A Difficult Post
We found out last week that the future of Guatemala adoptions is in serious jeopardy, but even more scary, our adoption of Aidan may not happen.
Below is a detailed explanation of the current situation, including a grassroots movement being requested of the adoption community as well as supporters of intercountry adoption... which is why I wanted to post all of it here. Any of you who read this blog know the miracle that intercountry adoption has been for my family. If you feel lead to do any of the suggested calls/letters/emails, we will always be grateful.
If Guatemala suspends adoptions at the end of the year they are stating that will include in-process cases. When we first began this process we knew the pitfalls that lay ahead but were comforted by the U.S. and Guatemala stating that cases would be grandfathered into any new system. This is a total shock for us.
The best case scenario for us to finish our adoption before the end of the year. While this is possible, the odds aren't in our favor. So keep us in your prayers that our case speeds through. The next best scenario is that Guatemala does allows for a grandfathering clause in their new adoption laws. The worst case scenarios are too awful to think of and are explained below.
Guatemalan President Oscar Berger has announced plans to suspend all intercountry adoption with American families on January 1 2008. The Joint Council on International Children's Services strongly opposes such a suspension and asks for your support in their efforts to ensure that all children retain the right to permanency through Intercountry Adoption.
President Berger's plans also call for the suspension of adoptions currently in-process. Such a suspension would be extremely detrimental to the children referred to adoptive parents. If President Berger's plan is actually implemented, up to 5,000 will unnecessarily remain in foster care or orphanages indefinitely.
This situation represents a pending crisis for the adoptive families who have lovingly chosen to provide permanency, safety and love to a child in need and most importantly a crisis for 5,000 children of Guatemala.
What can you do?
Make five simple phone calls and send one email.
1. Call your U.S. Senator>>You can find your Senators' phone numbers at www.senate.gov Ask to speak with the Legislative Director or Chief of Staff
2. Call your second U.S. Senator
3. Call your representative to the U.S. House of Representative>>You can find your representative at www.house.gov Ask to speak with the Legislative Director or Chief of Staff
4. Call or fax UNICEF Headquarters>>Ask to speak with Ann Veneman, Executive Director>>Telephone: 212-326-7000>>Fax: 212-326-7758
5. Call or fax UNICEF Guatemala Ask to speak with Manuel Manrique>>Telephone: 011-502-2327-6373>>Fax: 011-502-2327.6366 Please note that calls and faxes to Guatemala are international calls.
6. Send an email supporting Intercountry Adoption to guatemala5000@jcics.org Write briefly or at length. Joint Council will use the cumulative email petition in our advocacy for Intercountry Adoption.
When should you call? Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (October 9th, 10th 11th). For maximum effect, we are asking you to make these calls within a 72-hour window!
What should you say or write to member of the U.S. Congress?
Speak from your heart and give them the following information: Inform them that you are calling regarding Guatemala 5000. Ask them to sign the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) sponsored letter to President Oscar Berger. Ask them to sign the Joint Council on International Children's Services sponsored letter to UNICEF. Inform them that the Guatemalan government has announced that all intercountry adoptions with the U.S. will be suspended on January 1 2008. Inform them that President Berger's announcement also indicated that there will be no 'grandfathering' of adoptions already in process. Inform them that if children referred to families are not allowed to be adopted, they will languish in institutions or foster care. Ask that their office get involved and sign the sponsored letters to the President of Guatemala and UNICEF. These letters ask that all adoptions in-process as of January 1 2008 be allowed to process to completion under the existing notorial laws.
SAMPLE STATEMENT:
Hello,
We are calling/writing on behalf of the Guatemala 5000 Initiative. We, as your constituents, are asking that the Senator/Congressperson add their signature to two letters. First, the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute sponsored letter to Guatemalan President Oscar Berger. Second, the Joint Council on International Children's Services sponsored letter to UNICEF.
As you may be aware, the Guatemalan government has announced that all intercountry adoptions with the U.S. will be suspended on January 1 2008. Their announcement also indicated that there will be no 'grandfathering' of adoptions already in process. If children referred to families are not allowed to be adopted, they will languish in institutions or foster care. Your office must get involved and sign the sponsored letters to the President of Guatemala and UNICEF. These letters ask that all adoptions in-process as of January 1 2008 be allowed to process to completion under the existing notorial laws.
Sincerely,
[your name and contact information]
What should you say to UNICEF?
SAMPLE STATEMENT
Hello,
We are calling/writing on behalf of the Guatemala 5000 Initiative. As financial supporters of UNICEF (through our tax dollars), we are asking that UNICEF lends its support and considerable influence to the Guatemala 5000 initiative.
As you may be know, the Guatemalan government has announced that all intercountry adoptions with the U.S. will be suspended on January 1 2008. Their announcement also indicated that there will be no 'grandfathering' of adoptions already in process. If children referred to families are not allowed to be adopted, they will languish in institutions or foster care. UNICEF must get involved and help ensure that all intercountry adoptions in-process as of January 1 2008 be allowed to process to completion under the existing notorial laws.
Sincerely,
[your name and contact information]
Can you explain the problem behind the pending crisis?
Here is some additional information…
Guatemalan President Oscar Berger has announced plans to effectively stop all adoptions into the United States including those children who have already been referred to adoptive parents>>Over 5,000 children have been referred > >The birthparents for these children have already relinquished their parental rights. As a result, they currently have no family and the Berger suspension will result in these children having no prospect for a permanent, safe and loving family>>The government of Guatemala currently does not have the finances or facilities to even provide housing for these 5,000 children>> The Berger plan is a crisis waiting to happen.
In addition there is also an active online petition:
www.petitiononline.com/foafoa1/petition.html
Below is a detailed explanation of the current situation, including a grassroots movement being requested of the adoption community as well as supporters of intercountry adoption... which is why I wanted to post all of it here. Any of you who read this blog know the miracle that intercountry adoption has been for my family. If you feel lead to do any of the suggested calls/letters/emails, we will always be grateful.
If Guatemala suspends adoptions at the end of the year they are stating that will include in-process cases. When we first began this process we knew the pitfalls that lay ahead but were comforted by the U.S. and Guatemala stating that cases would be grandfathered into any new system. This is a total shock for us.
The best case scenario for us to finish our adoption before the end of the year. While this is possible, the odds aren't in our favor. So keep us in your prayers that our case speeds through. The next best scenario is that Guatemala does allows for a grandfathering clause in their new adoption laws. The worst case scenarios are too awful to think of and are explained below.
Guatemalan President Oscar Berger has announced plans to suspend all intercountry adoption with American families on January 1 2008. The Joint Council on International Children's Services strongly opposes such a suspension and asks for your support in their efforts to ensure that all children retain the right to permanency through Intercountry Adoption.
President Berger's plans also call for the suspension of adoptions currently in-process. Such a suspension would be extremely detrimental to the children referred to adoptive parents. If President Berger's plan is actually implemented, up to 5,000 will unnecessarily remain in foster care or orphanages indefinitely.
This situation represents a pending crisis for the adoptive families who have lovingly chosen to provide permanency, safety and love to a child in need and most importantly a crisis for 5,000 children of Guatemala.
What can you do?
Make five simple phone calls and send one email.
1. Call your U.S. Senator>>You can find your Senators' phone numbers at www.senate.gov Ask to speak with the Legislative Director or Chief of Staff
2. Call your second U.S. Senator
3. Call your representative to the U.S. House of Representative>>You can find your representative at www.house.gov Ask to speak with the Legislative Director or Chief of Staff
4. Call or fax UNICEF Headquarters>>Ask to speak with Ann Veneman, Executive Director>>Telephone: 212-326-7000>>Fax: 212-326-7758
5. Call or fax UNICEF Guatemala Ask to speak with Manuel Manrique>>Telephone: 011-502-2327-6373>>Fax: 011-502-2327.6366 Please note that calls and faxes to Guatemala are international calls.
6. Send an email supporting Intercountry Adoption to guatemala5000@jcics.org Write briefly or at length. Joint Council will use the cumulative email petition in our advocacy for Intercountry Adoption.
When should you call? Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (October 9th, 10th 11th). For maximum effect, we are asking you to make these calls within a 72-hour window!
What should you say or write to member of the U.S. Congress?
Speak from your heart and give them the following information: Inform them that you are calling regarding Guatemala 5000. Ask them to sign the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) sponsored letter to President Oscar Berger. Ask them to sign the Joint Council on International Children's Services sponsored letter to UNICEF. Inform them that the Guatemalan government has announced that all intercountry adoptions with the U.S. will be suspended on January 1 2008. Inform them that President Berger's announcement also indicated that there will be no 'grandfathering' of adoptions already in process. Inform them that if children referred to families are not allowed to be adopted, they will languish in institutions or foster care. Ask that their office get involved and sign the sponsored letters to the President of Guatemala and UNICEF. These letters ask that all adoptions in-process as of January 1 2008 be allowed to process to completion under the existing notorial laws.
SAMPLE STATEMENT:
Hello,
We are calling/writing on behalf of the Guatemala 5000 Initiative. We, as your constituents, are asking that the Senator/Congressperson add their signature to two letters. First, the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute sponsored letter to Guatemalan President Oscar Berger. Second, the Joint Council on International Children's Services sponsored letter to UNICEF.
As you may be aware, the Guatemalan government has announced that all intercountry adoptions with the U.S. will be suspended on January 1 2008. Their announcement also indicated that there will be no 'grandfathering' of adoptions already in process. If children referred to families are not allowed to be adopted, they will languish in institutions or foster care. Your office must get involved and sign the sponsored letters to the President of Guatemala and UNICEF. These letters ask that all adoptions in-process as of January 1 2008 be allowed to process to completion under the existing notorial laws.
Sincerely,
[your name and contact information]
What should you say to UNICEF?
SAMPLE STATEMENT
Hello,
We are calling/writing on behalf of the Guatemala 5000 Initiative. As financial supporters of UNICEF (through our tax dollars), we are asking that UNICEF lends its support and considerable influence to the Guatemala 5000 initiative.
As you may be know, the Guatemalan government has announced that all intercountry adoptions with the U.S. will be suspended on January 1 2008. Their announcement also indicated that there will be no 'grandfathering' of adoptions already in process. If children referred to families are not allowed to be adopted, they will languish in institutions or foster care. UNICEF must get involved and help ensure that all intercountry adoptions in-process as of January 1 2008 be allowed to process to completion under the existing notorial laws.
Sincerely,
[your name and contact information]
Can you explain the problem behind the pending crisis?
Here is some additional information…
Guatemalan President Oscar Berger has announced plans to effectively stop all adoptions into the United States including those children who have already been referred to adoptive parents>>Over 5,000 children have been referred > >The birthparents for these children have already relinquished their parental rights. As a result, they currently have no family and the Berger suspension will result in these children having no prospect for a permanent, safe and loving family>>The government of Guatemala currently does not have the finances or facilities to even provide housing for these 5,000 children>> The Berger plan is a crisis waiting to happen.
In addition there is also an active online petition:
www.petitiononline.com/foafoa1/petition.html
posted by Lisa & Dave | 4:45 PM
1 Comments:
Lisa & Dave,
We are so sorry this is happening. We will do our part to help. Hang in there. Your family will be together. Just have faith! You are in our prayers.
Sam, Andy, Cullen & Kieren
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