Author: Bethany

Adoption Photolistings: Children in South Asia

by Bethany, posted in Children Waiting for Families

H15-16Agency staff describe “G” as a really cute and fun little girl with an awesome personality. Her favorite place to go is to the park and her favorite food is chocolate! She likes to play ball and the movie Tangled. She was able to answer questions appropriately during the meeting and gave some answers in English. She has HIV and has some scarring on her eye which does not allow for it to shut completely. There are no health or vision concerns related to her eye. “G” aspires to be a doctor when she grows up! Please reference ID H15-16 to learn more about “G” born in 2008.

H15-12Agency staff had the privilege of meeting five-year-old “H” and she appeared to be happy and healthy. She enjoys going to the park and playing with bikes, dolls and balls. During the observation, she answered questions with some answers in English, colored, sang Twinkle Twinkle with hand gestures and greeted staff with “hello” and “thank you”. “H” attends a Montessori-type school where children advance at their own pace. “H” hopes to be a teacher someday. “H” has HIV and it is managed with medication. Please reference ID H15-12. Eligible families may qualify for a grant through CH/LSS and Brittany’s Hope Foundation.

There are children of all ages waiting in this country. Please contact the Waiting Child Program at Children’s Home & LSS

Ashley Rose Murphy: adult adoptee born with HIV

by Bethany, posted in Family Stories

See complete article ~ amfAR: Living Openly

Talking with Teen HIV Activist Ashley Rose Murphy

ashley rose murphy 1Ashley Rose Murphy is a long-term survivor of HIV. And she is only 18. Born to an HIV-positive mother, she was expected to live only a few months when she was adopted by Kari and Don Murphy. They told her she was living with HIV when she was 7 years old. Yet, despite their misgivings, Ashley never kept her status a secret. Now the high schooler from the Toronto suburb of Ajax is an ambassador for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and works to raise awareness about HIV, especially among her peers. The numbers show the education is needed.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2010, youth aged 13−24 accounted for 26 percent of all new HIV infections in the U.S.

In advance of National Youth HIV and AIDS Awareness Day on April 10, we spoke to Ashley about living openly with HIV, her advocacy work, and eradicating stigma associated with the virus.

Q. What made you decide to share your HIV status openly, especially at such a young age?

A. First and foremost, my family. I come from a diverse family of 10 kids – foster, adopted, natural born. My parents told us to never be ashamed of who we are. So when I found out about my HIV status, I knew that I didn’t want to keep it a secret. I wanted to share and be open, because I figured, ‘Why not?’ That being said, my parents didn’t want me to really tell anybody because they were afraid of people’s reaction. Also at 7, I went to a summer camp for kids who were infected with HIV or affected by it. I realized that many kids weren’t comfortable with their HIV status. I realized that I could be the voice of those who were too afraid to speak up.

Q. How did people respond?

A. The kids were cool with it.  The parents weren’t as accepting. I was invited to a sleepover party when I was 7 years old and one of the moms whose daughter was going called up the host mother and said, ‘Did you know that Ashley has HIV?’ sounding as if she was concerned. The host mom said, ‘Yes, she is going. And if you don’t want your daughter to go, then don’t have her go.’ In the end, the mom smartened up. Her daughter went to the party, I went to the party and we all had a great time.

Q. Since HIV continues to disproportionately affect gay males in America, many people have the perception that they are not at risk. What are the perceptions among your peer group?

Kids my age don’t see HIV as being a big deal, so they don’t protect themselves. People in general think HIV has become a thing of the past.

Q. How much do you use social media to raise awareness of HIV? Do you feel it is effective?

A. I predominantly use Twitter for my advocacy work, and I post a little bit on Facebook and Instagram. I share my story, statistics, articles, material from some of my speeches. I use it to build connections but I also use it to educate people. I do feel like it’s very effective. When I give speeches, I put them on my PowerPoint, my Instagram, my Twitter, my Snapchat. When I go to some schools, I open the floor up to questions, but a lot of kids are kind of shy. So they DM (direct message) me on Twitter or Instagram and ask me questions or tell me their stories.

Ashley Rose Murphy 2
Ashley Rose Murphy addressing the audience at the Inaugaural UNAIDS Gala in Geneva, Switzerland Mar 19th 2015

Q. You have gotten so many opportunities to share your story. Speaking at the UNAIDS gala, during the UN during Assembly week, going to Kenya. How did all these come about?

I’m a WE Day speaker (www.weday.com) and I have been able to meet some really cool people. I’m actually good friends with Kweku Mandela, who is Nelson Mandela’s grandson. He’s had family members who have died of AIDS. When he met me and heard my story, he got inspired and he said, ‘I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but you are what the HIV community needs.’ When people think about HIV, they don’t usually think about an 18-year-old white girl from Canada. He said the fact that I am speaking to people about my status breaks down that whole stereotype of what HIV looks like.  It kind of makes me look like the girl next door. Even a kid in Canada who is 18 and goes to regular high school can have HIV and be born with it.

For more information on National Youth HIV and AIDS Awareness Day, visit http://amplifyyourvoice.org/nyhaad

For more information on Ashley Rose Murphy, go to http://www.pedaids.org/ambassadors/entry/ashley-rose-murphy

Children Living with HIV in India Need Families

by Bethany, posted in Children Waiting for Families

CHSFS.India.HIV.pngFrom Children’s Home Society:

During a recent trip to several regions of India, we had the opportunity to meet many children who are waiting for adoptive families. There are children of all ages waiting who are HIV positive, and there is a large need for adoptive families to provide them a home. We had the privilege of spending time with several of the children, who were able to color pictures to represent themselves, and who told us about their favorite things. They are children who want to be “a teacher,” “a doctor” or “a nurse”  when they grow up; who love to eat “pineapple” and “chocolate;” and to watch the “Princess Barbie movie,” and “Cars” with their friends at the orphanage. The children enjoyed singing for us; singing the “ABCs” in English, and other songs they have learned, such as “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” Each child, filled with potential, waits for a family who can look past the social stigma of their need and open their home to a new family member.

The prevalence of HIV in India is decreasing, but it continues to impact many citizens. It is reported that there are an estimated 2.1 million people living with HIV in India. While there are programs to assist in decreasing the rate of infection, there continues to be mother-to-child transmission of HIV, and it was estimated that 13,000 children in India were born with HIV in 2013. Although there have been many medical advances that have made living with HIV – a manageable condition with regular medication, people with HIV continue to face stigma in India. As a result, the best opportunity for waiting children with HIV to be matched with families is through international adoption.

The adoption landscape in India has experienced many positive changes lately. Over the last several years India has been developing an online system through which licensed adoption agencies are able to review the information of waiting children, and match prospective adoptive families who are approved by CARA (the central authority in India) to waiting children. Additionally, in August of 2015 India implemented new adoption laws allowing more licensed childcare facilities/orphanages where children fit the legal orphan status to take part in the adoption process. Therefore, more children’s paperwork is being completed, and many children are waiting on the online system to be matched with approved prospective adoptive families. Every day, we see children who are HIV positive waiting for adoptive families in India on the online system.

We sincerely hope that you will take a moment to consider adopting a child living with HIV from India, and encourage you to visit our India Program page to learn more. If you would like to learn more about parenting a child with HIV, we have a free, recorded webinar available that speaks to a medical professional and adoptive parent about bringing home a child living with HIV. We would also be happy to discuss the possibility of adoption with you (welcome@chsfs.org; 800.952.9302).

Reference: http://www.avert.org/professionals/hiv-around-world/asia-pacific/india

Watch a recording of a webinar “India Program: New Opportunities in 2016“

Adopting From Brazil

by Bethany, posted in Country Programs

Brazil-Adoption

I have not yet seen any waiting children with HIV in Brazil, nor have I inquired with the agencies working in Brazil. However, according to UNAIDS, as of 2014 there were 60,000-250,000 orphans due to AIDS age 0-17 (most of which are not living with HIV) and there were 11,000-17,000 children aged 0-14 living with HIV (most of which are not orphaned).

The Central Adoption Authority in Brazil known as ACAF has approved four US adoption agencies: Lutheran Social Services, Lifeline Children’s Services, Hand In Hand International Adoptions and Across the World Adoptions (written January 2016). Contact CAFAC in Canada. If you are outside of Canada or US, you’ll need to do some research to see if Brazil has an adoption agreement with your country. Start your research with your country’s adoption authority and with the State Judiciary Commission of Adoption (CEJA): see “Brazil’s Central Authority” for contact info.

Brazil is open to couples and single men and women.  Wonderful news for heterosexual individuals and couples and this is also an excellent option for homosexual individuals and couples as gay adoption is legal in Brazil. Contact the agency CHLSS to find out about waiting children with HIV in Brazil.

7 Year Old Boy in Eastern Europe

by Bethany, posted in Children Waiting for Families

Eastern European AdoptionThere is a little boy in Eastern Europe who is 7 years old and living with HIV. He is in need of an adoptive family. He is described as a sweet and calm child and pretty healthy with the exception of HIV. The agency prefers someone that is currently working on their homestudy or already has a homestudy, but they will also consider those who are ready to begin a homestudy. The agency wants to find a loving home for this child. For additional information, please contact info@adoption-related-services.org

9 Year Old Girl in Eastern Europe with HIV needs Family

by Bethany, posted in Children Waiting for Families

“Patty” (9) is a beautiful young girl from Eastern Europe with a lot of spunk. She is HIV positive and experienced a rough early family life. She is very talkative and does well in school. She is a cheerful and strong-willed girl who knows what she wants! She is in need of a loving forever family!  To inquire more about adopting Patty please email Jill at jill.d@chiadopt.org from Children’s House International. Her country does not allow photos to be published; please contact the agency photo photographs.

Adopting a Child with HIV from Vietnam

by Bethany, posted in Country Programs

Vietnam Adoption

In the past, children with HIV in Vietnam have been adopted by American parents. US / VN adoptions were placed on hold in 2008 and have re-opened as of September 2014. At the time of this writing, the 2 US adoption agencies approved for processing Vietnam adoptions are Dillon International and Holt International.

According to Dillon Int’l: they have placed children with HIV, children with HIV are waiting for families, both heterosexual married couples and single applicants between 25-55 can apply (this may be an agency rule not a country rule). Only one trip about 2-3 weeks in length.

 

LGBT Individuals and Couples Adopting HIV+ Orphans

by Bethany, posted in Children Waiting for Families, HIV/AIDS News, Other Topics

SouthAfricaHIVadoptionGreat news for LGBT individuals, couples and families hoping to adopt HIV+ orphans internationally.

La Vida International adoption agency is working with gay and lesbian men and woman who want to adopt children with HIV from South Africa.

From their website:

.

We are excited to announce that we are accepting applications for the South Africa Special Needs Program.  This program is open to single male and females and married couples. LGBT individuals and couples are welcome to apply.

Most of the children available for adoption are living with HIV and/or some have other moderate to severe special needs.  In the last 30 years, living with HIV has changed dramatically and with proper treatment chldren are expected to have a normal life span.  HIV has never been transmitted in a normal family living environment.  Most orphans have contracted the virus through mother to infant pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding.

The South African government has flexible eligibility guidelines to adopt. These include:

Applicant/s are over the age of 25 (USCIS regulation, South Africa only requires that you be over age 18)

While there is no official cut off age, applicants age 50 and over will be accepted by Wandisa on a case-by-case basis

Applicants must be physically and mentally able to care for a child (If there is a significant health concern a doctor’s letter will be required)

Married applicants’ length of marriage should be a minimum of 2 years (at time of dossier submittal)

Applicants with minor criminal histories may be considered.

Male and Female single applicants may also apply

LGBT individuals are invited to apply

UPDATE 2016. Children’s Home | LSS is placing children from Brazil and Mexico with LGBT families. Contact them directly to find out if any children with HIV are waiting