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Web Site Offers Comprehensive Look at Adoption
By David Brody, Washington, D.C., correspondent
Some good news for parents looking to adopt. A Web site is now up and running that gives a complete compilation of all the laws and rules in the adoption process.
Couples wanting to adopt can tell you horror stories about trying to muddle through existing adoption laws — laws that vary from state to state. While the situation may be a mess, a solution is now at hand. Ohio Republican Congresswoman Deborah Pryce unveiled a new Web site in Washington, D.C., designed to give complete information on adoption laws.
"Sometimes, just the huge red tape quagmire that stands in the way of so many people is so frightening and so intimidating that it stops people from even considering adoption," Pryce said.
She secured $200,000 from the federal government to get the Web site up and running. Then, hard work from the folks at the Capital University Law Center made it a reality. Kent Markus is the center's director.
"There's no good reason that all those interested in accessing the laws of adoption — especially those interested in helping children who've been abused or neglected and are now in the custody of the state — should be unable to do so," Markus said.
The saying goes that "knowledge is power" and in the case of adoptions it's no different. Sue Badeau, who is the mother of 20 adopted children, certainly believes that.
"Particularly, I think birth families and young people themselves often feel very powerless in this system, and so to have access to information that we've never had before is a very empowering thing," Badeau said.
There are 130,000 kids across the country waiting for adoption.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
The Web site can be found at www.adoptionlawsite.org.
Web Site Offers Comprehensive Look at Adoption
By David Brody, Washington, D.C., correspondent
Some good news for parents looking to adopt. A Web site is now up and running that gives a complete compilation of all the laws and rules in the adoption process.
Couples wanting to adopt can tell you horror stories about trying to muddle through existing adoption laws — laws that vary from state to state. While the situation may be a mess, a solution is now at hand. Ohio Republican Congresswoman Deborah Pryce unveiled a new Web site in Washington, D.C., designed to give complete information on adoption laws.
"Sometimes, just the huge red tape quagmire that stands in the way of so many people is so frightening and so intimidating that it stops people from even considering adoption," Pryce said.
She secured $200,000 from the federal government to get the Web site up and running. Then, hard work from the folks at the Capital University Law Center made it a reality. Kent Markus is the center's director.
"There's no good reason that all those interested in accessing the laws of adoption — especially those interested in helping children who've been abused or neglected and are now in the custody of the state — should be unable to do so," Markus said.
The saying goes that "knowledge is power" and in the case of adoptions it's no different. Sue Badeau, who is the mother of 20 adopted children, certainly believes that.
"Particularly, I think birth families and young people themselves often feel very powerless in this system, and so to have access to information that we've never had before is a very empowering thing," Badeau said.
There are 130,000 kids across the country waiting for adoption.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
The Web site can be found at www.adoptionlawsite.org.