Category: Sense of Belonging

USA Virtual Fair

On By lynellelongIn Adjustment and Transition, Adoptee Activism, Adoptee Search Service Orgs, Adoptee support provided by adoptees, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, China, Citizenship in Adoption, Colombia, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Diversity in Adoption, Ethiopia, Greece, Grief and Loss, Importance of Connections to Origins, Korea, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Lived experience leadership, Multiple Identities, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Peer Support, Racial Mirrors, Return to Birth Country, Sense of Belonging, South Korea, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, USA, VietnamLeave a comment

Lynelle shares the recording of the USA Virtual Fair held on 1 June 2024 showcasing 20 intercountry adoptee led organisation who provide support to adoptees.

Returning to Homeland

On By Guest BloggerIn Adoptees Educate, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, Australia, Complexities in Adoption, Ethiopia, Grief and Loss, Importance of Connections to Origins, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Older Age Adoptions, Origins Search, Return to Birth Country, Sense of Belonging, Transracial AdoptionLeave a comment

Meseret shares some tips and thoughts for intercountry adoptees considering returning to homeland or birth country, her perspective as an Ethiopian adoptee.

Children’s Rights to Access Justice and Effective Remedies

On By lynellelongIn Abuse in Adoption, Adoptee Activism, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Education for Professionals, adoption reform, Adoption Research, Citizenship in Adoption, Compensation to Victims in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, DNA Searching, Forced separation, 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, Reparation in Adoption, Return to Birth Country, Rights in Adoption, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, UN Joint Statement Illegal AdoptionLeave a comment

ICAV presents to UNCRC on 18May24 for purposes of drafting the General Comment on Access to Justice and Remedies as children with violated childhoods and identities.

Romania from the lens of a returning adoptee

On By lynellelongIn Adoptee Artists, Adoptee Artwork, Belgium, Complexities in Adoption, Importance of Connections to Origins, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Return to Birth Country, Romania, Sense of BelongingLeave a comment

Céline Lăcrămioara, born in Romania and adopted to Belgium, returns as a professional photographer, capturing her birth country and people in these portfolios.

Monologue performances showcasing the complex lived experience of adoption

On By lynellelongIn Adjustment and Transition, Adoptee Artists, Adoptee Artwork, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Education for Professionals, Colombia, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Grief and Loss, Importance of Connections to Origins, Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Racial Mirrors, Sense of Belonging, The Netherlands, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Performances by José Montoya: one on Grief the other a biographic portrayal of his life, adopted from Colombia to the Netherlands and the complexities within.

Afrocentric

On By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee Artists, Adoptee Artwork, Adoptees Educate, Australia, Complexities in Adoption, Haiti, Importance of Connections to Origins, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Origins Search, Racial Mirrors, Return to Birth Country, Sense of Belonging, Transracial AdoptionLeave a comment

Ebony Hickey, a Haitian Australian intercountry adoptee performed in Afrocentric at the Victorian Gallery of Victoria. We share her voice performance and photos

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.

Identifying with our Genetic Mirrors

On By lynellelongIn Adoptees Educate, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, Australia, Brazil, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Grief and Loss, Importance of Connections to Origins, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Racial Mirrors, Sense of BelongingLeave a comment

Ben shares on the importance of genetic mirrors as an intercountry adoptee and coming to terms with being adopted in our video series to educate about adoption.

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.

Embracing Therapy as an Adoptee

On By Guest BloggerIn Adoptees Educate, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, Complexities in Adoption, Grief and Loss, Importance of Connections to Origins, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Russia, Sense of Belonging, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, USALeave a comment

Oleg shares the journey from being ashamed of needing therapy to fully embracing and recognising the benefits it added to his life as an intercountry adoptee.

Adoptee Fear and Vulnerability

On By Guest BloggerIn Abandonment and Rejection, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, Complexities in Adoption, Grief and Loss, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Not Knowing in Adoption, Russia, Sense of Belonging, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, USALeave a comment

Oleg shares on the fear and vulnerability so many adoptees live and being brave to open up and trust his adoptive mother to understand and support his journey.

Search and Reunion in Intercountry Adoption

On By lynellelongIn Adoptee Search Service Orgs, Adoptee support provided by adoptees, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, Adoptive Country, Birth Country, Birth Parents Searching, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, DNA Searching, Importance of Connections to Origins, Key Themes in Search and Reunion, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Not Knowing in Adoption, Not ready for Reunion, Origins Search, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Lynelle provides a summary of ICAVs 2016 Perspective Paper: Search & Reunion - Impacts & Outcomes

The Trauma Inherent in Relinquishment and Adoption

On By lynellelongIn Abandonment and Rejection, Adjustment and Transition, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Attachment, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Gratitude in Adoption, Grief and Loss, 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, Return to Birth Country, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Lynelle's recent Podcast interview with Doc Shauna Springer on the trauma inherent in adoption.

Lived Experience of Racism in Transracial Intercountry Adoption

On By lynellelongIn Adjustment and Transition, Adoptee support provided by adoptees, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, Adoptive Country, Antiracism Education, Beauty in Diversity, Birth Country, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Diversity in Adoption, Gratitude in 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, Racial Mirrors, Racism in Adoption, Rights in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption1 Comment

ICAVs panel webinar on the Lived Experience of Racism in Transracial Intercountry Adoption.

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.

Gabby Malpas on Racism

On By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee Artists, Adoptee Artwork, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, China, colourblindness in adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, New Zealand, Politics of Adoption, Racial Mirrors, Racism in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Suicide, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Gabby shares with adoptive parents about racism as part of ICAVs submission to the Australian Human Rights Commission's National Anti-Racism Framework consult.

Racism in Intercountry Adoption

On By lynellelongIn Adoptees Educate, Adoption Agencies, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, Adoptive Country, Antiracism Education, Birth Country, colourblindness in adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Importance of Connections to Origins, Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Origins Search, Politics of Adoption, Racial Mirrors, Racism in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Suicide, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

ICAV brings you our newest Perspective Paper on Racism, our lived experience as intercountry and transracial adoptees.

Participating in The Colour of Difference: Long Term Outcomes

On By lynellelongIn Abandonment and Rejection, Abuse in Adoption, Adjustment and Transition, Adoptee Anger, Adoptee Artists, Adoptee Birthdays, Adoptee support provided by adoptees, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Attachment, Adoption Book, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, Australia, Birth Country, Complexities in Adoption, Diversity in Adoption, Eating Disorder and Adoption, Gratitude in Adoption, Grief and Loss, ICAV Beginnings, Importance of Connections to Origins, Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Not Knowing in Adoption, Older Age Adoptions, Origins Search, Racial Mirrors, Racism in Adoption, Return to Birth Country, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Suicide, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Lynelle shares how participating in PARCs book project to produce The Colour of Difference changed her life and began the adoptee network InterCountry Adoptee Voices.

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

My Adoption Day Is An Anniversary of Loss

On By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee vulnerability, Adoption Attachment, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Forced separation, Grief and Loss, Importance of Connections to Origins, Is adoption the best option, Korea, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Sense of Belonging, South Korea, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, USALeave a comment

Mary shares how Adoption Day anniversary can trigger feelings of grief and loss that pervade her life; coming to terms with it, making the most of life now.