What happens after an adoption investigation?

On July 2, 2025July 1, 2025 By Guest BloggerIn Abandonment and Rejection, Adoptee Anger, Adoptee Artists, Adoptee Artwork, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoption Book, adoption reform, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, denial gaslighting minimisation by others, Difficult discussions in adoption, Grief and Loss, Illegal Adoption, Illicit Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, intercountry adoption investigation, Korea, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Origins Search, Politics of Adoption, Reparation in Adoption, South Korea, Suicide, Survival mechanisms, Sweden, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, Truth and Reconciliation Commission TRC, What is an Illegal and Illicit Adoption?Leave a comment

Lisa shares about the challenges and realities adoptees face after national adoption inquiries and public debates becoming toxic.

Inner tension for adoptees

On June 16, 2025June 17, 2025 By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, Complexities in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Importance of Connections to Origins, Indonesia, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Post Adoption Support, Sense of Belonging, Survival mechanisms, The Netherlands, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Hartini discusses the growth in awareness adoptees navigate as they understand their lost origins and the adaptations learned for survival in adopted world.

What rights should intercountry adoptees have?

On May 30, 2025June 17, 2025 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

What I’ve missed out on in being adopted internationally

On May 22, 2025May 22, 2025 By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee vulnerability, Australia, colourblindness in adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Grief and Loss, Importance of Connections to Origins, incarcerated adoptee, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Post Adoption Support, Racial Mirrors, Racism in Adoption, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Sri Lanka, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Jonti shares his journey of exploring what his losses have been in being intercountry transracially adopted from Sri Lanka to Australia.

Racial Abuse & Hatred

On April 2, 2025May 2, 2025 By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee Anger, adoptee in prison, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, Adoptive parents, Alcohol and drug addiction, Antiracism Education, Australia, colourblindness in adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Diversity in Adoption, Importance of Connections to Origins, incarcerated adoptee, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Not Knowing in Adoption, Peer Support, Politics of Adoption, Post Adoption Support, Racial Mirrors, Racism in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Sri Lanka, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Jonti, adopted from Sri Lanka to Australia shares about racial hatred and abuse and how it impacts.

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

On April 1, 2025March 31, 2025 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.

Korea’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission Initial Outcome

On March 29, 2025March 29, 2025 By lynellelongIn 1993 Hague Convention, Adoptee Activism, adoption reform, Adoptive Country, Adoptive parents, Adoptive parents silence on illegal adoptions, Birth Country, Compensation to Victims in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Illegal Adoption, Illicit Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, Importance of Connections to Origins, Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Politics of Adoption, Post Adoption Support, Reparation in Adoption, Rights in Adoption, Search and Reunion in Adoption, South Korea, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, Truth and Reconciliation Commission TRC, UN Joint Statement Illegal Adoption, What is an Illegal and Illicit Adoption?Leave a comment

Lynelle discusses the importance of the Korean TRC initial findings to the intercountry adoptee community.

The importance of engaging adoptees in the design and ownership of post adoption support services

On March 19, 2025March 17, 2025 By lynellelongIn Adoptees Educate, Adoption Agencies, Adoption Education for Professionals, Australia, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Lived experience leadership, New Zealand, Post Adoption Support, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Transracial AdoptionLeave a comment

Lynelle shares on the importance of engaging adoptees in the design and ownership of post adoption support services, presented at the Hague forum in Nov 2024

What I’ve learnt providing Peer Support

On March 12, 2025March 4, 2025 By lynellelongIn Adoptee support provided by adoptees, Adoptees Educate, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Lived experience leadership, Peer Support, Post Adoption Support, Sense of Belonging, Transracial AdoptionLeave a comment

Lynelle shares some thoughts about peer support to fellow intercountry adoptees, based on a presentation to the Hague post adoption forum in Nov 2024.

The demand for adoptee peer support is strong

On March 5, 2025March 4, 2025 By lynellelongIn Adoptee support provided by adoptees, Adoptee vulnerability, Difficult discussions in adoption, Importance of Connections to Origins, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Lived experience leadership, Peer Support, Post Adoption Support, Sense of Belonging, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Lynelle shares about the global demand of peer support for intercountry adoptees, recognising the wealth of expertise within the community.

Letter to Adoptee Youth

On February 9, 2025February 9, 2025 By Guest BloggerIn Abandonment and Rejection, Adoptee Anger, adoptee in prison, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Education for Professionals, Australia, colourblindness in adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Importance of Connections to Origins, incarcerated adoptee, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Peer Support, Post Adoption Support, Racial Mirrors, Racism in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Sri Lanka, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Jonti reflects, looking back over what has shaped his life as an adoptee and how he's ended up incarcerated, in prison, for a serious crime.

The most invisible adoptees

On February 8, 2025February 9, 2025 By lynellelongIn Abandonment and Rejection, Adoptee Anger, adoptee in prison, Adoptee vulnerability, Alcohol and drug addiction, Australia, Citizenship in Adoption, colourblindness in adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Deportation of Adoptees, Difficult discussions in adoption, Exploring adoptive parent journey, Generational trauma, Importance of Connections to Origins, incarcerated adoptee, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Politics of Adoption, Post Adoption Support, Racism in Adoption, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Sri Lanka, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Lynelle raises awareness of those intercountry adoptees who are incarcerated, an unheard voice.

Why I am relieved that China terminated its adoption program

On January 31, 2025January 31, 2025 By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee vulnerability, adoption reform, Adoption Research, Birth Parents Searching, China, China, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Generational trauma, Grief and Loss, 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, Rights in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, The Netherlands, Transracial Adoption, Uncategorized1 Comment

Cindy shares her thoughts as a Chinese adoptee about the closure of China's intercountry adoption program announced late 2024.

New Motherhood Journey

On January 24, 2025December 30, 2024 By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees as parents, Adoption Attachment, Belgium, Complexities in Adoption, Grief and Loss, Importance of Connections to Origins, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Motherloss, Not Knowing in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Transracial Adoption, VietnamLeave a comment

Mai Linh shares her thoughts since becoming a new mother as a Vietnamese adoptee.

Black Lotus

On January 17, 2025December 30, 2024 By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee Anger, Adoptee Artists, Adoptee Artwork, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoption Attachment, Alternate therapies in adoption, Art therapy, Complexities in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Generational trauma, Germany, Grief and Loss, Importance of Connections to Origins, Korea, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Sense of BelongingLeave a comment

Jonas Haid shares his artwork Black Lotus created and inspired by his own story of adoption from Sth Korea to Germany.

Diagnosis

On January 10, 2025December 30, 2024 By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee Artists, Adoptee Artwork, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, Complexities in Adoption, Generational trauma, Germany, Grief and Loss, Importance of Connections to Origins, Korea, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Not Knowing in Adoption, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Jonas Haid shares his latest artwork Diagnosis that helps him see himself and the complex impacts of adoption.

Birthday’s after Reunion

On January 3, 2025December 30, 2024 By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee Artists, Adoptee Birthdays, Adoptee vulnerability, Belgium, Birth family trauma, Complexities in Adoption, Generational trauma, Grief and Loss, Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Origins Search, Romania, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Céline share the complications of birthdays after reunion with her Romanian mother.

Thoughts from Into the Fire: The Lost Daughter

On December 28, 2024December 27, 2024 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.

Silent Night, Romanian Musings

On December 25, 2024December 25, 2024 By Guest BloggerIn Adoptive Country, Birth Country, Complexities in Adoption, Germany, Importance of Connections to Origins, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, New Zealand, Origins Search, Poetry by Adoptees, Politics of Adoption, Return to Birth Country, Romania, Sense of Belonging, Transracial AdoptionLeave a comment

Alex Kuch visits his birth country Romania and shares a poem inspired by this trip.

Addressing Sexual Abuse in Intercountry Adoption

On November 18, 2024January 19, 2026 By lynellelongIn Abuse in Adoption, Adoptee Anger, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Agencies, Adoption Discharge Annulment, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, adoption reform, Adoption Research, Adoptive parents, Alternatives to Adoption, Australia, Canada, China, Colombia, Compensation to Victims in Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Ecuador, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Gratitude in Adoption, Is adoption the best option, Korea, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Philippines, Politics of Adoption, Post Adoption Support, Puerto Rico, Racism in Adoption, Religion and Adoption, Rights in Adoption, Romania, Russia, Sense of Belonging, Sexual Abuse in Adoption, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Suicide, Taiwan, The Netherlands, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, USA, VietnamLeave a comment

ICAVs newest Perspective Paper on Sexual Abuse experiences of intercountry adoptees helping to elevate their voices and advocate for much needed supports.

Celebrate the small victories

On October 30, 2024October 30, 2024 By lynellelongIn 1993 Hague Convention, Abuse in Adoption, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoption Discharge Annulment, Adoptive parents, Australia, Compensation to Victims in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Illegal Adoption, Illicit Adoption, Importance of Connections to Origins, Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Politics of Adoption, Post Adoption Support, Rights in Adoption, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, VietnamLeave a comment

Lynelle shares about the apology received from the Australian Home Affairs Department for their role in her sexual abuse, in failing to protect her as a vulnerable child entering Australia.

Adopted from Moldova

On October 16, 2024October 15, 2024 By Guest BloggerIn Abuse in Adoption, Adjustment and Transition, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoption and Disability, Alcohol and drug addiction, Complexities in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Diversity in Adoption, Grief and Loss, Importance of Connections to Origins, Is adoption the best option, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Maldova, Origins Search, Sense of Belonging, Special Medical Conditions, Suicide, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, USALeave a comment

Jacky shares about growing up with fragmented memories of their birth country Moldova and adjustments to fit in with life and family in the USA.

What do I want from my adoptive parents?

On October 3, 2024October 4, 2024 By lynellelongIn 1993 Hague Convention, Adoptee Activism, Adoptee Anger, Adoptee support provided by adoptees, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Agencies, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, adoption reform, Adoptive parents, Adoptive parents silence on illegal adoptions, Australia, Belgium, China, China, Compensation to Victims in Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Denmark, Difficult discussions in adoption, France, Illegal Adoption, Illicit Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, India, Is adoption the best option, Italy, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Norway, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Politics of Adoption, Post Adoption Support, Reparation in Adoption, Rights in Adoption, Search and Reunion in Adoption, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, UN Joint Statement Illegal Adoption, Uncategorized, USALeave a comment

Lynelle shares what she would have wanted from her adoptive parents in response to the fraud and human rights abuses in her adoption.

Mother Milk

On September 28, 2024September 27, 2024 By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee Artists, Adoptee Artwork, Adoptee vulnerability, Complexities in Adoption, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Motherloss, Origins Search, Philippines, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, USALeave a comment

Sam Roxas-Chua shares artwork and writing relating to themes and topics that arise as a transracial adoptee born in the Philippines adopted to US parents.