Not many years ago, one would sometimes observe advocates of inter-country adoption and of in-country orphan care huddled on different sides of a room. There was at times a sense among both groups of competition: a zero sum contest between the two. Many felt that if one won—attracting more attention and support—then the other would be losing out.
That sense of either-or competition still prevails in some circles. But for most advocates, the competition between inter-country adoption and in-country care has been replaced by a sense of shared commitment to the needs of vulnerable children. In fact, one often sees adoptive parents stepping up as the most passionate advocates for in-country care. Meanwhile, a great many champions of in-country care have children, relatives and friends adopted internationally.
The latest edition of Adoption Today magazine demonstrates this vividly. True to its name, the magazine focuses on adoption, consistently engaging vital issues from attachment and trauma to birthmother perspectives. But alongside adoption, this edition of the magazine also features an array of articles on ways that adoptive families and others can support in-country care for vulnerable children from Latin America to Eastern Europe to Africa.
This current edition carries great articles from leaders of organizations that themselves span the divide—including Lifesong for Orphans, Bethany Christian Services, Back2Back Ministries, Lifeline Children’s Services and more. It also includes important guiding materials created by the Christian Alliance for Orphans, in the form of “10 Questions to Ask Before Supporting an Orphan Care Organization.”
You can glance through the first ten pages of the magazine online for free HERE. For adoptive parents and other advocates for children, it’s worth the cost of subscription for one’s self (or a Christmas gift) HERE.
This month’s content from Adoption Today is yet one more signal that there’s been a strong shift from either-or to both-and thinking when it comes to caring for children who lack parents. The days of false dichotomy between international adoption and in-country care appear increasingly to be a relic of the past.