Disposable children - Zembla - BNNVARA
It's called the 'second-hand children's market': In the United States, parents are allowed to give away their adopted children if problems arise. There are even special “fashion shows” organized. In ZEMBLA INTERNATIONAL you can see how children present themselves on the catwalk. They are adopted children looking for new parents. The procedures surrounding the American re-adoptions are neatly arranged on paper. It is intended as a solution. And sometimes it can mean a new start for a child when untenable tensions arise in an adoptive family. But when French journalists investigate, they also encounter the excesses of this system.
In ZEMBLA INTERNATIONAL an investigation into the relocation of American adopted children.
Also watch the extra report for this broadcast: 'The ranch for kids '
Every year an American charity sets up the red carpet in the Lutheran church in the American town of Topton. During the children's fashion show, the children do everything they can to be allowed to go home with one of the potential new adoptive parents in the audience. Cindy, visitor to the children's fashion show:
"It almost looks like a trade fair, where children are the product."
Frank, looking for a family that wants to re-adopt him:
“This is an important day as I may be taken in by a family. And I've been waiting for that for a long time. "
Re-adoption is allowed in most US states. There are official procedures for this. Adopting mother of Justin, who has given him up for re-adoption through the official procedure:
“You first need to do an investigation into your home situation. Then a social worker will check if everything is in order. How long does that take? The adoption will be official in a year, but he can live with you right away. ”
But to circumvent the costs and rules, an informal network has also been created. The journalists come across websites full of advertisements. Thousands of children are offered. The old and new adoptive parents arrange the re-adoptions through these sites among themselves. And there is no supervision. Nita, re-adopted 5 times via informal circuit:
“How often have you been relocated? I think, let's see ... About five times. Those were horrible experiences. ”
16-year-old girl Poppy embodies the paradox of re-adoptions. It has become both her heaven and her hell. As a young girl, she ends up in the hands of a couple who are abusing children, who are known to the authorities via a heradoption site. The woman of the mediation site finds out 2 weeks later. She manages to free Poppy and the girl is re-adopted by the woman herself. The journalists follow Poppy and her re-adoptive mother during the trial of the abusers. Thanks in part to Poppy's testimony, the Easons are sentenced to 40 years in prison. Poppy, abused after re-adoption via site, and then successfully re-adopted:
“I am happy that the Easons are getting what they deserve. But I am also happy that I got to know my mother through them. ”
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