Professor Honored as a Congressional Angel in Adoption

Amanda L. Baden of Counseling, Human Development and Educational Leadership, was honored as a Congressional Angel in Adoption at a ceremony held by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) in Washington, D.C. in September. Congressional representative Jerrold Nadler selected Baden, one of 180 people honored.

CCAI is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to raising congressional and public awareness about the tens of thousands of foster children in this country and the millions of orphans around the world in need of permanent, safe and loving homes; and to eliminating the barriers that hinder these children from realizing their need of a family. The Angels in Adoption program was created in 1999 to raise the public awareness of the many different ways that committed individuals can help children and families through adoption.

“Being chosen to receive this award has truly been one of the greatest honors of my life,” said Baden. “I am touched and humbled by the support given me by my colleagues, fellow adoption professionals, friends and other adoption-rights advocates. To be recognized for doing the work that I love, that is meaningful to me, and that has clearly been my ‘path’ has been truly amazing. I could not do any of it without the love and support of my family.”

Baden, a Chinese adoptee who was born in Hong Kong, has been researching and writing about issues related to transracial adoption for the past 11 years. She co-developed the Cultural-Racial Identity Model, which has gained recognition for its value as an alternative means for considering the identity paths for transracial adoptees. Baden, along with psychologist Dr. Mary O’Leary Wiley, recently published a journal article pertaining to birth parent issues in The Counseling Psychologist and they are preparing to publish a related article on adult adoptees in the same journal.

She has lectured regionally and nationally on topics related to adoption and serves on the Board of Directors for Families with Children from China of Greater New York. She has conducted numerous workshops for professionals, families, adult adoptees and children and adolescent adoptees about the psychology of adoption.

Each year, CCAI invites all members of the United States Congress to participate in the Angels in Adoption program, as it is a unique opportunity for federal legislators to recognize individuals from their home states who have improved the lives of foster children and orphans. Since the program’s inception in 1999, members of Congress have awarded more than 720 congressional Angels in Adoption from all 50 states.