Lina Vanegas MSW(Masters in Social Work) identifies as a transracial, transnational, displaced person. Her lived experience has motivated her to train, speak and consult on trauma, mental health, adoption and suicide. She shares some of her experience and expertise with us as we talk about how adoption impacts adoptee mental health.

on Instagram: linaleadswithlove. On Twitter LinaLeadsWLove

She can also be contacted at [email protected]

Links to Lina's work:

(1) Lina Vanegas - This is an important read. Forced treatment is... | FacebookOrganizing and Activism of Adopted and Displaced People - Bill of Health (harvard.edu)Demystifying the stigmatization of adoptee suicide | InterCountry Adoptee Voices (ICAV)Coping with Loss from Adoption Suicide | InterCountry Adoptee Voices (ICAV)We Need To Talk About Adoptee Suicide, Now | InterCountry Adoptee Voices (ICAV)

Mentioned in the show:

Sealed adoption records: the modern practice of adoption includes substituting the adoptive parents names for the adopted persons parents names on an amended(falsified) certificate. Original certificates and adoption records are then sealed away and are unaccessible to the adoptee, with the exception of 14 states. In some cases, transnational adopted people have access at an age determined by their country of origin. This practice denies the adoptees right to their own information.

Adoptees for Justice: Citizenship is an issue for many transnational adopted persons. Adoptees for Justice is an adoptee led organization working to right this injustice.

Adoptees for Justice

Rehoming: Rehoming is a horrendous, non-regulated practice wherein adoptive parents who feel they have a "failed adoption" seek to pass the adopted child on to their next "forever home". There are groups online that facilitate these practices, usually without any oversight.

Right to annul adoption: adopted people do not currently have the right to annul or abdicate their adoption, even as adults. There are efforts being made in places like the UK to allow annulment.

Greg Luce/Adoptee Rights Law: Greg Luce is a Minnesota adoptee who advocates for adoptee rights through his law practice. His website provides a great deal of useful information about the laws governing adoption in the United States. He is also active in advocating for citizenship.

Adoptee Rights Law Center PLLC

Your Consent is not Required, by Rob Wipond:

Your Consent is Not Required - Rob Wipond

Looking for more information? We suggest checking out adopteereading.com, #adopteevoices on Twitter(x), adoptees of TikTok and on Instagram and LinkedIn. There are also many great blogs, podcasts, facebook pages and articles. You can reach out to Lina on IG and Twitter, or by email. You can reach out to me on Facebook or at ande.stanleyyahoo.com

Article and hotline numbers for Black mental health:

Ask a Black therapist: 4 ways to support Black people's mental health | CNN

Suicide Prevention lines: These lines are provided with the caveat that some of these numbers are answered by people who are mandated reporters. This means that the information you give may result in a check the welfare call to law enforcement. Most locales have laws that provide for involuntary commitment when a person is considered at imminent risk. Some of these lines are considered Warm lines, which are generally not connected to law enforcement(as far as I am aware)

List of Hotlines for Mental Health Help (psycom.net)

Hotline - Trans Lifeline

Disclaimer: The podcast host is not a lawyer or a therapist. The opinions expressed by the host and thier guests are our opinions.

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