http://www.kirshadoptionblog.com en-us Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:08:28 -0800 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss I just met with a woman who is twenty years old, has three children, a 10th grade education, no job, and is living with her sister, who wants her to move out. Her three children are ages four, two, and seven months. She is considering an adoption plan for the seven month old. She had been thinking about adoption since before the child was born but decided to take the baby home to see if she could make a go of it. She said things are very difficult with three children, given her circumstances. I asked her how certain she was about adoption. She replied that she was about 70% sure. As she was saying that to me, I was trying to imagine... http://www.kirshadoptionblog.com/tp-120118134840/post-120221130753.shtml http://www.kirshadoptionblog.com/tp-120118134840/post-120221130753.shtml What should I do? Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:07:53 -0800 <p>Recently I received the following email from an expectant mother:</p> <p>"I am 4 months pregnant and was thinking about adoption. The problem is I have a 7 yr old and he is very excited he is going to be a big brother. So how do I know if adoption is right when it affects the life of my other child as well? Thanks for the help."</p> <p>Here is how I responded:</p> http://www.kirshadoptionblog.com/tp-110920070042/post-120120124612.shtml http://www.kirshadoptionblog.com/tp-110920070042/post-120120124612.shtml Letters Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:46:12 -0800 <p>When adopting a child, prospective adoptive parents must understand that they give up control of a number of things, one of the most difficult being control over the expectant mothers actions during her pregnancy. Many, probably most, expectant mothers take good care of themselves during their pregnancies because they love their unborn babies and only want what is best for them. However, many substances are addictive and not as easy to put aside as one might think. Regardless of an expectant mother's motivation, substance abuse is a problem in adoption, most likely under-reported, and an issue which prospective adoptive parents should consider prior to embarking on an adoption journey.</p> http://www.kirshadoptionblog.com/tp-120120123713/post-120120124420.shtml http://www.kirshadoptionblog.com/tp-120120123713/post-120120124420.shtml Adoption and Drugs and Alcohol Exposure Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:44:20 -0800 <p>Congress passed the adoption tax credit as part of the George W. Bush tax cuts. The adoption tax credit was extended to December 31, 2011, and then extended again to December 31, 2012. It is due to expire on December 31, 2012, unless it is again extended by Congress. The two leading adoption organizations in the country are lobbying to have it extended, those being the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys (<a href="http://www.adoptionattorneys.org/" target="_blank" mce_href="http://www.adoptionattorneys.org/">www.adoptionattorneys.org</a>), of which I am past president and have been treasurer for nearly 20 years (I could not possibly be that old -aargh!) and the National Council for Adoption (<a href="http://www.adoptioncouncil.org/" target="_blank" mce_href="http://www.adoptioncouncil.org/">www.adoptioncouncil.org</a>).</p> http://www.kirshadoptionblog.com/tp-120120092813/post-120120093619.shtml http://www.kirshadoptionblog.com/tp-120120092813/post-120120093619.shtml Adoption Tax Credit Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:36:19 -0800 <p>Recently, I met with an expectant mother who had previously made an adoption plan and placed a child with a family through our office. She said that she was hesitant to call us this time because she felt like "scum" (her words) for winding up unexpectedly pregnant again. I assured her that her situation happens more than she thought.</p> http://www.kirshadoptionblog.com/tp-120118134840/post-120118134950.shtml http://www.kirshadoptionblog.com/tp-120118134840/post-120118134950.shtml What should I do? Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:49:50 -0800