Countering the Effects of Institutionalization Before AND After Adoption

Today on Facebook I saw a link to an interesting series of essays on the risks of adopting called, Why Love Isn't Enough. The author, Arleta James, describes the purpose of the series as an effort to "make clear that today's waiting children -- international and domestic -- infants and older children -- are a traumatized population." The series will cover eight major causes of this trauma, and hopefully offer some strategies for addressing the effects.

The effects of institutionalization are heartbreaking and life changing, but these effects are not just relevant to adopted children. In fact, all institutionalized children are at risk, and none more than those who never will have a family of their own. Living in a small group setting gives children the opportunity to form loving bonds with caregivers and peers and allows them to develop their social skills in ways that the highly competitive and often (surprisingly) unstructured orphanage environment does not. Which -- of course! -- leads me to the impact and the importance of Eagles Wings and similar programs around the world. Our mission is to minimize the effects of institutionalization on all of our children, whether Eagles Wings is their final destination or the place where they take flight.

We are always thrilled when we have news that one of "our" kids will soon be adopted, but we also know that that isn't the end of his or her challenges. Adapting to a new language, a new culture and a new family is a big task. While we can't emphasize enough the need for adequate parental preparation, I believe that children who have developed healthy, trusting relationships with adults and who have experienced family routines and sensitive discipline will have an easier transition.

There is no doubt that a caring, committed and appropriately prepared family is the best possible place for all children. However, approximately 70% of our eaglets will never find families, and for them the staff and other children in Eagles Wings will be their family. Eagles Wings will make all the difference in helping them overcome their early losses and become productive adults.

Donna
Director, Eagles Wings

Chinese Orphans and the Need for Eagles Wings

Adoption Talk: Amy Edlridge of LWB Speaks

This blogger has done an excellent summary of a well-informed speech from a recent adoption conference. THIS is what I saw and experienced in the orphanage and at Eagles Wings. When most people think of Chinese orphans, they picture rows and rows of beautiful little baby girls just waiting for their mommies. The truth is quite different. There is a desperate need for knowledge, understanding and compassion for the thousands of children left behind. I hope you will read the entire article, linked below. Here are some highlights. My comments are in blue italics.

"The landscape has changed considerably from the days when Chinese orphanages were filled with healthy infant girls who had been abandoned because of the government's one child policy and the social preference for boys.  Now, the orphanages are filled with special needs kids, many critically ill.  She reported that 98% of newly abandoned children in China have serious medical needs, which explains why 60% of adoptions in 2010 were special needs adoption."  This is SO true! It is why all of our Eagles Wings children are special needs. Many people assume that most of the children in our care are girls, but in fact we have about equal numbers of boys and girls.

"Special needs children get abandoned because of the stigma associated with disabilities and/or because of medical costs.  Children with visible disabilities will be refused education, and when they grow up will have difficulty finding a job. Medical costs can be too high for a family to bear -- there is no health insurance, no free health care in China.  All health care has to be paid for up front.  Poor families will abandon their children in the hopes that they will receive health care in the orphanage."  Unfortunately most orphanages are also unable to provide the medical care, and particularly PT/OT services, that these children need. Few orphanages are equipped, on their own, to provide education and vocational services to their special needs children. Programs like Eagles Wings are the only hope for these children, who are otherwise healthy and intelligent, to become responsible, productive adults and open doors for a future outside the social welfare institute.

A family is always better than an orphanage or even a group foster home, but the reality is that most special needs orphans over the age of 4 will not be adopted. We are thrilled for every one that is, but our focus at Eagles Wings is on those who will not. They deserve the best we can give.

AdoptionTalk: Amy Eldridge of LWB Speaks