ADOPTION BY LESBIANS AND GAY MEN
A New Dimension in Family Diversity
Edited by David M. Brodzinsky and Adam Pertman
The practice of adoption has changed dramatically over the past half century, with profound implications for children and families. Perhaps the most remarkable and controversial transformation during this time has been the growing willingness of adoption professionals to place children with sexual-minority individuals and couples. Yet, despite considerable research showing that lesbians and gay men can make good parents, they continue to experience difficulties and barriers in many parts of the country in their efforts to adopt and raise children. Indeed, while progress in this area has been significant, it has been impeded by the homophobia and heterosexist attitudes of adoption professionals and the judiciary; by numerous stereotypes and misconceptions about parenting by lesbians and gay men, and by a lack of adequate guidelines and training for establishing best practice standards in working with this rapidly growing group of adoptive parents.
Adoption by Lesbians and Gay Men explores the gamut of historical, legal, sociological, psychological, social casework, and personal issues related to adoption by sexual-minority individuals and couples. Leading experts in a variety of fields address--and often shatter--the controversies, myths, and misconceptions hindering efforts by these individuals to adopt and raise children. What makes this book all the more valuable is that it provides insights and specific recommendations for establishing empirically validated best practices for working with an important sector of our society, for treating all prospective and current parents fairly and equally, and, perhaps most importantly, for increasing a still largely untapped resource for providing families for children who need them.
9780195322606
Hardback
288 pages
2011
$37.95
ADOPTION LEARNING PARTNERS
E-Learning for Adoptive Families
www.AdoptionLearningPartners.org
Adoption Learning Partners offers meaningful, timely, web-based educational adoption resources for professionals, parents, adopted individuals, and the families that love them.
Access to support is a cornerstone of Adoption Learning Partners. Our site is designed for people who may live far away from knowledgeable, experienced adoption resources, or for those whose time is limited because of the demands of work and family schedules.
We offer an array of interactive, e-learning courses that are designed to increase each person's understanding of the joys and challenges of adoption. Throughout our site, we offer downloads of articles and papers you may find interesting.
We included the word Partners in our name because we want to be your partner in this journey. We also partner with other major adoption resources and experts to develop and offer course content that is meaningful for each of our users.
We are here when you need us. You can visit the site when it is convenient for you. The courses can help prepare people for becoming an adoptive family, or help adoptive families with growing children gain new skills.
www.AdoptionLearningPartners.org
A PARENT FOR EVERY CHILD
Matching adoptive parents with wonderful waiting kids
www.parentforeverychild.org
Every child deserves a family. Sadly, hundreds of young people in New York State may never know the stability, love, and support of a family. They range in age from 10 to 21, have been living in a residential facility for some time, and need a family to call their own. A Parent for Every Child can help you find a child whose interests and personality match your own. We also provide training and support to help you understand the child’s special needs, as well as guidance through the legal processes for adoption or guardianship. Once you have been matched with a child, we will assign an Adoption Navigator, an experienced adoptive parent who will provide support throughout the process. Your Adoption Navigator will also help connect you with post-adoption support services in your area. Learn more about A Parent for Every Child and view videos of our children at www.parentforeverychild.org.
MELISSA B. BRISMAN, ESQ., LLC
201-505-0078
www.reproductivelawyer.com
Since 1996, New Jersey attorney Melissa Brisman has helped build families. Attorney Brisman’s services include same-sex gestational carrier arrangements, locating gestational carriers, and preparing contracts for ovum, embryo and sperm donation arrangements. Her highly trained staff works closely with the intended parents and helps them through the carrier search, the organization of a home study and obtaining criminal background checks. Attorney Brisman also handles insurance reviews and completes second parent adoptions, and pre-birth orders which direct the hospital or state to place the parents’ names on the child’s birth certificate.
In December 2005, Brisman won a landmark ruling in favor of her clients before a Pennsylvania judge. The judge determined that Brisman’s clients, two men, were the legal parents of twins who were anticipated to be born around January 2006 to a gestational carrier. The judge ruled that the gay men, one being the biological father of the twins, must be listed on the birth certificates of each child as the sole legal parents, with no mother listed. In March 2003, Brisman was the first attorney to get a lesbian couple listed as parents on the birth certificate of their expectant baby in New Jersey. One partner was carrying the baby, the other provided the egg. In most cases the woman who delivers the baby is named as the mother on the birth certificate then her partner must adopt the child which could take several months or longer. Brisman is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. With the assistance of Attorney Brisman, Steven Pollack and David McGovern of New York City, became proud dads of twin girls. Says Pollack, “Friends of ours highly recommended Melissa. From the onset we felt extremely comfortable with Melissa and her office staff.”
CHILDREN'S AID and FAMILY SERVICES
201-261-2800
www.cafsnj.org
The mission of Children’s Aid and Family Services is to preserve, protect, and when needed, provide families. Since 1899, we’ve placed more than 10,000 children with loving parents. The agency is a recognized leader in New Jersey in all aspects of pre-adoption and post-adoption services.
There are more than 140 infants and children in the agency’s foster care at any given time. These children come to us having suffered from physical and emotional abuse and neglect, and having had less basic care from their families. As a consequence, they need more specialized treatment while living in the agency’s group or family foster homes to help them start to heal. The agency’s goal is to help them move on to a loving adoptive family.
The children have simple, yet profound dreams. They yearn for a family they can count on -- parents to get them ready for school every day, take them to the doctor when they’re sick, help them with their math homework, and listen to their joys and concerns.
Children’s Aid and Family Services offers comprehensive pre- and post-adoption counseling services, as well as 24 hours a day, seven days a week emergency assistance.
THE DOMESTIC ADOPTION LAW OFFICES of PRIVATE ATTORNEY STEVEN G. DUBIN
215-322-4100
www.myownchild.com
Steven G. Dubin, Esquire has proudly helped to create families through adoption and later through assisted reproduction for over 24 years. He came to adoption as many do: by becoming a proud adoptive parent of two along with his wife, Marci.
A little more than a decade ago, our office helped our first two-dad family become a reality. In the months and years since, we have been privileged to have been accepted into the LGBT community as adoption and assisted reproduction professionals.
Steven was a recipient of the prestigious Angel in Adoption Award in 2007.
Our office is standing by to answer your questions and hopefully allay your fears.
Please visit our website www.myownchild.com and then call us at 215-322-4100 to discuss your hopes and dreams of a family.
FOREVER FAMILIES THROUGH ADOPTION
914-939-1180
www.foreverfamiliesthroughadoption.org
Forever Families Through Adoption is a NY and CT-authorized, not-for-profit, adoption placement agency whose goal is to find a home for every child that is eligible for permanent adoption. Joy Goldstein is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who counsels birth and adoptive parents and frequently lectures on adoption topics. Michael is an attorney and social worker who assists clients with adoptions both domestically and internationally.
After more than 25 years and over 2,500 successful placements, the Goldstein’s founded F.F.T.A. in 2007 to provide the counseling, guidance, education, confidence and comfort to make the sometimes complex adoption process, a wonderful, rewarding and successful experience.
While most of F.F.T.A.’s babies are healthy, Caucasian infants, the founders of F.F.T.A. are well known within the adoption community for having a particular fondness for – and expertise in – hard to place children, including those who have been drug or alcohol-exposed, are black or bi-racial, are the result of rape or incest, or are the offspring of incarcerated mothers. They also take great pride in representing many single and same sex clients, and treat all persons with the respect and compassion they deserve regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, nationality or disability.
GIFT OF ADOPTION FUND
www.giftofadoption.org
We believe a child without a family is one of life’s great tragedies.
Orphanages and foster homes do not offer permanent solutions for the millions of children who need a family. All children deserve the dignity and love that comes from being a part of a family.
Gift of Adoption fills the void that separates child from family. Gift of Adoption is a national charitable organization that inspires adoption by providing grants to qualified parents – giving children who need families a permanent home and a chance to thrive. We rely on the generous support of people who want their donations to transform the life of a child. Gift of Adoption awards grants without regard to race, religion, age, sexual orientation, or marital status to provide the last funds needed to complete the adoption process.
To date we’ve provided over $2.65m to unite more than 900 children with their forever families. Half of our grants help children born in the United States. Highest priority is given to uniting biological siblings, preventing children from entering into foster care or from “aging out” of orphanages, and expediting adoptions of children with critical medical conditions.
Visit www.giftofadoption.org to learn more about how you can help put adoption in reach for children in need of families. Even if you can’t open your home, you can open your heart and transform the life of a child.
MANY HEARTS ONE BEATTM ADOPTION KEEPSAKES
www.manyheartsonebeat.com
Many hearts are touched on a vast array of levels encompassing emotions from deep grief to great joy throughout the complex journey of adoption. Over the passage of time, hearts continue to heal, evolve and transform. Many Hearts One Beat offers adoption keepsakes that honor those who travel the journey of adoption - birth families, foster families, adoptive families, all who help bring a family together & anyone who believes all children deserve to know & feel, the love & warmth of family. We invite you to browse through our store & shop with confidence - we are a secure shopping site offering adoption jewelry, adoption ornaments, inspirational keepsakes and more. Please visit our website at: www.manyheartsonebeat.com.
Note: To all the hearts all over the world, from the smallest town to the biggest city, that have in any way been affected by adoption, I honor your strength and your courage. I honor your heart.
