China's new adoption restrictions

[Auspicious]

They can dictate whatever rules they want. Imagine how fiesty Americans would get if we allowed our kids to be adopted by Chinese or Russian families.

I do agree with this--reading back over my post I'm afraid it sounds flippant or entitled or something. I don't think China owes anyone their children and I do believe in "families for chidren, not children for families" etc. I just think this makes for an interesting vector for conversation about what makes "qualified" parents (which is why it was posted in the first place). I don't think we would even chose to adopt from China, I just don't want to be told I can't.

I wonder about the overweight & depression restrictions. On the one hand, I would really like to see the data that shows that (treated) people who suffer from depression are worse parents or that overweight people are worse parents/die sooner. I have no idea if this is true or not across the U.S. On the other hand, I do wonder about extremely overweight or extremely depressed people - - it would seem that a major health impairment would affect parenting - - in fact, one of my colleagues had laproscopic surgery when his son was born for the reason. I grew up with an overweight and depressed parent who was overwhelmed and physically ill (progression from fat to diabetes to heart disease to kidney failure). So, I am torn on this issue - - and I recognize that my personal experience might not be at all representative of the parenting skills of the depressed/overweight.

[PrincessFiona]

about the neglectful mom.... :! :: I didn't read the whole thing.

Re: specifications for adoption....as much as I disagree with certain aspects, I do think each country has a right to specify certain things. As many here have pointed out, the US is a pretty tough place to adopt from even for citizens.

kris

[DCJenn]

and FYI-

the income requirement for foreign nationals is easily three times the Russian average income.

Russia just passed a law giving supplemental income to women/families who give birth to more than one child. This will definitely decrease the number of children placed in orphanages. (which ultimately is a good thing)

Jenn

[houseelf]

The cost of adoption, domestically or internationally, is so cost prohibitive that a couple would almost have to earn a minimum of $80,000 a year just to be in the running.

Our next door neighbor adopted as a baby girl from Russia as a single mom when she turned 35. She says that she gave up waiting for Mr. Right and didn't want to forgo the chance to have a child. Anyway, our neighbor wrapped the adoption costs into her mortgage and will continue "pay for Natalya" for the next 15 years (and this was seven years ago). She says that even if she wanted to adopt again, she couldn't because the costs have almost doubled since the time she adopted. She is a fabulous mom and has provided this orphan with such a better path than living in an institution.

Kelly

[DCJenn]

This is a copy of the letter we got through one of the listservs we belong to:

Dear adoptive parents,

As always, I would like to keep families informed about legislation
regarding Russian adoption.

The new law "About Additional Support of the Families With Children"
was passed in Russia last week. It is officially published
yesterday, December 31, 2006, and came in force today, January 1,
2007.

This law stipulates that a family having a second, third, etc. child
(birth or adopted) will receive large financial support from the
Government. The amount is 250,000 rubles (About $10,000) as a one
time payment. It is a very big sum of money for Russian families
(for some low-income families it is equal to 19 years income). This
amount will be indexed proportionally to inflation and in 5 years it
will be about 350,000 rubles.

This law has already made an impact on Russian society. Hundreds of
people have already announced their desire to adopt children.
According to the Russian media, last week alone most orphanages had
visitors (Russian citizens wishing to adopt), which was more than for
an entire year.

Many people that had previously abandoned their children already
informed the orphanages that they want to take them back into their
custody.

Although this law is not about international adoption, it can impact
international adoption. More children, especially children that are
relatively healthy, will likely be adopted by Russian families.

Some women that were due to deliver babies in December are delaying
their labor by taking medications (that is of course very risky for
children). Some women took a risk to deliver their babies
unsupervised at home, to conceal the fact of childbirth and then will
claim that the child was born after January 1, 2007.

It is quite probable that some people will adopt children only for
their own personal enrichment, but this is now a law and it will work
for the advantage of Russian citizens.

Irina M. O'Rear
Russian Attorney
Tampa, FL

http://www.russialegal.com

[SuzySunshine]

Ok, I have a question (this is a true question btw)...

How does those new Russian regulations help the children? I realize it puts them in homes and takes them out of what is probably an overcrowded orphanage, but is there anything being done to ensure these are good homes?

Also, what is the government's motivation to do this?

I'm truly asking.

[DCJenn]

Many of the children are given up because the parent's can't afford them. (nikolai for one) The hope is that more children will stay in the homes of origin or in Russian homes with adoptive families.

How this helps a child? I'd guess that for most of the families, they're loving caring people who live in a very poor part of the world and would love to be able to keep their kids. Trust me, some of the poorest families would be able to provide a much nicer environment than some of the orphanges I've heard about.

How it benefits Russia? Because like most of Europe, Russia has a severe demographics problem- more old people than young and with tens of thousands of Russian babies and children being adopted overseas, they then won't support the Russian society.

It's such a multi-pronged issue.

Jenn

[SuzySunshine]

Thanks, Jenn - I was very curious.

[Grog]

I haven't seen it mentioned elsewhere in this conversation, but I am wondering also how much the regulations have to do with concerns about the traffic of children for criminal purposes (i.e. prostitution, pornography, etc.). Of course, nothing to do with BMI and facial deformation but I think it is legitimate for countries to make foreign adoption at least somewhat difficult. Just because the orphanages these kids are in are bad is not a reason not to be very cautious so that poor kids from one country don't become easy targets for evil minds from another.

This being said, I think the new Chinese regulations have a lot to do with the image Chinese officials have of the US, however caricatural. I can't imagine what US rules for adoption would be if Chinese people started adopting in the US!!!!

[Rapunzel]

I haven't seen it mentioned elsewhere in this conversation, but I am wondering also how much the regulations have to do with concerns about the traffic of children for criminal purposes (i.e. prostitution, pornography, etc.). Of course, nothing to do with BMI and facial deformation but I think it is legitimate for countries to make foreign adoption at least somewhat difficult. Just because the orphanages these kids are in are bad is not a reason not to be very cautious so that poor kids from one country don't become easy targets for evil minds from another.

This being said, I think the new Chinese regulations have a lot to do with the image Chinese officials have of the US, however caricatural. I can't imagine what US rules for adoption would be if Chinese people started adopting in the US!!!!

I completely agree with all of this!