Wednesday, September 21, 2011

3 Priceless Reasons for Tracing a Birth parent or family

1.       Help a child understand why his mother chose to abandon him
Even though most children who are abandoned are adopted while they are still babies, the fact that they were abandoned creates many questions as they grow up. It is not unusual to attribute something negative about themselves and claim that is why their birth mother abandoned them.   In most cases, a mother in Ethiopia chooses to abandon a baby because of lack of knowledge that she can relinquish her child or because she was unable to. Finding a birth mother will help answer these questions to an adopted child.

2.       Family history
Once a child grows up he starts to realize he has a birth family far away. Ancestral history is something children love to hear about and cherish. Fining birth families and learning about his extended family, grandparents, and culture and family traditions helps an adopted child with his or her self esteem.  Knowing your adopted family will not only enrich him but the adoptive family as a whole.

3.       Medical History
Family medical history is important in knowing and preventing some medical problems.  Finding a birth family will help answer some questions about any medical problems an adopted child may be predisposed to.

would you like EthioStork to help you trace a birth family? Contact us at info@ethiostork.org



Thursday, September 8, 2011

Three Web Seminars Scheduled for September!




    “Kids can’t go forward without a past!”
                                                    --Jean MacLeod

Studies show that children adopted by parents of different race can have identity issues that need to be addressed. One of them is a shame based identity that stems from their mixed emotions about their ethnicity, race or birth country.

As an Adoption Professional and Ethiopian, Duni Zenaye addresses questions adoptive parents have but are afraid to ask. This seminar educates families about culture and race as well as shows them how to help children build healthy self esteems while instilling a sense of pride about who they are.

Some of the few things addressed at the seminar are:


Identity

Race

Culture

Language  
                                         
Travel

Post Placement

Do’s and Don’ts while in Ethiopia
Overview of the adoption process
What to expect...and not expect
 Doing your part to ensure your adoption goes smoothly
Three web seminars being held in September
Wednesday, September 14th 9:00-10:30AM (EST)
Saturday, September 17th 9:00-10:30 AM (EST)
Monday, September 19th 3:00-5:30 PM (EST)

RSVP
seminars@ethiostork.org

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Services Offered by EthioStork


1.       Ethiopian Culture and Adoption Webinar
Recommended for families currently in the process of adoption or considering adoption these web seminars provide resources to equip you in the adoption of your Ethiopian child.  We give web seminars covering
*Ethiopian Culture and History,
*Ethiopian Adoption laws and current issues.
*What to expect, how to tell if anything in your adoption is of concern or outside the normal time
*Equipping yourself to ensure your agency is doing its due diligence.
 Sign up for the next web seminar seminars@ethiostork.org

2.       International Document Consultation
So you just received your referral! This is  one of the most exciting milestones in your adoption process. It also means in the midst of all the excitement you have to review and understand all the social and medical documents in the referral packet.  It is recommended that you send your referred child’s medical information to an International pediatrician to make sure you know all there is to know about your child’s medical condition. Have you ever considered having your child's official social profile reviewed by a professional? You should! This helps you avoid any delays or heartaches at the final stages of your adoption. You want your new child home with no unnecessary delays.
Have an international adoption document specialist review  your child’s social document to ensure everything is in order for court and embassy.  This will help you be your own advocate and hold your agency accountable to do all things necessary to complete or correct any errors. Most importantly, it will help you determine if you are adopting a true orphan who needs a loving home.
 

3.       Over the phone translation services
The first few months your adopted child is home will be stressful as your child transitions into his or her new life. The language barrier can add additional stress and confusion as you try to communicate with each other.  While it is true that an adopted child will soon be able to tell you in  English what she wants, it may be necessary to have someone translate for you. The older your child is, the more important it is to know what she is trying to tell you about her past or something important that she can’t articulate in English just yet.   We will personally work with you to set up time that works for you to help you and your child communicate better. This is not simply translation but also help you and your older child foster a healthy relationship.
4.       Birthparent/history Tracing
We have highly specialized staff in Ethiopia who can help trace your Child’s birth history.  As adopted children grow they start to ask about their birth parents. We help families trace parents and history of their adopted child who was abandoned or relinquished with little known family history. Contact us at info@ethiostork.org

5.       Travel and In country Accommodations
We work with reputable travel guides, transportation providers and guesthouses that cater to adoptive families.  Our staff know everything from where you need to go to complete your adoption, the best place to shop to the best clinic to go to incase you or your child gets sick.  Contact us and arrange your travel to Ethiopia through us. travel@ethiostork.org