- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- iparenting adoption articles
- iparenting adoption q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
The Final Step
Post Adoption Reporting
By Sue Marquette Poremba
Once the adoption is completed and the child is legally bonded with the parents, there is no way to enforce parents to send a post adoption report. No one is going to take the child away if the report isn't sent. Adoption agency employees speculate that parents either don't understand the importance of sending the reports or they think that because the adoption is complete, there is no reason to follow up.
Agencies do know how important the reporting process is and do whatever they can to facilitate it. Reports filed by the agency and a social worker are easy to monitor. Some agencies put money in escrow, holding it until after the post adoption reporting obligations are fulfilled. While it is rarely (if ever) done, a contract specifically discussing the post adoption reporting makes it a legal, binding agreement, and parents could be brought to court in order to comply. Education is also important. Agencies need to continue to stress the consequences if they don't send the report.
To protect themselves, the parents should always send a copy of the report to the adoption agency. That way, if the country claims a report is missing, the agency has something on record.
"The main thing is this is really important," Petrone says. "A lack of reporting is a threat to international adoptions. Foreign countries are taking on a huge risk, and they have a right to know the children are getting a better life."
|
Rather than seeing it as a chore or an obligation, parents can approach post adoption reporting as a special opportunity to develop a closer bond with their child. "Filling my son's post placement reports to Russia has been an absolute joy," Madrid-Branch says. "Documenting his progress and selecting photos to share with his home country gives a feeling of sincere and absolute pride."