Illinois cracks down on sleazy adoption practitioner

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has filed an action against one of the sleaziest for-profit operators in the country, Adoption Network Law Center (ANLC) based in California. In spite of an Illinois law banning for-profit practitioners, clicking on ANLC's website brought Illinois residents directly to a screen offering "Help with an Unplanned Pregnancy in Illinois...or "Adopt a Newborn Baby in Illinois."

ANLC's website creates the impression that their service--offering "Free Confidential Assistance...24/7" is local. However. When I clicked on from my home in Portland, Oregon, I got "Help with an Unplanned Pregnancy...in Washington or Adopt a Newborn Baby in Washington." Is it because direct marketing by unlicensed practitioners is illegal in Oregon? Or are these folks are geographically challenged? I don't know.

Baby Veronica: Brown released on bail for second time

Lorraine

Baby Veronica's biological father was released on bail today after appearing in an Oklahoma court room to answer an extradition warrant signed by Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin. Sequoyah County Judge Jeff Payton ordered Dusten Brown released until an extradition hearing on Oct. 3. Brown was released on bail after he was arrested for a second time. 

The ultimate question is, will Dusten Brown go to jail rather than turn over his daughter to people who are now, and will always be, genetic strangers?

Those of us involved in adoption--on either side--are totally caught up in this modern-day tale of a child whom two families are fighting over. The two sides are

Why passions run hot in the Veronica Brown story

Veronica, happy with daddy Dusten Brown

Why does the Veronica Brown case affect us so much? Why does the story of a father trying to keep his daughter--and not let her go to people who want to adopt her--rivet our attention so deeply? Even adoptive parents have turned their attention more than casually to this story.

For first mothers, the answer is: Because we are reminded of how it felt to relinquish our own children. 

For adoptees: Because at some level we understand what is lost when we were removed from our own families and given to another.

For adoptive parents, the answer must be as personal: those who feel that the girl belongs with