Friday, January 13, 2006
NYC Conference
Adoption: A Spiritual Journey for the Human Family
A seminar entitled Adoption: A Spiritual Journey for the Human Family, hosted by St. Bartholomew's Church at 50th and Park Avenue in New York City, will profile the deep-seated emotional issues and profound questions concerning natural law, ethics, morals and healing. These issues will be discussed by the foremost authors, mental health practitioners and experts in the field of adoption, as well as by members of the triad (birth parents, adoptees and adoptive parents) of all ages and experiences.
The subject of adoption, with all of its complex issues that strike at the heart of what it means to be human, is rarely given a comprehensive hearing, despite the fact that it is estimated that at least one in five Americans are impacted by the separation and losses inherent in adoption. Still, over the years, as those who have been personally affected have explored their issues, the concept of open adoptions has evolved and reform of the arcane American adoption laws, which are rooted in barbaric practices, judgments and romantic myths, has been undertaken.
Yet, despite the great strides made in adoption reform with the recognition of the basic human right of an adopted person to know their family of origin, New York remains the most difficult state for searching. After 20 years of effort, all attempts to pass open records legislation have failed. Because of valiant grassroots efforts, birth records are now available to adult adoptees in Alabama, Alaska, Delaware, Kansas, New Hampshire, Oregon and Tennessee. Open records legislation has been introduced or is under consideration in eight other states, including New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
To move into the new millennium still believing that it is healthy practice to keep adopted people and children in foster care separated from their original families is a travesty morally, ethically and spiritually. The seminar at St. Bart’s is to help us all understand ourselves and each other at a deeper level, so that we can approach our issues with compassion and not with fear, and with the understanding that we are all a part of the human family.
Jarrett Kroll and I , as well as all the panelists whose work in adoption reform is a part of their lives, hope to see you there. After the panel presentations, there will be time for audience participation, because your voices are vital to changing antiquated thinking. We would appreciate your passing this announcement along to your lists. (I lost my email list when my computer crashed.)
Carol Schaefer
Author, The Other Mother: A Woman's Love for the Child She Gave Up for Adoption
Online Registration: www.stbarts.org/boxoffice.htm
Questions? Call Carol at 646.486.3793 or Jarrett at 212.889.5068
A seminar entitled Adoption: A Spiritual Journey for the Human Family, hosted by St. Bartholomew's Church at 50th and Park Avenue in New York City, will profile the deep-seated emotional issues and profound questions concerning natural law, ethics, morals and healing. These issues will be discussed by the foremost authors, mental health practitioners and experts in the field of adoption, as well as by members of the triad (birth parents, adoptees and adoptive parents) of all ages and experiences.
The subject of adoption, with all of its complex issues that strike at the heart of what it means to be human, is rarely given a comprehensive hearing, despite the fact that it is estimated that at least one in five Americans are impacted by the separation and losses inherent in adoption. Still, over the years, as those who have been personally affected have explored their issues, the concept of open adoptions has evolved and reform of the arcane American adoption laws, which are rooted in barbaric practices, judgments and romantic myths, has been undertaken.
Yet, despite the great strides made in adoption reform with the recognition of the basic human right of an adopted person to know their family of origin, New York remains the most difficult state for searching. After 20 years of effort, all attempts to pass open records legislation have failed. Because of valiant grassroots efforts, birth records are now available to adult adoptees in Alabama, Alaska, Delaware, Kansas, New Hampshire, Oregon and Tennessee. Open records legislation has been introduced or is under consideration in eight other states, including New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
To move into the new millennium still believing that it is healthy practice to keep adopted people and children in foster care separated from their original families is a travesty morally, ethically and spiritually. The seminar at St. Bart’s is to help us all understand ourselves and each other at a deeper level, so that we can approach our issues with compassion and not with fear, and with the understanding that we are all a part of the human family.
Jarrett Kroll and I , as well as all the panelists whose work in adoption reform is a part of their lives, hope to see you there. After the panel presentations, there will be time for audience participation, because your voices are vital to changing antiquated thinking. We would appreciate your passing this announcement along to your lists. (I lost my email list when my computer crashed.)
Carol Schaefer
Author, The Other Mother: A Woman's Love for the Child She Gave Up for Adoption
Online Registration: www.stbarts.org/boxoffice.htm
Questions? Call Carol at 646.486.3793 or Jarrett at 212.889.5068
# posted by Senior Mom @ 8:08 AM 
