Wednesday, August 7, 2013

NCALP- Weekly News Summary

August 7, 2013
The National Center for Adoption Law & Policy

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FOSTER CARE/Child Protection
NATIONAL: “Sex-Trafficking Sting Highlights Vulnerability of Foster Children”
BY: Alexei Koseff

More than 100 sexually exploited teenagers were rescued during a nationwide, three-day, sex trafficking sting that focused on underage victims of prostitution. The raid brought attention to the vulnerabilities of foster children, who are disproportionately targeted and recruited by child sex traffickers, sometimes right out of the foster care system. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, 60% of runaways who are victims of sex trafficking have been in the custody of social services or foster care.

Los Angeles Times, July 29th, 2013

For Full Article Click Here

ADOPTION
NATIONAL: “The Gloves Come Off: Civil Rights Suit Filed as Adoption of Veronica Finalized”
BY: Suzette Brewer

Upon the finalization of the adoption of Baby Veronica, the Native American Rights Fund filed a complaint in federal district court on behalf of the girl’s right to due process in a meaningful hearing to determine her best interest. Additionally, the suit declares that Veronica is a tribal member under the Indian Child Welfare Act therefore has a right to a best interest hearing under federal law. The complaint also seeks federal jurisdiction over the case as well as an injunction prohibiting South Carolina courts from further proceedings. Legal experts have acknowledged that the fight over custody of Veronica is not only unfinished, it has now moved into a whole new level of litigation.

Indian Country Today Media Network, August 1st, 2013

For Full Article Click Here

FOSTER CARE
NATIONAL: “Aging Out of Foster Care: The Costs of Doing Nothing Affect Us All”
BY: Gary Stangler

More than 200,000 teenagers have aged out of foster care at the age of 18 over the past decade, often without achieving permanent family connections or support systems and facing challenges that not only affect them, but affect us all. A study issued in May 2013 by the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative found that on average, every youth that ages out of foster care, taxpayers and communities pay $300,000 in social costs such as public assistance, incarceration, and lost wages over that person’s lifetime. In order to help these youth, agencies must focus on prevention. While these children face insurmountable odds, they deserve support and a serious investment in their futures.

Huffington Post, July 28th, 2013

For Full Article Click Here

ADOPTION
TEXAS: “Texas Bill Would Require Women to Take Adoption Class before Abortion”
BY: Laura Bassett

Senate Bill 42, a new bill being advanced in the Texas state Senate would require women to take a three-hour class on adoption before legally being allowed to have an abortion. The course would be required to be completed at least 24 hours before having an abortion to help change women’s minds about ending their pregnancies. Texas also has laws requiring women to have an ultrasound, hear a description of the fetus and undergo counseling before proceeding with an abortion.

Huffington Post, July 31st, 2013

For Full Article Click Here

ADOPTION
ILLINOIS: “Unsealed Birth Records Give Illinois Adoptees Peek at Past”
BY: John O’Connor

Since 2010, nearly 8,800 Illinois adoptee residents have claimed their birth records to learn about their beginnings. Obtaining a birth certificate is something most people can do without much thought. However, for adoptees it is a much more difficult, legal quest. Adoptees want to access these records for numerous reasons including learning medical histories crucial to determining health risks, something most people take for granted. Illinois is one of only 11 states to have open birth certificates and one of nine to have unsealed them since 1999.

Journal Standard, July 29th, 2013

For Full Article Click Here


The preceding are summaries of adoption/child welfare law news articles prepared by The National Center for Adoption Law & Policy. These summaries are provided for your information only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Center. We strive to print news that reflects the diversity of our readership and a variety of viewpoints and approaches to child welfare issues. While we may not agree with a position taken, we believe in the critical importance to our constituents of impartial reporting.

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