Comments on: Adoption And Race http://foreverparents.com/2008/11/adoption-and-race.html ...since 2002 Sat, 07 Aug 2010 21:53:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Linny http://foreverparents.com/2008/11/adoption-and-race.html/comment-page-1#comment-49004 Linny Thu, 27 Nov 2008 21:39:42 +0000 http://foreverparents.com/?p=384#comment-49004 Hello. I'm one of the members from the forums of Forever Parents. I hope that what follows will be helpful to both Pamela and Joseph Bates. My husband and I were stationed on Okinawa, Japan for three years. It was during this time we adopted our first two babies---one from Korea, the other from Japan. Both are now grown and on their own. I also attended and graduated from the University of Maryland while there. While attending U of M......one of my class projects was to visit one of the Orphanages on the island. I went with about six other classmates; and at the time, I was told it could be very difficult to find the orphanages because the Japanese gov't didn't like to admit much that such places existed. I have to admit, it was difficult to find and very tucked away from plain sight. There, I learned that babies and older children would/could be placed by biological parents and basically live there--whether any further contact from the biologicals or not----to grow up into adulthood. I have to admit, this was back in 1980 and perhaps things have changed? But, seriously, I wouldn't be surprised to find out that they hadn't. :( Further, I can speak from experience that at the time we adopted our second child (Japanese) we were told by the adoption agency (on island) that it was possible for the Japanese (Okinawans) to place a baby/child into gov't care (an orphanage) and simply make it impossible for anyone---even the nationals---to adopt those children! Again, this is dated info; but as I've researched adoption through Japan for others, I come to a brick wall and see that adopting from Japan can be very difficult to do. When we were stationed there, it WAS difficult to find *the agency*---and there was only ONE agency available to work with! As I recall, it wasn't too far from the Navy Hospital (I know the name has changed since then as they always change the names often). It was called, ISAO.....International Social Assistance of Okinawa. Back then, it was run by the Okinawans, but they had a couple of American caseworkers. And yes, Pamela, there was a need then to adopt multi-racial babies/children. We had friends who came to the island with three children (biological) and left with six! :) They were AA themselves and I was told they were considered 'desirable' because of this. However, back then at least, it was very difficult for any CC (caucasian) person to adopt any AA or AA/any other ethnicity baby. We simply weren't allowed to do this; but they DID allow us to adopt from Korea and Japan....like the baby would look like us somehow---go figure! I suspect it may still be difficult to adopt while on Okinawa; but surely it's continued to happen? For Mr. Bates, you might try contacting your base church pastor or base legal services. They surely have some info about this. As for Pamela, continue to educate yourself about this area and keep current with what's happening. I suspect it could be very difficult to do if you're not stationed there to teach or do military duty; but perhaps there are other ways too..... At any rate, here is a link to the only info I've been able to find as of late. http://www.issj.org/index-e.htm I hope it might help either of you in some way. Sincerely, Linny Hello.
I’m one of the members from the forums of Forever Parents. I hope that what follows will be helpful to both Pamela and Joseph Bates.
My husband and I were stationed on Okinawa, Japan for three years. It was during this time we adopted our first two babies—one from Korea, the other from Japan. Both are now grown and on their own. I also attended and graduated from the University of Maryland while there.
While attending U of M……one of my class projects was to visit one of the Orphanages on the island. I went with about six other classmates; and at the time, I was told it could be very difficult to find the orphanages because the Japanese gov’t didn’t like to admit much that such places existed. I have to admit, it was difficult to find and very tucked away from plain sight.
There, I learned that babies and older children would/could be placed by biological parents and basically live there–whether any further contact from the biologicals or not—-to grow up into adulthood. I have to admit, this was back in 1980 and perhaps things have changed? But, seriously, I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that they hadn’t. :(

Further, I can speak from experience that at the time we adopted our second child (Japanese) we were told by the adoption agency (on island) that it was possible for the Japanese (Okinawans) to place a baby/child into gov’t care (an orphanage) and simply make it impossible for anyone—even the nationals—to adopt those children! Again, this is dated info; but as I’ve researched adoption through Japan for others, I come to a brick wall and see that adopting from Japan can be very difficult to do.

When we were stationed there, it WAS difficult to find *the agency*—and there was only ONE agency available to work with! As I recall, it wasn’t too far from the Navy Hospital (I know the name has changed since then as they always change the names often).
It was called, ISAO…..International Social Assistance of Okinawa. Back then, it was run by the Okinawans, but they had a couple of American caseworkers.
And yes, Pamela, there was a need then to adopt multi-racial babies/children. We had friends who came to the island with three children (biological) and left with six! :) They were AA themselves and I was told they were considered ‘desirable’ because of this.
However, back then at least, it was very difficult for any CC (caucasian) person to adopt any AA or AA/any other ethnicity baby. We simply weren’t allowed to do this; but they DID allow us to adopt from Korea and Japan….like the baby would look like us somehow—go figure!
I suspect it may still be difficult to adopt while on Okinawa; but surely it’s continued to happen? For Mr. Bates, you might try contacting your base church pastor or base legal services. They surely have some info about this. As for Pamela, continue to educate yourself about this area and keep current with what’s happening. I suspect it could be very difficult to do if you’re not stationed there to teach or do military duty; but perhaps there are other ways too…..

At any rate, here is a link to the only info I’ve been able to find as of late.

http://www.issj.org/index-e.htm

I hope it might help either of you in some way.

Sincerely,

Linny

]]> By: Joanne http://foreverparents.com/2008/11/adoption-and-race.html/comment-page-1#comment-48649 Joanne Thu, 27 Nov 2008 01:51:54 +0000 http://foreverparents.com/?p=384#comment-48649 Hello Pamela! Give me some time and I'll ask at our adoption forums. With the upcoming holidays it may take a while to get an answer but I'll post here as soon as I know. :) Hello Pamela! Give me some time and I’ll ask at our adoption forums. With the upcoming holidays it may take a while to get an answer but I’ll post here as soon as I know. :)

]]> By: Pamela Keil http://foreverparents.com/2008/11/adoption-and-race.html/comment-page-1#comment-48377 Pamela Keil Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:32:08 +0000 http://foreverparents.com/?p=384#comment-48377 I have a beautiful biracial birth daughter. I have never hidden the fact that I would love another child/children, however I am in my late 40's, so was considering other options. This is my first step in what will hopeful be another journey in the life of my family, my daughter and I ! A friend that was formally stationed in Okinawa spoke of a home for mixed children there on the island and was explaining that there is always the need for parents to adopt . I was told at one time is had a name that contained the word red? Do you or anyone you know , have any further information( either personal experiences or otherwise) , contact information or requirements. I am still about a year out from being in a position to proceed, however I want to make sure I am working in the direction that would allow this hopeful possibility. I also want to know as much information so that I can prepare for what may lie ahead. Thanks for your time and information . I have a beautiful biracial birth daughter. I have never hidden the fact that I would love another child/children, however I am in my late 40′s, so was considering other options. This is my first step in what will hopeful be another journey in the life of my family, my daughter and I ! A friend that was formally stationed in Okinawa spoke of a home for mixed children there on the island and was explaining that there is always the need for parents to adopt . I was told at one time is had a name that contained the word red? Do you or anyone you know , have any further information( either personal experiences or otherwise) , contact information or requirements. I am still about a year out from being in a position to proceed, however I want to make sure I am working in the direction that would allow this hopeful possibility. I also want to know as much information so that I can prepare for what may lie ahead. Thanks for your time and information .

]]> By: Joanne http://foreverparents.com/2008/11/adoption-and-race.html/comment-page-1#comment-47543 Joanne Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:22:55 +0000 http://foreverparents.com/?p=384#comment-47543 Hi Joseph! Congratulations on your decision to adopt. You and your wife must be excited and I'm sure you have a lot of questions. May I suggest joining our <a href="http://forums.foreverparents.com" rel="nofollow">adoption forums</a>? You'll find a lot of support there. Hi Joseph! Congratulations on your decision to adopt. You and your wife must be excited and I’m sure you have a lot of questions. May I suggest joining our adoption forums? You’ll find a lot of support there.

]]> By: joseph m. bates http://foreverparents.com/2008/11/adoption-and-race.html/comment-page-1#comment-47068 joseph m. bates Sun, 23 Nov 2008 08:12:49 +0000 http://foreverparents.com/?p=384#comment-47068 Hello my name is joseph bates. i am in the marine corps and me and my wife are new here to the island of okinawa. I have a 16 month old daughter. and after a couple miscarages we decided we would like to adopt. we would like to adopt a boy since we already have a girl. we dont really care what race just a boy preferably between 1-3 years of age that needs a good home. we dont know of any addoption agencys on the island so if you could help us out i would appreciate it. sincerly joseph bates. Hello my name is joseph bates. i am in the marine corps and me and my wife are new here to the island of okinawa. I have a 16 month old daughter. and after a couple miscarages we decided we would like to adopt. we would like to adopt a boy since we already have a girl. we dont really care what race just a boy preferably between 1-3 years of age that needs a good home. we dont know of any addoption agencys on the island so if you could help us out i would appreciate it.
sincerly joseph bates.

]]>