Celebrity Chat: Adam Pertman

The following is an edited (for brevity) transcript of our guest chat with Adam Pertman, author of Adoption Nation: How the Adoption Revolution Is Transforming America.

adamp
i guess i'm open for questions, unless some of you want to tell me more about yourselves first. i'm an adoptive dad with two kids whose adoptions i wish were more open. we're working on it.

[chatter introductions]

adamp
i'd say we've got the whole world here, geographically and institutionally. if anybody's got a question or comment, about my book or generally, fire away.

TexasLady
love your book it's straight forward and says it all
GinaBena
adam.. i love the book... very well written and informative, from all perspectives
Trooper
Adam what can we do in our individual states to promote open records?

adamp
re open records, i think two things need to be done simultaneously. first, join up (even if you don't want to become members) with groups like bastard nation, american adoption congress, or any others trying to get the job done legislatively or otherwise. equally important, educate people: your neighbors, politicians etc etc because most folks are so unaware of even the most basic adoption issues that they can't see the truth for looking. that's a big reason i wrote the book

Delincuente
How about international affairs, and INS jurisdiction over adoptions?
GinaBena
adam... any suggestions on how to educate people who believe they already know the issues?

adamp
i really think this is a long-term process. decades of secrecy have taken a devastating toll.

rosie47
true adam, we humans don't like instant change...takes time...
Trooper
good im planning on joining bastard nation

adamp
first int'l: i have some hopes for hague doing some good.

adamp
as for educating people, just be understanding but persistent. introduce them to triad members, talk openly about your issues and concerns. they'll get the idea over time.

Toni
but they can never truly understand how we feel............
GinaBena
even when they are family and know about relationships, etc?
Chat Moderator
Adam, why do you think open adoptions for your children is better?

adamp
i think open adoptions are invariably better for everyone involved, but everyone also has to use best judgment about what contacts to make and when.

Toni
and then you have some who don't WANT to try.......
AMom
And then there are some that it is forced down their throats

adamp
i think people, of course, will never truly understand -- just as people outside divorce don't truly understand it. but most folks have come to understand that it's part of normal life -- and we can get to the same place.

Trooper
a friend said to me the other day i could understand a girl searching but not me ..is this an attitude that men dont search

adamp
as to trooper's comment, again, people have to come to understandings about things alien to them. we have to plug hard, persistently, but with understanding.

rosie47
you know adam I think when someone has walked through a trauma their understanding of others traumas is more complete.
Nancy
the Child Citizenship Act - what does it do?

adamp
the child citizenship act automatically gives adoptees from other countries us citizenship.

AMom
It's a very good thing...once a child is adopted outside the US, they are automatically a US citizen!!!
Chat Moderator
Nancy, there's a FAQ here at the site about the CCA
nica10
unfortunately for us the child citizenship act is not helping us as we can't even get our daughter out of Nicaragua at this time.
Chat Moderator
Adam, why did you write the book?

Next Page: Why write a book? > 1, 2, 3

Comments

How many are looking to adopt?

Posted by: Mariska#1FanInAL at 10/09/2005 08:44 PM

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