No More Adoptions from Guatemala This Year

I know many families who very much want to adopt from Guatemala again, but the latest news strongly indicates that is not going to be a possibility at this time. Here is the information posted on Guatadopt.com.

Link: http://www.sigloxxi.com/noticias/23028

The National Council for Adoptions (CNA) suspended the delivery of children to foreign families during the remainder of 2008. The previous decision was made because there are many Guatemalans who are applying to host at home to an infant.The measure was circulated by the president of the ANC, Elizabeth Hernandez, the secretary general of the Hague Conference on International Law, Hans Van Loon.According to the records of the ANC, 158 applications have been received by Guatemalan families, but it is currently only 70 children are adoptable, for which it will prioritize nationals rather than foreigners.Rudy Zepeda, spokesman for the unit, reinforced the plea and said: "In compliance with the spirit of the new law on adoptions will be sought that children who are declared adoptable be delivered to Guatemalan families rather than another country."

More reasons: Another reason for the suspension, said the Council is the need to conclude the cases of transition by changing legislation, which means cleaning the system of bad practices and strengthen adoptions locally.According to Jaime Tecu, coordinator of the area's legal CNA, if it is not possible to find a family at the national level, is considered the options, doing the steps indicates the Act.For foreign families, he explained, can be given two other options: surrender in making those children who exceed 8 years old, or in cases where the infant is suffering from any physical disability. In both, you must first exhausted the possibility of a Guatemalan family.From last January, when the agency began its functions, to date, have been approved 20 adoptions couples Chapin.According to official data, in 2007 were given up for adoption to foreign families about 5 thousand 100 children, 5% more than in 2006, when they joined 4 thousand 837. 95% of these children has been adopted by American families.


My hope is that all children in Guatemala who need a home, find a home. Every child deserves a home and a family. We feel extremely fortunate that Lili has become part of our family and have no doubt that her birth mother loves her and wants the very best possible life for her. We will strive every day to make sure that we give Lili what her birth mother so desperately wanted her to have and couldn't give her.

It's also humbling to know that there are millions and millions of other children all around the world that need the same thing. They need and want a home and family to love and care for them. While my desire is to provide that home and family to as many children as possible, there are limits to what one person or family can do. As many of you know, we have started the process to adopt one more time and our hope is to bring home a baby girl from Ethiopia. Adopting two children will not change the world significantly, but our hope is that we will change the world for our daughters and their birth families in a positive way.