Category: Family Preservation

Adoption Across a Lifetime: Why Reform Must Move Beyond the Child-Centric Lens

On By lynellelongIn 1993 Hague Convention, Adjustment and Transition, Adoptee Activism, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Agencies, Adoption Education for Professionals, Adoption policy, Adoption questions, adoption reform, Advocacy, Alternatives to Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, DNA Searching, Family Preservation, Forced separation, Generational trauma, human rights abuses in adoption, identity restoration, Importance of Connections to Origins, intercountry adoption investigation, Intercultural struggles, Is adoption the best option, Justice Routes, legal identity erasure, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Politics of Adoption, Post Adoption Support, Racial Mirrors, Racism in Adoption, Reparation in Adoption, reparative justice in adoption, Return to Birth Country, Return to Birth Country, right to identity, Rights in Adoption, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, State responsibilities in adoption, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, Truth and Reconciliation Commission TRCLeave a comment

Lynelle's opening keynote on intercountry adoption, exploring identity, lifelong impacts, and the urgent need to reform systems beyond a child-centric lens.

When Adoption Erases Sisters

On By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee Activism, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoption Attachment, adoption reform, Advocacy, Compensation to Victims in Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Family Preservation, Forced separation, Grief and Loss, human rights abuses in adoption, identity restoration, Illicit Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, Importance of Connections to Origins, intercountry adoption investigation, Is adoption the best option, Legal Action taken by Adoptees, legal identity erasure, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Politics of Adoption, Reparation in Adoption, reparative justice in adoption, Rights in Adoption, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sri Lanka, State responsibilities in adoption, Suicide, The Netherlands, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

A Sri Lankan adoptee, Sita, in the Netherlands shares why restoring identity and family ties must follow the ending of international adoption.

Book Review: Somewhere Sisters & Daughters of the Bamboo Grove

On By lynellelongIn Adoptee vulnerability, Adoption Agencies, Adoption Book, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, adoption reform, Adoptive parents silence on illegal adoptions, Alternatives to Adoption, Birth family trauma, Birth mother choices, Birth Parents Searching, Birth parents speak out, China, China, Compensation to Victims in Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Family Preservation, Forced separation, Generational trauma, Gratitude in Adoption, Grief and Loss, Illegal Adoption, Illicit Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, Importance of Connections to Origins, Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Politics of Adoption, Religion and Adoption, Rights in Adoption, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Trauma in Adoption, Twins in adoption, USA, VietnamLeave a comment

Lynelle reviews Somewhere Sisters and Daughters of the Bamboo Grove, exploring identity, nature vs. nurture, and the truths of twins separated by intercountry adoption.

Thoughts from Into the Fire: The Lost Daughter

On By lynellelongIn Abuse in Adoption, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoption Agencies, Adoption Documentary, Adoptive parents, Birth Parents Searching, Birth parents speak out, Compensation to Victims in Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Family Preservation, Grief and Loss, Impacts to Biological Families, Importance of Connections to Origins, Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Motherloss, Religion and Adoption, Rights in Adoption, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sexual Abuse in Adoption, Suicide, Trauma in Adoption, USALeave a comment

Lynelle shares her thoughts after watching Into the Fire: The Lost Daughter, on Netflix.

A formal apology for an illegal intercountry adoption

On By lynellelongIn Adjustment and Transition, Adoptee Anger, Adoptee vulnerability, adoption reform, Alcohol and drug addiction, Compensation to Victims in Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Family Preservation, Forced separation, Grief and Loss, Guatemala, Illegal Adoption, Illicit Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, Importance of Connections to Origins, Is adoption the best option, Legal routes for illegal adoption, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Not Knowing in Adoption, Older Age Adoptions, Politics of Adoption, Reparation in Adoption, Suicide, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, UN Joint Statement Illegal Adoption, USA, What is an Illegal and Illicit Adoption?Leave a comment

A historic day in Guatemala with an apology to a family who were torn apart by illegal intercountry adoption. English translation provided.

The Realities of Adoption and Reunion

On By Guest BloggerIn Adoptees Educate, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, Birth Parents Searching, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Ethiopia, Family Preservation, Grief and Loss, Illegal Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, Importance of Connections to Origins, Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Return to Birth Country, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, USA, What is an Illegal and Illicit Adoption?Leave a comment

Marta shares the realities of reunion with her Ethiopian family.

Adoptees as experts and influencing international standards through advocacy

On By lynellelongIn 1993 Hague Convention, Adoptee Activism, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Education for Professionals, adoption reform, Adoptive Country, Birth Country, Birth parents speak out, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Family Preservation, Illegal Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Politics of Adoption, Reparation in Adoption, Rights in Adoption, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, UN Joint Statement Illegal AdoptionLeave a comment

Lynelle shares about the journey from understanding her adoption to becoming an adoptee advocate, pushing for much needed change at international levels.

An Adoptee’s Thoughts on Haaland vs Brackeen

On By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee Activism, Adoptees Educate, adoption reform, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Family Preservation, Grief and Loss, Impacts to Biological Families, Importance of Connections to Origins, Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Rights in Adoption, South Korea, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, USALeave a comment

Patrick shares on the current Haaland vs Brackeen case that challenges the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and asks why family preservation isn't the focus.

One Adoptee’s Thoughts on the UN Joint Statement on Illegal Intercountry Adoptions

On By lynellelongIn 1993 Hague Convention, Adoptee Activism, Adoptees Educate, adoption reform, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Denmark, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Family Preservation, France, Germany, Greece, Grief and Loss, Haiti, Hong Kong, Illegal Adoption, Illicit Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, Importance of Connections to Origins, Iran, Is adoption the best option, Korea, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, New Zealand, Norway, Origins Search, Philippines, Rights in Adoption, Romania, Russia, Search and Reunion in Adoption, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, Uganda, UK, UN Joint Statement Illegal Adoption, USA, Vietnam, What is an Illegal and Illicit Adoption?4 Comments

Lynelle shares her thoughts on the UN Joint Statement on Illegal Intercountry Adoption.

Agent Orange Awareness Month

On By lynellelongIn Adoptees Educate, Adoption and Disability, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Family Preservation, Gratitude in Adoption, Grief and Loss, Impacts to Biological Families, Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Origins Search, Special Medical Conditions, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, VietnamLeave a comment

Lynelle shares thoughts of October as Agent Orange Awareness Month which triggers a deeper look into how she came to be sent abroad as a Vietnamese adoptee.

The Feeling of Not Belonging Anywhere

On By lynellelongIn Abuse in Adoption, Adoptee Anger, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, Australia, Eating Disorder and Adoption, Family Preservation, Gratitude in Adoption, Grief and Loss, Importance of Connections to Origins, Is adoption the best option, Korea, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Racism in Adoption, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, South Korea, Suicide, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Michelle shares the complexities as an intercountry adoptee and the ongoing feeling of not belonging and how this underlies her many medical diagnoses.

Finding Peace after Adoption

On By lynellelongIn Abuse in Adoption, Adjustment and Transition, Adoptee Anger, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, Australia, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Family Preservation, Grief and Loss, Haiti, Importance of Connections to Origins, Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Not Knowing in Adoption, Older Age Adoptions, Origins Search, Racism in Adoption, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Jonas shares on the complexities of being an intercountry adoptee, ending up on the streets at age 13 and getting his life back as an adult to find his peace.

Money never makes up for what I’ve lost as a First Nations Canadian

On By Guest BloggerIn adoption reform, Australia, Birth Parents Searching, Compensation to Victims in Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Family Preservation, First Nations Canada, Grief and Loss, Illegal Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, Importance of Connections to Origins, Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Reparation in Adoption, Rights in Adoption, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Jen shares complex emotions following the Canadian government compensation to First Nations Canadians forcibly removed from their families and adopted out.

Adoptees at the Hague Special Commission

On By lynellelongIn 1993 Hague Convention, Adoptee Activism, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Education for Professionals, adoption reform, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Family Preservation, Hague Special Commission, Impacts to Biological Families, Importance of Connections to Origins, Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Lived experience leadership, Peer Support, Politics of Adoption, Rights in Adoption, Transracial AdoptionLeave a comment

Lynelle shares the history of adoptee led organisation involvement at the Hague Special Commission meetings and the importance of adoptee voices being included.

Adoptee Birthdays

On By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee Birthdays, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, Canada, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Family Preservation, Grief and Loss, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Philippines, Racism in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Maars shares the complex feelings that arise on her birthday as a transracial intercountry adoptee.

Voices Against Illegal Adoptions Speak at the United Nations

On By lynellelongIn 1993 Hague Convention, Adoptee Activism, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Agencies, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, adoption reform, Adoptive Country, Birth Country, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Family Preservation, Grief and Loss, Illegal Adoption, Illicit Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, Importance of Connections to Origins, Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Politics of Adoption, Racism in Adoption, Reparation in Adoption, Rights in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, UN Joint Statement Illegal Adoption, What is an Illegal and Illicit Adoption?Leave a comment

Lynelle represents Voices Against Illegal Adoption (VAIA) to the United Nations Committees who drafted a joint statement about illegal intercountry adoptions.

What Would My Utopia in Intercountry Adoption Be?

On By lynellelongIn 1993 Hague Convention, Adjustment and Transition, Adoptee Activism, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Agencies, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, adoption reform, Adoptive Country, Adoptive parents silence on illegal adoptions, Alternatives to Adoption, Birth Country, colourblindness in adoption, Compensation to Victims in Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Family Preservation, Illegal Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, Importance of Connections to Origins, Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Politics of Adoption, Racism in Adoption, Reparation in Adoption, Return to Birth Country, Rights in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Lynelle shares at the CHIP webinar Feb 2022 on what her utopia of intercountry adoption would be, if anything were possible, listing the changes necessary.

What’s the Future of Intercountry Adoption?

On By lynellelongIn 1993 Hague Convention, Abandonment and Rejection, Adoptee Activism, Adoptee Anger, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, adoption reform, Adoptive Country, Alternatives to Adoption, Birth Country, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Family Preservation, Illegal Adoption, Illicit Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Politics of Adoption, Rights in Adoption, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Presentation by Lynelle Long at the CHIP Webinar on 18 Feb 2022 on the topic: Respecting the Child's Right to Identity in Intercountry Adoption

How transnational adoption practices in South Korea can challenge women’s ability to control their reproductive destiny

On By Guest BloggerIn Adoptees Educate, Birth family trauma, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Family Preservation, Generational trauma, Impacts to Biological Families, Is adoption the best option, Korea, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Politics of Adoption, Rights in Adoption, South Korea1 Comment

Christla Petitberghien and her academic peers write critically about intercountry adoption from South Korea, looking at the reproductive rights of women.

Governments Finally Recognising Illicit and Illegal Intercountry Adoption Practices

On By lynellelongIn 1993 Hague Convention, Adoptee Activism, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Agencies, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, adoption reform, Adoptive Country, Adoptive parents silence on illegal adoptions, Birth Country, Compensation to Victims in Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Family Preservation, Illegal Adoption, Illicit Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, Importance of Connections to Origins, Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Origins Search, Politics of Adoption, Reparation in Adoption, Rights in Adoption, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, UN Joint Statement Illegal Adoption, What is an Illegal and Illicit Adoption?1 Comment

This is one common scenario, it doesn't cover children overtly stolen from hospitals and many other ways I'm an adoptee remaining hopeful I’m very excited and feeling hopeful after hearing Belgium’s recent news, that their Minister has announced his intention to ask Parliament to suspend all adoptions for the next 2 years as a result …

Continue reading Governments Finally Recognising Illicit and Illegal Intercountry Adoption Practices

Korea’s Revised Adoption Process

On By jaymekyopoIn 1993 Hague Convention, Abuse in Adoption, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoption Agencies, Adoption policy, adoption reform, Birth Country, Compensation to Victims in Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Family Preservation, Gratitude in Adoption, Illegal Adoption, Illicit Adoption, Importance of Connections to Origins, intercountry adoption investigation, Is adoption the best option, Korea, Politics of Adoption, Post Adoption Support, Rights in Adoption, South Korea, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, USALeave a comment

Jayme Hansen applauds South Korea's revised adoption process more aligned with Hague Convention guidelines, creating more oversight of vulnerable children.

Lifelong Impacts of Identity Loss

On By lynellelongIn 1993 Hague Convention, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Education for Professionals, adoption reform, Citizenship in Adoption, Compensation to Victims in Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Family Preservation, Forced separation, Generational trauma, Hague Special Commission, Illicit Adoption, Importance of Connections to Origins, Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Politics of Adoption, Rights in Adoption, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Survival mechanisms, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Lynelle shares about the impact of identity loss in intercountry adoption, including the views of other adoptees to help build a more in-depth understanding.

Cancelling My Adoption

On By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee Anger, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Agencies, Adoption Discharge Annulment, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, Compensation to Victims in Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Denmark, Family Preservation, Grief and Loss, Importance of Connections to Origins, India, Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Not Knowing in Adoption, Politics of Adoption, Racism in Adoption, Rights in Adoption, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption7 Comments

Netra Sommer is adopted from India to Denmark and endured abuse in her adoption and talks about undoing her adoption and the lengthy process to reclaim herself.

Lived Experience Suggestions for Responses to Illicit Adoptions

On By lynellelongIn 1993 Hague Convention, Adoption Agencies, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Family Preservation, Illegal Adoption, Illicit Adoption, Importance of Connections to Origins, Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Origins Search, Politics of Adoption, Post Adoption Support, Transracial AdoptionLeave a comment

ICAVs newest Perspective Paper: How Authorities and Bodies could Respond to Illicit Adoptions