Sunday, January 31, 2010
They are in big trouble!
10 Americans took 33 kids in Haiti and now they are in real big trouble. I can not tell if they were trying to help and are just real dumb, or if they were trying to make money by selling the kids. Either way, they are in big trouble. I just hope it doesn't cause problems for all the legitimate people trying to clear the way for legal adoptions of real orphans. HOW COULD ANYONE JUST TAKE KIDS AND NOT THINK IT'S KIDNAPPING? I pray they didn't just step adoption back in Haiti! They said they wanted to help, but they sure made a mess of it! I'm on the side of the kids...and I hope they simply stick these folks on a plane home. They would be real lucky if that’s all that happens to them.
Detained Americans say they had good intentions in Haiti
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/01/31/haiti.border.arrests/index.html
Ten Americans charged with trafficking in Haiti defended their plan to bus 33 children into the Dominican Republic, saying their intention was to get them to a temporary shelter.
You don't just take children! What they did was wrong, even if they ment well!
Ten Americans charged with trafficking in Haiti defended their plan to bus 33 children into the Dominican Republic, saying their intention was to get them to a temporary shelter.
You don't just take children! What they did was wrong, even if they ment well!
Saturday, January 30, 2010
The poor will be glad
I'm reading the book, "The poor will be glad". It talks about helping the poor so they can become self sustaining. In the book there is a story about a poor mother in Haiti. Her child had a very bad ear infection. The child needed immediate help. They(Hope International) was involved in long term community development projects. The hope was that the mother could be able to provide for the needs of her children. But that long term goal would do nothing for the Childs immediate need so they paid for the treatment of the child. Haiti has immediate needs and long term development needs. The whole world wants Haiti to build back better. We want to see the country become prosperous and self sustaining. But it's immediate needs are over whelming. We can not put off the immediate needs of the orphans (food, water, safe housing, education, health, and love). I believe they (the government of Haiti) must let adoptive parents take care of the immediate needs of orphans, while development makes it possible for future children to stay in Haiti because their families will be able to care for them.
What became of Romania's neglected orphans?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8425001.stm
A BBC investigation has uncovered appalling conditions and abuse in adult institutions in Romania, 20 years after the fall of Nicolai Ceausescu exposed conditions in the country's orphanages.
This is what can happen to the orphans of Haiti if they have to be raised in State care. UNICEF wants International adoption shut down, but Haiti has no means to care for the large number of orphans it now has. UNICEF helped end adoption in Romania too. Does UNICEF care about the best interest of the kids or the publics perception of the country that has orphans?
A BBC investigation has uncovered appalling conditions and abuse in adult institutions in Romania, 20 years after the fall of Nicolai Ceausescu exposed conditions in the country's orphanages.
This is what can happen to the orphans of Haiti if they have to be raised in State care. UNICEF wants International adoption shut down, but Haiti has no means to care for the large number of orphans it now has. UNICEF helped end adoption in Romania too. Does UNICEF care about the best interest of the kids or the publics perception of the country that has orphans?
I'm not the only one that thinks that UNICEF stands in the way of adoption
HERE are 2 different blog posts about how UNICEF basically stops International adoption.
http://randybohlender.wordpress.com/2010/01/26/wwunicefd/
http://rollingsinhaiti.wordpress.com/2010/01/30/unicef-sucks/
http://randybohlender.wordpress.com/2010/01/26/wwunicefd/
http://rollingsinhaiti.wordpress.com/2010/01/30/unicef-sucks/
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Haitian Adoption: What It Says About America
We are blessed in this country to have an overabundance of families who want to provide homes to children in need. It should not take a catastrophic natural disaster to motivate us to sweep away the barriers that prevent children in need from having the families they deserve.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-katz/haitian-adoption-what-it_b_437989.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-katz/haitian-adoption-what-it_b_437989.html
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
There needs to be some kind of safe way to help the orphans of Haiti! It does not need to be a stop everything, do nothing answer.
Trafficking of children and human organs is occurring in the aftermath of the earthquake
Trafficking of children and human organs is occurring in the aftermath of the earthquake that devastated parts of Haiti, killed more than 150,000 people, and left many children orphans, Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive said Wednesday.
"There is organ trafficking for children and other persons also, because they need all types of organs," Bellerive said in an exclusive interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour.
He did not give specifics, but asked by Amanpour if there is trafficking of children, Bellerive said, "The reports I received say yes."
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Haiti's Orphans Photos
Children are seen in an orphanage in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Monday, Jan. 18, 2010. On Monday, CBS News digital journalist Arden Farhi met a group of 78 more orphans, stricken to the sidewalk after their three-story, concrete home could not withstand the earthquake's tremors on Tuesday. Fifty-six children died when the building collapsed. The surviving orphans have yet to receive aid.
http://www.cbsnews.com/2300-18563_162-6113139.html?tag=related
http://www.cbsnews.com/2300-18563_162-6113139.html?tag=related
rush to adopt from Haiti
In the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake, we’ve seen many solutions posed around the world (and even suggested a few of our own). One option that has been raised is allowing more adoptions from Haiti; Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell even got involved in bringing orphans into the U.S., managing to land a plane when relief planes were unable to get in.
But is this really the best answer? We ask David M. Smolin, professor of law at Samford University, who has written extensively on intercountry adoption, Dawn Davenport, author of The Complete Book of International Adoption and executive director of Creating a Family, and Phil Bertelsen, himself an transracial adoptee and award-winning filmmaker, and the director of Outside Looking In, a documentary about transracial adopton.
To survive after quake, the desperate target Haiti's orphanages
HERE is that story on CNN.
Part of the problem will be protecting the orphans. If they have food and water, they will be targets. You would think people couldn't be so low...but they are desperate.
Part of the problem will be protecting the orphans. If they have food and water, they will be targets. You would think people couldn't be so low...but they are desperate.
Senators push for more efficient Haiti adoptions
Senators push for more efficient Haiti adoptions...Story on CNN.
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/01/26/haiti.orphans/index.html
Dozens of lawmakers support legislation that would set up a more streamlined system for matching Haitian orphans with families in the United States, a U.S. senator said Tuesday.
Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-Louisiana, said that the initial focus of the legislation would be on children orphaned by the January 12 earthquake in Haiti but that in the long term, it also would address other adoption efforts.
She and other senators will press this week to get the Families for Orphans Act out of a Senate committee so it can go to the floor for a vote, she said at a news conference.
The bill would set up a separate office in the State Department to handle adoption issues, similar to the office that handles human trafficking, Landrieu said. The office would focus on the issues of orphans and adoptions.
"The old regular process, the old regular bureaucracy, is not going to work," she said.
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/01/26/haiti.orphans/index.html
Dozens of lawmakers support legislation that would set up a more streamlined system for matching Haitian orphans with families in the United States, a U.S. senator said Tuesday.
Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-Louisiana, said that the initial focus of the legislation would be on children orphaned by the January 12 earthquake in Haiti but that in the long term, it also would address other adoption efforts.
She and other senators will press this week to get the Families for Orphans Act out of a Senate committee so it can go to the floor for a vote, she said at a news conference.
The bill would set up a separate office in the State Department to handle adoption issues, similar to the office that handles human trafficking, Landrieu said. The office would focus on the issues of orphans and adoptions.
"The old regular process, the old regular bureaucracy, is not going to work," she said.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
the EU
The EU will not have one joint policy on Haiti adoption. The European countries can regulate adoptions independently. Spain wants to speed things up, and I'm not sure Germany has a clear plan yet. They are speeding up the adoption of the kids that were already in the process of being adopted. So that's not a no, it's a maybe?
Girls’ Rescue From Haiti Expands Family by Two
Here is a very special story about a Haiti adoption.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/26/us/26orphans.html?hp
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/26/us/26orphans.html?hp
I agree that new adoptions of children just identified as orphans should be put on hold. I disagree with UNICEF on the issue of all orphans. Haiti had 380,000 known orphans before the earth quake. These children should be identified and made available for International foster care (and eventually adoption). If the children are in screened and monitored foster families, family members in Haiti can still claim them. I totally do not understand how UNICEF plans to care for all these kids in Haiti. It seems to me the risk of children being trafficked would be greater in Haiti because there is so many kids and so little help there. I do not believe in “private” adoption. I believe in a fair and honest adoption that involves home studies and a great deal of over site. Clear rules can be laid down to protect the children. The bottom line is we all want to protect the kids and birth families. We just have very different ideas about how this can be done. Some think the kids should stay in Haiti, others think they would be better off outside of Haiti. I think the “new orphans” should stay in Haiti and the pre earth quake orphans should be in foster care internationally. I do not have “all wisdom”. I pray God gives wisdom to the people who are calling the shots. I think when the dust settles it will be clear what needs to be done.
in the spiegel
HERE is a story called Teddy Bears and Treatment for Badly Injured Haitian Children.
Children are the hardest hit victims of the earthquake in Haiti. The ones with the worst injuries are brought to the US hospital ship USNS Comfort in the harbor of Port-au-Prince. The hopelessness has even the toughest doctors near the end of the rope.
Children are the hardest hit victims of the earthquake in Haiti. The ones with the worst injuries are brought to the US hospital ship USNS Comfort in the harbor of Port-au-Prince. The hopelessness has even the toughest doctors near the end of the rope.
UNICEF needs to deal in reality!
I agree with the over all goals of UNICEF. They are involved in the education, feeding, and protection of children in 191 countries around the world. My dinning room has 24 UNICEF collector plates hanging on the walls. I am not opposed to UNICEF. But I disagree with their call to ban International adoptions in Haiti. Haiti had 380,000 known orphans before the earth quake. I do not believe in illegal or shady adoptions. But when good families that are properly screened go through a process to adopt children that are also screened…these adoptions should be allowed to be processed. UNICEFS all out ban is like throwing the baby out with the bathwater! All they are doing now is counting orphans. They are not protecting, educating, housing or feeding them. The reality is they can not effectively do this. If International adoption was allowed, the known orphans of Haiti could leave the country and the new orphans could be cared for in the orphanages that are now over crowded. I honestly don’t know what can be done. I just pray for this wall to be kicked down. I’m sure there are thousands of families more then willing to receive the children if they would be allowed to leave Haiti. Please pray with me. Sometimes you just wonder if the diplomat’s are more concerned with their ideals then the reality that is staring them in the face. They can not really protect the children in Haiti. They need to allow them to immigrate to safe and loving homes abroad. I see a picture of the thousands of frustrated doctors in Haiti that in principle could have saved limbs from amputation “ if only” they had the right medication and proper care available. The reality was they didn’t! Thousands of people in Haiti lost limbs to save their lives! That is the reality!!! And thousands of orphans in an ideal world would be better off not having to leave their home countries. If only they could find a safe home in extended families or host families. That is the ideal. But that wasn’t even happening before the earth quake! It isn’t going to happen now either! UNICEF needs to deal in reality!
Monday, January 25, 2010
please pray
There is an EU meeting today about fast tracking adoption in Haiti. It is my hope and prayer the leaders of the EU fast track the adoption and or international foster care of the aprox. 500,000 known orphans (pre EQ). This will provide safe homes for these children, and free up space in the orphanages so the "new" orphans can be cared for.
Private adoption should not be allowed, but the adoption of know orphans should be allowed. They clearly are not protecting the kids there!!!
Children Missing From Haiti Hospitals Kidnapped for Adoption, UNICEF Says
Geneva. Children have gone missing from hospitals in Haiti since the devastating earthquake, raising fears of trafficking for adoption abroad, the UN Children’s Fund said on Friday.
“We have documented around 15 cases of children disappearing from hospitals and not with their own family at the time,” UNICEF adviser Jean Luc Legrand said.
“UNICEF has been working in Haiti for many years and we knew the problem with the trade of children in Haiti which existed already beforehand, and unfortunately many of these trade networks have links with the international adoption market.”
The agency underlined it had warned countries during the past week not to step up adoptions from Haiti in after the quake.
But, several are fast-tracking adoption procedures already under way, including Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain and the United States.
Legrand said the situation was similar to the aftermath of the tsunami in Asia five years ago.
Trafficking networks were springing into action immediately after the disaster and taking advantage of the weakness of local authorities and relief coordination “to kidnap children and get them out of the country,” Legrand said.
Rupert Colville, a spokesman for the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said child enslavement and trafficking in Haiti was “an existing problem and could easily emerge as a serious issue over the coming weeks and months.”
Legrand said there was separate but only anecdotal evidence of people taking children to the neighboring Dominican Republic and planes loading children before they left the airport.
“We have seen over the last years many children being taken out of the country without any legal procedure. This is going on, this is happening now, and we are starting to have the first evidence of that, this is unquestionable.”
Agence France-Presse
Geneva. Children have gone missing from hospitals in Haiti since the devastating earthquake, raising fears of trafficking for adoption abroad, the UN Children’s Fund said on Friday.
“We have documented around 15 cases of children disappearing from hospitals and not with their own family at the time,” UNICEF adviser Jean Luc Legrand said.
“UNICEF has been working in Haiti for many years and we knew the problem with the trade of children in Haiti which existed already beforehand, and unfortunately many of these trade networks have links with the international adoption market.”
The agency underlined it had warned countries during the past week not to step up adoptions from Haiti in after the quake.
But, several are fast-tracking adoption procedures already under way, including Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain and the United States.
Legrand said the situation was similar to the aftermath of the tsunami in Asia five years ago.
Trafficking networks were springing into action immediately after the disaster and taking advantage of the weakness of local authorities and relief coordination “to kidnap children and get them out of the country,” Legrand said.
Rupert Colville, a spokesman for the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said child enslavement and trafficking in Haiti was “an existing problem and could easily emerge as a serious issue over the coming weeks and months.”
Legrand said there was separate but only anecdotal evidence of people taking children to the neighboring Dominican Republic and planes loading children before they left the airport.
“We have seen over the last years many children being taken out of the country without any legal procedure. This is going on, this is happening now, and we are starting to have the first evidence of that, this is unquestionable.”
Agence France-Presse
Haiti orphans find homes in the US
http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=9647894
Many people do not agree with adoption. They say keep the kids in families. Ideally that would be best. But most families are in no condition to care for the kids. And Haiti had 380,000 orphans before the EQ. What about the kids that had no families. And wouldn't placing children in adoptive families and foster families prevent child trafficking? I'm not talking about un screened un supervised families. I am talking about supervised over site of all these kids out side of Haiti. And as far as it being more traumatic for a child to leave their culture...that's a brunch of BS. A child in Haiti living on the street with out food or shelter or school or security is far more traumatized then any child living abroad! They are crazy!!!!
Many people do not agree with adoption. They say keep the kids in families. Ideally that would be best. But most families are in no condition to care for the kids. And Haiti had 380,000 orphans before the EQ. What about the kids that had no families. And wouldn't placing children in adoptive families and foster families prevent child trafficking? I'm not talking about un screened un supervised families. I am talking about supervised over site of all these kids out side of Haiti. And as far as it being more traumatic for a child to leave their culture...that's a brunch of BS. A child in Haiti living on the street with out food or shelter or school or security is far more traumatized then any child living abroad! They are crazy!!!!
Let's end child slavery in Haiti now!
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Article 4
No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.
Child slavery is a known practice in Haiti. They are called Restaveks.
The world has rushed to the aid of Haiti. The world should now demand the ethical and humane treatment of children living in Haiti. Let us start a face book and blog campaign to end child slavery in Haiti. Children have a right to food, shelter, and education. Protect the most vulnerable in this tragedy. Demand the end of slavery now! If you agree with this statement then please copy it and send it to everyone you know! Thank you.
Article 4
No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.
Child slavery is a known practice in Haiti. They are called Restaveks.
The world has rushed to the aid of Haiti. The world should now demand the ethical and humane treatment of children living in Haiti. Let us start a face book and blog campaign to end child slavery in Haiti. Children have a right to food, shelter, and education. Protect the most vulnerable in this tragedy. Demand the end of slavery now! If you agree with this statement then please copy it and send it to everyone you know! Thank you.
This was the sad state of kids in Haiti before the EQ
http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=9577750
Please pray with me that the door will now open and many children can join foster families so willing to give them what all childen need.
This is from CNN, they need to stop talking and just take the kids to safe International fostercare
To survive after quake, the desperate target Haiti's orphanages
By Stephanie Chen, CNN
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
* 20 men attacked Maison de Lumiere, an orphanage in Port-au-Prince, aid workers say
* A U.S. advocacy organization is tracking attacks on Haiti's orphanages
* Getting food, medical supplies and security top challenges faced by orphanages
* "If people think you have food then they will come after it," one official says
read more HERE.
By Stephanie Chen, CNN
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
* 20 men attacked Maison de Lumiere, an orphanage in Port-au-Prince, aid workers say
* A U.S. advocacy organization is tracking attacks on Haiti's orphanages
* Getting food, medical supplies and security top challenges faced by orphanages
* "If people think you have food then they will come after it," one official says
read more HERE.
In the Netherlands
A Haitian child wrapped in a blanket walks to a bus after arriving at Eindhoven airport, central Netherlands, Thursday Jan. 21, 2010. A Dutch airplane carrying 106 children from Haiti who are slated for adoption has arrived at a military airport in the city of Eindhoven. Reporters waiting on the tarmac Thursday saw the children, aged 6 months to 7 years, being carried from the plane, wrapped in blue blankets. The adoption agencies that organized the mission say all but nine of the children have already been matched with new parents in the Netherlands and Luxembourg. The others will be placed in foster care while awaiting adoption.
11:24 a.m. ET, 1/21/10
Haiti: What's to Come
Haiti: What's to Come
CIS working to bring children home
January 02,2010 / Martha Osborne
This is on Rainbow kids. It is very detailed...HERE.
The bottom line is they are setting priorities and bringing home the kid in the adoption process is priority one. This will take awhile (maybe months). UNICIF is working on safe places for the rest of the kids. They may or may not take them out of the country. If they do, it's going to take some time. They are still trying to establish some order and fill out papers
They wrote "To Americans Everywhere: "We are making a plea to all of those who are so willing to open your homes. Please, cooperate with us and all groups trying to assist during this crisis." For more information, visit the Department of State website
Catholic Charities: Pedro Pan type operation possible
Write to info@ccadm.org if you would be interested in being a foster family for a child from Haiti. It is not sure this will happen, but this is what they are saying you should do.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
families needed today
HERE is the information about the 300 orphans from Haiti needing families as soon as tomorrow. If you ever wanted a chance to change a life here is that chance. This is for families living in Indianapolis but I'm sure more kids will be coming to a city near you.
January 19, 2010
Grace Community Church--
This is an unusual e-mail, but these are unusual times. When I suggested this past weekend that it was time for the church to show up in the Haiti crisis none of us had a clue it would mean what you are about to read. Plan A is about to go into action.
We took a phone call this evening (Tuesday) from Krista Davis, the director of Safe Families and Agape Families, two of Grace’s Frontline ministries. The Department of Children Services (DCS) in Indianapolis has learned that a plane with up to 300 orphans from Haiti will be landing in Indianapolis either tomorrow or Thursday. The children have no place to go, their families are gone, and their country is in shambles. All of these children will need to be placed into homes.
We are looking for two things:
1. Families who are willing to take one or two children for a temporary basis, for a minimum of one month.
2. Families who are willing to take children with the possibility of adopting them permanently.
Here is a little more background information, at least as much as we know. The children range in age from 1 to 11 years old. They are non-English speakers (Creole), and so DCS is asking that we place children in pairs initially (as much as possible). The children will have medical coverage while they are awaiting their adoptions. Many of them may be infected with lice and ringworm, and so will require treatments. We don’t know how malnourished they are or what other medical conditions they might have. Many of these children have scraps of clothes on their back, with nothing else.
If you have been through the Safe Families qualification process, or are a qualified foster home, then great! If not, you can still host the children in your home. Fingerprinting and background checks will be required at some point in the process. If you are a family that is in the process of adopting or is considering adoption, this may be an opportunity to receive a child minus the adoption fees. We don’t know all of the details, but it appears that DCS and the Federal Government are waiving most of the usual processes in this unusual and desperate scenario.
DCS in conjunction with Safe Families and Grace Community Church are beginning to put support systems in place to help with the many needs families will have. You will not be left all alone in this process. But we only just learned of this at 8:30 this Tuesday evening, so good support will take time. We will need pediatricians and doctors initially to help stabilize these children and provide immediate medical attention.
James 1:27 says “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
Grace, we have orphans who are in distress. Please prayerfully consider if you can receive one or more of these children into your home. This is a serious commitment, one you should not take lightly. The implications for your family are extensive. But if God is leading you to consider, then please contact Krista and her team at the following:
safefamilieshaiti@gmail.com
317-519-3839
Thank you for considering this seriously,
Dave Rodriguez
Senior Pastor
Grace Community Church
January 19, 2010
Grace Community Church--
This is an unusual e-mail, but these are unusual times. When I suggested this past weekend that it was time for the church to show up in the Haiti crisis none of us had a clue it would mean what you are about to read. Plan A is about to go into action.
We took a phone call this evening (Tuesday) from Krista Davis, the director of Safe Families and Agape Families, two of Grace’s Frontline ministries. The Department of Children Services (DCS) in Indianapolis has learned that a plane with up to 300 orphans from Haiti will be landing in Indianapolis either tomorrow or Thursday. The children have no place to go, their families are gone, and their country is in shambles. All of these children will need to be placed into homes.
We are looking for two things:
1. Families who are willing to take one or two children for a temporary basis, for a minimum of one month.
2. Families who are willing to take children with the possibility of adopting them permanently.
Here is a little more background information, at least as much as we know. The children range in age from 1 to 11 years old. They are non-English speakers (Creole), and so DCS is asking that we place children in pairs initially (as much as possible). The children will have medical coverage while they are awaiting their adoptions. Many of them may be infected with lice and ringworm, and so will require treatments. We don’t know how malnourished they are or what other medical conditions they might have. Many of these children have scraps of clothes on their back, with nothing else.
If you have been through the Safe Families qualification process, or are a qualified foster home, then great! If not, you can still host the children in your home. Fingerprinting and background checks will be required at some point in the process. If you are a family that is in the process of adopting or is considering adoption, this may be an opportunity to receive a child minus the adoption fees. We don’t know all of the details, but it appears that DCS and the Federal Government are waiving most of the usual processes in this unusual and desperate scenario.
DCS in conjunction with Safe Families and Grace Community Church are beginning to put support systems in place to help with the many needs families will have. You will not be left all alone in this process. But we only just learned of this at 8:30 this Tuesday evening, so good support will take time. We will need pediatricians and doctors initially to help stabilize these children and provide immediate medical attention.
James 1:27 says “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
Grace, we have orphans who are in distress. Please prayerfully consider if you can receive one or more of these children into your home. This is a serious commitment, one you should not take lightly. The implications for your family are extensive. But if God is leading you to consider, then please contact Krista and her team at the following:
safefamilieshaiti@gmail.com
317-519-3839
Thank you for considering this seriously,
Dave Rodriguez
Senior Pastor
Grace Community Church
first see the need, then ask what you can do to help
According to UNICEF, there were 380,000 orphans in Haiti prior to the earthquake.
• Approximately 20, 000 of these orphans were living in the 184 licensed orphanages prior to the earthquake.
According to the BBC there are now 1 million new orphans in Haiti.
• Approximately 20, 000 of these orphans were living in the 184 licensed orphanages prior to the earthquake.
According to the BBC there are now 1 million new orphans in Haiti.
Update from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption…….
I'm not sure what you can make of this? It looks like they are working on a plan to take orphans (at least the 20,000 living in orphanages and maybe more children) out of Haiti so that these kids can be safe. Some will be housed in orphanages, others will go to foster homes. It looks like they will go to many countries, not just the USA. And this is a work in progress...details are being worked out now. I'm pretty sure they will not allow these kids to be adopted right away. They will want time to make sure families in Haiti can come forward to claim their kids. This is good and right! If/when this happens it means 1000's of foster families need to come forward. It is a time for the church to open its arms!
You can read it HERE.
http://godslittlestangelsinhaiti.org/2010/01/19/update-from-the-congressional-coalition-on-adoption/
You can read it HERE.
http://godslittlestangelsinhaiti.org/2010/01/19/update-from-the-congressional-coalition-on-adoption/
News
The US State Department just issued this statement: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano, in coordination wtih the US Department of State, today announced a humanitarian parole policy allowing orphaned children from Haiti to enter the United States temporarily on an indivdual basis to ensure that they receive the care they need - as part of the US Government's ongoing support of International recovery efforts after last week's earthquake.
What does this mean? I read on one of the blogs that all the kids in Haiti that are known orphans will be leaving Haiti to live with foster families as soon as maybe next week. Rainbow kids only wrote that if you are interested in foster care or adoption you'll need to have a home study done. They have no details at this time. My heart is racing.
What does this mean? I read on one of the blogs that all the kids in Haiti that are known orphans will be leaving Haiti to live with foster families as soon as maybe next week. Rainbow kids only wrote that if you are interested in foster care or adoption you'll need to have a home study done. They have no details at this time. My heart is racing.
AMAZING NEWS
HAITIAN PRESIDENT RENE PREVAL HAS GIVEN PERMISSION FOR ALL CHILDRN IN THE ADOPTION PROCESS TO LEAVE HAITI AND JOIN THEIR "FOREVER" FAMILIES IN THEIR ADOPTIVE COUNTRIES!
Haiti adoption blog
Here is an adoption blog from a couple in Oregon waiting to adopt their son from Haiti. http://wilkinsadoption.blogspot.com/
some orphanages in Haiti that could use help
Carolina Adoption Services: Working with Maison des Anges in Tabarre. CAS reports that they have 90 children, with the majority under the age of 2 years. Thankfully, all of the children are unhurt. The orphanage has sustained some structural damage, but the extent of damage is not yet clear. CAS is concerned about basic supplies of food and water for the children.
* Children's House International: Working with Creche Enfante Jesus. CHI reports little damage at the orphanage and no injuries to children. Major damaged to their office/receiving center in Port-au-Prince, but no one was injured. Greatest Need: Food and Water. They are recommending that all donations go through Chances for Children, to help the orphanages most in need.
* Tree of Life Adoption Center: Working with HIS Home for Children in Port-au-Prince and Foyer de Sara. TOLA reports that all children are okay and, "The boys' house is damaged, one wall fell down. The children and staff are sleeping outside, afraid that the aftershock will crumble the house. Today they were planning to move the furniture out of that house and find another place to move them. There's about 100 (over) kids in the two location s for HIS Home". They are asking for prayers for their generator that is not in good condition, and that they are able to gather enough food and water to hold them over during this crisis.
* Bethany Christian Services: Working with God's Littlest Angels orphanage and The Creche Enfants Jesus. Bethany reports that God's Littlest Angels received no damage or injuires, and little structural damage at The Creche. They also report that both orphanages are willing to take in more children as needed. They ask for prayers. Please designate gifts as "Haiti - Earthquake Fund".
* Holt International: Working with Holt Fontana Village. Holt reports that the buildings received little damage, but that the children are in great distress. Holt is asking for financial assistance for the children and will also be offering assistance to the community.
* Dillon International: Children are all fine, but disrupted. Many people are moving through the area where the orphanage and hospital are located, which is scaring the children. Some flooding within one building has occured. Greatest need: Gasoline for the generators and ongoing food/water supplies.
* God's Littlest Angels: An orphanage in Haiti. All children fine, but 90 children sleeping outdoors as building damage is assessed. Children are upset and caretakers doing their best to gather supplies to provide for all needs.
* Children's House International: Working with Creche Enfante Jesus. CHI reports little damage at the orphanage and no injuries to children. Major damaged to their office/receiving center in Port-au-Prince, but no one was injured. Greatest Need: Food and Water. They are recommending that all donations go through Chances for Children, to help the orphanages most in need.
* Tree of Life Adoption Center: Working with HIS Home for Children in Port-au-Prince and Foyer de Sara. TOLA reports that all children are okay and, "The boys' house is damaged, one wall fell down. The children and staff are sleeping outside, afraid that the aftershock will crumble the house. Today they were planning to move the furniture out of that house and find another place to move them. There's about 100 (over) kids in the two location s for HIS Home". They are asking for prayers for their generator that is not in good condition, and that they are able to gather enough food and water to hold them over during this crisis.
* Bethany Christian Services: Working with God's Littlest Angels orphanage and The Creche Enfants Jesus. Bethany reports that God's Littlest Angels received no damage or injuires, and little structural damage at The Creche. They also report that both orphanages are willing to take in more children as needed. They ask for prayers. Please designate gifts as "Haiti - Earthquake Fund".
* Holt International: Working with Holt Fontana Village. Holt reports that the buildings received little damage, but that the children are in great distress. Holt is asking for financial assistance for the children and will also be offering assistance to the community.
* Dillon International: Children are all fine, but disrupted. Many people are moving through the area where the orphanage and hospital are located, which is scaring the children. Some flooding within one building has occured. Greatest need: Gasoline for the generators and ongoing food/water supplies.
* God's Littlest Angels: An orphanage in Haiti. All children fine, but 90 children sleeping outdoors as building damage is assessed. Children are upset and caretakers doing their best to gather supplies to provide for all needs.
Adopting Haitian Earthquake Orphans
Adopting Haitian Earthquake Orphans
Not a possibility at this time
Martha Osborne
We have heard from many RainbowKids visitors who have found our website through online searches about children who may have been orphaned during the recent devasting earthquake in Haiti. Many people hear of natural disasters in various parts of the world, and want to open their homes and hearts, via adoption, to children who have lived through them. While these well intentions are commendable, it is rarely possible or advisable, at least in the short term. The reasons are simple:
1. In the immediate aftermath of a disaster, it is often difficult to ascertain that a child is truly an orphan. Parents may have become separated from their children in the confusion and may be in another refugee camp or just over the border. It is not ethical to place a child for adoption unless it is clear that no parent able to care for that child will be found. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will not grant an orphan visa to a child unless he/she clearly meets the definition of an eligible orphan; eligible orphan status cannot be considered if there is a possibility that a parent could provide care at the country's normal standard of acceptability and did not purposely abandon or relinquish the child.
2. Even if it is clear that a child has no parent able to care for him/her, good adoption practice requires that attempts be made to place the child with extended family, members of the community, or others in his/her birth country. Intercountry adoption is appropriate only if a child is unlikely to find a permanent, loving family in his/her birth country. In addition, children may need to be treated for post-traumatic stress disorder and international adoption may not be in their best interest at this time.
3. Ethical adoption practice requires that a child be considered legally relinquished or abandoned, and then legally adopted according to the laws of his/her country of citizenship. In the immediate aftermath of a disaster, a country's government may be in disarray and what resources are available may be deployed on projects such as providing safe water and food, caring for the injured, burying the dead, maintaining order, etc. Thus, the courts and other entities that could handle relinquishments and adoptions may not be functioning at all, or may be giving first priority to projects in other areas. Adoption cannot proceed in such an environment.
4. In the immediate aftermath of natural or man-made disasters, an area may not be safe for travel. Occasionally, U.S. government officials who review the legitimacy of adoptions and process exit visas are unable to work safely in a country. Moreover, even if staff and families might be willing to travel, civilian air and ground transport to and within an area might be unavailable.
5. Even if a country manages to get its legal system functioning and to identify parentless children, the process is long and thorough. The best interests of children who have been through traumatic situations is to receive immediate care within familiar surroundings. Families wishing to help children during this crisis may best do so by contributing to their loving care through a reputable charity or humanitarian group.
and I say ...It will be awhile until the orphans of Haiti are free for adoption, but It is my hope many will prepare themselves to adopt them when the door opens up. We can all work to expedite the process. Encourage your government to expedite the process.
Not a possibility at this time
Martha Osborne
We have heard from many RainbowKids visitors who have found our website through online searches about children who may have been orphaned during the recent devasting earthquake in Haiti. Many people hear of natural disasters in various parts of the world, and want to open their homes and hearts, via adoption, to children who have lived through them. While these well intentions are commendable, it is rarely possible or advisable, at least in the short term. The reasons are simple:
1. In the immediate aftermath of a disaster, it is often difficult to ascertain that a child is truly an orphan. Parents may have become separated from their children in the confusion and may be in another refugee camp or just over the border. It is not ethical to place a child for adoption unless it is clear that no parent able to care for that child will be found. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will not grant an orphan visa to a child unless he/she clearly meets the definition of an eligible orphan; eligible orphan status cannot be considered if there is a possibility that a parent could provide care at the country's normal standard of acceptability and did not purposely abandon or relinquish the child.
2. Even if it is clear that a child has no parent able to care for him/her, good adoption practice requires that attempts be made to place the child with extended family, members of the community, or others in his/her birth country. Intercountry adoption is appropriate only if a child is unlikely to find a permanent, loving family in his/her birth country. In addition, children may need to be treated for post-traumatic stress disorder and international adoption may not be in their best interest at this time.
3. Ethical adoption practice requires that a child be considered legally relinquished or abandoned, and then legally adopted according to the laws of his/her country of citizenship. In the immediate aftermath of a disaster, a country's government may be in disarray and what resources are available may be deployed on projects such as providing safe water and food, caring for the injured, burying the dead, maintaining order, etc. Thus, the courts and other entities that could handle relinquishments and adoptions may not be functioning at all, or may be giving first priority to projects in other areas. Adoption cannot proceed in such an environment.
4. In the immediate aftermath of natural or man-made disasters, an area may not be safe for travel. Occasionally, U.S. government officials who review the legitimacy of adoptions and process exit visas are unable to work safely in a country. Moreover, even if staff and families might be willing to travel, civilian air and ground transport to and within an area might be unavailable.
5. Even if a country manages to get its legal system functioning and to identify parentless children, the process is long and thorough. The best interests of children who have been through traumatic situations is to receive immediate care within familiar surroundings. Families wishing to help children during this crisis may best do so by contributing to their loving care through a reputable charity or humanitarian group.
and I say ...It will be awhile until the orphans of Haiti are free for adoption, but It is my hope many will prepare themselves to adopt them when the door opens up. We can all work to expedite the process. Encourage your government to expedite the process.
God's Littlest Angels
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Here is adoption information from God's Littlest Angels, an orphanage in Haiti. There have always been many orphans in Haiti, and now there are many more!
World Vision is already in Haiti
World Vision is already in Haiti with a staff of 800. They need your money. You can give HERE.
http://www.wvi.org/wvi/wviweb.nsf/maindocs/51D3402D0A371CB1882576AA002CDB47?opendocument
http://www.wvi.org/wvi/wviweb.nsf/maindocs/51D3402D0A371CB1882576AA002CDB47?opendocument
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