Adoption in the Marshalls

Dear Madam, As an adoptive mother of a Marshallese son and the Marshall Islands Program Director for Children’s House International Adoption Agency, I read your article on US adoptions in the Marshalls in the February issue of PIM with great inter est. I commend you as I believe that over all the article was accurate and informa tive. However, I was a little concerned when I read the heading that adoptions are becoming a major “industry” in the Marshalls. I feel that the word industry connotes commodities which are bartered, bargained for or bought. Adoptions are complex and require the services of many people to bring them to completion.

Families are paying for these services and not for the children. Countless hours of hard work done by many people are neces sary for just one adoption.

I would like to add a personal side to this story. The internet has been a great tool in educating families about adoption and children in need around the world. To be able to dial up a website and successfully “shop” for a child just doesn’t happen.

Each adoptive family has had a unique and often difficult journey that has lead them to adoption. Each birth family made its own similar trek which brought them to the decision of putting their child up for adop tion. It is a demanding venture for both parties. It has been my experience that Marshallese families have thought long and hard about their child’s future before deciding to make an adoption plan for him or her. It is a very difficult decision that has come with great personal sacrifice.

Time and time again I have been awed by the courage and love the Marshallese fam ilies have demonstrated throughout this process.

We have yet to have an adoptive family return from their adoption in the Marshalls without being profoundly affected by the experience. They feel a tremendous obli gation to their child, his birth family, and his native land. They are excited about communicating with the birth family and updating them with letters and pho tographs. They fully desire to take their child back to the islands. Support groups for families with children from the Marshalls have been formed so that fami lies can better educate themselves about the culture of their child’s past so that it can also be part of his present and future.

Built into the fee of every adoption is a humanitarian donation of SUSSOO. This money is used to improve the lives of the Marshallese and is dispersed to various organisations in need. Donations of dia pers, milk formula and clothes are also sent. We realise this is small compared to the need but are doing what we can to improve the situation.

Again, thank you for taking the time to report on a sensitive and complex issue and we welcome any questions or comments you have concerning the issue of adop tions.

Stefani Ellison

1633 North 110 West Orem, UT USA 84057