Federal Legislation Can Remove Adoption Barriers In The USA

Source: http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/4040438

By Jeff Katz

In November of 1995, President Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton hosted an event to honor National Adoption month. The most powerful moment came when a teenage girl from Oklahoma read a gut-wrenching poem about her desire to be part of a family. That speech so moved Hillary Clinton that she and the President launched an initiative designed to double the number of children adopted from foster care each year. In 1997, President Clinton signed the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 into law. Among its central provisions, the law set time limits on how long a child could wait in foster care before a state was required to move towards adoption and established financial incentives for states to move children from foster care to adoption. And it worked. Within three years, the number of children adopted from foster care in the United States doubled, from 25,000 children each year to 50,000 children each year.

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Secretary Clinton Delivers Remarks in Honor of National Adoption Month at the USCIS Citizenship Ceremony for Internationally Adopted Children

It's immensely encouraging to read Secretary Clinton's remarks on Adoption Month.  This is VERY exciting and heartening!!

"...And I want to thank USCIS for – I want to thank you for partnering with this effort. We want to make sure that governments around the world play by the same set of rules when it comes to intercountry adoption, putting the health and welfare of children first.

And as we mark National Adoption Month, that’s what our embassies will be emphasizing. Because we think of intercountry adoption is an important matter of foreign policy. It provides the opportunity for loving parents to offer a permanent home and a family for children who need that. And it deepens and enriches our culture and builds on one of America’s greatest strengths, our diversity So this is a special time to welcome new members to the American family..."

Watch Secretary Clinton's speech in honor of National Adoption Month.

Lost Passport Nearly Stops Family From Adopting Ukraine Teen

Hopscotch Adoptions and Angels Haven Outreach extend our immense gratitude to Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton and Philadelphia Representative, Bob Brady, for their heroic effort in helping our mutual client family to carry on after losing passports!  Thank YOU!!!!

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