2008 - A Year in Review

April 1, 2008, new safeguards came in to effect by the USCIS under the Hague that will include 2 new forms and a centralized examination process for intercountry adoption.

The Malawian High Court found that it was in David Banda's best interest to remain with Madonna and family.

The Department of State advised prospective adoptive parents not to initiate an adoption with Guatemala. Guatemala did sign the Hague Convention on Adoption in March 2003, but has not implemented the Hague guidelines. Many prospective adoptive parents were caught in the middle of their adoptions and many continue to wait to bring their little ones home.

The New York Times published an article that Oklahoma boasts one of the worst records for children enduring abuse within foster and group homes. Many readers had passionate responses regarding this story, some standing by their state, others not so much.

An article by Patrick R. Brannigan, State's adoption law protects privacy of birth mothers, too, took a strong stance of privacy or closed adoption records, quoting research from 1977! Again, About Adoption & Foster Care readers had some comments.