Guatemala Update
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Guatemala Update
By Dusty Russell
First of all, the Guatemala team wants to wish you a very blessed New Year!! We hope you enjoyed the holidays with your dear ones.
As you may recall from our last newsletter update, the Hague Treaty, which delayed adoptions through much of 2003, was ruled unconstitutional on August 13, 2003. Since that time, Guatemala adoptions have resumed under the same process that was in place before the Hague Treaty. Thus, we are pleased to announce that there is movement in all adoption stages in the Guatemala program. Families´ cases are moving in and out of Family Court. Cases are being submitted to PGN. As usual PGN is requesting corrections for some families´ files and approving others. We are receiving new applications every day. We received many dossiers over the holidays and are gradually reviewing them. And, of course, we are receiving referrals and expect to continue to receive a steady flow of referrals over the coming weeks. That is always a happy thought for everyone!!
The holidays did slow down the number of referrals we have received in the past two to three weeks. Although wonderful, the holidays have brought a general slow down to the adoption process for all of the countries. As you might imagine, many people were on vacation and offices closed for holidays both here and abroad. As people return from vacations and holidays, we hope and expect all aspects of the adoption process will continue to move forward.
In other good news, we have recently made an alliance with Helen de Rosal. An American living in Guatemala, Helen is a woman dedicated to the children of Guatemala and their well-being. She has an upstanding reputation in Guatemala, with our attorneys, and with FTIA. Nearly 15 years ago, motivated by the plight of poverty-stricken children in Guatemala, Helen opened her home in Guatemala City (now known as the Association of the Children of Guatemala) to those little ones until they could be adopted. In the past 2-3 months FTIA has begun assisting in her efforts by helping to find loving homes for some of the children living with Helen.
On average, about 35 children live at The Association of the Children of Guatemala. The ratio of children to caregivers is about 4-5 to 1. Helen employs the live-in help of: 8 caregivers, 2 cooks, a watchman, and a gardener. A day nurse and a night nurse are also available to the children and Helen. In addition, a doctor is on staff during the day. Helen also has a preschool teacher with 25 years experience to tutor the toddlers in the home five days per week.
Children interact in a number of ways with the caregivers and with each other. Developmental and stimulation activities include: exercise, music, crawling, and play. The little ones get plenty of attention and lots of good care at the Association of the Children of Guatemala.
Another blessing Helen offers (besides care for the little ones) is a guest house on the premises. Adopting families are always welcome to rent rooms there during their stay in Guatemala, whether they are visiting or bringing their children home. Arrangements to stay at Helen´s are made through your coordinator. No doubt you will be hearing more of Helen in the time to come. If you have any questions, please ask your coordinator for more details.
While some referrals are coming from The Association of the Children of Guatemala, the majority of placements continue to come through our excellent foster care program. We constantly evaluate every aspect of our adoption programs in order to maintain the high quality of services that characterizes all of our programs. We hope to unveil some new services to our adoptive families in the coming months.
This looks to be a great year for adoptions in Guatemala. We wish you the best 2004 can offer! Happy New Year!
By Dusty Russell
First of all, the Guatemala team wants to wish you a very blessed New Year!! We hope you enjoyed the holidays with your dear ones.
As you may recall from our last newsletter update, the Hague Treaty, which delayed adoptions through much of 2003, was ruled unconstitutional on August 13, 2003. Since that time, Guatemala adoptions have resumed under the same process that was in place before the Hague Treaty. Thus, we are pleased to announce that there is movement in all adoption stages in the Guatemala program. Families´ cases are moving in and out of Family Court. Cases are being submitted to PGN. As usual PGN is requesting corrections for some families´ files and approving others. We are receiving new applications every day. We received many dossiers over the holidays and are gradually reviewing them. And, of course, we are receiving referrals and expect to continue to receive a steady flow of referrals over the coming weeks. That is always a happy thought for everyone!!
The holidays did slow down the number of referrals we have received in the past two to three weeks. Although wonderful, the holidays have brought a general slow down to the adoption process for all of the countries. As you might imagine, many people were on vacation and offices closed for holidays both here and abroad. As people return from vacations and holidays, we hope and expect all aspects of the adoption process will continue to move forward.
In other good news, we have recently made an alliance with Helen de Rosal. An American living in Guatemala, Helen is a woman dedicated to the children of Guatemala and their well-being. She has an upstanding reputation in Guatemala, with our attorneys, and with FTIA. Nearly 15 years ago, motivated by the plight of poverty-stricken children in Guatemala, Helen opened her home in Guatemala City (now known as the Association of the Children of Guatemala) to those little ones until they could be adopted. In the past 2-3 months FTIA has begun assisting in her efforts by helping to find loving homes for some of the children living with Helen.
On average, about 35 children live at The Association of the Children of Guatemala. The ratio of children to caregivers is about 4-5 to 1. Helen employs the live-in help of: 8 caregivers, 2 cooks, a watchman, and a gardener. A day nurse and a night nurse are also available to the children and Helen. In addition, a doctor is on staff during the day. Helen also has a preschool teacher with 25 years experience to tutor the toddlers in the home five days per week.
Children interact in a number of ways with the caregivers and with each other. Developmental and stimulation activities include: exercise, music, crawling, and play. The little ones get plenty of attention and lots of good care at the Association of the Children of Guatemala.
Another blessing Helen offers (besides care for the little ones) is a guest house on the premises. Adopting families are always welcome to rent rooms there during their stay in Guatemala, whether they are visiting or bringing their children home. Arrangements to stay at Helen´s are made through your coordinator. No doubt you will be hearing more of Helen in the time to come. If you have any questions, please ask your coordinator for more details.
While some referrals are coming from The Association of the Children of Guatemala, the majority of placements continue to come through our excellent foster care program. We constantly evaluate every aspect of our adoption programs in order to maintain the high quality of services that characterizes all of our programs. We hope to unveil some new services to our adoptive families in the coming months.
This looks to be a great year for adoptions in Guatemala. We wish you the best 2004 can offer! Happy New Year!
2004 Jan 1