Worldwide Orphans Foundation

I remember thinking that I loved the Creole language and found it whimsical in sound, and warm, loving and childlike in meaning.

Everyone was astonished by the condition of both buildings from the earthquake ... and the tent camps that still remain in the main square.

The vast majority of orphans in Haiti (and most likely in the rest of the world) are social orphans: their parents are alive, but for many reasons, they are not raising their children.

In Haiti, store signs are symbols or photographs, not words. That's because few Haitians read anything except the Bible.

The work of WWO is about community, and all international development work should be based on the simplest of formulas to help needy people rally within their community to hold strong and escape poverty and conflict.

I think about how all teens around the world should be dancing in their seats to Katy Perry and Lady Gaga... all children should be enjoying the rites of passage of their time... remembering friendships and school experiences and sharing silly jokes.

As an adoption medicine specialist for more than 20 years, I have read and agonized over the social histories of thousands of children adopted domestically and internationally.

Since Haiti's devastating earthquake two years ago, WWO has been in the process of adapting our current program models to fit the needs of children who have been affected by the horrific tragedy.

Statement by Dr. Jane Aronson, founder and CEO of Worldwide Orphans Foundation: On World AIDS Day, observed Dec. 1, we remember the millions of preci...

When I saw this little boy's photos in my inbox, I was eager to learn about this child. He was sweet and shiny and alert, just a few months old, and I felt hopeful for a moment. Then I read the social history.

Why did we create such a marvelous bureaucracy to improve international adoption practices and not pour some of that money into the welfare of mothers in these countries?

My adopted sons will not be able to remember many of the details of the fun they had at the amusement park this Labor Day, but that's okay because that is what childhood is all about.

At the end of the day, being alone and isolated is not a viable way to live. Humans are not constructed to be successful without interdependence and independence... not just one or the other.

I cried with joy for her and those like her who have a permanent family through adoption. And I cried with a deep longing and yearning, for those who have none of this and who deserve it.

The task of reuniting orphans living with HIV with their family was daunting from so many angles. To have their families take them back into their hearts is a gargantuan achievement.

There are so many things to say about Monley, a 6-year-old Haitian orphan, and his extended family. I saw their life up close and wanted to share some of what I learned so that you might understand the complicated life they lead.

What do kids do all day in a "tent camp"? Well, when school is out, since there is no camp or summer program in the community, they do a lot of nothing.

My recollection of Monley, a 6-year-old Haitian boy, is that he was trapped under rubble and curled up inside a metal stand for nine days after the Haiti earthquake.

The Bulgarian psychologists at Varna had revealed how wonderful and improved the development of the children had been due to services provided starting at six months of age.

Emptying institutions -- although desirable -- cannot happen carelessly and swiftly. It must happen with loving care and strategic planning over a decade.

I am reminded painfully of how children essentially can end up lost in rhetoric and good intentions. Agencies are well-meaning, but slow-moving and bureaucratic.

I am aware of how these healthy and proud children are growing up to be outstanding Ethiopian citizens. They need our love and support. It can't be 39 or 39,000 -- it must be all of them.

Yet, in the midst of such poverty, there is hope for orphans. The government, NGOs and other charitable community-based organizations are supporting smart plans to help children in need.

How is it that we still have a world filled with children (18 million double orphans and 413 million in extreme poverty) living in degradation, without dignity and the rights we promise to them daily?