ADOPTEE RIGHTS DEMONSTRATION UPDATE

une 20th Update for the Adoptee Rights Demonstration!


The protest is fast approaching and we have some new updates for the protesters that will be joining us in New Orleans this July 22, 2008.

We need 2-3 monitors at the protest to help keep marchers on the sidewalk and off the street and to keep protesters moving around while outside the convention centre.

We need about 10 volunteers to help make posters/signs on Monday July 21, 2008 at the St. Christopher Best Western (protest’s main hotel) from 6-8 pm. If you can join us with these positions, please contact Kali admin@adopteerights.net.

Monday July 21, 2008 all protesters are invited to meet in the bar/lounge of the St. Christopher Best Western at 8:30 pm for a protest orientation and to gain a sense of unity going into the following day.

If you are joining us in New Orleans, we still have rooms to fill for our block of 40 at the St. Christopher Best Western and our block due date is June 22, 2008. So please book your hotel reservations ASAP by calling calling 1-800 645-9312 and requesting the group Adoptee-Rights Demonstration.

If anyone has any media contacts please let us know as we will be sending out a press release and public announcement at the beginning of July as well as launching a blogger blitz.

Also, we’re still calling out for confirmation of people attending the protest, so if you haven’t confirmed your attendance with anyone yet, please do so at admin@adopteerights.net.

Since it is getting close to the protest (one month and 4 days to go!)

I thought it would be cool to provide everyone with a visual on our lodging, protest start location (La Fayette Square) and route to our destination (State Legislators Conference at the Ernest Morial Convention Centre!) Unfortunately the mailling list doesn't support images or graphics so I put an image of our route from google maps onto our home base ( www.AdopteeRights.net ) and you can see it in the same announcement there if you're interested.

We hope to see everyone in the Big Easy and if you have any questions please shout them out to the NOLA list or to Kali at admin@adopteerights.net

In Solidarity

The Adoptee Rights Committee

ADOPTEE RIGHTS PROTEST ANNOUNCEMENT

Hello everyone!

July 22nd is fast approaching! Here is the update for the Adoptee Rights Day demonstration in New Orleans. We will be posting frequent updates so folks will be in the loop with schedules and what the plan of action is for the next two months, and while in New Orleans attending the demonstration and Exhibitors Booth.

New Orleans demonstration updates:

The permit for Lafayette Square has been paid for and is in our possession.

The demonstration and march will be held Tuesday July 22nd beginning at 9:00 am (more details soon).

The Exhibitors Booth has been paid for and the Adoptee Rights Committee will be in booth #246 on the Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday following the demonstration.

We have received over $3000 in donations! Thanks to everyone for supporting ARD. Our goal for a full page ad in the print version of the New Orleans Times-Picayune listing adult adoptees and their friends and family who support adoptee rights is still in progress, if you haven't done so already add your name to the list!

To add your name and/or supporting ARD go here: DONATE TODAY!

A writing campaign to Legislators starts on Friday June 6th (information and instructions will be available on the evening of the 5th).

We are asking for volunteers to assist the organizers while at the event, if you can help us out in New Orleans please let us know.

If you haven't done so already hop on over to our mailing list where you can get immediate updates about our Writing Campaign starting tomrrow Friday June 6th, as well as interaction with all of the other protesters and supporters of Open Records and the Demonstration.

***We regret to inform people that Bastard Nation is no longer one of the Adoptee Rights Day sponsors. We wish them well and thank them for their efforts thus far. **

For any questions about the demonstration, please contact admin@adopteerights.net

THE HISTORY OF COLEMAN ADOPTION SERVICES

I found this book called A Public Charity: Religion & Social Welfare in Indianapolis, 1929-2002. It is an interesting read because it discusses how these agencies like Suemma Coleman Home for Unwed Mothers and St. Elizabeth's Home treated these unwed mothers. They were very proud of the fact that they forced these women to relinquish their children.

This book discusses how they discouraged unwed mothers from keeping and raising her child. One mother, Mary age 28, wanted to keep her child because she was an older woman and was afraid that she would not have another. I have heard that story echoing into the halls of natural parents. In the 1930's, they forced the mothers to breast feed their babies not just for a baby's health but to force the mothers to bond with their children. They did this to encourage these women to take ownership of their responsibilities. I imagine that for most mothers it was a natural experience. In the thirties, fifty percent of all unwed mothers kept their children.

In the 1940s and the 1950s, it was a quite different philosophy of thought. They considered single mothers a threat to the middle class ideal. So often you hear stories that these women either got spiritual training or psychological counseling to get them to see the error of their ways. We can all imagine what that was like. Suemma Coleman Home for Unwed Mothers was the protestant version of St. Elizabeth's Home for Unwed Mothers. This was the time that worshiped the concept of the middle class family. They stopped encouraging women to keep their children.

Interestingly enough they condemned the African American mother and forced her to raise her own child. They wanted her to take responsibility of her own child. With the white mother, it was the opposite. They wanted her to relinquish her child. Many of these social workers at these agencies thought this new pattern was a sign of the unwed mother having a personality disorder. They felt it was a unwed mother's attempt to get back at her parents for the lack of love and attention. They felt that it was ultimately the unwed mother's mother who was responsible for her daughter getting pregnant. They described this pregnancy as a form of rebellion. These homes changed their focus from lower class mothers to middle class mothers. They became very selective in the unwed mothers. Neither one of these homes for years would accept an African American mother in their maternity homes.

Ruth Henderson, the Suemma Coleman Home for Unwed Mothers director, described how these girls coming to the home would want to keep their children. These girls were strongly discouraged from that train of thought. Her words, I swear. The maternity homes had to make sure that these young girls followed through with relinquishment. Most of these girls were told that since they got pregnant that they would NOT be good mothers. These homes told these women that they could not be mothers without a husband. A husband is what made them mothers. Ms. Henderson happily reported that most of these mothers willingly changed their minds once they understood this.

Many of these agencies highlighted how they forced these women to relinquish their babies. They literally broadcasted how well that they did their jobs. In Indianapolis, if a poor woman applied for assistance she was turned down. If she did receive assistance, she had to be very careful or else the state would confiscate her children.

Suemma Coleman Home for Unwed Mothers really did a number on the mothers. I have been lucky enough to speak with several of them. All of them have horror stories. They were tied to the bed during labor, no pain relief, fed three sparse meals a day and much more. These women were not allowed to hold their babies or let alone know the sex of them. You hear that Coleman adoptees? They were not given a choice.

INDIANA CONFIDENTIAL INTERMEDIARIES

Like Illinois, Indiana's confidential intermediary has been rife with corruption and down outright theft. I had recently spoken with a member of Indiana Open. She is having a bad experience with an Indiana CI. That CI's name is Kris Lucas. This member doesn't know if this woman is speaking the truth. She wonders if she is just trying to get more money from the member. Alas, this is a major issue with confidential intermediaries.

My experience has been just as bad with Catrina Carlisle. I honestly believe that all of my information is a lie. Catrina Carlisle lied to me on several occasions that I can't determine the truth of my own situation.

Catrina Carlisle told me that she was the only CI or ASS as she calls herself that I could use. ASS stands for Adoption Search Specialist. She also told me that she could not contact my father because the law didn't allow her to. That fathers can't register on the Adoption History registry. I have read over the law as written into Indiana code. I have also read the law as it is written into the Department of Health Vital Statistics' handbook. There is no restriction on which CI that you use. There is nothing in the law that prohibits contact with the fathers. The law states "birth" parent, not "birth" mother.

Lets also discuss that some of the CIs have a conflict of interest in helping the adoptees and their families. Catrina Carlisle is an adoptive parent and the former agency director of Coleman Adoption Services. Kris Lucas has also worked for Catholic Charities. These are major conflict of interests. These folks do not have our best interests at heart. They have their financial budgets and their personal interests at heart. This can affect the conversaton with our family members.

In January of 2006, I began my search. Before I paid my fee, I asked if my natural mother would have the support needed with dealing with contact. I had spoken with only a few mothers at that time. I wanted to make sure that she would have support if she needed it. I have since learned that the agency is most definitely not the best way to offer support. Knowing what I know now, I would recommend contacting members of Concerned United Birthparents, OriginsUSA, members of the Baby Scoop Era mothers, and First Mothers Connect to get the support that your natural parents might need. These are people who have walked a mile in their shoes. They completely understand what our mothers have felt. I know with both Indiana Open, Coleman Moms and Babes and other organizations that we have support for those mothers. If you are a natural parent searching for your child, join Bastard Nation, Adult Adoptees Advocating for Change, and others to get the support needed for your adopted child.

I paid my fee. I waited for a day or two until Catrina called me. She told me that my natural mother refused contact. I was getting ready to go behind the fence of Vernon's state hospital, a place for the criminally insane. I was not in the best of places to take that call. I spent the rest of the day crying. The next week my natural mother supposedly called back wanting to know how to keep all of this private. She supposedly wanted to be assured that I would not show up on her door step after hiring a private investigator.

I had called Catrina a couple of other times after that. I was summarily dismissed. In that time, I have heard from countless other Coleman adoptees and Indiana adoptees who have been screwed over by this woman. After speaking with the daughter of a mother who was at the home the day before I was born, I realized that most if not all of my information is a lie.

I have heard repetitively that Indiana is known for changing birth dates, for not having the correct information, and for incest. So if you are coming into the search portion, you need to be aware of these things.

CIs in Indiana answer to no one. They don't answer to the courts. They can and sometimes will take you for a ride. They can and will sometimes lie to you about your information. So be aware very aware. Speak with other adoptees and who they have used.

I have spoken with another CI who said that Indiana has had it share of corruption and theft with CIs. She also told me that most other CIs don't like Coleman adoptees.

My advice to all is if you can afford Kinsolving.com, use them. It puts the ball in your court. It allows you to be treated like the adult that you are.

FOUND ANOTHER COLEMAN ADOPTEE

I write three blogs. On my big one, Adoption and Its Triad, I had a commenter. I don't know if he has done it or not. I asked him to join the Adoptee Rights Protest, Coleman Moms and Babes and Indiana Open.

He said that he went to the Coleman Agency and requested his records. He said that he was removed from the office by security. I have to laugh at that one. I think its great. I wish I could have been sent out of the office. Sadly I live in Texas. He has the same complaints as I do with Coleman. They were no help at all with his search.

I hate to tell him this but its true. The agency has lied on so many levels to all of its adoptees. They are not held accountable to us, the adoptee. They are not held accountable to the natural parents, our parents. Lord knows there is enough doubt by our adoptive parents. My own mother doubts the adoption of me. She wonders if it is even legal. She got no paperwork for me.

I think its wrong. Plain wrong. With the new Voter ID law, I pray that he and other Coleman babes never lose their driver's license or their other forms of identification. They won't be able to vote. They will not be able to prove their birth. Indiana has the OBC's under lock and key.

As time moves forward, we are losing more and more rights. My natural mother's so called right to privacy doesn't out weigh my civil rights under the constitution. In fact she relinquished her rights. My natural father had no say in the adoption of me. Something has got to give. It ain't gonna be me or anyother adoptee. We will have our rights.

OOOOh NEWS OF MATT TENNESON

Oh this sounds so much like Matt Tenneson's story. It looks like it might be the case. I love it.

Iowa appeals court sides with dad in adoption dispute

By Ann McGlynn/QUAD-CITY TIMES | Thursday, May 15, 2008

An adoption battle is pitting a biological father who is a college student with a criminal history against a couple who are “excellent parents” who wish to adopt a 3½-year-old boy named Daniel.

The Iowa Court of Appeals agreed Wednesday that the parental rights of the biological father, a Davenport man known only as Johnny, should not be terminated because he attempted to find his son despite the efforts of the biological mother, Ashley, against him. The potential adoptive parents are referred to as Jeff and Jenny, who live in Muscatine.

“Johnny’s attempts to get information from Ashley were met with lies about the baby’s whereabouts and Ashley’s plans for the child,” the court wrote. “Unfortunately, at the same time the mother was lying to Johnny, she was withholding information from Jeff and Jenny about the person she obviously believed to be her son’s father.”

Jennifer Olsen, attorney for Johnny, said he is “obviously pleased” with the ruling and plans to pursue reunification with his child. “My client has much interest in being a father,” she said. However, she noted, “We understand that this is a delicate situation. He understands there is a relationship to be built.”

The attorney for Daniel’s legal guardians could not be reached for comment.

According to court documents:

Daniel was born in October 2004 to Ashley in a Davenport hospital. Before she gave birth, she told Jeff and Jenny that she wanted them to adopt the baby. Jenny had worked as the manager of the nursery at Ashley’s high school and had been told by other mothers that Ashley wanted to give up her child for adoption. They met when Ashley was four months pregnant.

Jenny was there when Daniel was born. She and Jeff brought the baby home with them, and he was given their last name. Ashley told them she was not sure who the father of the baby was but she believed it might be a man named Johnny, who lives in Davenport.

Jeff and Jenny did not establish a legal relationship between themselves and the child.

However, court documents say, Ashley knew much more about Johnny. She called him to inform him the baby was about to be born, and he attempted to visit him at the hospital twice.

Two weeks after Daniel was born, Ashley began to have second thoughts. She went and got the baby from Jeff and Jenny, and then placed him in Johnny’s care for about six weeks. She then demanded Johnny return Daniel to her and gave him back to Jeff and Jenny without Johnny’s knowledge.

When Johnny asked about Daniel, Ashley told him, “He is somewhere better.”

Jeff and Jenny applied to become the temporary guardians. Ashley signed an affidavit saying she did not know who the father was or his whereabouts. Notice of guardianship was published in the Muscatine Journal — as the case was filed in Muscatine County. It used Jeff and Jenny’s last name as Daniel’s last name. Also, Johnny was living in Davenport, where the local paper is the Quad-City Times.

In November 2006, Jeff and Jenny filed a request to terminate the parental rights of Ashley and any biological father.

Meanwhile, Johnny was looking for Daniel.

Ultimately, he learned of the guardianship action through Iowa Courts Online, with the help of his probation officer. He found a phone number of Jeff and Jenny and called them to request a visit with Daniel. Jenny told him to contact their attorney.

He appeared at the termination hearing. The district court ruled that while Ashley’s rights were to be terminated, Johnny’s were not.

Ann McGlynn can be contacted at (563) 383-2336 or amcglynn@qctimes.com.

ANOTHER DEATH IN THE INDIANA FOSTER CARE SYSTEM

Indiana must have one of the worst foster care systems in the country. There was another death in Indiana of a child in foster care. They are investigating it. They can't release any details because of confidentiality restrictions courtesy of the state. Sorry just another reason why records should be open to adoptees and their families. Its time to make the system of infant adoption and foster adoption open and transparent.

Here is the link. Here is the story.

Foster child death is 4th in 5 months

Investigators are awaiting results of tests to find out what killed infant girl

By Tim Evans
tim.evans@indystar.com

The Indiana Department of Child Services is investigating the death of a Marion County infant who died in foster care.

Seven-week-old Destiny Linden, who died April 28 at Riley Hospital for Children, is at least the fourth child under DCS supervision to die within the past five months in Marion County.

Susan Tielking, spokeswoman for the department, said the agency has opened an investigation into the death.

She also confirmed DCS had an open case involving Destiny at the time of her death but said she could not provide any details of that case because of state confidentiality requirements.

Tielking said DCS records from the initial case, which apparently resulted in Destiny being placed in foster care, could not be released unless the new investigation determines she died as a result of abuse or neglect.

The fact that a child dies while in state custody is not enough under state law to trigger the release of DCS records, she said.

The cause of Destiny's death has not been determined, said Marion County Chief Deputy Coroner Alfarena Ballew. She said initial indications point to a potentially unsafe sleeping situation, but the final determination is pending results of toxicology and other tests, which will not be available for several weeks.

Ballew said the child was found unresponsive on an adult bed and, after attempts to revive her, was placed on life support at Riley for about two days before being pronounced dead.

According to an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department report, police and medics were called to a home in the 8400 block of East 34th Street at 2:56 p.m. April 24 on a report of a possibly dead child. When authorities arrived, Everette Coleman, 43, identified himself as Destiny's foster parent and said he called 911 when he discovered she had stopped breathing.

The report says officers collected a quilt, blanket and bottle from the bed where Destiny was lying, a sheet from the baby's crib and a bottle from the living room floor.

Destiny first was taken to Community Hospital East, according to the report.

Tielking said Coleman and his wife, Kim, are licensed foster parents in good standing with the department.

Other children under DCS supervision who have died recently in Marion County include:

» TaJanay Bailey, 3, who died Nov. 27, just weeks after she was returned to her mother and the woman's boyfriend by DCS.

» Miyanna Chowning, 3, who died Dec. 31 while in foster care.

» Christine Miller, 8 weeks old, who died Jan. 21 while her family was involved in an active child protection case.

Tielking said she could not say how the four deaths in five months compare with past trends because the agency does not track the deaths of all children who are in state care, such as those who die from natural causes or accidents.

Dawn Robertson, spokeswoman for the family rights group Honk for Kids, which works with parents dealing with the child welfare system, said the state should be able to say how many children in its care have died, regardless of the cause.

"They should be held to a higher standard," she said. "They have taken these children from their parents because they believe they will be safer with the state. The public certainly ought to know when one of these children dies, even if there was nothing done wrong."