Licensed by CT Department of Children and Families
Private, Non-Profit (Working in Connecticut and with
Applicants In Other States)
Member of Joint Council on International Children's
Services and Connecticut Council on Adoption
IMPORTANT NEWSEnd May 2007: Applications are still being accepted for GuatemalaHague Implementation: US and Guatemala Any US agencies that that applied for Hague accreditation in the first round, for which the deadline was in November 2006, will receive notification of approval by 2/15/08. It is expected that The Hague will be considered in effect shortly thereafter in the United States. We do not know the exact date at this time. We strongly urge any clients considering Guatemala to move quickly in submitting documents and not to delay for any reason. Remember that the average first time study in CT can take a few months. If clients have completed studies, they should move quickly in choosing an agency and receiving dossier instructions. We urge people to file their I-600A's if they want Guatemala and to be as efficient as possible in working on and completing their dossiers. Clients should also move quickly on getting their fingerprints done so that their CIS approval will not be delayed. We expect the dossiers back from clients within 2 or 3 weeks (maximum) of their homestudies being ready. The Department of State has indicated that all I-600A’s filed before the Hague takes effect will be considered under the old rules and will be processed. We are accepting applications from families who expect and are able to complete their authenticated dossiers no later than December 1, 2007. After January 1, 2008 we expect many changes in the requirements and procedures for adopting from Guatemala. We recommend submitting dossiers sooner than that, however, to any parents fully informed and deciding to choose Guatemala. On May 22, 2007 Guatemala passed a law before their Congress stating they would implement The Hague by Dec 31, 2007. However, they still need to come up with Hague compliant procedures and this may or may not occur prior to US implementation. Guatemalan attorneys have indicated to us that any cases in progress will also continue to be processed under their laws but we cannot be 100% sure at this time that there will not be delays or interruptions of the process. Thursday's Child does not endorse or discourage clients choosing Guatemala at this time. We are committed to the children of Guatemala and believe strongly that any closures or delays in Guatemalan adoption procedures caused by either country would have an extremely negative impact on the children there. The children are wonderful and most do not face a great life in their present circumstance. They are still relatively young at placement, even with delay in processing that might arise, as compared to the ages they arrive from many other places, and they are usually extremely well cared for. It is entirely up to the applicants which choice they make and only they can decide what is best for them. No agency can be certain during this first round of Hague accreditation, that they will become accredited as the process is still brand new and very complex, and new requirements and interpretations seem to be added arbitrarily almost weekly. Both the Council on Accreditation and the agencies that have applied are just learning what it all means. All agencies are being asked to have a back-up, contingency plan. If for any reason Thursday's Child should not become accredited or should decide not to proceed with the accreditation, and has cases for Hague countries in process, the Agency shall arrange to work in tandem with another agency that has become accredited in order to carry out cases to completion. Such a contingency plan is required. Accreditation is only applicable to working in Hague member countries and the ability of Thursday's Child ,(or any agency that for any reason does not seek, or is not granted Hague accreditation) to continue or to establish adoption programs in non-Hague member countries shall not be affected in any way. Accreditation to work in Hague countries also does not in any manner affect domestic adoptions unless a child is being sent out of the country. All clients who want to adopt from Guatemala have been given a Statement of Understanding to sign and have been asked to look at a back up option in case there should be a need to change directions. If you are such a client and have not submitted your statement please do so immediately. We are happy to supply information on our other options at any time. Iris Arenson-Fuller, Exec. Dir, Co-Founder. |
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