Link: http://www.jcics.org/Guatemala.htm
October 14, 2008
According to preliminary results of a survey conducted in August 2008 by Joint Council, over 600 children referred to families adopting from Guatemala still remain without their families. 56 % of the over 500 families surveyed indicate that their case has been released by the CNA to PGN for final processing. 37% indicated that their case had been released by the PGN.
Of the families whose cases had been released by PGN, only 11.5% reported having received passports from the Guatemalan government. Frustration levels among those surveyed were extremely high, significant frustration pointing towards the Guatemalan government’s implementation of the Hague and slow processing times of the CNA, PGN, along with the long wait for post-adoption birth certificates. Many also expressed surprise at what they perceived to be lack of concern on the part of the US government.
Joint Council is devoted to ensuring that children who were referred to families before January 1,2008, and whose cases have followed the necessary steps indicated by the US and Guatemalan governments arrive home to their families. Joint Council will continue to fight for the rights of these children.
Posted by Marie at October 15, 2008 05:15 AM- 600 children referred to families adopting from Guatemala still remain without their families. 56 % of the over 500 families surveyed indicate that their case has been released by the CNA to PGN for final processing - SO 336 cases left in PGN/RENAP and 264 where? OR are there 600 cases still in limbo? such as the children in the private orphanages the MP seized or refused to release to their parents - some with already with VISA's - has there been any mention of them?
Posted by: Stephanie at October 15, 2008 08:43 AMGreat we finally got the "numbers" from that survey done so long ago. Were they just curious? I haven't seen or heard any impact on the outlandishly long waits in PGN and the time to get BC's has lengthened...
Posted by: Jean at October 15, 2008 10:04 AMI agree with Jean's comments about the survey being done a long time ago. Since completing the survey, our file was released from PGN, we waited 6 weeks for the birth certificate and brought our baby home in mid-September. While I believe Joint Council's advocacy efforts helped bring our son home, I wonder how useful the survey info is if it has taken them this long to publish it.
Posted by: DLBC at October 15, 2008 09:38 PMI also agree with Jean and DLBC about the length of time since the survey, and I seriously question it's reliability. Since we took the survey, we waited for the birth certificate for a few weeks, and then waited for the passport for another week, and finally brought our son home the first week of September. I'm not calling into question the Joint Council's commitment to adoption advocacy, I'm just bringing up concerns about the validity of the survey. I wouldn't have even questioned their numbers on just my personal case, but it seems (according to DLBC' similar experience) it has happened to more than just us.
I do thank God that our son is home. My heart breaks for the children left and the families kept waiting.
Posted by: David and Toni at October 17, 2008 12:49 AM