Today, May 10, 2018, is National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day. Each year on this day there is opportunity to focus on and to raise awareness about the importance of children’s mental health and show that positive mental health is essential to a child’s healthy development. Childhood trauma isn’t something you just get over as you grow up. Pediatrician Nadine Burke Harris explains that the [...]
By: Kayla North Originally published on Empowered to Connect Giving and receiving love may seem like an easy thing, but for many adopted and foster kids it is hard. They have given love to people only to have those people disappear from their lives or not return their love. They have received love only to be moved to a new home, or the “love” they received [...]
What are ACEs? ACEs are adverse childhood experiences that harm children’s developing brains and lead to changing how they respond to stress and damaging their immune systems so profoundly that the effects show up decades later. ACEs cause much of our burden of chronic disease, most mental illness, and are at the root of most violence. “ACEs” comes from the CDC-Kaiser Adverse Childhood Experiences Study, a [...]
For those couples just beginning their journey to parenthood, the thought of meeting and getting to know a birth parent can be daunting. Although we at AAI work tirelessly to help our waiting families understand the complexities and the wide range of emotions when connecting to birth parents, many feel challenged at the thought of having some sort of relationship with a birth family. The [...]
ADOPTION. This word brings up powerful emotions, doesn’t it? If you or someone you know has been touched by adoption, I imagine that you can easily understand what a life-changing blessing adoption is in the lives of families and children. BE A HERO. Join us for the 7th annual TOUCHED BY ADOPTION 5K RUN/WALK on Saturday, August 25, 2018, at the Bogue Flats Recreation Area [...]
A big thank you to all who attended our East Side Gala on Saturday! It was a wonderful evening filled with great food, a fun silent auction, and very talented musicians. We sincerely thank our sponsors and donors for making it possible!
Wanting to adopt from China, but not sure where to begin? Our experienced staff is here to help you! Adoption Associates has been placing children from China since 1994. From identifying the child who belongs in your family, to assisting you with your paperwork and preparing you to bring your child home, AAI provides the personal service you've been hoping for. We are a small, [...]
March 23, 2018 – Alexandria, VA – The U.S. Department of State has released its FY 2017 Annual Report on Intercountry Adoptions,(1) revealing that American families adopted 4,714 children through intercountry adoption from October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2017. This marks more than 12% decline from the 5,372 foreign-born children adopted the previous year and a 79% decline since intercountry adoptions reached a peak [...]
International adoptions by Americans have plummeted by 81%. In 2004 there were 23,000 adoptions. Only 4,200 international adoptions are budgeted for 2018 by the international adoption accrediting entity. If this dramatic trend in international adoptions by Americans continues, international adoptions may completely end by 2022. CALL TO ACTION Since the most effective route to change is through the White House, please click or copy/paste the [...]
Just released today! A Major piece in The Federalist on the Crisis in International Adoption - What and Who is behind it. This is one of the best things we have seen so far - a MUST READ! Check out the Glenn Beck radio show Tuesday morning, March 20, 2018, at 10AM EST/9AM CST/8AM MST to see national adoption advocates discuss solutions to the crisis [...]
