What does it mean the forum is offline? Any news from anyone on anything at the moment?

I just called PGN--they are open at least for the moment. I found out that we are with the 2nd reviewer, and will likely be there for 2 weeks. I had to speak in Spanish to get help...but she was helpful. She also said she did not know when his BM interview would be scheduled, but that I should check back soon.

We were submitted on 4/4, and were with the first reviewer for almost 5 weeks. (The first time I called was 4/30/2008--the other times I called, I was either unable to get through or their system was down.)

anyway--hope that helps...

Julie

why has the forum been taken off line

THANK YOU to Tim Waller and the families who exposed Adoption Partners! Not that it brings the little girl who would have been our daughter home or recoups any of what, at the time, was our entire (still nonexistent) adoption fund; but there is a modicum of general justice and personal vindication in the fact that AP and Ms. Mitchell's deceptive, manipulative, fradulent, unethical dream-wrecking has been revealed! AP may have indeed as she claims, completed "hundreds" of successful Guatemalan adoptions; but I am sure that our case is then one of THOUSANDS of those that were successful only in making unearned money for Joanne and her "associates." When I look back (1+ year since our "referral" and 9 months after getting ripped off) at our dealings with AP with I now see the shadiness about which I repeatedly (and mistakenly) gave Joanne the benefit of the doubt and fell into her trap of blaming ourselves for her bungling and lies. "Victims of Adoption Scams" is NOT a group we ever wanted to be a part of. But, there is a certain comfort in knowing we are not alone. Most importantly, there is hope, that as a result of Mr. Waller's report and the families' tenacity, there will be no more.

Yes, why is the forum offline? Is it because of the offer of monthly payments for 18 years, to BMs by the PGN, if they take back their babies?

If you think about it, most BMs will probably see right through this and refuse. No Guatemalan government could ever carry out such a promise - where will they be 18 years from now??? So hopefully, this changes nothing, although it's possible some BMs might fall for it.

I'm just wondering what other excuse they can come up with now to stop us all. If the BMs want it, and we want it, there's nothing they can do. Short of a military-style coup. They're quickly running out of options...

Hello, we have been told we are with the 2nd reviewer since 03-26-08 however it depends on what day you call because I was also told that we were with the attorney waiting on signature then the next time back to the 2nd review. I don't think we can really believe what PGN is telling us because I honestly think they are on limited information too.

Kelly-

Could you please give us some sort of a timeframe to when the forum will be back up?

Tonight? Tomorrow? Next week?

I wish we could get more POSITIVE reports as opposed to all the negative things hitting the presses. It is hard for all of us waiting from day to day to get news that PGN is moving cases again instead we just keep getting more and more feedback on all the corruption going on from the past. I commend all the people involved in getting these agencies and lawyers but it just seems like there is just too much emphasis on the negative and not much support for those who just want to bring their children home. As I recall PGN stated they would just be reviewing cases that they suspected were with corrupt lawyers and yet they raided an orphanage that was always in the clear. So it seems now everyone involved in adoptions is a target for corruption...so sad really. I wish we had feedback and news on agencies that follow the book and POSITIVE news on cases moving. All this negative stuff about adoption.. how did we let this happen? What happened to the news on the POSITIVE. I surely would like to get some good news or at least hear from someone who is fighting for the cause. Do you think one of the major channels would like to hear a good story on adoptions...probably not. It seems like adoption in Guatemala these days is like the death sentence. I am not giving in to this negativeness...I am still sending faxes and e-mails to all congressman and senators who might be interested in helping. I am sorry that there has been some corruption in the past with Guatemala adoptions but I think we would find there have been more legal and honest adoptions but again nobody wants to focus on that or help the 2,900 pending cases in Guatemala get their kids home. Instead we just keep getting negative reports and the PGN just keeps abusing the power.
Karen

My heart goes out to anyone who's adoption didn't go through. We were clients of AP as well and I guess we're one of the few who's went very well. Thankfully, our facilitator wasn't banned from the Embassy and we brought our beautiful baby girl home in November after 8 mos. The only negative thing I could say about Joanne, is she definitely could be very rude at times. If she truly "scammed" people, then she should get what she deserves. I can't imagine being in this line of work and not doing it only for the well being of the children and the happiness adoption brings to so many people.

FINALLY, AP AND JOANNE MITCHELL IS REVEALED FOR WHO THEY ARE, UNETHICAL. TOO BAD SHE IS NOW OPENED UP UNDER ANOTHER NAME.

It frustrates the H*LL out of me that for over a year we have been filing complaints with every concievable person/agency there is to complain about the woman and her agency and NO ONE heard us! Never any response about our complaint from JCICS, which she is a member of! No repsonse from SC DSS which is only "now" beginning to investigate her, a full year after our complaint was filed. No one at SC DSS responds to phone mesages of emails. These lousy US agencies are the problem with international adoptions. They are under the jurisdiction of OUR government and nothing happens to them, even when problems are reported time and again. Is is astounding. The USE in Guatemala was made aware that she was using Thanassis over a year ago by US!
Joanne's lies are but the tip of her iceberg. She is a callous and unethical palyer who represents herself as a Christian. All the while, a mother to 2 daughters who are adopted from Guatemala. Has she no shame? The obvious answer is "No".

How sad, I can remember posting many many warnings about this woman to the big list six years ago..
Another adoptive mother and myself were banned from the big list because we tried to warn so many family's about Ms Mitchell!!

I agree, I think it has a lot to do with the U.S. agencies!! They prey on people who want to have a family. We had the same thing happen with a domestic agency. Right after, then came in contact with Mrs. Mitchell. Our home study agency thought her promises were too good to be true and she was wanting to submit paperwork before becoming certified. When I asked for references, I never heard from her again. Huh, I guess I guess we were too much trouble?

I can't imagine going through the process for any length of time to have things fall through for legal or illegal resaons. I too am a blessed mother who brought 2 children home this past November via Joanne and AP. I did have issues with my cases, but Joanne pushed through them with me, telling me when to contact senators or the embassy for assistance. PGN was difficult and although there were previo's we made it home, a little over a year after starting the process.
I pray for all the families and Agencies caught in some of the current investigations and process changes. May you all make it through to enjoy the children that have already been made a part of your lives and hearts.

I am shocked about to hear about Joanne, and very afraid that my wife and I are now going to not only lose $ but also the little girl we have referred to us. I must be very naive, as I feel like she has done everything I have asked her to do.

I guess we'll see if the adoption goes final.

Thank you to the PAPs that had to scream their stories about Ms. Mitchell from the tallest mountain to be heard. I know that without being incredibly persistant, the authorities won't listen, believe me, I work this 5 days a week on another formidable agency and their day is coming...

It is about time. I completed my adoption through AP and Joanne, but had to hire outside help in Guat to get it done. It took over a year of lie after lie. Hopefully, this will put an end to her selfish greedy ways that she so carefully and masterfully masks with a lot of fast talk.

Seems like more of us are coming forward every day!! Wow! I guess I can be glad that she didn't bother to spin an elaborate web of lies and tricks to rip off our money (and our daughter out of our dreams & hearts). We made it easy for her early on- so she just took our money, pulled our referral, and disappeared fast! Apparently, AP is no longer a member of JCICS, so we can't file retroactive complaints against JM/AP/Los Estrellas with them. Thus, I'd encourage others to to contact Florida DSS/Regulation and Liscening to FORWARN them about AP (and the agency(s?) in California (and who knows where-else??) that Ms. M. has used as a front for her schemes and scams. Let's help others with our suffering.

Joanne stole my daughter's Lilo and Stitch CD

I started my process last year. I had problems with the paper work and because I took to long in completing my documents, I was told by Joanne I was out of $13,000 dollars. My referral was no longer and she was very nasty.

Joanne was crooked from when we adopted with her in 2001 and kept the fact that Oscar Portillo was our attorney- I am glad she is finally revealed.

Our adoption through AP in 2001 also came with its own set of problems. Thankfully, my lengthy stay in Guatemala and contacts made from prior Guatemalan adoptions (with legitimate agencies) assisted in pushing the adoption through. We had dealings with Bianca Martinez and Maria Jose who spun a web of lies like no other. With the assistance of others, I was able to view my file in PGN, which truly revealed the lack of honesty in AP's practices and its use of credible attorneys. Initially, Joanne was very friendly and responsive. She even arranged a visit with our baby's birth mother at Maria Jose's home. Toward the end of the process and especially when I had another attorney intervene, she became less friendly and didn't even bother to post our son's picture on her website.

Our largest problem...Bianca Martinez failed to provide us with original documents, which is a whole other problem we faced upon returning home. I attempted to contact Joanne to discuss this issue on several occasions, but not surprisingly never received a response.