About Us

International Adoption News is produced by Mindful Media, LLC and Dr. Ellen Fitzenrider. We publish information online and in print dealing primarily with International adoption issues. Dr. Fitzenrider is a single mom of four-year-old Katherine Huong (pictured here), adopted from Vietnam in 2002.

Here you will find articles, extensive resources and information for the international adoption community. We hope be a unique presence on the web by bringing an enhanced global perspective to our visitors through the coverage of cultural, social, and economic issues that effect the countries that are most impacted by the process of international adoption.

Support our site without it costing you a cent! (and WHY)

Currently, there are just a few websites that specifically serve this community, and almost exclusively they are supported by adoption agency advertising. Not that there's anything inherently bad across the board with adoption agencies, but I believe that it's not possible to provide an unbiased viewpoint of international adoption when your monetary supporters may be directly affected by crucial information, news and discussion about the international adoption industry (and it is an industry). A major example would be child trafficking. In the world of international adoption, ANY situation where a child is acquired through even the slightest unethical methods, child trafficking is EXACTLY what it is. And, it really does happen to an alarming degree. THIS, my friends, is a BIG DEAL. And this is why I have used a pretty darn large amount of personal funds to start this site, which I hope will be (among other things) a voice for the many forces out there that are working to ensure ethical practices in the international adoption community.

Now here comes the blatant request: How can you help me with this project? Can you believe that you can help support this site and it won't cost you a cent? Do tell, you ask? I know that many of my personal friends (as well as myself) are Amazon.com shoppers. Many of you may be familiar with the Amazon referral program, where, if someone (like me and this site) sends you to the Amazon site, that someone (like me and this site) gets a percentage of any sales made. This isn't just to links to a specific product (like my book), but to ANYTHING you find on Amazon (books, CD's, Clothing, computer and kitchen stuff, ad infinitum) or its affiliated sites (Toys R US, Office Depot, Babies R US, Target...as long as you access them through Amazon's homepage). If you are one of those people who buys *anything* through Amazon, if you link through me, you will support this site. It won't cost you a cent and won't affect the price of your item. The 4-6% that Amazon gives me, they can well afford: they get a 55% cut on my book, for example, and more than that on other things they carry. Now, do you have Amazon's site bookmarked in your 'favorite places'? If you do, put it in 'edit' and in the "Internet Address" box that comes up, paste this text: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=findingkather-20

Hit 'save' and THAT'S IT! You don't have to do anything ever again! Amazon will know that its from me, and you will help provide ongoing support for the site.

If you DON'T have Amazon.com bookmarked as a favorite place yet (if you type in "www dot amazon dot com" every time into your web browser), click here now: AMAZON: Support IANews! That will take you to Amazon's homepage. Then, there is usually a place on the open window where you can add any page to your 'favorite places' spot. On AOL, there's a little red heart at the top right of the window you can click on. In Microsoft Windows Explorer, there's a big yellow star on the top toolbar that you click, it opens a "favorites" window, and you click on 'save.' Then, THIS IS IMPORTANT, you have to click on favorites edit and make sure you paste this Internet address: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=findingkather-20 Once that link is there, any time you visit, you're lending a hand, without having to do a thing. (If I've gotten too technical for any of you, shoot me an e-mail and I'll walk you though it)

Once again, you'll be helping support an important site at no cost to you, and, should those 4-5% bits add up to more than what site-upkeep costs, I also support a charitable organization that provides lifesaving heart surgery to children in Hue, Vietnam, and I promise that they will benefit, too. Vietnam Heart Project

Sorry to be so long-winded, but, needless to say, I've become quite passionate about this! If you personally know anyone who uses Amazon, PLEASE pass this on so they can do the same. I don't even have to know them. In fact, tell them that they can shoot me an e-mail and we can *virtually* meet!

Of course, you can also support the merchants who you find on this site, at the moment, Lands' End, and most (but not all) of the doll merchants. They don't pay me to be here...only if you click through and buy!

Copyright statement: All content included on this site, such as text, graphics, logos, button icons, images, digital downloads, data and compilations, is the property of International Adoption News and protected by United States and international copyright laws. Reproduction, dissemination, distribution, or circulation of the information available on this site in any manner may not be done without the express written consent of International Adoption News.

Views/disclaimer statement: Many of the links on this site are maintained by other organizations. You agree to hold International Adoption News harmless for any and all damages arising out of the use of its link resources. Occasionally we may present information from a viewpoint that we don’t necessarily subscribe to, but that is important nonetheless to present and discuss in an open-minded and respectful manner. Such material does not necessarily reflect the views of International Adoption News.

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