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As International Adoption is always changing I can appreciate how hard it is to keep up with new developments. Here are a few updates that I found on the U.S. State Department website.
ETHIOPIA
May 26, 2009
Adoptions of Abandoned Children Halted by Ethiopian Court
On May 4, 2009 the Ethiopian First Instance Court temporarily stopped accepting cases involving abandoned children referred by orphanages in Addis Ababa, citing a substantial increase in the number of children being brought for adoption. The number of abandoned children from orphanages in Addis Ababa has grown dramatically in recent months and Ethiopian authorities have become aware of possible cases of unethical practices associated with some of them.
Neither the Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MOWA) nor the First Instance Court had been accepting abandonment cases from any orphanage in Addis Ababa pending an inquiry. However, on May 23 the Court confirmed that while the investigation into cases of abandoned children continues, it has begun accepting cases of abandoned children referred from Addis Ababa government orphanages. These include the following orphanages:
Kebebe Tsehay Orphanage
Ketchene Orphanage
Kolfe Youth Center
Here is a link to show where American’s are adopting from for the last four years. This can be helpful when deciding on a country to adopt from, as many people like to take the “road most traveled”! I know that I wanted an agency and a country that had been through every process for a while. I also understand that some people like a challenge and want to go to a “newer” country for their adoption.
The paperwork often seems so overwhelming with adoption. I know that there where many times that I felt we were doing things that seemed quite archaic and outdated. I was happy with this recent update I learned about:
April 29, 2009
Electronic Transfer of Adoption Case Files
Beginning April 20, 2009, the National Visa Center (NVC) of the U.S. Department of State began to electronically scan and make available to the relevant U.S. Embassy or Consulate, all adoption petitions or petition-related notifications received from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigrations Services (USICS) on or after that date. This new procedure will eliminate the time and cost of shipping these files around the world and will result in faster processing times for families waiting to adopt from overseas.
You may have noticed that I love the U.S. Department website. It is a weird obsession I have with rules, regulations and facts! Have you heard any news (good or bad) about International Adoptions? Please share!
My husband and I adopted from China in 2008 (took 5 years from start to finish) and are now thinking about Ethiopia for our next. We would like our children to be close in age, hence the quick decision to do it again.
I have a genuine fear of starting this process again as the last was one heart-break after the other not to mention very costly. Don’t get me wrong, our daughter was worth it a million times over and she is by far the best thing that has ever happened to me. She is really the reason I am doing this again as I want her to have the company of a sister as I had growing up.
During our last adoption process, China decided to slow down and re-evaluate the “rules”. It seems that everyday I jump onto new web sites and blogs and hear about yet another country slowing or even shutting down their programs for a bit. It just drags out the process on for what seems like an eternity. I know that I could handle this again (and I would) but now I have a daughter to think about and I don’t want her to feel the effects… is it right not to mention it to her? I guess I am just throwing this out to you as you really seem to have your finger on the pulse of adoption around the world.
My name is Medina Am 3 months pregnant.i cant afford to raise a child becose am unemployed and my elder sister is the one taking care of me here in london(UK) i dont have my own place to stay and dont have anything that is mine.am 22years old and i tried to go for abortion, but i have being having series of nightmare about it. i cant handle this i want a career and an education.i wear girdle so it dont show that i am pregnant.i cant bear to give birth to a baby and throw it away as some girls do. my conscience will never forgive me. please if you wish to adopt this baby, please contact me on medinaosayomwanbo@yahoo.com my mobile number is +44-702-402-9378. may the almighty God richly bless you. Amen
Medina