Category: Return to Birth Country

Child of their Time, Film Review

On By lynellelongIn Adoptee Anger, adoptee emotional burden, Adoptee vulnerability, adoption and silence, adoption conversations, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, Adoption questions, adoptive family dialogue, adoptive parent defensiveness, adoptive parent reflection, adoptive parent responsibility, Adoptive parents silence on illegal adoptions, Aloneness, Isolation, Complexities in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Finding biological mother, first family separation, Forced separation, Gratitude in Adoption, Grief and Loss, Importance of Connections to Origins, Indonesia, Intercultural struggles, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Motherloss, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Politics of Adoption, Racial Mirrors, Racism in Adoption, Return to Birth Country, Return to Birth Country, right to identity, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Survival mechanisms, The Netherlands, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Lynelle reviews Child of their Time, a documentary exploring estrangement, male adoptee voices, adoptive fathers, family pain, apology and the need for support.

Beyond Adoption: Human Rights, Family Separation and Accountability

On By lynellelongIn 1993 Hague Convention, Adoptee Activism, Adoptee vulnerability, adoption accountability, adoption and power imbalance, adoption and silence, adoption conversations, Adoption policy, Adoption questions, adoption reform, adoptive parent defensiveness, adoptive parent reflection, adoptive parent responsibility, Adoptive parents silence on illegal adoptions, Advocacy, Alternatives to Adoption, China, Citizenship in Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Family Preservation, Finding biological mother, first family separation, Forced separation, Generational trauma, Gratitude in Adoption, Grief and Loss, human rights abuses in adoption, identity restoration, Illegal Adoption, Illicit Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, Importance of Connections to Origins, intercountry adoption investigation, Is adoption the best option, legal identity erasure, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Politics of Adoption, Reparation in Adoption, reparative justice in adoption, Return to Birth Country, right to identity, Rights in Adoption, State responsibilities in adoption, Trauma in Adoption, Truth and Reconciliation Commission TRC, UN Joint Statement Illegal AdoptionLeave a comment

Lynelle calls for a new child and family rights system that preserves identity, family, culture, truth, belonging and accountability for all families.

Adoptee Suicidality and Living with the Exit Sign

On By Guest BloggerIn Abandonment and Rejection, Abuse in Adoption, Adjustment and Transition, Adoptee Anger, adoptee emotional burden, adoptee in prison, Adoptee Support, Adoptee vulnerability, adoption accountability, adoption and power imbalance, adoption and silence, Adoption Attachment, Adoption Conversations, adoption conversations, adoption estrangement, Adoption questions, adoptive family dialogue, Adoptive parents, Alcohol and drug addiction, colourblindness in adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, denial gaslighting minimisation by others, Difficult discussions in adoption, Finding biological mother, Generational trauma, Gratitude in Adoption, Grief and Loss, Importance of Connections to Origins, Intercultural struggles, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Peer Support, Peer support, Post Adoption Support, Racial Mirrors, Racism in Adoption, Return to Birth Country, right to identity, Rights in Adoption, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Suicide, Survival mechanisms, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

A personal reflection on adoptee suicidality, identity, abandonment and hope, exploring how adoption can shape mental health while choosing, each day, to stay.

Conversations Across Adoption – Part 6

On By lynellelongIn Adoptee Anger, adoptee emotional burden, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, adoption accountability, adoption and power imbalance, adoption and silence, Adoption Attachment, adoption conversations, Adoption Education for Professionals, adoption estrangement, Adoption policy, Adoption questions, adoption reform, adoptive family dialogue, adoptive parent defensiveness, adoptive parent reflection, adoptive parent responsibility, Advocacy, Alternatives to Adoption, Birth family trauma, Birth Parents Searching, Compensation to Victims in Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Family Preservation, Finding biological mother, First family responsibility, first family separation, Generational trauma, Gratitude in Adoption, Grief and Loss, human rights abuses in adoption, identity restoration, Illegal Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, Importance of Connections to Origins, Justice Routes, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Lived experience leadership, Motherloss, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Peer Support, Politics of Adoption, Post Adoption Support, 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, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, Truth and Reconciliation Commission TRCLeave a comment

Adoptee Lynelle and adoptive parent Kristin reflect on truth, accountability, grief, and whether honesty can create deeper connection within adoption.

Conversations Across Adoption – Part 5

On By lynellelongIn Adoptee Anger, adoptee emotional burden, Adoptee Support, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, adoption accountability, adoption conversations, Adoption questions, adoption reform, adoptive family dialogue, adoptive parent reflection, adoptive parent responsibility, Adoptive parents, Alternatives to Adoption, Birth mother choices, Birth Parents Searching, Compensation to Victims in Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Exploring adoptive parent journey, Finding biological mother, First family responsibility, first family separation, Forced separation, Generational trauma, Gratitude in Adoption, Grief and Loss, human rights abuses in adoption, identity restoration, Impacts to Biological Families, Importance of Connections to Origins, legal identity erasure, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Origins Search, Politics of Adoption, Post Adoption Costs, Post Adoption Support, Reparation in Adoption, Return to Birth Country, Return to Birth Country, reunion trauma, right to identity, Rights in Adoption, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, State responsibilities in adoption, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Adoptee Lynelle and adoptive parent Kristin reflect on reunion, first families, identity, grief, and the responsibilities created through adoption.

Conversations Across Adoption – Part 4

On By lynellelongIn Adoptee Anger, adoptee emotional burden, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, adoption and silence, adoption conversations, Adoption Conversations, Adoption questions, adoption reform, adoptive family dialogue, adoptive parent reflection, Adoptive parents, Citizenship in Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, DNA Searching, Finding biological mother, Generational trauma, Grief and Loss, identity restoration, Illegal Adoption, Illicit Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, Importance of Connections to Origins, intercountry adoption investigation, Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Not ready for Reunion, Origins Search, Politics of Adoption, Reparation in Adoption, Return to Birth Country, right to identity, Rights in Adoption, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, South Korea, State responsibilities in adoption, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Adoptee Lynelle and adoptive parent Kristin explore power, identity, records access, citizenship, reunion, and the lifelong impacts of adoption.

Growing Up Between Worlds as a Transracial Adoptee and Third Culture Kid

On By Guest BloggerIn Adjustment and Transition, Adoptees Educate, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Importance of Connections to Origins, Nepal, Origins Search, Politics of Adoption, Return to Birth Country, Third Culture Kid (TCK), Third Culture Kid Identity, Transracial Adoption, UK1 Comment

Rachel, a Nepalese transracial intercountry adoptee and Third Culture Kid reflects on race, belonging, identity, privilege, and growing up between cultures and worlds.

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.

Emaye Adoptees Home in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

On By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee Activism, Adoptee Support, Australia, Complexities in Adoption, Ethiopia, France, Importance of Connections to Origins, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Origins Search, Peer Support, Peer support, Post Adoption Support, Return to Birth Country, Return to Birth Country, Sense of Belonging, Therapy, Transracial AdoptionLeave a comment

Beti Skehill, Ethiopian adoptee raised in Australia, returns to her homeland and shares about the wonderful support from Emaye Adoptees Home.

Abandoned: its meaning and context

On By Guest BloggerIn Abandonment and Rejection, Adoptee Anger, Adoptee Names, Adoptee Search Service Orgs, Adoptee Support, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoption Agencies, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption questions, Birth family trauma, Birth mother choices, Birth Parents Searching, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, DNA Searching, Ethiopia, Exploring adoptive parent journey, Forced separation, Generational trauma, Grief and Loss, 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, Post Adoption Support, Return to Birth Country, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Survival mechanisms, Transracial Adoption, USALeave a comment

Andrea Kay helps us uncover the truth beyond the label 'abandoned' with DNA searching—bringing hope and rediscovery to Ethiopian adoptees and their families.

Grief, Loss and Finding My Way Back

On By Guest BloggerIn Adjustment and Transition, Adoptee Support, Adoptee vulnerability, Australia, Birth family trauma, Complexities in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Ethiopia, Grief and Loss, Importance of Connections to Origins, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Older Age Adoptions, Origins Search, Peer support, Return to Birth Country, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Meseret shares about the lifelong grief and loss associated with losing her Ethiopian family and being sent to Australia to start a new life.

What rights should intercountry adoptees have?

On By lynellelongIn 1993 Hague Convention, Adjustment and Transition, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Discharge Annulment, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, adoption reform, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Deportation of Adoptees, Difficult discussions in adoption, Forced separation, Generational trauma, Gratitude in Adoption, Hague Special Commission, Illegal Adoption, Illicit Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, Importance of Connections to Origins, Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Lived experience leadership, Multiple Identities, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Politics of Adoption, Post Adoption Support, Racial Mirrors, Racism in Adoption, Return to Birth Country, Rights in Adoption, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Sexual Abuse in Adoption, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Lynelle writes about the rights that are to be enshrined in law and practice to create a system that upholds justice, transparency and dignity for every adoptee

The need for a national investigation into the role of the Australian governments in our intercountry adoption history

On By lynellelongIn 1993 Hague Convention, Adoptee Activism, Adoption Agencies, adoption reform, Adoption Research, Adoptive parents, Adoptive parents silence on illegal adoptions, Australia, Birth family trauma, Chile, China, Compensation to Victims in Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, DNA Searching, Forced separation, Generational trauma, Grief and Loss, Illegal Adoption, Illicit Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, Importance of Connections to Origins, Is adoption the best option, Korea, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Origins Search, Philippines, Politics of Adoption, Post Adoption Support, Reparation in Adoption, Return to Birth Country, Rights in Adoption, Search and Reunion in Adoption, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, Truth and Reconciliation Commission TRC, Vietnam, What is an Illegal and Illicit Adoption?Leave a comment

Lynelle discusses why its time to investigate the past of Australia's intercountry adoptions and look into the role our governments have played.

Finding Home = Sense of Belonging

On By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, Birth Country, Complexities in Adoption, Grief and Loss, Importance of Connections to Origins, Korea, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Origins Search, Post Adoption Support, Return to Birth Country, Sense of Belonging, South Korea, The Netherlands, Transracial AdoptionLeave a comment

Sascha shares about her journey to find a sense of belonging as an adoptee from Sth Korea.

Returning Home to Greece

On By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee support provided by adoptees, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Book, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, Complexities in Adoption, Forced separation, Greece, Importance of Connections to Origins, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Peer Support, Return to Birth Country, Rights in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, USALeave a comment

Mary Cardaras shares her thoughts about returning to birth country Greece having been raised and adopted into the USA.

Tips and Suggestions for Returning to Birth Country

On By lynellelongIn Adoptees Educate, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, China, Colombia, Denmark, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Hong Kong, Importance of Connections to Origins, India, Iran, Korea, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, New Zealand, Norway, Origins Search, Peer Support, Return to Birth Country, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, The Netherlands, Transracial Adoption, UK, USA, VietnamLeave a comment

ICAVs newest Perspective Paper offering global tips and suggestions for those considering returning for the first time to their birth country.

Returning To Reclaim

On By Guest BloggerIn Adjustment and Transition, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, Complexities in Adoption, Ethiopia, Grief and Loss, Importance of Connections to Origins, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Peer Support, Racial Mirrors, Return to Birth Country, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Transracial Adoption, USALeave a comment

Marta shares the complexities of returning to Ethiopia, meeting bio family, and provides tips and suggestions for other adoptees who might be facing the same.

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.

Reflections on Returning Home Part 2

On By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee Activism, Adoptee support provided by adoptees, Adoptees Educate, China, China, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Diversity in Adoption, Importance of Connections to Origins, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Origins Search, Return to Birth Country, Sense of Belonging, Transracial Adoption, USALeave a comment

Emma shares her reflections as a Chinese intercountry adoptee having lived in China as a MSW student at NYU Shanghai.

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.