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May Is National Foster Care Month National Council For Adoption Teams with Wal-Mart and Rodney Atkins to Inspire Better Care for Children in Foster Care Alexandria, VA – May is National Foster Care Month, and the National Council For Adoption (NCFA) and Wal-Mart are jointly launching the Families For All public awareness campaign to inspire American families to consider what they can do to help children in foster care. Today there are more than a half-million children in foster care in the United States who need a safe and loving home, including 129,000 children who are waiting to be adopted. The Families For All public awareness program is designed to help Americans realize that these children need and deserve a family to call their own and that everyone can play a role in making that happen. “There are 55-million married couple households, and millions of qualified single adults who could provide loving families for these vulnerable children,” said Tom Atwood, NCFA President and CEO. “We want to take advantage of National Foster Care Month to remind them that there is no better time than now to adopt, foster-parent, or mentor a child in foster care.” Wal-Mart is supporting NCFA in launching the Families For All public awareness campaign with a generous donation of $75,000. The funds will be used for public service announcements, the development of a Web site, and a virtual radio and television news tour by NCFA National Adoption Spokesperson and award-winning country music recording artist Rodney Atkins. “Wal-Mart is excited to partner with Rodney Atkins and the National Council For Adoption to inspire Americans to help these children in need,” said Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, Wal-Mart’s Senior Vice President and Tax Counsel. “We believe that there is enough love in America to provide families for all these children.” Ms. Babineaux-Fontenot’s hope is based on personal experience. Her parents Warren and Mary Alice Babineaux foster-parented more than 100 children and adopted four of them. The Babineauxs were recently inducted into NCFA’s Adoption Hall of Fame and the subjects of a NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams “Making a Difference” segment. “Wal-Mart is providing crucial support that will help the National Council For Adoption encourage better care for children in foster homes. NCFA deeply appreciates Wal-Mart’s generous efforts to assist some of society’s most vulnerable members,” Atwood concluded. # Rodney Atkins Performs at NCFA's Adoption Hall of Fame 28th Anniversary Awards Celebration!
On Wednesday, April 16, the National Council For Adoption hosted its Adoption Hall of Fame 28th Anniversary Awards Celebration. This year’s event was held at The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia from 6:00 pm -10:00 pm and featured NCFA’s National Adoption Spokesperson, country music artist Rodney Atkins, winner of the 2007 Academy of Country Music's "Top New Male Vocalist” Award. Recently, Rodney was nominated for 6 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards: Top Male Vocalist, Album of the Year (as an artist and producer), Song of the Year “Watching You” (as an artist and as a writer), and Video of the Year “Watching You”. In addition to Rodney Atkins, Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, Senior Vice President, Chief Tax Officer for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. shared her personal experience growing up in a Louisiana home that welcomed and nurtured adopted, biological and foster children. Her parents, Warren and Mary Alice Babineaux, were inducted into the Adoption Hall of Fame for their role as model foster and adoptive parents. In addition to Warren and Mary Alice Babineaux, Debbie Wybrow and Brad Oliver were inducted into the Adoption Hall of Fame for their role as attorneys in a landmark pro-adoption decision by South Africa’s highest court. Guests wore blue jeans, boots, and cowboy hats, and all enjoyed a "down home" celebration of adoption! For a list of event sponsors and to view our favorite photos of the event, click here.
National Council For Adoption Launches National PSA Campaign To Educate Public About Adoption Television, Radio, and Print Public Service Announcements Direct Viewersto the New Educational Web Site iChooseAdoption.org March 10, 2008 – Alexandria, Virginia – “Sometimes choosing adoption is being a good mother.” This powerful message of hope is the focus of the National Council For Adoption’s new iChooseAdoption Public Awareness Campaign, created for women facing unintended pregnancies and all those who may lack sensitive, accurate information about adoption. “We want to increase public understanding and awareness of adoption and create a more pro-adoption culture, in which everyone, including women facing unplanned pregnancies, can consider adoption freely without fear, bias, or misunderstanding,” says Thomas Atwood, president and CEO of the National Council For Adoption (NCFA). “To do that we must promote a culture that respects and appreciates birthmothers, honors their decision-making process, and supports their choice of adoption.” NCFA has created several public service announcements, including a 30-second television spot, 30- and 60-second radio spots, and outdoor posters and billboards in a wide array of sizes. All of the iChooseAdoption PSAs feature a birthmother who made the difficult but loving decision to place her child for adoption. “This young woman represents the many thousands of women who might consider adoption, if only they knew more about this often overlooked choice,” says Atwood. The iChooseAdoption PSAs can be viewed at iChooseAdoption.org, NCFA’s new educational Web site developed to allow visitors to confidentially explore and learn about adoption. iChooseAdoption.org includes information and answers to “Frequently Asked Questions” about adoption, compelling birthmother testimonials, and numerous other resources for prospective birthparents. The iChooseAdoption PSA campaign and Web site is part of a national effort on behalf of the National Council For Adoption’s Infant Adoption Revival Project to increase adoption awareness and revive infant adoption. For more information about the PSA campaign, or to request an iChooseAdoption media kit or copies of individual PSAs, please contact NCFA at 1-866-21-ADOPT or media@ichooseadoption.org. To view the iChooseAdoption PSAs, click here. To support NCFA's Infant Adoption Revival Project, click here.
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# Department of State Announces Hague Convention Enters Into Force On April 1, 2008, the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (the Convention) enters into force for the United States. For more information, click here. # Department of State Reports Third Consecutive Decline in Intercountry Adoptions The U.S. State Department has released the official number of orphan visas processed in 2007. The new statistic marks the third consecutive decline in the number of annual intercountry adoptions. Click here to view the statistics. Click here to learn about NCFA's intercountry adoption educational program for prospective adoptive parents and adoption professionals, "The Intercountry Adoption Journey: Hague-Compliant Training from NCFA.
NCFA’s Vice President of Government Relations Testifies before the U.S. House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support to Highlight the Need for Federal Foster Care Reform On February 27, 2008, Pamela Davidson, NCFA’s vice president of government relations, testified before the U.S. House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support. The hearing entitled “Improving the Child Welfare System” focused on recently introduced legislative proposals designed to strengthen the child welfare system and improve the outcomes of children in foster care. Ms. Davidson pointed out the need for improving current federal child welfare policies to ensure that children and families receive the services they need to stay together. She further expressed the need to maintain the preference for adoption as a permanency option in any federal legislation considered by Congress. The legislation, as introduced, provides for federal funding to be used for subsidized guardianship as a permanency option for some children. Ms. Davidson’s testimony focused on the need to ensure that children’s interests in adoption remain paramount to all other permanency options. Click here to read Pamela Davidson’s full written testimony submitted to the U.S. House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support. Click here to read NCFA's Guarding Adoption while Subsidizing Guardianship.
Rodney Atkins' Fourth Hit From Single CD Tops Chart; Ties Country Music Industry Record NCFA National Adoption Spokesperson and country music artist Rodney Atkins topped Billboard Magazine’s Hot Country Singles chart two weeks in a row with his hit single “Cleaning This Gun.” With four number one hit songs from a single CD, including “If You’re Going Through Hell,” Rodney Atkins ties Curb Records label-mate Tim McGraw’s seven-year-old record. Rodney’s other number one hits include “Watching You” and “These Are My People”. Rodney has also been nominated for 6 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards: Top Male Vocalist, Album of the Year (as an artist and producer), Song of the Year “Watching You” (as an artist and as a writer), and Video of the Year “Watching You”. “We’re so proud of Rodney and his musical accomplishments, and we’re very excited to have him as our spokesperson this year,” said Tom Atwood, NCFA president and CEO. Congratulations, Rodney, from your number one fans at NCFA!
Alaska, Nebraska Become the 49th and 50th States to Enact Safe Haven Laws All Fifty States Now Offer Option of Confidential Safe Haven Relinquishment for the Protection of At-risk Infants February 20, 2008, Alexandria, VA – On January 19, the Alaska State Senate passed House Bill 29, also known as the Safe Haven for Infants Bill. The legislation allows for the safe surrender of infants under 21 days old at designated Safe Haven locations throughout the state. Alaska Governor Sarah Palin signed the bill on February 11. On February 7, the Nebraska legislature passed its own Safe Haven bill, LB 157, making it the fiftieth and final state to enact this important child welfare safeguard since Texas passed the nation’s first Safe Haven law in 1999. Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman signed the bill into law on February 13. "By offering the option of safe havens to desperate parents without fear of prosecution or loss of confidentiality, Safe Haven policies provide a safe, non-threatening alternative to illegal newborn abandonment or infanticide, allowing relinquished children to be adopted into loving, permanent families,” says Thomas Atwood, president and CEO of the National Council For Adoption and founding president of the National Safe Haven Alliance Board of Directors. It is estimated that more than 1,000 newborns have been placed safely under similar laws across the country, and this number includes only the documented cases in 33 states. The National Council For Adoption applauds Alaska and Nebraska for becoming the final two states to pass Safe Haven legislation for the protection of infants and their birthparents. Atwood continues, “This leaves only the District of Columbia without a Safe Haven law. Child welfare advocates must work diligently to educate policymakers in Washington, D.C. about the importance of Safe Haven policies.” For more information about Safe Haven laws, contact the National Safe Haven Alliance. Since the inception of Safe Haven laws in 1999, NCFA has spoken out in favor of these measures. With the recent addition of Alaska and Nebraska, all 50 states have enacted legislation that offers the option of safe havens to desperate parents without fear of prosecution or loss of confidentiality. Safe Haven policies provide a safe, non-threatening alternative to illegal newborn abandonment or infanticide, allowing relinquished children to be adopted into loving, permanent families. While no proponent of Safe Haven legislation has ever suggested that the policy would end infant abandonment and otherwise be a quick fix, it is indisputable that these laws are saving lives. Click here to read a New York Times article on safe havens.
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• NCFA Teams with Wal-Mart and Rodney Atkins to Inspire Better Care for Children in Foster Care • NCFA to Induct Five Adoption Heroes into Adoption Hall of Fame • NCFA Mourns the Passing of Noted Adoption Advocate, Senator Howard Metzenbaum • 3/10/08 - NCFA Launches National PSA Campaign To Educate Public About Adoption • NCFA’s Vice President of Government Relations Testifies before the U.S. House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support to Highlight the Need for Federal Foster Care Reform • NCFA Applauds the Introduction of the Birthparent Assistance Act of 2008 • Rodney Atkins' Fourth Hit From Single CD Tops Chart; Ties Country Music Industry Record • Alaska, Nebraska Enact Safe Haven Laws • 11/16/07 - Rodney Atkins Performs at White House Ceremony Celebrating National Adoption Month • 10/3/2007 - NCFA hosts Families for All National Parent Recruitment Summit President George W. Bush declares November National Adoption Month Congressional Leaders Urge Guatemalan President to Complete Pending Adoption Cases • Rodney Atkins Named National Adoption Celebrity Spokesperson • 9/27/2007 - Guatemala to cease U.S. adoptions • 9/27//2007 - NCFA applauds passage of Higher Education Amendment to benefit children adopted from foster care •9/21/2007 - NCFA president testifies before U.S. Commission on Civil Rights on the Multiethnic Placement Act •Adoption Factbook IV reports rise in domestic and intercountry adoptions, despite further decline in infant adoptions NCFA calls for greater flexibility for states in spending federal foster care dollars •REVIVING INFANT ADOPTION IN AMERICA • Council on Accreditation announces its 2007 Accreditation Training Schedule. (Click here for more information from COA) • 11/14/2006 - Atwood's Congressional Testimony: "Status of the U.S. Implementation of Hague Intercountry Adoptions" • NCFA Advocates Performance Measures for Juvenile and Family Courts as ‘Next Step in Foster Care Reform • NCFA Promotes Judicial Leadership to Ensure Sound Permanency Decisions For Children in Foster Care |
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NCFA celebrates Hague Adoption Convention ratification and urges continued vigilance to ensure that children in need of families have access to international adoption November 20, 2007 – The U.S. Department of State Office of Children’s Issues announced that on November 16 President Bush signed the U.S. instrument of ratification of the Hague Convention of 29 May 1993 on Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Intercountry Adoption. The United States will officially join the Hague Adoption Convention on December 12, 2007, and the convention is expected to enter into force in the U.S. on April 1, 2008. Thomas Atwood, president and CEO of the National Council For Adoption (NCFA), reiterated NCFA’s long-standing support for the Hague Convention. “NCFA celebrates this important milestone in the history of intercountry adoption.” As global ambassador for adoption, NCFA has been involved in developing and promoting the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption since its early drafting, in order to protect children, birthparents, and adoptive parents, while providing for intercountry adoption in the best interests of children. “We are pleased that President Bush has signed the convention and we congratulate the Department of State on this major achievement,” said Atwood. Atwood continued, “For the sake of orphaned children around the world, hopefully, we can now expect growth in international adoptions between the United States and other Hague countries that have been reluctant to work with America before we had fully ratified. Hopefully, too, other non-Hague countries will now join the convention.” A country of particular concern is Guatemala, which provided families for more than 4,000 children in 2006 through international adoption by Americans. Intense international pressure is currently being applied to Guatemala to come into full Hague compliance, including from the U.S. Department of State. “NCFA supports reforms to make Guatemala’s international adoption system Hague-compliant," said Atwood, "but cases in-process during the transition should be allowed to be completed. And ultimately the true measure of the reforms’ success will be that many thousands of Guatemalan children continue to have families through legitimate intercountry adoptions.” Click here to read the statement from the U.S. Department of State.
NCFA is proud to partner with the following organizations:
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