Resource Library
Resource Library: WHFC in the News
2007 Archive
December
Questions multiply on eve of adoptions
For 10 years, Pat Locke and her husband, Iain Miller, have been making decisions about what's best for them as a couple. Not anymore. Early in the new year they expect to become parents, and then the tough choices really start to mount.
A Home For Natnael
Natnael Romaine sat on his knees, intently listening to his teacher read the tale of "The Gingerbread Man." Natnael, 6, had never heard "The Gingerbread Man" before, nor eaten one with raisin buttons. But most everything these days is a first for Natnael — including Christmas.
Stories to Inspire You — The Meneghinis: A Journey, A Year, A Family
Landing at a New England airport was one of the scariest events of Tamenech Meneghini's life. For one thing, this was the 3-year-old's first taste of a biting February day in Massachusetts. And for another, she had just flown from Addis Ababa, Ethiopa, a 30-hour flight.
Hollis Wilson: Why we adopted an Ethiopian girl
The great news traveled like the wind. We just found out we were having a girl. But it wasn’t the usual ultra-sound information. We were adopting a 2½-year-old named Laramie, from Ethiopia.
“How did you decide to adopt from Ethiopia?” Answering that question often depended upon who was asking, how well I knew them and how much time I had.
Will Grandfathering be Allowed? Governments Try To SOrt Out Issues as Dec. 31 Deadline Looms
Just a few years ago, the rapid adoption process in Guatemala enabled American families to welcome children home after just a few months of waiting. Now, increased scrutiny resulting from accusations of unethical and illegal adoptions - and from discussion of highprofile Guatemalan legislation - has made delays and backlogs the rule.
Waiting For Amelia
In late August, Marybeth and Craig Hay were about 2,200 miles from their home in Whitinsville and sitting on the porch of the Casa Grande, a small hotel in Guatemala City, Guatemala. They were feeling anxious but happy as they chatted with other couples coming and going from the hotel. Then a black car pulled into the parking lot and a woman got out, calling, "Senora Hay?"
November
Special additions: Adoption is worth the effort
Amos Pike was not quick with his decision to adopt a child. He spent time thinking about the idea and researched the subject before he came to the conclusion his wife, Tami, had already reached.
He wanted to adopt. And he knew exactly where he wanted to adopt from.
October
Adoption in Africa
During the past few years we have seen a significant rise in adoptions from Africa — particularly from Ethiopia, a country where the government has an established and well-organized adoption program. More African children are adopted from Ethiopia than through a combination of all other African nations open to international adoption.
When Angels Walk the Earth
We'd been happy, Brian and I, for 13 years when we found out that we would not have biological children. That realization wasn't as earth shattering as it is for some because I think we both knew our children were in the world somewhere already.
September
Wide Horizons For Children Names Tsegaye to Lead Program
Wide Horizons For Children, a leading nonprofit adoption and child welfare agency based in Waltham, has appointed Dr. Tsegaye Berhe as director for African Programs, in which he will explore, develop and implement adoption and related humanitarian child welfare services throughout Africa.
August
Gliding Into Fall: Adoption and Getting Ready for the New Season
Already? Getting ready for the school year? It's still summer! But with adoption, getting ready is the name of the game in so many ways. Adoptive parents become experts in 'getting ready' for so many things, from the beginning of the adoption journey and then at many stages throughout the life of their child.
Adoption Community of New England Says Goodbye to Its First Executive Director
This month, the Adoption Community of New England (ACONE), will take its first step forward without Joan Clark, the organization's first and only executive director, who resigned from her post in July. People within the Massachusetts adoption community said they can not imagine this organization without Clark, who was at the helm for 15 years and a volunteer for 12 years prior to that.
July
Area couples join growing number of people who've opted to adopt internationally
John and Kim Beagle knew they wanted children; they even had a plan, but the couple's plan got changed along the way. Kim, a first-grade teacher at Talbot Elementary School, says the plan was to have a biological child and then adopt. But when that biological child didn't come, they decided to adopt first.
Retiree dedicates time to Moldovan orphans
Three TV stations in the European nation of Moldova recently featured Henderson County resident Ray West and his work with the nation's orphans. U.S. Ambassador Michael Kirby found time to make the journey to Leova to speak and participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Locks of controversy
Rumors that Angelina Jolie had cut off her adopted daughter's hair caused an outrage. Why is hair such a highly charged symbol in the black community?
June
A family of friends
It’s been 10 years since these families first met, but something deeper than mere familiarity underlies the words and gestures that pass between them. They are members of the 46th group from the adoption agency Wide Horizons to make a trip to China, and they are united by the empathy that comes with a shared adoption experience.
Surge in Adoptions Raises Concern in Ethiopia
Ethiopia was not on Mark and Vera Westrum-Ostrom’s list when they first visited Children’s Home Society & Family Services here to explore an international adoption. Ukraine was first, because of their family heritage, until the couple discovered that the adoption system there was chaotic, with inaccurate information about orphans’ health and availability.
Three's the charm: Family of triplets anticipates commencement and beyond
They will graduate from Westborough High School tomorrow like they have done everything else in life, one after another. The Guest triplets, Kevin, Beth and Julie, regard the milestone with both relief and reluctance.
Goal: Protecting Children & Families
Parents hoping to adopt internationally are now on the threshold of a whole new world, thanks to something known as "the Hague." The Hague is actually the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, an international treaty that the United States is expected to ratify by year's end. Once it is ratified, the Hague will govern adoptions that take place between the United States and other Hague countries with a set of standards and procedures that must be followed.
At a Glance: The Hague Impact
Currently, 17 agencies in Massachusetts have applied for accreditation from the Council on Accreditation. These agencies are in various stages of this process, which calls for the submission of an application, documentation review, assessments, a site visit, additional reviews, and, finally, accreditation.
May
Wonders never cease for first-time moms
In honor of Mother's Day, Globe West talked with four women celebrating the holiday for the first time. They became mothers through Wide Horizons for Children, a Waltham adoption agency that placed 630 children from 11 countries over the past year.
Adopted, adored
A plane trip changed Gael Dussault’s life in ways that she never could have imagined and set her on what she characterizes as “an incredible journey.” “It’s been all for the good,” said Ms. Dussault, a computer company executive who is single, about her decision a decade ago to adopt a baby girl from China.
Meet the Robinsons (Letter to the editor)
We feel that it is important to warn you about a Disney movie called Meet the Robinsons that is now playing at many local cinemas. The advertising for this animated feature makes it sound like a great movie for any young child.
Birth Stories — Adoption Story: Jennifer Douglas
People come to adoption for different reasons. Jennifer Douglas was already a mom of two daughters, Hannah and Sarah, when she says she began noticing little things in her day-to-day life that raised her curiosity about adoption.
Guatemalan Adoptions Questioned
For many families planning to adopt a child from Guatemala, life is going to get more complex. Recent statements from the United States Department of State have delivered a one-two punch to families and professionals in the Guatemalan adoption community.
April
Russia, China tighten restrictions on adoptions
Local families looking to adopt could find themselves with fewer options over the next few months. With Russia placing a temporary freeze on accepting applications from American adoption agencies, some local agencies said that they wouldn’t be able to find matches between Russian children and Americans in the immediate future.
Local families grapple with international adoption pinch
Bay State adoption advocates are warning of a hostile environment for Americans in the wake of a slew of new international restrictions. "Many families are getting discouraged," said Vicki Peterson, an executive with Wide Horizons for Children, a Massachusetts agency that is one of the largest in the country to handle both international and domestic adoptions.
Adoption Agency Critical of New Disney Movie
A Waltham adoption agency is recommending parents not bring adopted children to watch the new Disney movie, "Meet the Robinsons." Vicki Peterson of Wide Horizons For Children is one of many critics who believe the movie is filled with negative adoption messages.
Movie Goers Beware
Disney's latest animated feature, "Meet the Robinsons," is causing quite a stir in the adoption community, prompting some organizations to issue a warning to parents of all children and another group to call for an "urgent meeting" with Walt Disney Pictures to discuss what they consider "negative adoption messages" in the film.
Creating and Improving Families: Adoption Community of New England Celebrates 40th Year
When the Summers family made the life-changing choice to adopt a child, they turned to the Adoption Community of New England to begin their research. Sarah Summers visited the organization and spent time with Joan Clark, executive director. "I almost fell over because there was so much information," Summers said.
March
FC Family Adopts Children From Ethiopia
For one local family, it’s been a long haul adopting two children from Ethiopia. But as Hanook and Adee recover from illness and malnutrition, life is getting easier for the Goddards.
Jolie, Farrow: Blended Family Ties
Now that Angelina Jolie has applied to adopt a boy from Vietnam, observers can't help but think about the similarities between Jolie and another famous celebrity mom.
February
Brangelina: And Baby Makes Six?
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie – parents to Maddox, 5, Zahara, 2, and Shiloh, 9 months – have long been vocal about their desire to adopt more international children. (Their eldest are from Cambodia and Ethiopia, respectively).
Choices From the Heart: Adoptive Families Are Integral to Community's Identity
It’ss pretty obvious that most contemporary families don’t resemble that old statistical average: a mom, a dad and 2.2 biological children. But while variations on the norm are ever more common, many people might be surprised to discover just how diverse families in their own hometowns are and how much of that diversity is due to adoption.
Parents Meet Their Newest Additions At Logan
It is a new beginning for five Boston area families as they welcome their newest members -- just in time for Valentine's Day. But instead of chocolate or flowers being delivered, the happy couple got bouncing baby girls they adopted from Korea.
Ethiopian Kids Preserve Culture in Play Groups
When Troy and Marianne Davis traveled to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia last month to meet their adopted four-month-old baby, Myah, for the first time they prepared themselves through research and talking with other parents of adopted Ethiopian children but much uncertainty remained before their eight-day trip.
January
An amazing journey: The Leo family's story
Daniel, Getenet, Matthew and Kirubel Leo line up on the couch for their photograph. Five-year-old Daniel drapes his arms around his biological brother, Matthew, 4, as well as the brothers his parents adopted from an Ethiopian orphanage more than a year ago, Kirubel, 20 months, and Getenet or Getu, also age 4.
Many ways to be a family
Deirdre D. McPartlin stares at her 2-year-old daughter, and, in the soft voice you use to talk to children, repeats a story she has told before. "You were born in another woman's belly," she begins, with her daughter standing on the metal steps of a play structure. "And then," she asks, "who became your mommy?"
Adopting 'at home' a joy
The recent news coverage of international adoptions by celebrities has glamorized the practice, says local adoptee Linda A. Harvard, who now shares her story, and that of her adopted daughter, to dispel what she calls rampant misconceptions.
© 2008 Wide Horizons For Children, Inc.
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