Adoption Ethics and Accountability Conference

October 15 - 16, 2007 Conference Highlights & Meet the Bloggers Update Reserve Hotel Now - Discounts end Sept 14th! Ethics Conference Draws Prominent Speakers, Presenters and Attendees from Around the World NEW YORK, Sept. 7, 2007 - The Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute and Ethica, Inc. are delighted to announce today that nearly 200 adoption experts, researchers, mental-health professionals, practitioners, triad members, media representatives, and policy and practice professionals from around the U.S. and internationally will participate in the upcoming conference, Adoption Ethics & Accountability: Getting it Right Makes a Lifetime of Difference." Both national and international registrations have been received. This timely, important event takes place Oct. 15-16 at the Marriott Crystal Gateway Hotel in Arlington, Va., outside Washington, D.C. Space is limited, so we strongly urge anyone who has not yet registered to do so on the conference website, www.ethicsconference.net. Updated information about speakers, CEU's, travel and hotel arrangements, and other materials are also available on the site. The event will offer a unique opportunity for anyone with a professional or personal interest in adoption (international or domestic) and foster care to increase their knowledge about the vital issues affecting children and agencies -- and the professionals who serve them. And it will offer an even more-rare opportunity, too: to provide input that will help shape real, positive change. This is the second national ethics conference sponsored by the Adoption Institute; the first took place in 1999, and its impact is still being felt. Conference Highlights: Keynote Addresses and Speakers Madelyn Freundlich, who will open the conference on Monday morning, is one of the most highly respected researchers, trainers, authors and speakers in the field. Freundlich, who is a Senior Research Fellow of the Adoption Institute, has more than 15 years of experience in child welfare practice, program development and implementation, policy and research. She has written extensively on child welfare issues in books and professional periodicals, and has given scores of trainings, workshops and other presentations across the United States and in other countries. Freundlich formerly served as General Counsel and Director of Child Welfare Services for the Child Welfare League of America, Associate Director of Planning for the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, Executive Director for the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, and Policy Director for Children's Rights Inc. In all these capacities, she worked with public and private child welfare agencies and child welfare organizations nationwide, providing consultation and training as well as developing practice, program, policy and research initiatives that have gained wide recognition. Freundlich holds master's degrees in social work and public health, as well as two degrees in law. Adam Pertman is Executive Director of the Adoption Institute, Associate Editor of Adoption Quarterly (the premier research journal in its field) and author of Adoption Nation: How the Adoption Revolution is Transforming America (which has been reviewed as "the most important book ever written on the subject"). Pertman, a former journalist who was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for his writing about adoption, is also the author of many additional commentaries, book chapters and articles in books, scholarly journals and mass-market publications. He has given hundreds of keynotes, trainings and presentations in the U.S. and abroad, is widely quoted in the media, and has appeared on programs including "Oprah," the "Today" show, and "Nightline." His honors include an Angel in Adoption Award from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, a Special Friend of Children Award from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; the President's Award from the African American Cultural Council of Virginia; and the Dave Thomas Center for Adoption Law's first award for "the nation's greatest contributor to public understanding about adoption and permanency placement issues." Linh Song,the Executive Director of Ethica, Inc., will round out the first morning's speakers. Song, an articulate advocate for ethical policies and practices, comes from a background in social work and nonprofit administration within the Vietnamese- American and adoption communities. Most recently, she founded and served as executive director of the Mam Non Organization, a group providing post-adoption support for families that have adopted Vietnamese children. She holds a B.A. and M.S.W. from the University of Michigan, and is a Rockefeller Fellow at the JoinerCenter for War and Social Consequences. Her career has been dedicated to social justice issues such as equal access to health care for underprivileged minorities at the University of Michigan School of Nursing Healthy Asian Americans Project, humanitarian work in Vietnam, research on the experiences of Vietnamese birthmothers, and the fostering of positive racial identities and cultural awareness within the transracial adoption community. Barbara A. Holtan, who will provide a keynote address during the lunch on October 16th, is a highly sought-after speaker, trainer and expert who has worked professionally in the field of adoption since 1980. Holtan, MA, MSW, has worked as an adoption caseworker, program director, and Executive Director at a private agency working exclusively to find families for children with special needs. In 2002, she assumed the role of AdoptUsKids Project Director of the Adoption Exchange Association, the organization directing the Collaboration to AdoptUSKids, a multi-faceted, five-year initiative of the Children's Bureau. She is an international trainer on adoption and child welfare issues and has been quoted extensively in print and broadcast media. Holtan is the recipient of numerous professional honors, including the Adoption Activist Award from the North American Council on Adoptable Children, and a Department of Health & Human Services Adoption Excellence Award. She and her husband are the parents of five children, three of whom joined the family by adoption and two by birth. Regina Reeves-Solomon, who will also address participants during the lunch presentation on October 16th, is a mother who is currently involved in custody proceedings for her son. Since 2004, Solomon has fought for the right to raise her child, raising issues regarding the irregular processes of the initial "entrustment agreement." She uses her case to illustrate the loopholes and practices that can result in de facto adoptions. In an unprecedented decision, a California judge ordered joint custody between Solomon and the son's adoptive parents. Solomon moved to Johnson City, TN, in 2005, by order of the court, to have access to her child. She lives and works there as a high school math teacher. Meet the Bloggers NOTE FROM CLAUD: Here's where it gets interesting!! During the Reception on Monday evening, October 15th, you will have the opportunity to "Meet the Bloggers". The bloggers will also cover the conference on their blogs, sharing observations and interviews with the online community. Be sure to check out their sites before, during, and after the conference. So what is a blog and who are bloggers? A blog is a form of internet social networking, i.e., a digital community. Blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject such as food, politics, or local news; some function as more personal online diaries . A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media related to its topic. The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs. Okay, so what do blogs have to do with a conference addressing ethical issues in adoption? Blogging is a popular and increasingly important way of building communities online, mobilizing for action, educating readers about issues,initiating grassroots policy, overcoming geographic boundaries, etc. If you've read an adoption related blog, you may wonder who the person behind the text may be. No more guessing! In this casual session we have an exciting opportunity for conference attendees to meet bloggers who are making waves in the adoption community. The blogosphere has become the new platform for adoption activists and a way to inform the community, allowing triad members and professionals to organize and build upon the adoption experience. Join us as we meet the people behind the blogs and learn how they've revitalized the community. David Kruchkow: www.adoptionagencychecklist.com David's website paved the way for bloggers seeking information on how to assess adoption agencies and avoid adoption fraud. His personal experience, subsequent community organizing, and continued advocacy for transparency brings thousands of visitors to his website. Desiree and David Smolin: http://www.fleasbiting.blogspot.com, The Smolin family's blog details adoption fraud, corruption, and other unethical practices and has proven to be a vital resource for prospective adoptive families. A critical voice, the blog advocates that there is no room for injustice in international adoption. Jennifer Hemsley: http://chew.typepad.com/ Jennifer is an adoptive mother with a painful experience of attempting to adopt a child from China. Her story has motivated her to inform the community of the intricacies and possible pitfalls in international adoption. Elizabeth Case: http://www.bewareofbbas.org/ Elizabeth's site pre-dated blogs but inspired other families to share their experiences with adoption fraud as well as help families navigate the structure of international adoption. Margie Perscheid: thirdmom.blogspot.com/ Margie's blog chronicles her experience as an adoptive Mother to two Korean children as well as her insights to the adoption process, how it has changed, and what the future holds for the community. YEAH MARGIE!!!! Claudia Corrigan D'Arcy: http://musingsofthelame .blogspot.com/ HOLY HEADLINER, BATMAN! That's ME!!!! Claudia is a domestic first mother who has lent her writing and community organization talents to her blog as well as Origins USA. She has rallied the triad against injustices against vulnerable parents as well as covered issues on open records and informed consent. OMG. Man, I thought there would be a crapload of us. I really did..and I sure as hell did not expect to be sent out like its a DRAW to come to this thing..and man, I sure don't feel like I have a right to hang out with all these big names..on the same page no less! Geez, there is only SIX of us!! Thank goodess Margie will be there! But the cool thing is..we get wireless internet access, and can cover the conference...which of course you all know I suck at. I never remember to take pictures of stuff. But there are perks....besides being kinda scared out of my pants. I guess in this chapter of my life we call it Mrs. D'Arcy goes to Washington?