Important Adoption Legislation

!!Important Legislation!!

Illien Adoptions International, Inc. is asking for your immediate support for this very important piece of legislation.

FAMIILES FOR ORPHANS ACT

The Families for Orphans Act is now in committee on Capitol Hill.

This piece of legislation is focused on the right of every child to have a permanent family.

A review of current federal programs suggests that there are at least three barriers standing in the way of the United States being a leader in providing a family for every child.

  • First, current U.S. funded orphans programs are disorganized and disconnected, neglect the needs of millions of children.  These programs also impose a wide variety of different policies and priorities, creating in some cases mutually exclusive strategies.

  • Secondly, officers working to address the needs of orphans lack the authority, visibility and resources needed to make a real difference in this area.

  • Finally, fully addressing the needs of orphans requires that the U.S. advise and support other countries in the development of child welfare systems that offer permanency for orphaned children.  Our country's current infrastructure is not set up to engage in this level of diplomacy.

The Solution

The Families for Orphans Act proposes to overcome these barriers by establishing the Office of Orphan Policy, Development and Diplomacy, a specialized office within the U.S. Department of State. Headed by a specially appointed Coordinator, this new Office would be responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive, evidence-based strategy to support the preservation of families and the provision of permanent families for orphans.

In addition, the Families for Orphans Act would:

  • Create a Policy Coordinating Committee to help better coordinate interagency efforts on behalf of orphaned children.

  • Grant support for non-governmental organizations that are providing technical assistance to and support for foreign governments’ family preservation and permanent parental care programs.

  • Provide funding for countries to use to develop and meet minimum standards in family preservation, reunification and the provision of permanent parental care for orphans.

  • Launch the “Global Best Practices Pilot Program” to discover and replicate best practices.
     

Click here to read the legislation as presented: The Families For Orphans Legislation


Please click here to sign your support: Joint Council Families For Orphans Petition