Black Foster Mom Can't Adopt White Child

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – From the Texarkana Gazette http://www.texarkanagazette.com/display/inn_news/news01.txt By PRASHANSA SAI/Of the Gazette Staff For 15 months, Mable Baker cared for Amy, an infant, as if she were her own. When Baker decided she wanted to care for Amy for the rest of her life, officials with Miller County’s Arkansas Department of Human Services declined her request. And it took her some time to find out why she was denied. Baker, a registered nurse and foster mother for more than 28 children over the past two years, is black. Amy is white.

Welcome to the real world, Mable Baker. I’m amazed that a "foster mother for more than 28 children over the past two years" could be so naive. Duh. Dad < snip – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -The assessment didn’t reveal any statistics regarding interracial adoptions or shed any light on why Baker was refused adoption of Amy, only adding that the case is currently under review by DCFS. Amy, who was removed from Baker’s care at 18 months, currently resides in a two-parent adoptive home consisting of an Asian father and a Caucasian mother. Baker has contact with the adoptive family, regularly receiving photographs and written updates on Amy’s physical and emotional status. http://www.DontTakeOurKids.com — http://www.hereinreality.com

Response:

From the Texarkana Gazette http://www.texarkanagazette.com/display/inn_news/news01.txt

Here is the perm. addy for this article: http://www.texarkanagazette.com/archives/index.inn?loc=detail&doc=/20… uary/12-1145-news01.txt (p.s. Hey Leigh, on the front page of this paper an article about the Rodeo. Showing a pic of ‘Les Nickle’ with his horse… wonder if he’s related to..nah.) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – By PRASHANSA SAI/Of the Gazette Staff For 15 months, Mable Baker cared for Amy, an infant, as if she were her own. When Baker decided she wanted to care for Amy for the rest of her life, officials with Miller County’s Arkansas Department of Human Services declined her request. And it took her some time to find out why she was denied. Baker, a registered nurse and foster mother for more than 28 children over the past two years, is black. Amy is white. "I wouldn’t even think race was an issue if DHS would have just given me a reason why they refused the adoption," said Baker. "But regardless of my numerous inquiries, they never gave me a clear reason as to why I did not qualify." According to records, Baker was considered an ideal foster parent as DHS had placed more than 28 children, five of them Caucasian, in her care since 1999. "The department would not make a recommendation based on race," said Joe Quinn, spokesman for DHS for the state of Arkansas. However, Quinn added in the case of Mable Baker, Court Appointed Special Advocates of Texarkana made a recommendation that Amy be placed in a two-parent Caucasian home. "CASA’s recommendation should not have played a role in the decision-making process because it suggests a recommendation based on race," Quinn said. "And if our employee let race be a considering factor in the decision to place the child in an adoptive home, then that is wrong." When contacted by the Gazette, Danita Abernathy, director of CASA declined to comment on the case. Amy was 4-months-old when she was placed in Baker’s home under foster care in September 2000. Baker decided she wanted to adopt Amy when she realized the child’s reunification with her biological parents would not be possible. "The child came into my care as a victim of severe physical abuse," Baker said. "From the day she came to me, I’ve spent countless hours with her at the doctor’s office, making sure she received the best care and hoping for her a healthy recovery." In fact, Baker says, of all the children she has had under her care, she spent the most time caring for Amy, ultimately falling in love with the child. "The minute I realized that I wanted to adopt her, I went to the necessary officials at the Division of Child and Family Services (a branch of DHS), to begin the paperwork in the adoption process," she said. Baker insists her expressed interest in adopting Amy was met with nothing but apathy and disinterest from DCFS officials from day one. Baker first contacted Gala Griffin, the local adoption specialist, who was responsible for beginning Baker’s paperwork regarding adoption of Amy. Griffin not only delayed beginning Baker’s paperwork, she blatantly ignored her verbal and written requests concerning the delays, Baker said. When contacted by the Gazette by telephone, Griffin hung up. Perplexed by Griffin’s uncooperative manner in the case, Baker contacted Aquonette White, DCFS supervisor of Miller County, who shared some information with Baker about the adoption. In a Nov., 13, 2001, letter to Baker, White wrote, "You have provided a stable temporary foster home for her, but it was decided by the appropriate staff committee that (Amy) be placed for open adoption." Baker was stunned to receive the news. She said she did not understand why her home was all of a sudden considered "a temporary foster home,’ nor did she understand where she failed as a qualified adoptive parent. When contacted by the Gazette, White declined to comment on the case. Baker met all applicant qualifications in the areas of age, marital status, physical and mental health, housing and financial resources and passed the standard criminal background check. "At this point, I had no choice but to go above their heads," said Baker, who next contacted director of DCFS in Little Rock, Roy Kindle. In the letter to Kindle, Baker made specific inquires like, "What qualities was DCFS looking for in a parent for (Amy)?" The only response Baker was able to extract from the staff making the decision was a statement from White stating, "I can’t say. We just considered everything." It wasn’t until Baker received the results of her adoption home study, which was conducted by an adoption specialist from the El Dorado office, that it became clear that race might have been a factor in the state agency’s decision. The adoption home study is a standard investigative assessment performed on all prospective adoptive parents. Mary Lin Williams, the DHS adoption specialist who conducted the study, recommended that "Ms. Baker be approved to adopt another child rather than (Amy)", that "Ms. Baker would make an appropriate adoptive parent for a minority child," because "consideration must be given to the fact that (Amy) will become older and will face racial issues…" The assessment didn’t reveal any statistics regarding interracial adoptions or shed any light on why Baker was refused adoption of Amy, only adding that the case is currently under review by DCFS. Amy, who was removed from Baker’s care at 18 months, currently resides in a two-parent adoptive home consisting of an Asian father and a Caucasian mother. Baker has contact with the adoptive family, regularly receiving photographs and written updates on Amy’s physical and emotional status. http://www.DontTakeOurKids.com

– "..and that you may never experience the humility that the power of the American Government has reduced me to, is the wish of him, who, in his native forests, was once as proud and bold as yourself." Black Hawk, 1833

Response:

Well, we know what this is all about. Neo-colonist entitlement. Marley

Response:

After all the mean things you’ve said to me, do you really think I’m going to waste any time reading anything you write? — http://www.DontTakeOurKids.com — http://www.hereinreality.com

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – From the Texarkana Gazette http://www.texarkanagazette.com/display/inn_news/news01.txt By PRASHANSA SAI/Of the Gazette Staff For 15 months, Mable Baker cared for Amy, an infant, as if she were her own. When Baker decided she wanted to care for Amy for the rest of her life, officials with Miller County’s Arkansas Department of Human Services declined her request. And it took her some time to find out why she was denied. Baker, a registered nurse and foster mother for more than 28 children over the past two years, is black. Amy is white. "I wouldn’t even think race was an issue if DHS would have just given me a reason why they refused the adoption," said Baker. "But regardless of my numerous inquiries, they never gave me a clear reason as to why I did not qualify." According to records, Baker was considered an ideal foster parent as DHS had placed more than 28 children, five of them Caucasian, in her care since 1999. "The department would not make a recommendation based on race," said Joe Quinn, spokesman for DHS for the state of Arkansas. However, Quinn added in the case of Mable Baker, Court Appointed Special Advocates of Texarkana made a recommendation that Amy be placed in a two-parent Caucasian home. "CASA’s recommendation should not have played a role in the decision-making process because it suggests a recommendation based on race," Quinn said. "And if our employee let race be a considering factor in the decision to place the child in an adoptive home, then that is wrong." When contacted by the Gazette, Danita Abernathy, director of CASA declined to comment on the case. Amy was 4-months-old when she was placed in Baker’s home under foster care in September 2000. Baker decided she wanted to adopt Amy when she realized the child’s reunification with her biological parents would not be possible. "The child came into my care as a victim of severe physical abuse," Baker said. "From the day she came to me, I’ve spent countless hours with her at the doctor’s office, making sure she received the best care and hoping for her a healthy recovery." In fact, Baker says, of all the children she has had under her care, she spent the most time caring for Amy, ultimately falling in love with the child. "The minute I realized that I wanted to adopt her, I went to the necessary officials at the Division of Child and Family Services (a branch of DHS), to begin the paperwork in the adoption process," she said. Baker insists her expressed interest in adopting Amy was met with nothing but apathy and disinterest from DCFS officials from day one. Baker first contacted Gala Griffin, the local adoption specialist, who was responsible for beginning Baker’s paperwork regarding adoption of Amy. Griffin not only delayed beginning Baker’s paperwork, she blatantly ignored her verbal and written requests concerning the delays, Baker said. When contacted by the Gazette by telephone, Griffin hung up. Perplexed by Griffin’s uncooperative manner in the case, Baker contacted Aquonette White, DCFS supervisor of Miller County, who shared some information with Baker about the adoption. In a Nov., 13, 2001, letter to Baker, White wrote, "You have provided a stable temporary foster home for her, but it was decided by the appropriate staff committee that (Amy) be placed for open adoption." Baker was stunned to receive the news. She said she did not understand why her home was all of a sudden considered "a temporary foster home,’ nor did she understand where she failed as a qualified adoptive parent. When contacted by the Gazette, White declined to comment on the case. Baker met all applicant qualifications in the areas of age, marital status, physical and mental health, housing and financial resources and passed the standard criminal background check. "At this point, I had no choice but to go above their heads," said Baker, who next contacted director of DCFS in Little Rock, Roy Kindle. In the letter to Kindle, Baker made specific inquires like, "What qualities was DCFS looking for in a parent for (Amy)?" The only response Baker was able to extract from the staff making the decision was a statement from White stating, "I can’t say. We just considered everything." It wasn’t until Baker received the results of her adoption home study, which was conducted by an adoption specialist from the El Dorado office, that it became clear that race might have been a factor in the state agency’s decision. The adoption home study is a standard investigative assessment performed on all prospective adoptive parents. Mary Lin Williams, the DHS adoption specialist who conducted the study, recommended that "Ms. Baker be approved to adopt another child rather than (Amy)", that "Ms. Baker would make an appropriate adoptive parent for a minority child," because "consideration must be given to the fact that (Amy) will become older and will face racial issues…" The assessment didn’t reveal any statistics regarding interracial adoptions or shed any light on why Baker was refused adoption of Amy, only adding that the case is currently under review by DCFS. Amy, who was removed from Baker’s care at 18 months, currently resides in a two-parent adoptive home consisting of an Asian father and a Caucasian mother. Baker has contact with the adoptive family, regularly receiving photographs and written updates on Amy’s physical and emotional status. http://www.DontTakeOurKids.com Well now, you actually do post something worthwhile from time to time don’t you. Frankly if I was a white kid and had to be adopted out to a black family I figure I’d be one hell of a lot better of than a black kid that had to be adopted white. Blacks are, by necessity, practical anthropologists, and some even are very aware of it…but all, when they look at their faces in the mirror in the morning, have to think about how they are going to face the day in a white world. Every fucking day. I figure they know one hell of a lot more about how things really work than most whites…who rarely have to think about it. Hence, I’d be better taught how to survive and get by in the world, white or black, if I was raised black. But then I travel alot and have lived with a lot of people and suspect my branch of the family is probably "passing" anyway, like about 15% or more of the whites in the US. The lady should have the kid, and those who got in her way should be exposed for the dimwitted racist fools they are. Imagine, me, grooving as a black raised kid but passing in the white world. If I had another chance and could decide who would raise should have been my mother. lucky who was a white kid raised kinda Okinawan…try that one on for size.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – < snip Welcome to the real world, Mable Baker. I’m amazed that a "foster mother for more than 28 children over the past two years" could be so naive. Duh. At the same time, race is not supposed to be considered, according to Federal law. Someone should inform the NABSW.

Well yes, and as you noted, the NABSW is up-front in their contempt for the Federal law. They are very much opposed to children of color being adopted by white parents. I don’t know if their objection goes in the other direction. steve

Response:

< snip Welcome to the real world, Mable Baker. I’m amazed that a "foster mother for more than 28 children over the past two years" could be so naive. Duh. At the same time, race is not supposed to be considered, according to Federal law.

Someone should inform the NABSW. I think that explains all the official "no comments", and why the adoption "specialist" hung up on the newspaper.

The NABSW is quite vocal regarding their postition against transracial adoption. Nobody seems to be whispering over there. Someone should be disciplined for this.

Indeed. Dad

Response:

At the same time, race is not supposed to be considered, according to Federal law. I think that explains all the official "no comments", and why the adoption "specialist" hung up on the newspaper. Someone should be disciplined for this. steve

Response:

given that homo nigerus in america is 8 times more likely to kill his child , than i think human babies being kept away from these creatures is a good idea. the g-factor , found at www.crispian.demon.co.uk has studies of adoptees in different racial settings. white children should never ever be brought up by a nig. black children get a better start in life if raised by whites (even if they are a stupid as an adult , as their brothers) giving a white child to a gollywog is child abuse. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – From the Texarkana Gazette http://www.texarkanagazette.com/display/inn_news/news01.txt By PRASHANSA SAI/Of the Gazette Staff For 15 months, Mable Baker cared for Amy, an infant, as if she were her own. When Baker decided she wanted to care for Amy for the rest of her life, officials with Miller County’s Arkansas Department of Human Services declined her request. And it took her some time to find out why she was denied. Baker, a registered nurse and foster mother for more than 28 children over the past two years, is black. Amy is white. "I wouldn’t even think race was an issue if DHS would have just given me a reason why they refused the adoption," said Baker. "But regardless of my numerous inquiries, they never gave me a clear reason as to why I did not qualify." According to records, Baker was considered an ideal foster parent as DHS had placed more than 28 children, five of them Caucasian, in her care since 1999. "The department would not make a recommendation based on race," said Joe Quinn, spokesman for DHS for the state of Arkansas. However, Quinn added in the case of Mable Baker, Court Appointed Special Advocates of Texarkana made a recommendation that Amy be placed in a two-parent Caucasian home. "CASA’s recommendation should not have played a role in the decision-making process because it suggests a recommendation based on race," Quinn said. "And if our employee let race be a considering factor in the decision to place the child in an adoptive home, then that is wrong." When contacted by the Gazette, Danita Abernathy, director of CASA declined to comment on the case. Amy was 4-months-old when she was placed in Baker’s home under foster care in September 2000. Baker decided she wanted to adopt Amy when she realized the child’s reunification with her biological parents would not be possible. "The child came into my care as a victim of severe physical abuse," Baker said. "From the day she came to me, I’ve spent countless hours with her at the doctor’s office, making sure she received the best care and hoping for her a healthy recovery." In fact, Baker says, of all the children she has had under her care, she spent the most time caring for Amy, ultimately falling in love with the child. "The minute I realized that I wanted to adopt her, I went to the necessary officials at the Division of Child and Family Services (a branch of DHS), to begin the paperwork in the adoption process," she said. Baker insists her expressed interest in adopting Amy was met with nothing but apathy and disinterest from DCFS officials from day one. Baker first contacted Gala Griffin, the local adoption specialist, who was responsible for beginning Baker’s paperwork regarding adoption of Amy. Griffin not only delayed beginning Baker’s paperwork, she blatantly ignored her verbal and written requests concerning the delays, Baker said. When contacted by the Gazette by telephone, Griffin hung up. Perplexed by Griffin’s uncooperative manner in the case, Baker contacted Aquonette White, DCFS supervisor of Miller County, who shared some information with Baker about the adoption. In a Nov., 13, 2001, letter to Baker, White wrote, "You have provided a stable temporary foster home for her, but it was decided by the appropriate staff committee that (Amy) be placed for open adoption." Baker was stunned to receive the news. She said she did not understand why her home was all of a sudden considered "a temporary foster home,’ nor did she understand where she failed as a qualified adoptive parent. When contacted by the Gazette, White declined to comment on the case. Baker met all applicant qualifications in the areas of age, marital status, physical and mental health, housing and financial resources and passed the standard criminal background check. "At this point, I had no choice but to go above their heads," said Baker, who next contacted director of DCFS in Little Rock, Roy Kindle. In the letter to Kindle, Baker made specific inquires like, "What qualities was DCFS looking for in a parent for (Amy)?" The only response Baker was able to extract from the staff making the decision was a statement from White stating, "I can’t say. We just considered everything." It wasn’t until Baker received the results of her adoption home study, which was conducted by an adoption specialist from the El Dorado office, that it became clear that race might have been a factor in the state agency’s decision. The adoption home study is a standard investigative assessment performed on all prospective adoptive parents. Mary Lin Williams, the DHS adoption specialist who conducted the study, recommended that "Ms. Baker be approved to adopt another child rather than (Amy)", that "Ms. Baker would make an appropriate adoptive parent for a minority child," because "consideration must be given to the fact that (Amy) will become older and will face racial issues…" The assessment didn’t reveal any statistics regarding interracial adoptions or shed any light on why Baker was refused adoption of Amy, only adding that the case is currently under review by DCFS. Amy, who was removed from Baker’s care at 18 months, currently resides in a two-parent adoptive home consisting of an Asian father and a Caucasian mother. Baker has contact with the adoptive family, regularly receiving photographs and written updates on Amy’s physical and emotional status. http://www.DontTakeOurKids.com

Response:

Well now, you actually do post something worthwhile from time to time don’t you. Frankly if I was a white kid and had to be adopted out to a black family I figure I’d be one hell of a lot better of than a black kid that had to be adopted white. Blacks are, by necessity, practical anthropologists, and some even are very aware of it…but all, when they look at their faces in the mirror in the morning, have to think about how they are going to face the day in a white world. Every fucking day. I figure they know one hell of a lot more about how things really work than most whites…who rarely have to think about it. Hence, I’d be better taught how to survive and get by in the world, white or black, if I was raised black. But then I travel alot and have lived with a lot of people and suspect my branch of the family is probably "passing" anyway, like about 15% or more of the whites in the US. The lady should have the kid, and those who got in her way should be exposed for the dimwitted racist fools they are. Imagine, me, grooving as a black raised kid but passing in the white world. If I had another chance and could decide who would raise should have been my mother. lucky who was a white kid raised kinda Okinawan…try that one on for size.

Response:

From the Texarkana Gazette http://www.texarkanagazette.com/display/inn_news/news01.txt By PRASHANSA SAI/Of the Gazette Staff For 15 months, Mable Baker cared for Amy, an infant, as if she were her own. When Baker decided she wanted to care for Amy for the rest of her life, officials with Miller County’s Arkansas Department of Human Services declined her request. And it took her some time to find out why she was denied. Baker, a registered nurse and foster mother for more than 28 children over the past two years, is black. Amy is white. "I wouldn’t even think race was an issue if DHS would have just given me a reason why they refused the adoption," said Baker. "But regardless of my numerous inquiries, they never gave me a clear reason as to why I did not qualify." According to records, Baker was considered an ideal foster parent as DHS had placed more than 28 children, five of them Caucasian, in her care since 1999. "The department would not make a recommendation based on race," said Joe Quinn, spokesman for DHS for the state of Arkansas. However, Quinn added in the case of Mable Baker, Court Appointed Special Advocates of Texarkana made a recommendation that Amy be placed in a two-parent Caucasian home. "CASA’s recommendation should not have played a role in the decision-making process because it suggests a recommendation based on race," Quinn said. "And if our employee let race be a considering factor in the decision to place the child in an adoptive home, then that is wrong." When contacted by the Gazette, Danita Abernathy, director of CASA declined to comment on the case. Amy was 4-months-old when she was placed in Baker’s home under foster care in September 2000. Baker decided she wanted to adopt Amy when she realized the child’s reunification with her biological parents would not be possible. "The child came into my care as a victim of severe physical abuse," Baker said. "From the day she came to me, I’ve spent countless hours with her at the doctor’s office, making sure she received the best care and hoping for her a healthy recovery." In fact, Baker says, of all the children she has had under her care, she spent the most time caring for Amy, ultimately falling in love with the child. "The minute I realized that I wanted to adopt her, I went to the necessary officials at the Division of Child and Family Services (a branch of DHS), to begin the paperwork in the adoption process," she said. Baker insists her expressed interest in adopting Amy was met with nothing but apathy and disinterest from DCFS officials from day one. Baker first contacted Gala Griffin, the local adoption specialist, who was responsible for beginning Baker’s paperwork regarding adoption of Amy. Griffin not only delayed beginning Baker’s paperwork, she blatantly ignored her verbal and written requests concerning the delays, Baker said. When contacted by the Gazette by telephone, Griffin hung up. Perplexed by Griffin’s uncooperative manner in the case, Baker contacted Aquonette White, DCFS supervisor of Miller County, who shared some information with Baker about the adoption. In a Nov., 13, 2001, letter to Baker, White wrote, "You have provided a stable temporary foster home for her, but it was decided by the appropriate staff committee that (Amy) be placed for open adoption." Baker was stunned to receive the news. She said she did not understand why her home was all of a sudden considered "a temporary foster home,’ nor did she understand where she failed as a qualified adoptive parent. When contacted by the Gazette, White declined to comment on the case. Baker met all applicant qualifications in the areas of age, marital status, physical and mental health, housing and financial resources and passed the standard criminal background check. "At this point, I had no choice but to go above their heads," said Baker, who next contacted director of DCFS in Little Rock, Roy Kindle. In the letter to Kindle, Baker made specific inquires like, "What qualities was DCFS looking for in a parent for (Amy)?" The only response Baker was able to extract from the staff making the decision was a statement from White stating, "I can’t say. We just considered everything." It wasn’t until Baker received the results of her adoption home study, which was conducted by an adoption specialist from the El Dorado office, that it became clear that race might have been a factor in the state agency’s decision. The adoption home study is a standard investigative assessment performed on all prospective adoptive parents. Mary Lin Williams, the DHS adoption specialist who conducted the study, recommended that "Ms. Baker be approved to adopt another child rather than (Amy)", that "Ms. Baker would make an appropriate adoptive parent for a minority child," because "consideration must be given to the fact that (Amy) will become older and will face racial issues…" The assessment didn’t reveal any statistics regarding interracial adoptions or shed any light on why Baker was refused adoption of Amy, only adding that the case is currently under review by DCFS. Amy, who was removed from Baker’s care at 18 months, currently resides in a two-parent adoptive home consisting of an Asian father and a Caucasian mother. Baker has contact with the adoptive family, regularly receiving photographs and written updates on Amy’s physical and emotional status. http://www.DontTakeOurKids.com — http://www.hereinreality.com

Response:

Address: http://adoptionsfaq.com/child-adopt/black-foster-mom-cant-adopt-white-child-2290870.html

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