Fallen Angel in Adoption

As many of you know, The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s (CCAI) Angels in Adoption™ Program provides Members of Congress the opportunity to honor an individual, couple, or organization from their district that have made an extraordinary contribution on behalf of children in need of homes. I have long supported this effort and any effort to raise awareness about the needs of foster and adopted children.

Back in November, I discovered that none other then Penn State child molester Jerry Sandusky was honored as an Angel in Adoption back in 2002. And quite appropriately, on November 10, 2011, the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute rescinded the award with the following statement:

For 13 years, the Angels in Adoption™ award has honored more than 1,800 selfless individuals, couples and organizations who have made extraordinary contributions on behalf of children in need of loving families. In light of the serious allegations against him, and to preserve the integrity of the Angels in Adoption™ program, the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute today announced it has rescinded the award given in 2002 to Jerry and Dottie Sandusky, who were among 142 awardees that year. As an organization that fights to stop child abuse, our thoughts and prayers are with the children harmed and the families affected by his alleged actions. This tragedy underscores how important it is to have a foster care system that ensures our most vulnerable children have a safe and stable environment in which to grow.

No reason a few bad apples should spoil the bin, and Sandusky was one rotten apple operating, as most pedophiles do, in plain sight but under the radar, ensconced in a false veneer of respectability and trust.

Imagine my surprise then, when I popped over to the Angels in Adoption website and found Masha Allen‘s adoptive parent, Faith Allen, proudly listed as an “Angel Alumni.”

Back in 2006, Faith got her angel wings when Senator Johnny Isakson and Congressman Phil Gingrey, nominated her (at the same time Georgia child welfare officials were investigating Faith for abuse and the Cobb & Douglas Public Health Tuberculosis Clinic was searching for Masha in order to treat a nasty case of tuberculosis).

According to Isakson, “[a]fter a lifetime of unimaginable hardships, Masha now has a safe home filled with compassion and love thanks to her Angel in Adoption, Faith Allen.”

Gingrey crowed, “Faith Allen is a shining example of the selfless love adoptive parents give their children. Faith is more than just Masha’s adoptive mother; she is her pillar of support, providing encouragement as Masha bravely shares her story. Everyone who spends time with Faith and Masha feels the warmth and kindness that make Faith an Angel in Adoption.”

Both these tributes remain on Mssrs. Isakson and Gingrey’s Congressional websites today.

Over two years ago, Maureen Flatley revealed on PoundPupLegacy.org the extent of the cover-up in this case. An excerpt:

As the point of contact between Masha’s team and Mr. Gingery’s office I want to further clarify Michael’s comments, which are on point.

Mr. Gingery, who is was a licensed physician in Georgia when Masha’s case began to play out, was held as a professional to an extremely high ethical standard on the issue of mandatory reporting of alleged child abuse or neglect. 

…When I contacted Mr. Gingery’s office to bring them into the loop on the developments of the previous 24 hours during which the allegations of abuse and neglect by Faith Allen were surfaced, I was angrily confronted by his staffer who had already been in touch with Faith and her erstwhile attorney who provided rather alarming safe harbor for Faith (despite her position as a nurse/attorney who should have recognized a child in danger rather than simple a parent whose rights were under siege.)

Rather than objectively sort out the issues, putting the best interests of the child in the forefront as the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act dictates, Gingery’s staff immediately defaulted to the defense of Faith’s parental rights and most especially the acceptability of her discretion to engage “faith based” interventions rather than conventional mental health treatments. …

…there had been on going discussion between Mr. Gingery’s office and the outside experts for MONTHS that Faith had not been able, for whatever reasons most obviously financial, to meet Masha’s needs and that the family was in crisis. Gingery’s staffer, furthermore, knew a.) that Masha had been hospitalized at least once for a suicide attempt and that the clinicians involved had questioned Faith’s parenting and b.) Faith had “paraded” Masha on the Oprah Winfrey show against advice of all outside counsel, again creating psychological stress for a vulnerable child.

…If anyone had been able to put this case into a “fair and balanced” position in which all the issues on both sides of the case could be sorted out in an objective and responsible fashion, it was Mr. Gingery. As doctor, Mr. Gingery was in fact uniquely positioned to both understand and sort out the desperate needs of this family and most especially a vulnerable child whose interests he had purported to defend. …

…to allow a vulnerable child whose needs were well know not just to the Member but to the entire world to go unmet in what was by then an obviously life threatening situation is not just curious, it’s an outrage.

Like Sandusky, everyone knew something was wrong with Faith’s care of Masha. Many, many people suspected something was just not right with the whole scenario. Some very powerful people knew much more, and yet, the situation persisted year after year after year just like Penn State’s cover-up of Sandusky.

Former United States Attorney (and recent Congressional candidate) Mary Beth Buchanan started the spin early on when she declared on national television in 2005: “Masha has been adopted by a very loving family who has changed her name and moved her to another part of the country, where she can make a new start and have a very, very wonderful life ahead of her.”

The press had it’s own unique role in perpetrating the fraud. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter Barbara White Stack, who later admitted that “everyone in Pittsburgh knew Faith was mentally ill,” wrote in 2004 that “Faith believes God placed Mea with her because she could understand her pain and her needs. It is so awesome for her to be matched with a little girl of similar background who she is able to parent and minister to. I think it was by divine orchestration that it happened that way.”

Post-Gazette reporter Torsten Ove intoned, “[Masha’s] family is her other rock. All it took was love from someone who cared, Faith Allen.”

Even United States District Judge Terrence McVerry declared that “I’m so happy, Masha, for you and I hope and pray for you to have a happy life with Faith, and I’m sure that that will come to pass.”

Masha’s pastor, Winnie Pollard, was probably the most prescient when she declared, “Faith is a blessing. There is, without any question, that the two of them are going to be a story worth watching to see how their lives are going to effect so many others. They are a sign of hope in the City for everyone that has struggled liken unto Faith and every child that is in need of help liken unto Masha.”

Perhaps the biggest spin, however, was perpetrated by Masha’s own legal team, the very lawyers who were charged with ensuring her best interest. According to Masha’s First Lawyer, Linell Lee, “I only see a bright future for [Masha] with Faith. Kid’s Voice is happy to see this day!”

Masha’s Third Lawyer, Diane Sternlieb, declared “I have spent many, many months with Faith and Masha and have witnessed a bond of love between these two. Masha is lucky to have Faith in her life!”

Masha’s most recent lawyer, David S. Bills, defending Faith’s questionable care of Masha, trumpeted: “Faith received a major award as an Angel in Adoption™ for her outstanding contributions toward the welfare of children in the United States foster care system and orphans around the globe. U.S. Senator Isakson proclaimed: “Faith Allen, who adopted her daughter, Masha, last year, is a truly amazing woman who embodies the spirit of the Angels in Adoptions program. Masha now has a safe home filled with compassion and love thanks to Faith Allen.” Representative Gingrey added: “Faith is her pillar of support, providing encouragement as Masha bravely shares her story. Everyone who spends time with Faith and Masha feels the warmth and kindness that make Faith an Angel in Adoption.”

Which naturally brings us back to the Angel in Adoption program. When I read about Sandusky’s fall from grace, and saw that Faith was still an Angel in Good Standing with CCAI, I decided to perform a public service and let everyone know that Faith’s parental rights to Masha were involuntarily terminated years ago.

I sent the following email to Senator Isakson (on December 13, 2011):

I read with interest this article from last month.

I noticed that Faith Allen is still listed as a 2006 Angel in Adoption sponsored by the Senator and this press release remains on your website:

http://isakson.senate.gov/press/2006/092006allen.htm

In 2008, just two years after she was named an Angel in Adoption, Faith Allen…parental rights were involuntarily terminated by the State of Pennsylvania. …

I worked closely with Sen. Isakson on Masha’s Law. The situation with Faith Allen was almost as bad as Sandusky. You might want to consider taking appropriate action.

Saturday, November 12, 2011
Adoption group rescinds award given to Sandusky


and Congressman Gingrey (on December 13, 2011):

I read with interest this article from last month.

I noticed that Faith Allen is still listed as a 2006 Angel in Adoption and her picture remains on your website:

http://gingrey.house.gov/Photos/?PhotoID=50407

In 2008, just two years after she was named an Angel in Adoption, Faith Allen…parental rights were involuntarily terminated by the State of Pennsylvania. …

I worked closely with Rep. Gingrey on Masha’s Law. The situation with Faith Allen was almost as bad as Sandusky. You might want to consider taking appropriate action.

Saturday, November 12, 2011
Adoption group rescinds award given to Sandusky


and CCAI (on November 15, 2011):

I read with interest this article from Saturday.

I noticed that Faith Allen is still listed as a 2006 Angel in Adoption. In 2008, just two years after she was named an Angel in Adoption, Faith Allen…parental rights were involuntarily terminated by the State of Pennsylvania.

Saturday, November 12, 2011
Adoption group rescinds award given to Sandusky


Not surprisingly, no one has responded, although CCAI did remove the list of Alumni Angels from its website.


3 Replies to "Fallen Angel in Adoption"

  • megreiner
    February 7, 2012 (1:46 pm)

    Thanks for posting this! As someone who has written extensively about Masha, though has not had any personal interaction with her, I have always been puzzled by the whitewashing of Faith Allen–not to mention the long list of lawyers, judges, politicians, and “child advocates” who are painted with the same brush. IMO, they should all be decertified, disbarred and jailed. And, of course, held up to public ridicule and judgement.

    The Angels in Adoption Awards are held by those in ethical adoption reform to be a big cluster kiss between politicians and the adoption industry. While some genuinely good people have received awards (some are friends of mine), many are nothing more than industry and political hacks, kid kollectors, and whack jobs who get themselves nominated and then go out and drum up “votes”, much like those in Hollywood are forced to browbeat for their Oscars.

    Faith Allen (or whatever name she goes by now) should be stripped of her angel wings. I propose a campaign to do just that. Letter writing, phone calls, email to CCAI, Gingery and others to demand withdrawal. It is one thing to make a mistake. Quite another to maintain that mistake and whitewash the perpetrators in the face of all evidence–and in Masha’s case, the evidence is overwhelming. What makes Faith Allen exempt? Because she doesn’t have two dimes to rub together unlike Jerry Sandusky and the Penn State machine? Corruption and evil cannot be monetized. Get rid of Faith Allen now or face the public consequences.

    The CCAI does itself no favor by perpetuating this lie. It, in fact, hurts its cause and perpetuates our belief that CCAI and Angels in Adoption is just an adoption industry dog and pony show.

    I am sure there are other winners who deserve losing their wings as well, but let’s start at the top and move down–if we can find a list of winners.

  • Jane E.
    February 8, 2012 (6:06 pm)

    It’s well known in the adoption reform community that the Angels in Adoption program is a joke. Many recipients make their living off voluntary domestic infant adoption or foreign adoption. These programs do nothing for children in foster care. They do, however, exploit vulnerable mothers both in the US and abroad and destroy families.

  • Jo Swanson
    February 13, 2012 (10:09 am)

    There’s another fallen ‘Angel’ who is now serving time in an Arizona prison. He and his wife were ‘Angels’ in 2002. I’m giving you a link here, but if you Google “Stephen Frank Karban,” you’ll find lots more.
    http://www.dailypress.net/page/content.detail/id/507013/Former-resident–guilty-.html?nav=5003
    —–