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Holt International Children's Services

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Holt International Children's Services
PurposeAdoption
HeadquartersEugene, Oregon
Coordinates44°03′44.7″N 123°05′12.4″W / 44.062417°N 123.086778°W / 44.062417; -123.086778
Official language
English
President & CEO
Dan Smith[1]
Websitewww.holtinternational.org

Holt International Children's Services (HICS) is a faith-based humanitarian organization and adoption agency based in Eugene, Oregon, United States, known for international adoption and child welfare. The nonprofit works in thirteen countries, including: Cambodia, China, Colombia, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Mongolia, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, Uganda, Vietnam, and the United States.[2] This work includes a range of services for children and families including efforts in nutrition, education, family strengthening, orphan care, foster care, family reunification, and child sponsorship.[3] The organization's stated mission is to seek a world where every child has a loving and secure home.[4]

History

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In 1954, Harry (1904–1964) and Bertha Holt (1904–2000) were busy raising their six children on a farm near the small Willamette Valley city of Creswell. In addition to farming, Harry ran a lumber company. Bertha, trained as a nurse, was a homemaker and mother.[5]

After seeing a documentary film about "G.I. babies" of the Korean War in orphanages in Korea, the Holts decided they would adopt some of the children who needed families.[6] Harry began preparations to go to Korea, and Bertha asked a friend how to go about adopting eight children from another country. Learning that it would be possible only if both houses of Congress passed a law allowing it, Bertha Holt decided to push for such a law.[7]

Two months later, the "Holt Bill" was passed, and in October 1955, Harry Holt and eight children arrived at Portland International Airport. The resulting publicity stirred interest among many families in the United States. The Holts set about helping others to adopt, leading to the creation of the foundation. [8]


In recent years, the Holt agency was accused of illegal activities involving the Brothers Home between the 1970s and 1980s. Peter Moller, an adoptee from Denmark, discovered that his mother was alive and demanded an inquiry into illegal adoptions between the 1960s and 1980s by the Truth and Reflection commission. Additionally, Adam Crapser, who was adopted into an abusive home, found out that his citizenship was obtained illegally.[9] The agency faced criticism in 2014 when a 3-year-old, Madoc Hyunsu O'Callaghan, was murdered by his adoptive father, Brian O'Callaghan. Before the adoption, Hyunsu's foster mother had requested to adopt him, but Holt did not allow it. Furthermore, his adoptive father had concealed his PTSD during the screening process. [10] [11] 16-month-old Jeong-in was murdered by her adoptive parents in 2020, after being matched with them by Holt. This incident, along with the death of Sherin Mathews in Texas, led to the Indian government suspending ties with the agency. in September 2024, The Associated Press found reported that Holt Agency and illegal adoption took away Korean children. [12][13]

Awards

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In the year 2000,[14] Bertha Holt was awarded the Kellogg's Child Development Award from the World of Children Award for her work with the Holt International Children's Services.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Leaders Trusted to Keep the Holt Promise".
  2. ^ "Holt International - Holt International". www.holtinternational.org. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  3. ^ "Holt International". www.holtinternational.org. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  4. ^ "Holt International". www.holtinternational.org. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  5. ^ "Holt International - Holt International". www.holtinternational.org. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  6. ^ Engeman, Richard H. (2009). The Oregon Companion: An Historical Gazetteer of The Useful, The Curious, and The Arcane. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. p. 179. ISBN 978-0-88192-899-0.
  7. ^ Aeby, John (1999). "A Grandma for Thousands." Her Children Arise and Call Her Blessed, p. 2
  8. ^ "'세계봉사상'에 빛난 홀트아동복지회 최악 불명예 직면". MK News. Archived from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  9. ^ "'Korea is hiding our past': the adoptees searching for their families – and the truth". The Guardian.
  10. ^ "Holt under inspection after adoptee's death". The Korea Times.
  11. ^ "Toddler's murder reopens old wounds for Korean adoptees". The Korea Hearld.
  12. ^ "Adoption fraud was widespread for many South Koreans adopted into Western countries, AP finds". Nbc News.
  13. ^ "South Korea reveals new evidence of 'violent and systemic' forced adoption abroad". The Guadrian.
  14. ^ "Bertha Holt" - WorldOfChildren.org. Retrieved July 9, 2013
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