1 in 5: new data on adoptee suicide risk causing a stir in "adoption land"
Published about 2 months ago • 42 min read
Wow a lot has happened this month, so I have a few reflections below. Just in March, I presented on RAD (why I think it is an unhelpful diagnosis) for Adoption Knowledge Affiliates, presented for a group practice that focuses on working with children (and was encouraged by how easily the clinicians took to all the information), led another Brainspotting Phase 1 training, and of course attended more webinars and read lots of research.
I have been thinking about a webinar co-sponsored by Yes We Adopt and Adoption Knowledge Affiliates. In it Dr. Abby Hasberry talked about open adoption from a birth mother's perspective. While these are not her words, she identified that there is a limit to the openness due to the inherent power dynamic and may not be as good for the first mother as it is for the adoptee. As a therapist but also as an adoptive parent, I have been an advocate for open adoption, working to maintain an open intercountry adoption. My relationships with my kids' Samoan family is deeply valuable to me. Through the years I have promoted open adoption as being best for kids, but Abby had me reflecting. Is it best for kids to see their birth mother silenced or placating to their adoptive parents? What is the cost to the first mother? How much more must adoptive parents do to try to balance this power differential? Can we?
Even as Abby has said that I think her voice is more important than mine (and I do), she has not stopped me or added this nuance in any of our planning or presenting. Maybe this is one of the reasons her simple statement, stopped me. I respect the hell out of Abby on every level, I have actively asked her to check me on my thinking on multiple occasions. It makes me emotional to think that perhaps the power dynamic could extend to our friendship no matter how hard I try to actively acknowledge privilege and be anti-oppressive.
No matter how humble and accommodating I try to be, there is no way for there not to be power dynamics in my relationship with my kids' family. In some ways, I can feel where I am at a deficit and dependent when it comes to culture and language if nothing else. I do not blend in in Sāmoa, and the language is difficult to master. Despite language learning apps, books, and attending a Samoan church, I know words but have difficulty picking them out in context (although the projected lyrics at church do help). The core Samoan alphabet has only 14 letters, although they have borrowed a few more for certain words. There are many similar sounds and Google and Facebook cannot translate it for me. But these are reasons and cannot be excuses. While basically everyone in Samoa is bilingual, things are lost in context online and typing in your second language is never easy. I have been hesitant to ask church friends to translate Facebook statuses for me too often although they say to ask anytime. In this reflection, I have discovered that there ARE other apps that will translate Samoan (gotranslate and machinetranslate); I just had to search and try. Now I can more easily engage with what is posted online and hopefully I can start communicating to them in Samoan even if I will probably always still be learning.
This month, Social Sciences journal published an article that has been much anticipated in adoption land. In trainings but not in social media, I had shared some of the initial findings with the caveat that the study data had not yet been published because I knew the numbers would be shocking to some; I wanted to wait until it had been peer-reviewed. Most of adoption land has been very supportive, but there is a vocal minority raising critiques. Data was collected by survey and the participants were self-selected. While I and I assume many other adoption focused therapists shared the survey to increase the sample, the majority of responses came from those active in adoption Facebook groups. There could have been more rigor in the research and I hope there is replication, but I do think it is important. While there are adoptee researchers changing this, much of the research has been done or funded by adoptive parents and/or the adoption industry. I think it is important to not only have research led by adoptees and birth parents, but for us to note the differences. While there is a lot of different topics discussed in Long-Term Mental Health Effects of Mother–Child Separation Due to Adoption, one of the most discussed online is suicide attempts. Previously the most quoted stat on suicide attempts in adoptees was from a 2013 study that relied on parent and adolescent report which found a 4x greater likelihood that young adoptees would attempt suicide. That in itself is a big number that we have to pay attention to, but relying on adolescent and parent report could easily provide lower than actual numbers, plus it misses adulthood. We know suicidality does not end in adolescence and is likely to increase in adoptees and birth parents who continue to suffer the impacts and reminders of adoption.
Zubrov found a 35x greater likelihood which is a number that could be difficult to wrap your mind around; she also quotes 21% of adoptees reported historical suicide attempts but saying it as 1 in 5 feels like a more manageable number to me. I knew that some would think these numbers are inflated, but I am not sure that they are. We cannot simply say that only those with "bad adoptions" are active in Facebook groups; I know plenty of people active in adoption land who hold both the grief of adoption and a wonderful relationship with adoptive parents. I know several individuals with excellent adoptive parents who still struggle with long-term mental health effects. In discussion with other involved adoption therapists, we might estimate even higher numbers for attempts based on both our caseloads and our involvement in adoption land. And remember that completed attempts could not be counted in these numbers (although Zubrov did ask adoptees about cause of death for their birth mothers). Also a Swedish study found that intercountry adoptees were 3.6x more likely to die by suicide, so I think the 4x number is likely very low. Lastly, the numbers Zubrov found for alcohol abuse are similar to what has been noted by several researchers. I do hope that others will replicate this study, and I think we can have balanced discussions about what it does add to the literature even with honest critiques that drive future research. My original post on instagram had a typo, so I will post some slides below on this topic if you want to re-use them. My future posts will probably lean towards the 1 in 5 framing, unless you talk me out of that.
I saw a law article arguing for recognizing informally adopted children as heirs in Arkansas. While this is about probate law, those who want to reform the adoption industry can see the application could become an argument to allow guardianship or simple adoption rather than plenary adoption which permanently severs genetic family ties, push for subsidies for kinship placements, and recognize the household impact of informal adoption. The data suggests that supporting families - no matter what they look like - is emotionally and fiscally responsible.
This course is for adoptive parents with adoptees 18 years or older. Navigating Estrangement is a live, guided 8-week course offering essential tools and insights to support adoptive parents who want to better understand estrangement in the context of adoption, explore its emotional impact, and develop healthier ways to cope, reflect, learn, and grow.
April 28 + May 5, 12, 19, 26 + June 2, 9, 16 (Tuesdays)
Greenlandic parents across Denmark are fighting to be reunited with their children who were taken into care after authorities used ‘parenting competency tests’ as part of assessments to judge their ability to raise them. After banning the tests for use on Greenlandic people, the Danish government has now pledged to review around 300 cases where a child was forcibly removed from their parents. BBC World Service’s global health reporter Sofia Bettiza hears from those who argue what happened to them was cruel and unjust. She speaks to a Greenlandic mother and father who cannot visit their son anymore because he has been adopted by another family. The programme explores what these parenting competency tests are and why they were used in the first place. The Danish politician in charge of the review explains how their court system gets involved in making custody decisions and why it won’t be possible or appropriate to return every Greenlandic child to their biological parents.
I want to highlight a book with each newsletter, so we can all continue to grow and learn. AD
This is the kind of book, that I want to press into the hands of adoptive parents when the tough going starts to wear them down or feels like it levels up. When I offered adoption preparation courses, even as much as I warned people that adoptive parenting is advanced parenting and often requires more of us than others, I think many believed that things would get better with time. Generally it does, but there are also moments in life that trigger adoption issues. Adolescence is tough for everyone, but with the added layers of adoption, things can get extra complicated. Other triggers are less obvious or expected; sometimes we don’t even know what has changed, but suddenly adoptive parenting seems much harder than it was just a few weeks ago. In those moments, Mike’s reminders of hope can be priceless in keeping your sanity and remaining consistent for your children.
Confessions of an Adoptive Parent: Hope and Help from the Trenches of Foster Care and Adoption is like a dear friend bringing you a warm, fuzzy blanket and mug of hot chocolate, giving you a space to breath and re-charge. It provides comfort and reminds foster and adoptive parents that they are not the only ones who have lived through even the most shocking or devastating experiences.
In a wholehearted way, Mike tells stories about himself and his family to assure you that his message is not pie-in-the-sky hope nor any kind of easy answer. I also very much appreciate how respectful Mike is of his children as he shares without oversharing or dramatizing. The truth may sound dramatic to some, but Mike is not striving for dramatic effect. His message of comfort, hope, and companionship is consistent throughout.
As a former pastor, Mike skillfully explains Bible stories in a way to provide a greater understanding to his readers. I particularly appreciate the deeper dive into the story of Job. There is powerful and practical truth weaved throughout this book. I am so thankful that there is a Christian message on adoption that does not lead people to believe that love is all that you need and tells the truth of the pain and work and hope. Mike and Kristin Berry are the leaders on foster care and adoption that the Christian community needs.
For more recommendations, check out my (affiliate) Amazon Storefront
Currently available in six languages: English, Spanish, Korean, Mandarin, Haitian Kreyol, and French
Unlike paper or PDF-based emergency plans, ReadyNow! is built for real-time response. If users have a run-in with ICE, they simply press the big red alert button and ReadyNow! will send out those emergency messages via SMS to pre-assigned contacts. All data is encrypted, stored only on the user’s device, not on the Cloud, and deleted after an alert is sent—preventing access by ICE if the phone is seized.
Adoptees United’sCitizenship Clinic assists intercountry adopted people with US citizenship or immigration issues. The clinic’s services include legal screenings, consultation and advice about legal options, and legal representation to secure a Certificate of Citizenship or, if needed, a Certificate of Naturalization.
This website collects community-submitted information about possible ICE activity to help inform the public and raise awareness. All reports are reviewed by a moderator team before appearing on the map and the map is cleared at the end of each day.
AFFCNY has put together two really thorough lists of resources. The Immigration Resources pictured below includes a listing of several legal resources and other information. The Citizenship Resource for Intercountry Adoptees resources is also full of very helpful links. They have also invited Greg Luce to be a Keynote for their May conference.
NAKASEC also has a 24/7 hotline, where you can call and receive live confidential assistance in English or Korean. If you or someone you love is confronted by police/ICE/CBP or has been detained, you can call 1 844 500 3222 for immediate support. For non-emergency calls, such as requesting help determining your immigration status, please contact legal@adoptees4justice.org.
Seeking Research Participants
For adopted women who relinquished children
Zubov, L. R. (2026). Long-Term Mental Health Effects of Mother–Child Separation Due to Adoption. Social Sciences, 15(3), 167. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15030167
ABSTRACT
The Preliminary Exploration into Adoption Reunions (PEAR) survey examined the mental health issues faced by adoptees and first mothers. Data were collected from 1313 adoptees, first mothers, and first fathers. Study results indicate that adoption has lasting adverse effects on both adoptees and first mothers. Adoptees and first mothers are significantly more likely to attempt suicide (35 times and 37.7 times, respectively), abuse alcohol, display hypersexual behaviors, and restrict their eating compared to their peers: While first mothers have a lower life expectancy and are more likely to die by suicide than women who did not lose their children to adoption, adoptees frequently struggle with their identity and sense of belonging. They expressed experiencing trauma from their separation from their first mothers, regardless of the quality of their adoptive parents. The findings also highlight the negative impact of the secrecy surrounding adoption. Themes of secrecy and shame were prevalent in the responses from both adoptees and first mothers. The findings highlight the importance of listening to and validating the experiences of adoptees and first mothers and that there needs to be transparency in adoption practices, which may reduce the stigma associated with adoption, and facilitate healing.
—
Sharanya Adhya, & Anindita Mukherjee. (2025). Roots and Relationships: A Qualitative Comparative Analysis of Interpersonal Attachment in Adopted and Biological Young Adults. International Journal of Indian Psychȯlogy, 13(3). https://doi.org/10.25215/1303.241
ABSTRACT
Adoption remains a societal taboo in India, with relatively few adoptions taking place, and even fewer openly discussed. This stigma can lead to internal struggles for adoptees as they grow, often impacting their interpersonal attachment and overall well-being. The study aimed to explore the differences and challenges in attachment patterns between adopted young adults and their biological counterparts, with a focus on understanding the unique vulnerabilities of adoptees and their implications for well-being. A qualitative approach was employed, beginning with the development of interview questions rated for relevance and validity by five expert researchers. Semi-structured interviews were then conducted with three adopted young adults and three biological young adults. The interview data underwent open coding to identify key concepts, followed by thematic analysis guided by the research objectives. This process helped uncover the main themes and subthemes related to interpersonal attachment in both groups. The findings revealed that while the overall patterns of interpersonal attachment were mostly similar across the two groups, adoptees exhibited distinct vulnerabilities. Two key differences emerged: (1) Fear of Abandonment, where adoptees showed a pronounced tendency to anticipate abandonment, often stemming from their early life experiences; and (2) Fear of Rejection, where adoptees reported greater feelings of neglect and heightened concern about how others perceived them. These factors highlighted a greater emotional sensitivity and vulnerability in adoptees compared to their biological peers. The study concluded that adopted young adults experience subtle yet significant differences in attachment, particularly related to fear of abandonment and rejection. These findings highlight the need for targeted support to enhance their emotional well-being and foster resilience, emphasizing the importance of addressing their unique attachment-related challenges.
—
Neil, E., Rimmer, J., & Sirbu, I. (2023). How do adopted adults see the significance of adoption and being a parent in their life stories? A narrative analysis of 40 life story interviews with male and female adoptees. Children and Youth Services Review, 155, 107267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.107267
ABSTRACT
Being adopted and becoming a parent are both highly significant events in the life course. How adopted people represent adoption and parenthood in their life stories is the focus of the current study. The research explored the views of adopted people who were parents, focusing on those adopted since the late 1980s in order to capture the experiences of people adopted through the child protection system. The participants were 40 adult adoptees who had at least one child. Equal numbers of men and women were recruited, and purposive sampling was used to ensure a diverse range of people were included. Most participants (34 of 40) were in their 20s or 30s and age at adoption varied from 0 to 12 years old. All except one person were domestically adopted in England, with twothirds having been adopted through the child protection system; 32 were White British, and 8 were Black, Mixed or Asian ethnicity. An adaptation of McAdam’s life story interview method was used to enable participants to describe their whole life including their adoption and being a parent. Interviews were first analysed ‘within case’ looking at narrative themes and structure. Then looking across cases four types of life story narrative were identified: “continuously stable”, “pulling through”, “still struggling” and “robbed of parenthood”. The research illustrates the wide diversity of adopted people’s experiences and the ongoing impact of difficult early life experiences on adopted individuals as adults and parents. Parenting raised additional challenges for many adopted people, but could also be a positive turning point. The pathways to overcoming (or not overcoming) early adversity to succeed as parents are illustrated and the role of adoption as both a risk and protective factor is discussed.
Camp Dates; July 9-12, 2026 Registration opens January 15, 2026 and Closes June 9, 2026 Location: Front Range Community College
June 25-28, 2026! , an optional casual camping experience can be added, 24-25th
Join us for this 4 day, 3 night Gathering (with an optional additional night/day) set in the picturesque Mt. Hood National Forest, set on the banks of the salmon river! This family-oriented camp experience is open to all Ethiopians, Ethiopian -Americans, and Ethiopian adoptive families and friends. Share a taste of the traditions from the Horn of Africa and come together to celebrate families in all shapes and sizes.
Family Camp July 30 - August 2, 2026 Location: Ohio University, Athens, Ohio
July 26 - August 8, 2026 Adopted Kids Sleep-away camp
Family Camp July 20-25th, Texas
June 19-21, 2026 or September 18-20, 2026, Columbus, IN
Hope Family Camp 2026 Dates: 2 weekends about 1 month apart -training for first weekend, then check in & adjustment for second weekend June 11th (4p-8p), June 12th (8a-4p), July 9th (4p-8p) & July 10th (8a-4p)
Location: Pathfinder Farms: 846 Co Rd 30A, Ashland, OH 44805
Wow a lot has happened this month, so I have a few reflections below. Just in March, I presented on RAD (why I think it is an unhelpful diagnosis) for Adoption Knowledge Affiliates, presented for a group practice that focuses on working with children (and was encouraged by how easily the clinicians took to all the information), led another Brainspotting Phase 1 training, had a kid with a birthday, prepared for his sibling to potentially move in with us, and of course attended more webinars and read lots of research. In April I will be enjoying rugby season, soaking up deck weather, leading another Phase 1, attending a couple of other trainings and a handful of webinars. I do hope you take the time to read through the reflections and take note of all the opportunities for you to learn and resources for your clients.
I have been thinking about a webinar co-sponsored by Yes We Adopt and Adoption Knowledge Affiliates. In it Dr. Abby Hasberry talked about open adoption from a birth mother's perspective. While these are not her words, she identified that there is a limit to the openness due to the inherent power dynamic and may not be as good for the first mother as it is for the adoptee. As a therapist but also as an adoptive parent, I have been an advocate for open adoption, working to maintain an open intercountry adoption. My relationships with my kids' Samoan family is deeply valuable to me. Through the years I have promoted open adoption as being best for kids, but Abby had me reflecting. Is it best for kids to see their birth mother silenced or placating to their adoptive parents? What is the cost to the first mother? How much more must adoptive parents do to try to balance this power differential? Can we?
Even as Abby has said that I think her voice is more important than mine (and I do), she has not stopped me or added this nuance in any of our planning or presenting. Maybe this is one of the reasons her simple statement, stopped me. I respect the hell out of Abby on every level, I have actively asked her to check me on my thinking on multiple occasions. It makes me emotional to think that perhaps the power dynamic could extend to our friendship no matter how hard I try to actively acknowledge privilege and be anti-oppressive.
No matter how humble and accommodating I try to be, there is no way for there not to be power dynamics in my relationship with my kids' family. In some ways, I can feel where I am at a deficit and dependent when it comes to culture and language if nothing else. I do not blend in in Sāmoa, and the language is difficult to mater. Despite language learning apps, books, and attending a Samoan church, I know words but have difficulty picking them out in context (although the projected lyrics at church do help). The core Samoan alphabet has only 14 letters, although they have borrowed a few more for certain words. There are many similar sounds and Google and Facebook cannot translate it for me. But these are reasons and cannot be excuses. While basically everyone in Samoa is bilingual, things are lost in context online and typing in your second language is never easy. I have been hesitant to ask church friends to translate Facebook statuses for me too often although they say to ask anytime. In this reflection, I have discovered that there ARE other apps that will translate Samoan (gotranslate and machinetranslate); I just had to search and try. Now I can more easily engage with what is posted online and hopefully I can start communicating to them in Samoan even if I will probably always still be learning.
This month, Social Sciences journal published an article that has been much anticipated in adoption land. In trainings but not in social media, I had shared some of the initial findings with the caveat that the study data had not yet been published because I knew the numbers would be shocking to some; I wanted to wait until it had been peer-reviewed. Most of adoption land has been very supportive, but there is a vocal minority raising critiques. Data was collected by survey and the participants were self-selected. While I and I assume many other adoption focused therapists shared the survey to increase the sample, the majority of responses came from those active in adoption Facebook groups. There could have been more rigor in the research and I hope there is replication, but I do think it is important. While there are adoptee researchers changing this, much of the research has been done or funded by adoptive parents and/or the adoption industry. I think it is important to not only have research led by adoptees and birth parents, but for us to note the differences. While there is a lot of different topics discussed in Long-Term Mental Health Effects of Mother–Child Separation Due to Adoption, one of the most discussed online is suicide attempts. Previously the most quoted stat quoted on suicide attempts in adoptees was from a 2013 study that relied on parent and adolescent report which found a 4x greater likelihood that young adoptees would attempt suicide. That in itself is a big number that we have to pay attention to, but relying on adolescent and parent report could easily provide lower than actual numbers, plus it misses adulthood. We know suicidality does not end in adolescence and is likely to increase in adoptees and birth parents who continue to suffer the impacts and reminders of adoption.
Zubrov found a 35x greater likelihood which is a number that could be difficult to wrap your mind around; she also quotes 21% of adoptees reported historical suicide attempts but saying it as 1 in 5 feels like a more manageable number to me. I knew that some would think these numbers are inflated, but I am not sure that they are. We cannot simply say that only those with "bad adoptions" are active in Facebook groups; I know plenty of people active in adoption land who hold both the grief of adoption and a wonderful relationship with adoptive parents. I know several individuals with excellent adoptive parents who still struggle with long-term mental health effects. In discussion with other involved adoption therapists, we might estimate even higher numbers for attempts based on both our caseloads and our involvement in adoption land. And remember that completed attempts could not be counted in these numbers (although Zubrov did ask adoptees about cause of death for their birth mothers). Also a Swedish study found that intercountry adoptees were 3.6x more likely to die by suicide, so I think the 4x number is likely very low. Lastly, the numbers Zubrov found for alcohol abuse are similar to what has been noted by several researchers. I do hope that others will replicate this study, and I think we can have balanced discussions about what it does add to the literature even with honest critiques that drive future research. My original post on instagram had a typo, so I will post some slides below on this topic if you want to re-use them. My future posts will probably lean towards the 1 in 5 framing, unless you talk me out of that.
I saw a law article arguing for recognizing informally adopted children as heirs in Arkansas. While this is about probate law, those who want to reform the adoption industry can see the application could become an argument to allow guardianship or simple adoption rather than plenary adoption which permanently severs genetic family ties, push for subsidies for kinship placements, and recognize the household impact of informal adoption. Having a young adult who is a full time student move in to my home has had a financial implication even if the legal relationship (and my ability to claim him as a dependent) is vague. I come from an extended family that believes if you are here, you are family. (A friend from Croatia came to Easter dinner once, and my aunts asked about him for years and were thrilled when they found out he had married another friend I had introduced him to.) Open adoption is perhaps easier for us than some other families. The data suggests that supporting families - no matter what they look like - is emotionally and fiscally responsible.
This course is for adoptive parents with adoptees 18 years or older. Navigating Estrangement is a live, guided 8-week course offering essential tools and insights to support adoptive parents who want to better understand estrangement in the context of adoption, explore its emotional impact, and develop healthier ways to cope, reflect, learn, and grow.
April 28 + May 5, 12, 19, 26 + June 2, 9, 16 (Tuesdays)
Greenlandic parents across Denmark are fighting to be reunited with their children who were taken into care after authorities used ‘parenting competency tests’ as part of assessments to judge their ability to raise them. After banning the tests for use on Greenlandic people, the Danish government has now pledged to review around 300 cases where a child was forcibly removed from their parents. BBC World Service’s global health reporter Sofia Bettiza hears from those who argue what happened to them was cruel and unjust. She speaks to a Greenlandic mother and father who cannot visit their son anymore because he has been adopted by another family. The programme explores what these parenting competency tests are and why they were used in the first place. The Danish politician in charge of the review explains how their court system gets involved in making custody decisions and why it won’t be possible or appropriate to return every Greenlandic child to their biological parents.
I want to highlight a book with each newsletter, so we can all continue to grow and learn. AD
This is the kind of book, that I want to press into the hands of adoptive parents when the tough going starts to wear them down or feels like it levels up. When I offered adoption preparation courses, even as much as I warned people that adoptive parenting is advanced parenting and often requires more of us than others, I think many believed that things would get better with time. Generally it does, but there are also moments in life that trigger adoption issues. Adolescence is tough for everyone, but with the added layers of adoption, things can get extra complicated. Other triggers are less obvious or expected; sometimes we don’t even know what has changed, but suddenly adoptive parenting seems much harder than it was just a few weeks ago. In those moments, Mike’s reminders of hope can be priceless in keeping your sanity and remaining consistent for your children.
Confessions of an Adoptive Parent: Hope and Help from the Trenches of Foster Care and Adoption is like a dear friend bringing you a warm, fuzzy blanket and mug of hot chocolate, giving you a space to breath and re-charge. It provides comfort and reminds foster and adoptive parents that they are not the only ones who have lived through even the most shocking or devastating experiences.
In a wholehearted way, Mike tells stories about himself and his family to assure you that his message is not pie-in-the-sky hope nor any kind of easy answer. I also very much appreciate how respectful Mike is of his children as he shares without oversharing or dramatizing. The truth may sound dramatic to some, but Mike is not striving for dramatic effect. His message of comfort, hope, and companionship is consistent throughout.
As a former pastor, Mike skillfully explains Bible stories in a way to provide a greater understanding to his readers. I particularly appreciate the deeper dive into the story of Job. There is powerful and practical truth weaved throughout this book. I am so thankful that there is a Christian message on adoption that does not lead people to believe that love is all that you need and tells the truth of the pain and work and hope. Mike and Kristin Berry are the leaders on foster care and adoption that the Christian community needs.
For more recommendations, check out my (affiliate) Amazon Storefront
Currently available in six languages: English, Spanish, Korean, Mandarin, Haitian Kreyol, and French
Unlike paper or PDF-based emergency plans, ReadyNow! is built for real-time response. If users have a run-in with ICE, they simply press the big red alert button and ReadyNow! will send out those emergency messages via SMS to pre-assigned contacts. All data is encrypted, stored only on the user’s device, not on the Cloud, and deleted after an alert is sent—preventing access by ICE if the phone is seized.
Adoptees United’sCitizenship Clinic assists intercountry adopted people with US citizenship or immigration issues. The clinic’s services include legal screenings, consultation and advice about legal options, and legal representation to secure a Certificate of Citizenship or, if needed, a Certificate of Naturalization.
This website collects community-submitted information about possible ICE activity to help inform the public and raise awareness. All reports are reviewed by a moderator team before appearing on the map and the map is cleared at the end of each day.
AFFCNY has put together two really thorough lists of resources. The Immigration Resources pictured below includes a listing of several legal resources and other information. The Citizenship Resource for Intercountry Adoptees resources is also full of very helpful links. They have also invited Greg Luce to be a Keynote for their May conference.
NAKASEC also has a 24/7 hotline, where you can call and receive live confidential assistance in English or Korean. If you or someone you love is confronted by police/ICE/CBP or has been detained, you can call 1 844 500 3222 for immediate support. For non-emergency calls, such as requesting help determining your immigration status, please contact legal@adoptees4justice.org.
Seeking Research Participants
For adopted women who relinquished children
Zubov, L. R. (2026). Long-Term Mental Health Effects of Mother–Child Separation Due to Adoption. Social Sciences, 15(3), 167. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15030167
ABSTRACT
The Preliminary Exploration into Adoption Reunions (PEAR) survey examined the mental health issues faced by adoptees and first mothers. Data were collected from 1313 adoptees, first mothers, and first fathers. Study results indicate that adoption has lasting adverse effects on both adoptees and first mothers. Adoptees and first mothers are significantly more likely to attempt suicide (35 times and 37.7 times, respectively), abuse alcohol, display hypersexual behaviors, and restrict their eating compared to their peers: While first mothers have a lower life expectancy and are more likely to die by suicide than women who did not lose their children to adoption, adoptees frequently struggle with their identity and sense of belonging. They expressed experiencing trauma from their separation from their first mothers, regardless of the quality of their adoptive parents. The findings also highlight the negative impact of the secrecy surrounding adoption. Themes of secrecy and shame were prevalent in the responses from both adoptees and first mothers. The findings highlight the importance of listening to and validating the experiences of adoptees and first mothers and that there needs to be transparency in adoption practices, which may reduce the stigma associated with adoption, and facilitate healing.
—
Sharanya Adhya, & Anindita Mukherjee. (2025). Roots and Relationships: A Qualitative Comparative Analysis of Interpersonal Attachment in Adopted and Biological Young Adults. International Journal of Indian Psychȯlogy, 13(3). https://doi.org/10.25215/1303.241
ABSTRACT
Adoption remains a societal taboo in India, with relatively few adoptions taking place, and even fewer openly discussed. This stigma can lead to internal struggles for adoptees as they grow, often impacting their interpersonal attachment and overall well-being. The study aimed to explore the differences and challenges in attachment patterns between adopted young adults and their biological counterparts, with a focus on understanding the unique vulnerabilities of adoptees and their implications for well-being. A qualitative approach was employed, beginning with the development of interview questions rated for relevance and validity by five expert researchers. Semi-structured interviews were then conducted with three adopted young adults and three biological young adults. The interview data underwent open coding to identify key concepts, followed by thematic analysis guided by the research objectives. This process helped uncover the main themes and subthemes related to interpersonal attachment in both groups. The findings revealed that while the overall patterns of interpersonal attachment were mostly similar across the two groups, adoptees exhibited distinct vulnerabilities. Two key differences emerged: (1) Fear of Abandonment, where adoptees showed a pronounced tendency to anticipate abandonment, often stemming from their early life experiences; and (2) Fear of Rejection, where adoptees reported greater feelings of neglect and heightened concern about how others perceived them. These factors highlighted a greater emotional sensitivity and vulnerability in adoptees compared to their biological peers. The study concluded that adopted young adults experience subtle yet significant differences in attachment, particularly related to fear of abandonment and rejection. These findings highlight the need for targeted support to enhance their emotional well-being and foster resilience, emphasizing the importance of addressing their unique attachment-related challenges.
—
Neil, E., Rimmer, J., & Sirbu, I. (2023). How do adopted adults see the significance of adoption and being a parent in their life stories? A narrative analysis of 40 life story interviews with male and female adoptees. Children and Youth Services Review, 155, 107267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.107267
ABSTRACT
Being adopted and becoming a parent are both highly significant events in the life course. How adopted people represent adoption and parenthood in their life stories is the focus of the current study. The research explored the views of adopted people who were parents, focusing on those adopted since the late 1980s in order to capture the experiences of people adopted through the child protection system. The participants were 40 adult adoptees who had at least one child. Equal numbers of men and women were recruited, and purposive sampling was used to ensure a diverse range of people were included. Most participants (34 of 40) were in their 20s or 30s and age at adoption varied from 0 to 12 years old. All except one person were domestically adopted in England, with twothirds having been adopted through the child protection system; 32 were White British, and 8 were Black, Mixed or Asian ethnicity. An adaptation of McAdam’s life story interview method was used to enable participants to describe their whole life including their adoption and being a parent. Interviews were first analysed ‘within case’ looking at narrative themes and structure. Then looking across cases four types of life story narrative were identified: “continuously stable”, “pulling through”, “still struggling” and “robbed of parenthood”. The research illustrates the wide diversity of adopted people’s experiences and the ongoing impact of difficult early life experiences on adopted individuals as adults and parents. Parenting raised additional challenges for many adopted people, but could also be a positive turning point. The pathways to overcoming (or not overcoming) early adversity to succeed as parents are illustrated and the role of adoption as both a risk and protective factor is discussed.
Camp Dates; July 9-12, 2026 Registration opens January 15, 2026 and Closes June 9, 2026 Location: Front Range Community College
June 25-28, 2026! , an optional casual camping experience can be added, 24-25th
Join us for this 4 day, 3 night Gathering (with an optional additional night/day) set in the picturesque Mt. Hood National Forest, set on the banks of the salmon river! This family-oriented camp experience is open to all Ethiopians, Ethiopian -Americans, and Ethiopian adoptive families and friends. Share a taste of the traditions from the Horn of Africa and come together to celebrate families in all shapes and sizes.
Family Camp July 30 - August 2, 2026 Location: Ohio University, Athens, Ohio
July 26 - August 8, 2026 Adopted Kids Sleep-away camp
Family Camp July 20-25th, Texas
June 19-21, 2026 or September 18-20, 2026, Columbus, IN
Hope Family Camp 2026 Dates: 2 weekends about 1 month apart -training for first weekend, then check in & adjustment for second weekend June 11th (4p-8p), June 12th (8a-4p), July 9th (4p-8p) & July 10th (8a-4p)
Location: Pathfinder Farms: 846 Co Rd 30A, Ashland, OH 44805
