 2003 is a banner year for Infant of Prague. Fifty years ago we opened our doors and began the business of "building families" through adoption.
With the passage of time, coupled with experience and new knowledge, we have expanded our beliefs and transformed our practice. Today we practive "open adoption" which we define as "maintaining lines of communication between adoptive and birth families." Open adoption is truly "child driven"--best interest of the child is paramount. Infant of Prague has been doing some form of open adoption since 1982. The degree of openess is determined by mutual consent of the parties involved. Experience has shown us that our adoptive families, after attending our 6 weeks of group education/training, have little difficulty embracing our open adoption format. In fact, for those who are not afforded the opportunity to meet the birthparents of their child this void is viewed as a loss for their child and themselves.
Additionally, adult adoptees that experience a "closed" adoption and have later contacted us looking for information about their families of origin have re-enforced our conviction that a degree of openess is the best practive. When an adult adoptee asks for background information, we embark on a thorough search of the record with every detail extracted and recorded (the law does not permit us to disclose any identifying information). Adult adoptees are clearly not looking for parents--adoption gave them a set of parents who loved and cherished them. They are, however, seeking to find the "missing piece." As one recent adult adopted person wrote to me, "For the first time in 44 years I feel that I have an identity, as do my children." The letter ended with the wish that other adoptees could " experience the joy and enlightenment that I have."
I am pleased that Infant of Prague was the vanguard in this valley and the surrounding area when we embarked on the path to open adoption. it has become the cornerstone | for our practice these past 20 years. Adoption need not harbor secrets anymore. Adoption needs to be about enriching a child's life by adding connections. We can no longer deny the importance to the adoptee of the role and place the birth family has in the life of the adopted child. Please join me in celebrating chilren, families, birthparents and adopted persons at the agency's 50th Anniversary Gala on October 11, 2003.
- CD Player for Adoption Media Library
- Software-Illustrator for PageMaker
- New Fax Machine
Wal-Mart donates $2,500
Infant of Prague would like to thank the employees at Wal-Mart in Herndon and Ingram avenues for voting the agency as its "Charity of Choice." Wal-Mart Store Manager Donald Wallis presented Judy Luft with a check for $2,500 and monthly "deliveries" of supplies for our families.
Wal-Mart presents check to Judy Luft, social worker and Jennifer Avila-Allen, Development Outreach Director.
This donation was made possible by our adoptive parents Durbin and Jennifer Lloren. The Llorens asked Wal-Mart for the donations on behalf of the agency, and Wal-Mart employees gave generously from their hearts. |
