New overseas regulations = job cuts and adoption delays

New overseas regulations = job cuts and adoption delays

Updated: March 12, 2008 04:33 PM
Reporter: Marianne Lyles
New Media Producer: Amanda Lents

A slow down in international adoptions has caused a ripple effect at adoption agencies leading to some local job cuts.

Amanda Bridgeman may not be helping other families adopt if it were not for being adopted herself.

The 23-year-old's parent's adopted her from South Korea. But that was a different time and a different adoption process.

Bridgeman says, "It wasn't a long time. The process was definitely a lot shorter."

In the last six months, families interested in international adoption have faced more hurdles.

Families Thru International Adoption Program Director Salome Lamarche says, "They've gone from around a 6 to 9 month wait to a 26 month wait for a referral."

Guatemala and China have been the most popular for orphans. But Guatemala has changed it's laws stopping any new adoptions.

Lamarche says, "China also changed their regulations recently and became much more strict about who can adopt."

Lamarche says China's economy has also improved, meaning less abandoned children.

Lamarche says this slow down means less FTIA workers, "As we receive less applications and place less children there simply hasn't been the need to have as much staff available."

FTIA won't give a number for the layoffs but hope these employees could return. Lamarche says, regulations and economies change every day, every minute.

For Amanda, it's worth the wait, "Ultimately you're giving someone the greatest gift and that is a loving family and a new home."

The agency says news of less adoptions also turns families away, but it shouldn't. The sooner you get on a list the better.