Monday, April 21, 2014

NCALP Weekly News Summary

April 21, 2014
The National Center for Adoption Law & Policy
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  Summer Adoption Law Institute  
Date: August 4 - 8, 2014
Capital University Law School
303 East Broad Street
Columbus Ohio 43215
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Join fellow law students from across the country in this intensive week-long course dedicated to adoption law and related child protection issues. Learn about such topics as: the history of adoption law, the adoption process, wrongful adoptions, the impact of artificial reproductive technology, second parent adoptions, and much more! Hear from exciting guest speakers with expert knowledge in specific practice areas such as the Indian Child Welfare Act and the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children. Listen to adoptive parents, birth parents, and adoptees share their personal journeys through the adoption process.
ADOPTION WISCONSIN: “Wisconsin Inks Bill to Prevent Parents From ‘Giving Away’ Adopted Children”
BY: David Stout

Wisconsin’s governor signed a bill into law to limit private custody transfers of unwanted adopted children. This legislation is the first of its kind in the country. Previously, many children were being given to abusive adults without safeguards in place. Under the new law, before parents transfer the custody of their children, approval from a judge must be obtained. Parents who do not comply with this requirement can face up to nine months in jail or a $10,000 fine.

Time, April 17th, 2104

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FOSTER CARE ALASKA: “Voice of Alaska: Keeping Foster Children with Relatives Should be a Priority”
BY: Amanda Metivier

House Bill 54 seeks to keep the more than 2,000 children in foster care throughout the state of Alaska with their families instead of being placed with strangers in the foster care system. If passed, the legislation would require an extensive relative search to be completed within the first 30 days after a child is removed from their home due to abuse and neglect. Current law does require the search to be done; however, it is not always completed. The new law would ensure compliance by requiring a supervisor’s signature and verification that the search was completed.

Peninsula Clarion, April 14th, 2014

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ADOPTION NEW YORK: “Surrogacy Shouldn’t Block Adoption, Court Determines”
BY: Joel Stashenko

A Family Court Judge in New York determined that a man could legally adopt his husband’s biological twins even though they were born to a woman under an illegal surrogacy agreement. Although the surrogacy agreement is void and unenforceable under New York Law, the Judge ruled that the best interest of the twins is the most important consideration in such a matter and, because the twins are thriving with the couple, the adoption could go forward. The current policy against surrogacy contracts has not been amended since its enactment.

New York Law Journal, April 10th, 2014

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FOSTER CARE CALIFORNIA: “Calif. Legislation Would Bolster Child Welfare, Education Info Sharing”
BY: Teddy Lederer

Assembly Bill 1878 was created to form a direct link between agencies and schools to share information about children in the foster care system. The bill proposes that local schools be required to adopt the new policies by January of 2016. In addition, the billseeks to add four new categories of information that will be required to be included in a foster youth’s case plan, including: the school and the school district the child is attending; academic progress; and school attendance records. This bill will go before the Assembly Education Committee for input later this month.

Chronicle of Social Change, April 15th, 2014

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CHILD WELFARE TENNESSEE: “Groups Urge Tennessee Governor to Veto Prenatal Drug Use Bill”
BY: Suzanne Presto and Dana Ford

SB 1391, which passed both the Tenessee Senate and House, would allow a woman to be prosecuted if she illegally takes drugs while pregnant and her child is harmed. Many groups believe that the bill is constitutionally unsound and would threaten the health and well-being of families because the risk of prosecution would drive women away from seeking pregnancy-related care. According to the Tennessee Department of Health, more than 900 newborns experienced drug withdrawals last year. Tennessee would be the first state in the country to pass this type of law.

CNN, April 17th, 2014

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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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