of the house. Kaden is 20 months and learning English very quickly. He is very much a boy!
We are so very blessed.
-Corwin and Darla Carroll

Adoption Tax Credit Form

2011-02-10T11:35:00.001-06:00

The Adoption Tax Credit can be confusing. Please visit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQryETwRziA for more information on the
qualifications and filing instructions. You can also view the form at
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8839.pdf

Adoption ARK's Report Card

2010-11-23T10:40:00.000-06:00

Adoption ARK is very excited to share with you our latest survey results. Our “Report Card” reflects our commitment to orphaned children and the clients that we serve. International Adoption is not just a job; it’s a calling. At Adoption ARK, we are honored to assist you in adopting a child and we thank you for choosing us as your international adoption agency. Thank you to all the clients that participated.

View Adoption ARK’s Report Card at http://www.adoptionark.org/upload/adoptionarkreportcard_87895.pdf

Sincerely,
The Team at Adoption ARK
(847) 215-2755

Follow Adoption ARK on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/adoptionark
Visit our YouTube page http://www.youtube.com/user/AdoptionArk

Adopting one child won't change the world; but for that child, the world will change.

Change in Processing Timeline for Adoption Cases in Ghana

2010-08-13T11:50:00.001-05:00

April 7, 2010

The U.S. Embassy in Accra, Ghana wishes to advise adoptive parents of procedural changes that may increase the processing time for some adoption cases. Adoptive parents should be aware that an I-604 (Determination on Child for Adoption, sometimes referred to as “orphan investigation”) must be completed in connection with every I-600 application. Depending on the circumstances of the case, this investigation may take up to several weeks or even months to complete. Therefore, adoptive parents should not plan to travel to Ghana until they have confirmed with the U.S. Embassy that their visa interview appointment has been confirmed.

Prospective adoptive parents and adoption service providers are reminded that a consular officer is required, by law, to complete a Form I-604 (determination of orphan status) before issuing a visa in all IR-3 and IR-4 adoption cases. In some cases this may require only a conversation with the birth parent, but in others it may require a full field investigation possibly lasting several weeks. Since verifying the parent-child relationships in Ghana is difficult, we also expect that in some cases where the child was relinquished by the birth parent, DNA testing will be recommended in order to establish a blood relationship between the adopted child and claimed birth parent(s).

Adoption agencies are encouraged to submit case paperwork to the U.S. Embassy for review before the Embassy schedules the immigrant visa appointment. In some cases the I-604 determination could take several weeks or more from the time a case is submitted to the U.S. Embassy to the scheduling of a visa interview appointment. We understand that in such cases this will result in a longer period before parents are able to bring their adopted children to the U.S. However, this additional scrutiny is required to ensure that the adoption is legal under both U.S. and Ghanaian law. The U.S. Embassy will work with adoptive parents and their adoption agency to ensure that each case is processed in the most expeditious manner possible in accordance with laws and regulations. Families should continue to work through their agency and the Embassy to schedule immigrant visa appointments and answer questions regarding pending cases.

If families have concerns about their adoption, we ask that they share this information with the Embassy, particularly if it involves possible fraud or misconduct specific to your child’s case. The Embassy takes all allegations of fraud or misconduct seriously.

The best way to contact the Embassy is by email at Accraadoption@state.gov. Please include your name, your child’s name, your adoption agency, the date of the adoption (month and year), and, if possible, the immigrant visa case number for your child’s case (this number begins with the letters ACC followed several numbers and can be found on any document sent to you by the National Visa Center). Please let us know if we have your permission to share concerns about your specific case with Ghanaian government officials.

We strongly encourage you to register any complaint that you may have about an adoption agency in the following ways:

• You may file a complaint with the state licensing authority where your adoption agency is licensed and conducts business. The Child Welfare Information Gateway, which is maintained by the Department of Health and Human Services, provides such a list at the link below: http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/reslist/rl_dsp.cfm?rs_id=15&rate_chno=AZ-0008E

• You may also file a report with the state’s Better Business Bureau. Following is the link to the Better Business Bureau’s website where you may file a complaint on-line: https://odr.bbb.org/odrweb/public/getstarted.aspx

• If your agency is a Hague-accredited adoption service provider, you are encouraged to file a complaint on the Hague Complaint Registry located at the link below. This information will be used by the accrediting entities to evaluate the agency in connection with the renewal of its accreditation status. http://adoption.state.gov/hague/overview/complaints.html

The U.S. Embassy continues to work with the Government of Ghana to ensure that appropriate safeguards exist to protect prospective adoptive children, their birth parents, and prospective adoptive parents. Please continue to monitor adoption.state.gov for updated information.

Experience of the First ARK Family Who Traveled to Ghana

2010-07-02T14:37:00.002-05:00

By the Newsom Family

When we arrived in Accra, Ghana on the evening of May 9th, we were immediately greeted by the intense heat and many friendly people. The in-country coordinator was right at the airport to greet us and escort us to our hotel, the Mahogany Lodge. We felt safe and did not encounter any travel problems. The following morning, the coordinator picked us up an drove us to the foster home where Diana and Rebecca are currently living. There is not much infrastructure in Accra, so the drive to the foster home included dirt roads and the scenery included plywood shacks, goats and cows on the road and many ladies carrying goods on their heads. The poverty is wide sweeping, but the Ghanaian people are generally peaceful and happy.

Upon arriving to the foster home, we were instantly greeted by our two smiling daughters, Diana and Rebecca. The foster home is run by a very loving couple and a staff of six "aunties". There are currently 35 children living in the clean, well organized home. We enjoyed playing with all of the children and passing out the gifts we brought for the children and foster home staff. The children were so content and happy. We were allowed to take our daughters back to our hotel for 6 nights.

We spent precious time with our girls at the hotel, exploring Accra and eating the delicious Ghanaian cuisine. Some of our best family times were spent over long, relaxing meals. Diana (age 6) and Rebecca (age 3) understood a lot of English and we were able to communicate quite well with them. Both girls warmed up nicely to us and we felt an instant connection with them.

We attended court on Thursday, May 13th. The court hearing was held in a private judge's chamber. All judges and lawyers wear the traditional British wigs and the proceeding was formal, but not too stressful. The judge reviewed our case, asked some questions of the social welfare worker and the lawyer. The whole event took less than 15 minutes and we were blessed to be granted the adoption. We are now the very proud parents of Diana and Rebecca! The girls understood exactly what was happening and did a little dance in the hallway as we exited the courthouse. They especially liked saying their new last name.

It was difficult for us to return the girls to the foster home on Saturday. It was comforting that although the girls enjoyed their time with us, it was very natural for them to return to the foster home. They were excited to see their friends and share about the adventures with their mommy and daddy. We are confident they are receiving loving care while we wait for the I-600 approval and their Visas. It was a wonderful experience and we absolutely cannot wait to return to Ghana and our daughters!

Adoption Alert Issued by the U.S. Department of State

2010-04-08T14:43:00.001-05:00

The U.S. Department of State has issued an adoption alert for Ghana. Click here to view this alert.

Exciting News About the Adoption Tax Credit

2010-03-30T10:41:00.001-05:00

Adoptive Parents and future adoptive parents can breathe a sigh of relief. The Adoption Tax Credit has been renewed, increased, and made refundable.

· Was extended until December, 2011

· The adoption tax credit increased from $12,170 to $13,170

· And, is now refundable instead of just being credited to the amount owed

This is great news for new adoptive parents and those parents planning to adopt in the near future. If you are considering adoption please give Adoption ARK a call! We would love to help you work on your budget and adoption plans.

USCIS Centralizes Processing of Orphan Adoptions Change will Streamline Processing

2010-03-29T12:46:00.001-05:00

WASHINGTON - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced
that on April 1, 2010, it is centralizing processing and adjudication of all
new orphan (Non-Hague) petitions with the agency's specialized adoptions
team in Missouri.
Prospective adoptive parents will continue to file their Petition to
Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative (Form I 600) and Application for
Advance Processing of Orphan Petition (Form I 600A) with USCIS' Dallas
Lockbox facility. The Lockbox will forward the case to the Orphan Unit at
USCIS' National Benefit Center (NBC) for processing and adjudication. The
applicant will receive a receipt notice with the NBC address and contact
information for follow-up correspondence.
While this takes place behind the scenes, adoptive parents will benefit
because it allows USCIS to:
* Process applications and petitions more efficiently,
* Streamline and standardize work processes, and
* Offer more consistent service.
Parents will also benefit from the specialized skills and experience of the
NBC Non-Hague Adoption Unit, based on the NBC's implementation of the USCIS
Hague Adoption Convention program in 2008.
USCIS has dedicated a toll-free NBC Adoption telephone line, 1-877-424-8374
and published an Orphan Home Study Tip sheet (Form M-760) to aid adoption
service providers and prospective adoptive parents.
Local USCIS field offices in the United States will continue to accept
requests for extensions and change of circumstances for approved Form I-600A
applications in accordance with the current filing instructions. Overseas
U.S. citizens may continue to file Form I-600 at a U.S. Embassy, consulate
or USCIS office abroad that has jurisdiction to accept the petition.
However, in order to file a Form I-600 petition abroad, the petitioner must
have an approved Form I-600A and be physically present in the adoptive
child's country.
Prospective parents who reside abroad may continue to file the Form I-600A
with an overseas USCIS office or the Dallas Lockbox facility.
For more information on orphan adoptions visit:
http://www.uscis.gov/adoptions.

Updates for Ghana Adoption

2010-03-24T15:18:00.000-05:00

Adoption ARK has a few more openings for parents that wish to adopt in our Ghana adoption program. There are several orphaned children that we are trying to match with loving families. Please contact Adoption ARK for more information. Adoption ARK CEO, Elina Filippova, visited Swaziland and Ghana in February to visit with members of parliament and meet with humanitarian aid organizations. She was able to visit orphanages in both Swaziland & Ghana and met many children orphaned by AIDS and poverty. For an orphan, being able to live in an orphanage is a matter of survival. Many children are living on the streets. Elina met several couple that were traveling to complete their adoptions. It is possible to adopt from Swaziland and Ghana but the details of the dossier and the adoption process are continually changing as these countries try to implement an adoption process that is in the best interest of the child. You can read about her trip to Swaziland and Ghana, view her photos, and partake in her experience at http://adoptionarktravels.blogspot.com

Free Seminar "Parenting Children from Haiti and Other Hard Places"

2010-03-17T13:07:00.001-05:00

Adoption Learning Partners is pleased to bring you this webinar in cooperation with The Evan B. Donaldson Institute and the Joint Council on International Children's Services.

Dr. Karyn Purvis will spend one hour answering parents' questions on parenting their children from Haiti, and other "hard places" (which she will define). Feel free to ask questions about attachment, sleep issues, behavior challenges, family dynamics, or any other challenge you are facing.

Questions should be submitted in advance by completing the form below (please include your child's age). They will be read to Dr. Purvis by our moderator. We'll get to as many questions as time allows.

Dr. Purvis is co-author of the book "The Connected Child," and the Director of the Institute of Child Development at TCU. Her focus is on research based interventions for vulnerable children. She travels extensively, providing training and consultation for families and professionals working with at risk children.

Please register at http://www.bluestreakwebinars.com/AccountManager/RegEv.aspx?PIID=ED50DD8985

Sisters Belong Together!

2010-03-15T09:42:00.001-05:00

Sandra and Wendy are two beautiful and sweet sisters from the country of Ghana. They live in the orphanage because their parents are not able to care for them. Sandra is 7 and little Wendy is only 3. Ghana is a wonderful African country. Adoption ARK president Elina Filippova just returned from her trip from Ghana and was impressed and the warmth and kindness of the people and the modern standards of living. You can read her blog at http://adoptionarktravels.blogspot.com/.

Even though the country has much to offer, these girls still need a forever family. Without a family, their futures is very bleak. Adoption ARK offers a financial grant to help the lucky people who will be their parents. If you have room in your home and heart for 2 little sisters, please contact us.

Adoption ARK has a Few Open Spots in the Ghana Pilot Program

2010-03-09T14:02:00.002-06:00

Adoption Ark has a few more openings in our Ghana adoption program. There are several waiting children we are desperately trying to find families for. Please contact us about this. Also, Adoption ARK CEO, Elina Filippova, just returned from her amazing trip to this country. Please follow read about her touching and funny experiences while there. http://adoptionarktravels.blogspot.com/2010/03/unemployment-rate-in-ghana-is-high-and.html

2010-03-08T14:53:00.000-06:00

Sandra Bullock won the Oscar for Best Actress last night for her role in the movie ‘The Blind Side.’ If you haven’t seen the movie yet, it is about Michael Oher, a homeless, traumatized boy who became an All American football player and first round NFL draft pick after being taken in by a caring woman and her family. In her acceptance speech Sandra said, “what this film was about for me, which are the moms that take care of the babies and the children no matter where they come from." Adoption ARK couldn’t agree more! Today, on International Women’s Day, Adoption ARK would like to say thank you to all the mom’s that have loving cared for adopted children. Please remember…Adopting one child will not change the world; but for that child the world will change. The world changed for Michael Oher and countless other the day their moms took them in their arms and began a life-long pursuit of loving them unconditionally.

FW: Great Story Written from an Adoptee Perspective

2010-03-04T16:54:00.001-06:00

The article, The Case for International Adoption, is a wonderfully written, very informative example of why International Adoption is such an important aspect of our society. Written by Jeneen Interlandi, an adoptee from Columbia, the article tackles the issue of adoptees being able to develope a cultural identity within a family of a different ethnic background. In the end Jeneen concludes , what matters most is not where a child is from, but whether or not that child is well loved and well cared for by a responsible family—regardless of race or nationality.

Click here to read The Case for International Adoption by Jeneen Interlandi