Times of transition generally mean backlogs of charts and delays with the discussion and implementation of proposed changes. Haiti's transitional delays we pray result in a smoother system with reduced possibilities of abuse.
One of the big changes in Haiti's adoption process involves declaring a child's adaptability status prior to referral. This should prevent referral of children not meeting 'adoptable requirements' of Haitian and American governments.
In theory: A Haitian family meets with the social service team and makes an adoption plan. If after every possible effort to keep the family together, including education, and counseling the family stand firm on the decision to place the child up for adoption and IBESR agrees it is in the child's best interest, a one-month waiting period starts. After a full month, consent can be granted.
Abandoned children remain in an orphanage for at least 6 months while the family is looked for after which time IBESR can decide to make a referral for adoption. The mayor of the area where the child was found will need to appear in Children's court.
Child's Dossier - after IBESR declares the child adoptable these items need to be collected:
- Passport Pictures
- Birth Certificate
- Attestation of signature on Birth Certificate or a copy from the National Archives
- Legal relinquishment of custody by family/mayor if abandoned in family Court [this step can take 2-3 visits]
- Death certificates and extracts from archives of biological parents if applies
- Parent's marriage certificate if applies
- Psychological evaluation
- Medical evaluation
- Laboratory tests
- Social history
Now a referral can be proposed. The orphanage/creche directors will be asked to review the charts of waiting families. Once IBESR approves a potential match the adoption agency will be given an official letter, and the family notified. After notification, the family will have 15 days to consider the match and accept or decline the referral.
At this time, no one knows what will happen should a family not feel able to accept a proposed referral.
As you can see there are many steps in the process and many potential areas for delays and problems. Praying for protection for everyone, every step, every paper, and every signature.
Pray for us to be patient, wait well, and for our children while they wait too. Yesterday marked our 9th month in IBESR.
No families without a 'soft' or 'pre-matched' admission to IBESR along with a proposed child have yet reported a match by IBESR on the Facebook group.
We know that generally a child's development becomes more delayed for every month they live in an institutionalized setting, but we're praying our children will miraculously thrive.
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