Jackson family celebrating first Christmas with adopted son

Editor's note: This story has been changed to reflect the correct website address of the Dillon Adoption organization.

This holiday season is the most eagerly anticipated one for Jason and Megane Niswonger of Jackson because it will be their first with their adopted son, Nate. Nate Thomas Ye Joon Niswonger, 2, was adopted from South Korea in March.

"He has fit right in," Jason Niswonger said. "Nate was immediately one of the family. His grandmothers have been spoiling him. He has a great personality and has been accepting of everyone."

The Niswongers waited two-and-a-half years to celebrate their first holiday with Nate. Jason said the adoption experience was good, but the waiting was the most difficult part.

The Niswongers tried to have children naturally but were unable, so they decided to adopt. After much research, they decided adoption from Korea was best for their family. Their research led them to Dillon Adoption. Dillon has worked with parents and children for 40 years and has helped place more than 6,000 children.

There were certain requirements the Niswongers had to meet, such as weight standards, income stability and being married at least three years. Dillon provided intense education for the Niswongers so their expectations met reality with minimal fears. According to Niswonger, adoption has been a smooth transition and many of their concerns have not been problems.

Dillon worked with an adoption agency in Korea to assign Nate to the Niswongers. Nate lived with a foster family since birth. They spent a week in Seoul and fell in love with the culture. Niswonger said they plan on taking Nate back to Korea to educate him so he can keep the culture as part of his identity.

"It takes a very special person to adopt," said Mary Anne Mesko, Korea program case manager for Dillon. "The Niswongers were a nice family to work with, and we are thankful and grateful for another child to have a great home."

Adoption programs vary depending upon the country. According to Mesko, the international adoption process is intense because families and agencies are dealing with two governments. The first six months of the process is spent getting documents together for a home study. Mesko said the home study evaluates parents to find the best ones fit for adoption. The referral process can take another six months. Once the home study has been completed, parents are placed on a waiting list. Finding a match can take anywhere from nine to 13 months.

"Regardless of country, the waiting period is difficult and requires patience." Mesko said.

Changing landscape

According to Mesko, the landscape of adoption is changing. Every country has its own set of challenges. Korea for example, desires to keep more children in Korea. The Hague Adoption Convention was an international agreement to protect children. The convention made international adoptions more transparent and established international standards for adoption, but also made the process more bureaucratic. Countries such as Nepal, Vietnam, Guatemala and others were closed to intercountry adoption. The current economic climate is another factor.

The number of intercountry adoptions has decreased. According to the U.S. Department of State, 11,084 children were adopted internationally into American families in 2010. Missouri families adopted 241 children. Those numbers are down from 2009, when 12,744 children were adopted with 311 finding homes in Missouri.

Despite decreasing numbers, the Adoption Coalition recognizes the need and provides a number of resources. The Adoption Coalition consists of Lutheran Family and Children's Services, Room for One More, Court Appointed Special Advocates and the Children's Division of the Department of Family Services.

Molly Strickland, Southeast office director for Lutheran Family and Children's Services, said LFCS offers the Adoption Power Hour at its offices on the third Monday night of the month. The Power Hour is a way to educate families on adoption. LFCS has a number of services for birth mothers looking to put their children up for adoption and parents wanting to adopt.

Strickland said it takes an incredible amount of strength for a birth mother to come up with an adoption plan. LFCS works with birth mothers as well as with families with fertility issues. The LFCS offers counseling, education and other services.

Room for One More sees adoption as an exercise of faith.

"Adoption is God's heart," said Shari Stroup, president of Room for One More. "God adopted us into his family."

Since 2009, Room for One More has helped 20 children find families. Room for One More advocates for children through adoption, foster care and orphan support.

"There are so many children in need," Stroup said. "We need to change how we think about adoption. Adoption changes history and can truly break a heritage of poverty."

Stroup encourages anyone considering adoption not to be afraid.

More information on Dillon can be found at www.dillonadopt.com. Information on LFCS can be found at www.lfcs.org. Information on Room for One More can be found at www.roomforonemore.org.