tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32787430154475797182024-03-07T19:47:10.496-08:00Adoption in America: Debunking Myths"Debunking Myths" is focused on raising awareness about the painful realities of adoption and seeks to change the unethical practices currently accepted in the industry, practices that turn adoption into child trafficking. The following individuals and organizations are successful child traffickers: State of Florida, State of Utah, Gladney (TX adoption agency), NCFA (federal lobbying group)...Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06936405113655923068noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278743015447579718.post-9720926127631028752009-08-10T21:02:00.001-07:002009-08-10T21:03:58.162-07:00Schuster InstitutesOn-going, interesting and detailed work on international adoption: <a href="http://www.brandeis.edu/investigate/">http://www.brandeis.edu/investigate/</a>Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06936405113655923068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278743015447579718.post-47689533735359349332009-05-15T05:41:00.001-07:002009-05-15T05:52:09.370-07:00Who to believe?Who to believe: <a href="http://www.adoptioncouncil.org/about/mission.html">The National Council for Adoption </a>or the <a href="http://www.adoptioninstitute.org/about/index.php">Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute</a>? <br /><br />In <a href="http://www.adoptioninstitute.org/publications/2007_11_For_Records.pdf">"Mutual Consent: Balancing the Birthparent’s Right to Privacy with theAdopted Person’s Desire to Know," Marc Zappala</a> (NCFA supported) argues against <a href="http://www.adoptioninstitute.org/publications/2007_11_For_Records.pdf">Madelyn Freundlich's "For the Records: Restoring a Right to Adult Adoptees."</a> Freudnlich's work is supported by the Evan B. D. Institute.<br /><br />Instead of looking at the studies for bias, which will clearly be present in any study, I looked at the websites. The Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute is research focused and run by an adoptive parent at this date with membership being adoptees, first parents, adoptive parents among others. The National Council for Adoption's membership is adoption "entities." Those who make money from adoption placements are the ones who support NCFA; of course, this organization and its published work support secrecy. Secrecy is necessary to maintain the cash flow. If the truth is revealed about adoption in America and its inherent problems, then the cash flow could be interupted or even cease.<br /><br />Do read the links, think about the studies. But do not forget the biases of the funding institutions.<br /><br />Title: For the Records: Restoring a Right to Adult AdopteesAuthor: Madelyn FreundlichPublished: 2007 November. New York NY: Evan B. Donaldson Adoption InstituteDocument Type: White Paper (31 pages)Availability: <a href="http://www.adoptioninstitute.org/publications/2007_11_For_Records.pdf">PDF Full Report</a> <a href="http://www.adoptioninstitute.org/publications/2007_11_For_Records_Executive_Summary.pdf">Executive Summary</a> <a href="http://www.adoptioninstitute.org/publications/2007_11_For_Records_Glossary.pdf">Glossary of Terms</a> <a href="http://www.adoptioninstitute.org/research/2007_11_for_records.php">Web Page</a> <a href="http://www.adoptioninstitute.org/media/20071112_study_forrecords.php">Press Release</a><br />This study, published as part of National Adoption Awareness month, represents the most comprehensive examination to date of one of the most controversial, emotional issues in the modern adoption world: whether adopted people, once they become adults, should have access to their original birth certificates. This report suggests that all states change their laws so that the answer is "yes." This policy paper is the result of the broadest, most extensive examination to date of the various issues related to state laws governing adult adopted persons' access to their original birth certificates and/or adoption records; and recommendations in this paper are drawn from a review and analysis of past and current state laws; legislative history in states across the country; decades of experience on relevant issues; and the body of research relating to sealed and open records on the affected parties.<br /><br /><br />Mutual Consent: Balancing the Birthparent’s Right to Privacy with the<br />Adopted Person’s Desire to Know<br />Marc Zappala<br /><a href="https://www.adoptioncouncil.org/resources/documents/NCFAAdoptionAdvocateVolumeNo10.pdf">https://www.adoptioncouncil.org/resources/documents/NCFAAdoptionAdvocateVolumeNo10.pdf</a>Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06936405113655923068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278743015447579718.post-83502393848871486542009-05-14T19:21:00.000-07:002009-05-15T06:20:05.219-07:00International Adoption: kidnapping, fraud, coercion, deceit, lawbreaking, repulsive<strong><span style="color:#333333;">There's no need for me to comment. This story speaks for itself. Be sure to click on the slide-show for specific stories. I pray more American families seek the truth and find their adoptees first families. Everyone deserves to know the truth about themselves.</span></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>The Orphan Trade: </strong><br /><strong>A look at families affected by corrupt international adoptions.</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>By E.J. GraffPosted Friday, May 8, 2009, at 7:08 AM ET</strong><br /><br /><a href="javascript:void(window.open(" width="945," height="735," left="," top="," resizable="no,status=yes,fullscreen=no,location=no,menubars=no,scrollbars=yes,titlebar=no,toolbar=no,'));"" s_oid="javascript:void(window.open('http://www.slate.com/id/2217608/slideshow/2217933/','_blank','width=945" s_oidt="0"></a><a href="javascript:void(window.open(" status="no,scrollbars=no,'));"" width="940," height="735," left="," top="," resizable="no,"></a>Click <a href="javascript:void(window.open(" width="945," height="735," left="," top="," resizable="no,status=yes,scrollbars=yes,'));"">here</a> to read a slide-show essay about international adoption.<br /><br />Who wants to buy a baby? Certainly not most people who are trying to adopt internationally. And yet too often—without their knowledge—that's what happens with their dollars and euros.<br />Westerners have been sold a myth that poor countries have <a href="http://www.brandeis.edu/investigate/gender/adoption/bgop-ed.html" target="_blank">millions</a> of healthy abandoned infants and toddlers who need homes. But it's not so. In poor countries, as in rich ones, healthy babies are rarely orphaned or given up—except in China, where girls have been abandoned as a result of its draconian one-child policy.<br /><br />Yes, tens of thousands of needy children around the world—many languishing in horrible institutions—do need families. But most children who need new homes are older than 5, sick, disabled, or somehow traumatized. Quite reasonably, most prospective Western parents don't feel prepared to take on those more challenging kids, preferring to wait in line for healthy infants or toddlers.<br /><br />The result is a gap between supply and demand—a gap that's closed by Western money. Adoption agencies spend sums in-country that are enormous compared with local per-capita incomes. In poor countries without effective regulation or protections for the poor, that can induce locals to buy, coerce, defraud, and kidnap healthy children away from their birth families for sale into international adoption.<br /><br />To use the language of globalization, orphans are sometimes "manufactured": Children with families are stripped of their identities so that Westerners can fill their homes. No one knows how many or how few are "manufactured." Whatever the proportion, the Western adoption agencies can plausibly deny knowing what their local contractors are doing wrong—and yet continue to send tens of thousands of U.S. dollars in per-child commissions to local "facilitators" who supply children. Once an illicit orphan-manufacturing chain gets going, "facilitators" may even solicit older and unhealthy children to order. When one country's adoptions are closed down to regulate or stop the trafficking, the adoption industry moves to the next "hot" and under-regulated country. (For Americans, these are currently Ethiopia and, to a lesser degree, Nepal.)<br /><br />Sometimes these people don't seem real; their names are strange, and they live far away, in unimaginably different circumstances. To help imagine their lives, we present some pictures of families affected by corrupt adoptions.<br /><br />Source: <a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2217608/">http://www.slate.com/id/2217608/</a><br /><br /><span style="color:#333333;"><strong>Click </strong></span><a href="javascript:void(window.open(" width="945," height="735," left="," top="," resizable="no,status=yes,scrollbars=yes,'));""><span style="color:#333333;"><strong>here</strong></span></a><span style="color:#333333;"><strong> to read a slide-show essay about international adoption.</strong></span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span><br />E.J. Graff is associate director and senior researcher at the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism, Brandeis University. You will find documentation behind these stories, as well as more research and information about irregularities in international adoption, at the <a href="http://www.brandeis.edu/investigate/" target="_blank">institute's Web site</a>.Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06936405113655923068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278743015447579718.post-76126135426761145462009-05-12T12:07:00.000-07:002009-05-12T12:14:36.687-07:00The truth will be heardI am back, somewhat. Thanks for the kind words during my illness.<br /><br />I was searching adoption and old stories and found this link to the video of the North Carolina Court of Appeals and Allison Quets's fight for a best interests hearing in the case of her twins, Tyler and Holly. <br /><br />Video link of hearing: <a href="http://www.wral.com/news/local/video/4880619">http://www.wral.com/news/local/video/4880619</a> <br /><br />Though the law requires a best interests hearing in this custody case, one has never happened. The lower court judge, Anne Salisbury, must be entirely humiliated and embarrassed, too, as her inability to follow the law is made clear in this video.<br /><br />How humiliating for Kevin Needham and Denise Needham and their attorney, Deborah Sandlin, to be chastised by the appellate justices and asked why the Constitution wasn't applied to the case.Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06936405113655923068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278743015447579718.post-21867553833476117362008-09-22T20:39:00.003-07:002008-09-22T20:39:47.005-07:00been illI've not forgotten about this blog or its readers. I will return to research and post when health permits.Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06936405113655923068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278743015447579718.post-60295086424608841142008-07-31T18:21:00.000-07:002008-07-31T18:24:32.764-07:00happily never after?Why do families who wish to adopt children really participate and fight in these contested adoptions? I would really like to hear from some of you who are involved in a legal battle with biological families. I am just so surprised by what I read and by how much attention this blog has gotten since I posted about these contested adoptions.<br /><br />What is a graceful way out for these situations? The children don't win. How do these situations resolve without damage to the children?Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06936405113655923068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278743015447579718.post-58803899687718344992008-07-22T13:25:00.001-07:002008-07-25T06:51:54.783-07:00Adoptee Rights Demonstration todayWill post updates and links as soon as they appear.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080624/NEIGHBORHOODS03/806240328">Press Release</a><br /><br /><a href="http://adopteerights.net/nulliusfilius/?p=245">The Adoptee Rights Demonstration</a> find updates here.<br /><br /><em>Times Picayune</em> <a href="http://www.nola.com/timespic/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-6/121679058439520.xml&coll=1">article</a>Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06936405113655923068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278743015447579718.post-58176092843102720222008-07-20T20:09:00.000-07:002008-07-20T20:42:01.623-07:00The adoption money trailWhy is adoption so expensive? Where does the money come from? Where does it go to? What is it for? Agency websites state that domestic infant adoption in the United States can cost an adoptive parent(s) $12,000 to $30,000. I have heard more at adoption discussion forums, up to $50,000. This is easy information to verify if you google adoption agencies and check price lists.<br /><br />Why the disparity in costs for infant adoptions? The agency websites state it depends on the circumstance of the adoption: this means the financial needs of the expectant mother, from what I can discern. Medical and housing costs are sometimes paid to the adoption agency by the prospective adoptive parents with the intention of supporting an expectant mother considering relinquishment.<br /><br />While initially, it seems to make good sense for the expectant mother to have medical care financed, and why not by the people who will parent the child she carries, it becomes less of a benevolent gift when realizing <a href="http://www.nls.org/medicaid/pregnant.htm">Medicaid</a> is availabe for a pregnant woman who has no insurance. The taxpayer is supporting the medical needs of the expectant mothers. Why, then, are prospective adoptive couples paying for medical care? (And the idea that good medical care isn't available with Medicaid is false. My own excellent and carefully chosen physician is a Medicaid provider, so I know this is a logical fallacy, in most cases, to claim the care isn't available without private payment.) <br /><br /><strong>Why do the adoption agencies then file for Medicaid benefits for the expectant mothers after receiving medical payments from prospective adoptive families?</strong> Why is this allowed if there are no outstanding medical bills and an itemized receipt for adoptive families that include medical care for the pregnant mother?<br /><br />Not only is the taxpayer funding the medical care for expectant women, which I am not arguing is a problem, but the taxpayer is funding the adoptive family's growth via <a href="http://www.nls.org/medicaid/pregnant.htm">tax credits</a>. Employers sometimes provide adoption money as well.<br /><br />This money trail is puzzling. The adoption agencies, which are nonprofit (???), are paid twice for medical expenses for the expectant mother, the adopting family is given government tax credits. Taxpayers are, in fact, paying for the adoption in many ways.Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06936405113655923068noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278743015447579718.post-50895769451732598112008-07-12T16:03:00.000-07:002008-07-12T16:12:24.707-07:00further researchThis blog has received several Florida hits since I wrote of Allison Quets's custody battle with Kevin Needham and Denise Needham, and Catherine Ristow's fight for her daughter. Among those hits were google/yahoo searchs for Michael Shorstein's name.<br /><br />Let's experiment by listing the names of those Jacksonville attornies publically known to practice child trafficking under the guise of adoption.<br /><br />Michael Shorstein<br />Jeanne Tate<br />Patricia Strowbridge Wattle<br /><br />Who might visit me tomorrow as a result?Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06936405113655923068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278743015447579718.post-66928915294414014112008-07-11T19:01:00.000-07:002008-07-11T19:24:58.779-07:00Natural mothers speak<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ks3P59z5gUk">Video</a> of natural mothers speaking of their loss of their child(ren).<br /><br />These well-spoken, educated women grieve their children and share how that pain impacted their entire lives.Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06936405113655923068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278743015447579718.post-29356449930884886722008-07-06T20:50:00.000-07:002008-07-09T21:17:08.634-07:00Allison Quets: her twins were stolenHolly Ann and Tyler Lee turn three today.<br /><br /><span style="color:#33ff33;">Happy birthday, sweet children. Your mother loves you very much and is missing you terribly. And I know you are missing her. The three of you will be a family again, and this hurt you all have felt will be the past.<br /></span><br />This case makes me wonder such pain can be endorsed by the legal system. What was a custody dispute is now a contest adoption, since the NC courts finalized the adoption on September 17, 1007. The amount of documentation proving the fraud, coercion, and child trafficking in this case is astounding, yet the children are not home.<br /><br />The law states that an adoption which crosses state lines requires proceedings to comply with the laws of BOTH states. In NC, there is a 7 day time period for revocation. Ms. Quets revoked verbally within hours and legally within 2 days. She was very ill at the time all this occurred and overwhelmed. Technically, the prospective adoptive parents are in violation of the interestate laws on adoption. That means they should actually be charged with interference with parental custody and kidnapping.<br /><br />Allison's twins were stolen by Kevin Needham and Denise Needham with the help of Michael Shorstein, Kathleen Stevens, Judge Mathis, and many others complicit in the greed of the Florida adoption industry. This is not a case of adoption gone bad, not at all. This is a case of <a href="http://www.hollyandtyler.info/Legal-System/jax_pros.html">corruption</a> .<br /><br />Visit Allison's site <a href="http://www.tylerandholly.info/">http://www.tylerandholly.info/</a> to see the documentation of corruption. The website is incredibly deep and thorough. Allison has been <a href="http://allisonquets.com/Best-Interests-Rights/Visitation/Visits_Orders.html">denied visits</a> ; the Needhams have <a href="http://www.hollyandtyler.info/Media/What_did_they_say.html">lied under oath</a> ; the media reports are full of <a href="http://www.hollyandtyler.info/Civil-Case/Errors_Omissions.html">errors and omissions</a>.Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06936405113655923068noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278743015447579718.post-91886806342371007002008-07-03T06:27:00.000-07:002008-07-07T11:15:40.657-07:00Stephanie Bennett waits for Evelyn to come home<a href="http://sendevelynhome.com/default.aspx">Send Evelyn home</a> is the website created by Stephanie's parents as they fight to bring their granddaughter home to her mother.<br /><br /><br /><br />Stephanie was 17 when she became pregnant with Evelyn. A school counselor became involved and brought in "A Child Waiting." She was convinced to sign papers and run away from home. Her parents have started legal action. The school is culpable, the agency is culpable, the State of Ohio is culpable, and Evelyn's abducters are culpable and should return her to her mother. That is the crux of it: if these adopters love Evelyn as much as they claim, then their sacrificial love should FORCE them to return her to her mother and family.<br /><br /><br /><br />Origins USA says <a href="http://www.prlog.org/10006049-originsusa-demands-return-of-baby-evelyn-to-bennett-family.html">this</a>:<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a style="TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="http://www.prlog.org/">PRLog (Press Release)</a> – Richmond, VA January 10, 2007 - Stephanie Bennett of Canton, Ohio signed adoption surrender documents on the second meeting with a representative of "A Child's Waiting" adoption agency. She had been introduced to an agency representative by her high school counselor on the grounds of Glen Oak High School in Canton. Stephanie, who was 17 at the time, was advised by the adoption agency representative to run away from home and sign documents in another county.<br /><br /><br /><br />Stephanie Bennett's parents went to court in Stark County and were awarded custody of their grandchild, Evelyn, but the adoption agency refuses to return Stephanie Bennett's baby. OriginsUSA decries the continuing exploitation of American mothers via adoption and demands the immediate return of Baby Evelyn to her legal and natural family. OriginsUSA demands adequate legal safeguards be written into law to clearly define such behavior by any agency as kidnapping, with appropriate legal remedies and punishments for same. Until there are very real legal consequences for such behavior, it will continue.<br /><br /><br /><br />With the Bennett case coming as it does on the heels of the Quets case, OriginsUSA once again demands that American lawmakers do their duty to protect ALL the people (see, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 25(2) "Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection"), not just monied adoption industry lobbyists, adoption agencies and people desperate to adopt children.<br /><br /><br /><br />OriginsUSA demands justice FOR ALL.<br /><br /><br /><br />***** For more information about the truth of adoption, past and present, join us at OriginsUSA. Origins USA advocates for the preservation of natural families and, as a last resort, alternative systems of child care that respect the needs and dignity of both mother and child above permanent adoption separation. We provide support for people separated by adoption, fight coercive adoption practices, and educate the public and policy makers about the effects of adoption separation. A national organization, we are internationally affiliated with Origins Inc. ( NSW Australia), Origins Canada, and other Origins branches in those countries. OriginsUSA has also aligned with Tracker’s International in the U.K. and with Adoption Crossroads in the U.S. For further information contact: OriginsUSA Claudia Corrigan Sheeley, Public Relations Chair: PR@OriginsUSA.org 845-339-2640 <a href="http://www.originsusa.org/" target="_blank">http://www.OriginsUSA.org/</a>Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06936405113655923068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278743015447579718.post-3974910672858781362008-07-02T18:17:00.000-07:002008-07-03T06:26:28.133-07:00goodness but contested adoption cases bring blog trafficThe intent of this blog is to share research and ideas about adoption practices in the United States as well as insights into adoption in general. I don't intend this blog to focus on contested adoptions but the inherent problems in the system. The contested cases are symptoms of bigger problems, legal, social, and cultural.<br /><br />But, boy, do the contested cases increase blog traffic. A single post about Catherine Ristow's case brought as many visitors in one day as I usually get in one week. I am glad others still care about her case, as I do very much. This makes me think that I should create more posts about the multiple contested cases where natural parents are being denied basic civil rights.<br /><br />So my agenda is as follows: Stephanie Bennet, Cody O'Dea, Shawn McDonald, and Allison Quets. In alphabetical order: two natural mothers, two natural fathers, five stolen children. Child trafficking at the worst; judicial and moral corruption at best.<br /><br />We'll see what readers think, if they like the contested adoption theme week.Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06936405113655923068noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278743015447579718.post-82101271118958374272008-07-01T08:34:00.000-07:002008-07-01T08:46:14.472-07:00Catherine RistowI googled "Catherine Ristow" today to see what was happening in her case and found this <a href="http://www.topix.com/forum/city/orlando-fl/T0V7CQ5EN2I4D0PVM">link</a>. It's tragic and completely unjust that she won a judicial reprimand against the attorney that stole her daughter, yet her daughter isn't home with her.<br /><br />These words appear to be from Catherine herself, though there is always room for doubt on the Internet. I'm copying several of the posts from this thread for your ease and reading. There is more at the link<br /><br /><blockquote><p>September 26, 2007<br />I do appreciate the support that I have been getting out there on the<br />computer! Thank you to all. Micheal Shorstein was not the attorney I got coerced<br />to give my beautiful daughter up....it was Patricia Strowbridge in Orlando,<br />Florida. The only thing I know about Shorstein is he is in cohoots with<br />Strowbridge. Yes, I did won a professional reprimand against Strowbridge, but I<br />still can't see my daughter. Yes, I was severely mentally sick, but I am doing<br />so much better now, to the point that I am a night manager in a busy hotel. If I<br />can do that and have the trust of the General Manager and the corporation, I can<br />take care of my daughter, or visit her with responsibility. This adoption<br />industry is absolutely terrible....what they do to genuine women who did not<br />have their child murdered by abortion is beyond my now mentally healthy<br />comprehension. Birthmothers love their babies so much just like mothers who were<br />fortunate to have a readily available support system and have kept their babies.<br />My family did not know until it was too late, thanks to Strowbridge and her<br />staff. I kept asking about what to do, and they would skirt around the subject,<br />or ignore it, which made my mental health worse, because I could not comprehend<br />downright cruelty at the time. Never in a million years, with my then naivety<br />and poor mental health would I think that people would deliberately snatch my<br />daughter away from me. I am angry, but I am willing to forgive if I get a<br />genuine apology.......from Strowbridge?.....she will never step up to the plate,<br />NEVER, she rather hide behind her Judge husband's bench. Thank you for reading<br />this<br /></p><p>October 1, 2007</p><p>Thanks for your support. I am managing, I will NEVER stop fighting for my daughter. I do things for her now even without seeing her........like writing to her in journals and having a savings account for her. I see you are in Orlando, Fl and you appear to be an advocate and supporter for victims of highly unethical and illegal adoptions. Please spread the word in your area that the pregnancy center that is a missionary of a baptist church on LB McCloud is POISON. They are pro life (which is great) but they go about it wrong, they don't care about the birthmother, just the baby so they can get a kickback from the only referral they used in 2001, which was Patricia Strowbridge. I complained so hard that they supposedly do not use Strowbridge as a one and only referral anymore, however the director of that pregnancy center, Sandra Epperson, hung up on me and raised her voice at me because she could not handle the fact that I caught her in a cohoot situation with Strowbridge. There is so much to cover, and I could go on and on, but I will stop for now. Please try to pass on the information, and hopefully we can save someone from being a victim like me. Most importantly we can save an innocent child from being purposely ripped from their blood roots and what makes them tick. Thanks again and God bless. Catherine </p><p>December 6, 2007</p><p>I don't know if the way adoptions are done in this country by fleshpeddling will cease to exist in my lifetime. Lawyers such as Patricia Strowbridge and Micheal Shorstein are continuing to get away with unethical and illegal practices due to their connections within the legal community. There are a lot of birthmothers that don't share their nightmare of experiences, having their baby stolen legally, due to lies and manipulation, in fear of being ridiculed for falling in that vulnerable trap. The more birthmothers share their stories, the more chances that adoption laws will change in this country to protect birthmothers. In the adoption industry there is no one that protects birthmothers, no one. It is all about the adoptive parents who pay that are protected. The baby is merchandise. Birthmothers are considered baby machines with no feelings. As a birthmother I am beyond insulted. I am a human being, with feelings, and I deserve to be protected. I hope that one day my story will be considered a legal past precedent, considering I did win a professional reprimand against Patricia Strowbridge. I hope that one day adoption will be used only in cases of extreme emergencies, not used to bully women out of their children so "subsitute parents" can relive their childhood through the pain and suffering of the real mother. I hope and I hope....also I hope adoptions professionals can look at themselves in the mirror clearly with no justification of their unethical and illegal behavior. Oh by the way, if adoption is so great why havn't Patricia Strowbridge and Micheal Shorstein given up their children???? All I can say is they are ballsy and hypocritical. If any birthmother reads this, PLEASE SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE AND LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD....I guarantee you that it will make a big difference one day and laws will be changed! Thank you for reading this. </p><p>December 9, 2007</p><p>I am definitely utilizing this Topix website. This is Catherine Ristow, again, yes, again. The Adoption Ethics and Issues website is playing games with me with submitting my comments...so, since this is such an easy one to submit comments I decided to use it. Marilsa Medina made comments on Adoption Ethics and Issues saying she is a Senior Adoption Coordinator in Orlando, Fl and that Chosen Child, in Orlando, Fl, is a legitimate and ethical fully licensed agency. Marilsa Medina works for Patricia Strowbridge. When I was forced to work with them in 2001, they were not an agency, after they legally kidnapped my daughter, they became an agency in the August 2001 time period. When I interacted with them they were a lawyers office that accepted one and only referrals from Sandra Epperson, a pregnancy director. The flow of birthmothers coming in were not protected in any way shape or form. They were used in a carefully crafted system. Their clients, the adoptive parents, were protected. Marilsa Medina says they are ethical and legitimate, that is such a bogus hypocritical statement from her. I WITNESSED her manipulation and lies. I asked Marilsa for my time with my daughter in the hospital and she said Patricia has kids....well, what about my kid?...then she watched me cry in silence along with Patricia while she stamped away with her notary. I was expressing doubts throughout my pregnancy and she boldly used the tactic of saying "Catherine, do you believe in God?". She never had time for me, always brushing me off saying she is busy. Marilsa had children, Marilsa if adoption is so great why didn't you give up YOUR daughter? Please ignore Marilsa Medina's comments on the Adoption Ethics and Issues website, she is a total hypocrite who constantly justifies her UNETHICAL and CRUEL behavior so adoptive couples can make cookies at a loving genuine real mothers expense. It is obvious that I am angry, but I have absolutely every right to be. I am a mother and I cannot see my daughter, only in sporadic pictures throughout the year to shut me up. Thanks for reading this. </p><p> </p><p>December 13, 2007</p><p>I'd like to make one more comment about Marilsa Medina, as I realize I have exhausted this topix website, with my fifth entry, however there is so much to cover.....Marilsa Medina tricked me out of a conversation with the Winter Park, Fl adoption hospital social worker, Hilda Perez. Marilsa brought her in my hospital room within 10 minutes of me having a c-section. Marilsa used the tactic of asking me if she should leave since Hilda was there. I said that was okay, this put Hilda on the spot, and she asked me one question, "do you know what you are doing?", I said "yes", because of the brain wash of an adoption plan I was forced into due to a pregnancy center being in cohoots with Patricia Strowbridge, a lawyer....and an adoption counselor, Angela Quick, a founder of an adoption center in Port Orange, Fl, who was utilized as a detective to see how I ticked to insure a complete adoption........also I was severely mentally ill........the only word I said to Hilda was one word yes, later Patricia Strowbridge BOLDLY LIED and said that I talked to the hospital social worker for an hour!!!!! Hilda drifted out of the room after my one word yes, that does not take an hour. Having some interaction was needed in the paperwork I was forced to sign, when I asked for more time and they gave me no other options, they were silent. I AM TELLING EVERYONE, ADOPTION SCAMS, UNETHICAL BEHAVIOR, AND ILLEGAL PRACTICES EXIST IN THIS COUNTRY, WITH PATRICIA STROWBRIDGE AS A PRIME EXAMPLE. I appreciate everyone reading my comments!!! I love my daughter, and I will never stop fighting for her. </p><p> </p><p>December 15, 2007</p><p>IT IS VERY OBVIOUS THAT I AM NOT SCARED OF PATRICIA STROWBRIDGE. I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO BE SCARED OF...I AM A HONEST PERSON, AND THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE....I AM A GRIEVING MOTHER THAT HAS NOT SEEN MY BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER IN SIX YEARS WHEN I ASKED FOR MORE TIME IN THE HOSPITAL, IF I WAS DEALING WITH ETHICAL AND HONEST ADOPTION PROFESSIONALS THAT CARED ABOUT ME AND WERE PROTECTING ME, I WOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED MORE TIME AND I WOULD HAVE MY DAUGHTER NOW.......BUT, OF COURSE NOT...GREEDY SELFISH ADOPTIVE PARENTS WHO SMOTHERED ME WITH (GIVE ME YOUR BABY GIFTS), WERE WAITING AND HYPERVENTILATING OUTSIDE MY HOSPITAL ROOM AND ALL PATRICIA STROWBRIDGE CARED ABOUT WAS THEM AND A COMPLETE ADOPTION...I CAN GO ON AND ON AND ON, BUT I AM SURE ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE READ MY COMMENTS HAVE THE FULL PICTURE, WITH MY SIXTH ENTRY. IF YOU WANT TO READ MORE, GOOGLE MY NAME, I AM STARTING TO BE EVERYWHERE IN ADOPTION CIRCLES. I LOVE MY DAUGHTER AND MISS HER SO MUCH........THANKS TO ALL FOR READING MY COMMENTS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS! CATHERINE </p><p>February 7, 2008</p><p>I just found on another blog dated the same date January 12, 2008 that you put comments on this Topix website, that you put the statement, "Patricia Strowbridge is a God send to us". It would appear that you are a new adopted mother and Patricia may have encouraged you to submit a comment since she is getting very bad publicity. I hope Patricia Strowbridge has learned her lesson and that handling illegal and unethical adoptions is wrong and evil. Hopefully she has applied what she has hopefully learned and handled the adoption of your adopted son legally and ethically, but I am sorry to say, I DOUBT IT. It would appear that all adoptive parents that use Patricia Strowbridge are happy because she gets them what they want, a child. The adoptive parents naturally are going to have more joy out of adoption that birthparents. How many birthparents are going to say "Patricia Strowbridge is a God send to me"? I guarantee you ZILCH or maybe one or two because she brainwashed them with their vulnerability. I say and I am speaking for other birthmothers dealing with her that she, Patricia Strowbridge, is "the devil sent to me". Adoption can be a beautiful thing for all parties involved if it is done right and for the right reasons. Like I said before, I was mentally ill, and Patricia Strowbrige did not do a mental health evaluation, when it was obvious to her and the adoptive parents of my child that I was sick. Of course not, if an evaluation was done it would interfere with her and the adoptive parents agenda. Mother4Life, I have noticed that you have not rebuttled me or Charles Hannasch with your real name. It would appear that you do not want to face the facts...I guess you are too busy spoiling your new adopted son. Let me ask you this, do you ever think about the real mother of your adopted son, and the tremendous sacrifice she did for the love of her son, or are you just delusional and in denial while you pretend your adopted son is really yours, when the reality is he is not. Yes, legally, but not naturally. Oh by the way, I am still waiting for an apology from you. Thanks to all reading my comments </p><p> </p><p>April 3, 2008</p><p>Thanks for your encouraging words, and nice to hear from you again. I will always fight for my daughter. No updates yet, but there are some things in progress, it just takes time...My daughter in my arms again...Do you know the first thing I would like to do with my daughter besides tell her how much I love her? Have a sit down with her and a therapist so we can both overcome the terrible affects that adoption had on our lives and then we can move on. My daughter is the true victim. She is being used by her adoptive parents for social status. They begged me for her when I was sick because they thought I was pretty and they wanted a pretty child. They use her for all the fun activities that come with having a child and could care less about her mental health. I say that because they don't care about me so that means that they don't care about her. When the time is right I will reveal in public who the adoptive parents are, I am sure they won't mind, after all they did willingly give me their identity. This will give them the opportunity to tell their side of the story. There is always another side of a story, however the difference between mine and theirs is I have nothing to hide and they do. Thanks again, just5kids, and God Bless! Catherine </p><p> </p><p>April 4, 2008</p><p>Here are a few examples of brutal tactics that I got from the adoptive parents of my daughter. </p><p>"We are forever in your debt"</p><p>"You are so brave"</p><p>($100 flowers in the hospital)-the card read"All Our Love and God Bless</p><p> just had a C-section, not one comment was made about my health but an invite....</p><p> "Catherine, christening..."</p><p>"with love, and great expectations"</p><p>"I would like a little more open of adoption and perhaps we can talk to Patricia about this..."</p><p>I have it all in writing and MUCH MUCH MORE. All I can say is WHAT A CROCK!!!! The adoptive parents of my daughter are LIARS and HYPOCRITES! Well, I am done for now. Thanks to all for reading my comments! Catherine </p><p>April 7, 2008</p><p>Dear Just5Kids,You think what I told you was awful, that is just the beginning....The adoptive parents don't even respond to my parents pleas for visits....my parents did not know until it was too late, thanks to all the coercian from Patricia Strowbridge's office....I kept asking about what to do in telling my parents and they would skirt around the subject or ignore it...anyway, my father wrote the adoptive parents pleading that he was 65 and did not no how long he had left on this earth to see his granddaughter and guess what the adoptive parents did? IGNORE MY PARENTS PLEAS. My parents not knowing greatly helped in Patricia Strowbridge ability to kidnap, the adoptive parents knew it...and then later when my dad requests a visit THEY IGNORE HIM!!!!! I am truly scared for my daughter's mental health being with these people. I can go on and on about them, I havn't revealed who they are for now, but I am so grateful that I know who they are. They used their identity with me as a tool to get my flesh and blood and their property.As far as the judicial reprimand, it was a reprimand that I won within the Florida Bar. All the reprimand has given me so far is credibility in my comments because the Florida Bar believed me and saw the truth. The adoption of my daughter stands because Patricia Strowbridge is married to a Judge and has connections with the legal community in Orlando where she appears to be protected. It is called corruption, no one down there will touch my case, because if they did Patricia Strowbridge would lose her license and my lawyer would be considered a black sheep for causing such a commotion in the legal community of Orlando, Florida. Also my lawyer would have to cross legal paths with Judge Wattles, Patricia Strowbridge's husband, and there would be serious ramifications for exposing the truth!!I hope I answered your questions...This adoption industry has no mercy, NO MERCY AT ALL! Sharon Tate was 8 1/2 months pregnant when Sicko Charles Manson followers brutally murdered her, when her last words were about her baby...they had no mercy on her.....same thing with adoption professionals, they may not brutally physically murder you, but they brutally mentally murder you by preying on your poor mental health, vulnerability and pleas for more time with your baby, and they have no mercy whatsoeverI also would like to say that I am getting the mental health that I need and I do go to therapy. I will stop for now and thank just5kids and everyone for their support. I am positive that one day it will pay off and these cruel, evil and mean adoption professionals will be forced to find another field of work. </p></blockquote><br /><strong>Pregnancy is difficult, and some women struggle with their health. A treatable mental health condition is no reason to take a child from her mother. But it seems it is a reason for adoption entities to make a profit.</strong>Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06936405113655923068noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278743015447579718.post-40027933013881423532008-06-24T16:34:00.000-07:002008-06-24T16:40:41.746-07:00Adoptee Rights DemonstrationADOPTEE RIGHTS DEMONSTRATION - EQUAL ACCESS TO BIRTH CERTIFICATES<br /><br />Adopted persons, their families and friends will be gathering in NewOrleans for the National Conference of State Legislators for ademonstration on equal rights for adopted persons in the United States.<br /><br />DATE: July 22, 2008<br /><br />TIME: 9:00 am<br /><br />DEMONSTRATION LOCATION: Lafayette Square Park New Orleans.<br /><br />The demonstration will begin at Lafayette Square Park marching 8 blocks tothe National Conference of State Legislators being held at the ErnestN. Morial Convention Center ( 900 Convention Center Blvd., New Orleans)<br /><br />WEB SITE FOR DEMONSTRATION: <a href="http://www.adopteerights.net/">http://www.adopteerights.net</a><br /><br />In the United States only six states (Alabama, Alaska, Kansas, Maine,New Hampshire and Oregon) allow adopted persons access to their original birth certificates. We believe that it is discriminatory to legally withhold personal information and documents from citizens thatall other tax-paying voting citizens are entitled to.Nowhere on any adoption contract or in any legislation is it written that an adopted person can not possess their original birthcertificate or why the birth certificate is withheld from the adoptee.<br /><br />Opposition to adopted persons possessing their original birthcertificates will present legally unsupported claims that a relinquishing mother has the right to privacy and to be protected fromher daughter or son relinquished to adoption, therefore allowing amother a lifetime of privacy and anonymity. This is discrimination. Relinquishing mothers do not seal their children's original birthcertificates - the original birth certificates are sealed by state governments.<br /><br />The participants of the demonstration believe that every citizen ofthe United States should be treated equally. To do otherwise is discrimination. We would like all remaining states to introduce legislation that will allow adopted persons in the United Statesaccess to their original birth certificates.We encourage your reporters to cover this story and event to help us bring public awareness to this demonstration in New Orleans.<br /><br />Media contacts for New Orleans Demonstration<br />Kali Coultas<br />805 500-5317 (pst)<br />Cell: 805 607-2704<br /><a href="mailto:withoutatribe@%20yahoo.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" ymailto="mailto:withoutatribe%40yahoo.com">withoutatribe@ yahoo.com</a><br /><br />Michelle Edmunds<br />516 593-2753 (est)<br />Cell: 516 263-1556<br /><a href="mailto:263-1556michelle.edmunds@%20gmail.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" ymailto="mailto:michelle.edmunds%40gmail.com">michelle.edmunds@ gmail.com</a><br /><br /><a href="http://amyadoptee.blogspot.com/2008/06/adoptee-rights-demonstration-media.html">Source</a>Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06936405113655923068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278743015447579718.post-66753792893121848392008-06-08T07:22:00.001-07:002008-06-08T18:52:12.240-07:00The Myth: adoption is for childrenToo much money and too many adult emotional needs are put ahead of the needs of children.<br /><br />These <a href="http://adsoftheworld.com/media/print/the_indian_association_for_promotion_of_adoption_child_welfare_mother_daughter">images </a>by The Indian Association For Promotion Of Adoption & Child Welfare explore the reality of many adoptions. Though the ads are intended to show the rewards of adoption, the images do more to debunk the myth that adoption is for children. Too many American adoptions are about fulfilling the wants and desires of needy couples and/or filling the pockets of the attorneys.<br /><br />If adoption were about the children, then nearly every infant born would be with the woman who carried him/her because the proper supports and helps would have been in place to prevent any need for adoption. Any close look at domestic infant adoption will reveal too many cases of temporary illness and struggle or flat out coercion.Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06936405113655923068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278743015447579718.post-81456220920646513302008-04-07T14:10:00.000-07:002008-04-07T14:15:55.415-07:00Florida Adoption CouncilIn this <a href="http://adoptioninamerica.blogspot.com/2008/02/wow.html">post </a>, I reference the <a href="http://www.corporationwiki.com/Florida/Orlando/florida-adoption-council-inc-5698308.aspx">Florida Adoption Council, Inc.</a> My research was not complete, and I apologize to readers of this blog.<br /><br />What I should have added at that time is the fact that Patricia Strowbridge owns part (or all) of the Council; thus, an individual who profits from adoption has set up this "nonprofit" organization that is supposed to educate and help set legislation for the State of Florida. Intersting.Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06936405113655923068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278743015447579718.post-89146565992148368362008-04-05T19:09:00.000-07:002008-04-05T19:28:14.140-07:00Adoptions are NOT all VOLUNTARY or ETHICALly managedIf relinquishments were always voluntary and ethically mangaged, then mothers like <a href="http://www.tylerandholly.info/">Allison Quets</a> wouldn't fight for more than two years and spend close to one million dollars.<br /><br />If relinquishments were always voluntary and ethically managed, mothers like Catherine Ristow would not win <a href="http://paragraphein.wordpress.com/2006/12/31/petition-for-allison-quets/">Supreme Court reprimands</a> against <a href="http://www.achosenchild.com/staff.aspx">attornies </a>who are married to judges, as in Patricia Strowbridge, Executive Director of A Chosen Child.<br /><br />If relinquishments were always voluntary and ethically managed, mothers like <a href="http://www.familykb.com/Uwe/Forum.aspx/adoption/6812/Biological-Mom-Abducted-Baby-Feds-Say">Jamie Kiefer</a> would not have to resort to taking their children back at gun point.<br /><br />If relinquishments were always voluntary and ethically managed, mothers like <a href="http://www.remembercindy.com/">Cindy Ross Jordan</a> would not be so emotionally tortured that they would take their own lives.<br /><br />If relinquishments were always voluntary and ethically managed, women like <a href="http://lifemothers.com/fasttracktobetrayal.html">Susan Burns </a>would not be mothers and writing <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fast-Track-Adoption-Faster-Privately/dp/0312307012">books</a> (be sure to review the comments) about how to efficiently take <a href="http://www.thewholemom.com/Files/Remnants/Nov_15_05_adoption.html">children from other mothers</a>.Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06936405113655923068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278743015447579718.post-45823112507898329432008-02-18T18:46:00.001-08:002008-04-05T19:27:23.093-07:00Adoption is about PROFITThe Florida Adoption Council has a lobbyist. What is the job of a lobbyist for a nonprofit organization? What does <a href="http://www.floridalobbyistdirectory.com/Lobbyist.aspx?id=808">Jon E. Johnson</a> do with his time? Who pays him? Where does money to pay him come from if adoption is nonprofit?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.floridalobbyistdirectory.com/Principal.aspx?id=1754">http://www.floridalobbyistdirectory.com/Principal.aspx?id=1754</a> If adoption is nonprofit, why are there adoption lobbyists?Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06936405113655923068noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278743015447579718.post-32673591604335080032007-12-27T06:40:00.001-08:002008-07-09T21:10:23.293-07:00Adoption is not promoted in the BibleI have been called unChristian because of my opposition to unethical/illegal adoptions, yet I find tremendous support in the Bible for my stance.<br /><br /><strong>Adoption itself is NOT promoted in the Bible. In fact, caring for and supporting biological parents IS promoted in the Bible.</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=job%2022&version=31">Job 22: 5 </a><br /><em>Is not your wickedness great? Are not your sins endless? You demanded security from your brothers for no reason; you stripped men of their clothing, leaving them naked. You gave no water to the weary and you withheld food from the hungry, though you were a powerful man, owning land--an honored man, living on it. And you sent widows away empty-handed and broke the strength of the fatherless.</em><br /><br />It is the Christian's responsibility to care for the poor and sick...and many mothers meet this criteria in American adoption situations. Women who are poor and feel they have no resources to raise children? The Christian's responsibility is to provide resources, not convince them to relinquish. Wealth is not a criteria for parenting, yet adoption in America makes wealth out to be important. It is the Christian's responsibility to offer caring, compassion, and respite to the sick.<br /><br /><strong>And contested adoptions are outright sin on the part of prospective adoptive parents. Why do I say this?</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=deutoronomy%2027;&version=31;">Deuteronomy 27:19 </a><br /><em>Cursed is the man who withholds justice from the alien, the fatherless or the widow.</em><br /><em></em><br />To withhold a child from his/her parents is a tremendous injustice.<br /><br />What else is one to make from these Old Testament quotes? The New Testament is full of the words of Christ stating to care for those who need it.Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06936405113655923068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278743015447579718.post-61592611686675410322007-12-11T07:12:00.001-08:002007-12-12T06:25:59.439-08:00WelcomeWelcome to Adoption in America: Debunking Myths.<br /><br />I am a researcher and writer who has, in the last year, realized that adoption in America is not what it is said to be. Adoption has changed, morphed, distorted from a practice to protect orphans and give them a home and permanence: adoption is seldom like this in 2007.<br /><br />Adoption has become about providing children to those who can afford to pay the adoption lawyers and adoption industry.<br /><br />Adoption should be about providing homes for children, not children to homes that can afford to pay for them.<br /><br />I am currently gathering data to present here. Please feel free to comment and add links.Researcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06936405113655923068noreply@blogger.com3