IBESR Announcement

A notice was posted yesterday at IBESR. The translation below was provided by Isabelle Gallemaert, professional translator:

"IBESR general direction , considering the repeated request of children's homes managers, lawyers or lawyers offices to take into particular consideration the dossiers of children with special needs already matched under the former procedure;

Considering that the said dossiers couldn't be transmitted to the Adoption Services before the deadline of January 15th 2013, for several reasons;

Considering that in the interest of these children, it is necessary not to deprive them from the affection of their future adoptive parents with whom they are already in contact;

Consequently, the general direction decides to authorize the direction of social work and the administration to give instruction to the relevant departments to exceptionally receive these dossiers and whose consent has been given by the parents before the Justice of Peace prior to January 15 2013 , the 17, 20 and 21st of May being the deadline.

Managers of children's homes, lawyers or lawyers offices interested by this question are required to contact the adoption service regarding the modalities of instruction of these dossiers, according the new procedure.

Arielle Jeanty Villedrouin"


ABI has no further information and cannot speculate on exactly what the notice means on a practical level.  Families adopting with other agencies or orphanages are encouraged to contact the staff of those organizations for further information.

IBESR Rumors

Some of you may have heard that IBESR officials are stating that IBESR will accept certain dossiers either outside of the quota or under the old policies. We are aware that IBESR has in fact made this statement. The first public announcement that this action was under consideration was made on April 3rd during a meeting with Mme.Villedrouin, the Director of IBESR, and a leadership committee of the Haitian Crèche Directors’ Association. At that meeting, Mme. Villedrouin stated that IBESR would email the crèche directors with the details. This has not occurred.

Additional reliable people have since reported to ABI that IBESR personnel continue to state that some dossiers will be accepted above and beyond the quota. However, IBESR has yet to issue a written statement or any details regarding the additional dossiers. We do not know how many may be submitted, what the criteria are for their acceptance of those dossiers, or when (or if) the submissions might occur.

Here are things that we do NOT know yet:

Which additional dossiers will be accepted – those in Haiti before a certain date? Only those allied with IBESR accredited agencies/currently re-licensed crèches?

• When will these dossiers be allowed – for two days next week? For an unspecified period of time?
• How dossiers many will be accepted – five per crèche? Five per agency? ALL of them that arrived in Haiti between October 31st and January 15th? All dossiers that are currently in country?
• We have no idea whether dossiers of families adopting independently with no agency will be accepted (not the problem of anyone receiving this email).
• We have no idea whether any of this at all will come to pass!

At this point, there is much more that we don’t know than that we do. We will keep you updated as we learn factual information regarding the situation.

Pou AYITI, Mon Amour

The following post is a gift from an adoptive mother who has served as a full-time NGO staff member in Haiti:

Lost in the meandering roads of Pacot, one would have never thought to find an orphanage hidden behind high brick walls. Behind the white gate you could hear the voices of crying children anxiously waiting for their needs to be met. With grave anticipation, I knocked on the door afraid of what awaited me.

One year before, I encountered several orphanages that should have been condemned even before the earthquake for their festering smell and worn out shelters that needed one more minor earthquake to finally collapse. Its children were such mournful creatures that stared at you in bewilderment wondering your purpose for visiting. My boss was crazy to even think that we could improve the sanitation of these orphanages. Now looking back, I had no eyes for compassion, but only disgust for the conditions before me.

I looked at the silent child who had been handed to my care and thought, “Lord, when this door opens, I am going to change the life of this child for better or for worse.” No sooner had my heart plunged into dismay, a friendly hand and a kind voice opened the white painted metal door and ushered us in. I looked around me flabbergasted at how clean and orderly the place was. The white building stood firm and welcoming and it matched the demeanor of its mistress. She kindly showed me around and I was greeted by curious children and kind caregivers. God truly answered my prayers the night before when I asked him for surety that my child would be left in safe hands. The ambience of this orphanage had assured me and I left Ayiti with a calm heart.

When I returned again seven months later in Ayiti, a country of love and turmoil, I was amazed by the devotion that Madame Sonia put into the direction and running of her orphanage. Her assistant, Madame Michelle’s kindness especially warms the heart and sways you that God's little ones are in good hands. Although she chatters away quickly in Creole leaving you lost in translation of what she said on her previous sentence, the kindness of her eyes and the touch of her gentle hands reassures you that she has your child's best interest at heart. The caregivers are no less important as they take every moment to make each child feel a sense of importance and security. The whitewashed building of Au Bonheur des Enfants and its sanitized smell comforts you that infectious diseases are not welcomed there. Melissa's ability to now read and the quick smile that one can sometimes steal on her face, show that she is loved and cared for. Though her quiet behavior and sadness at times makes you wonder, "Lord, what has happened to this child that has taken her speech away," God in turns reminds you; "My child, I have brought you here for this very purpose to see my love, for my love covers all." I left Ayiti in peace knowing that my Adonai has everything in the palm of his hands and Melissa will soon join me and together, we shall celebrate her homecoming in joy and laughter.

Good News for Argentinian Families!

The new IBESR policies require that all adoptive families work with an IBESR accredited agency in their home country.  Unfortunately, this left the families of Argentina with no options as no agency was accredited in their country.

Yesterday, IBESR announced the accreditation of Asociación por nuestra infancia de Argentina to assist with Haitian adoptions for Argentinean citizens.

Thank you to Margarette Saint Fleur and Mar Grayner for your tenacity in ensuring that the valuable resource of Argentinean homes are not denied to Haitian children in need of permanency!

Hola a todos y todas,


Ayer por la tarde, hora haitiana, APNI (Asociación por nuestra infancia de Argentina) fue acreditada por el IBESR para colaborar en la adopción de menores haitianos por parte de familias argentinas.

Ha sido un largo camino que empezamos hace más de un año (en Haití) y que por fin a concluido con éxito.

Damos las gracias a todos los que nos han ayudado a que esto fuera posible, a todos los que han creído en nosotros, a todos los que nos han escuchado cuando todo parecía perdido. Habéis sido muchos y por ello también estamos agradecidos, contar con gente como vosotros a nuestro lado es emocionante.

Nuestra alegría es seguir ayudando a los niños de Haití en los orfanatos y escuelas.

Un abrazo a todos,

Laura Gómez y Mar Granyer

Directoras de APNI Internacional



Salut à tous et toutes,

Hier par l'après-midi, une heure haïtienne, APNI (l'Association notre enfance de l'Argentine) a été accrédité par l'IBESR pour collaborer dans l'adoption de mineurs haïtiens de la part des familles argentines.

C'était un long chemin que nous commençons fait plus d'un an, (en Haïti), et qu'enfin à fini avec succès.

Nous remercions tous ceux qui nous ont aidé à que cela était possible, à tous ceux qu'il existe le confiant dans nous, à tous ceux qui nous ont écoutés quand tout semblait perdu. Vous avez été beaucoup et par cela nous sommes aussi remerciés, raconter des gens comme vous à notre côté il est émouvant.

Notre joie est de continuer d'aider les enfants de la Haïti en orphelinats et écoles.

Une embrassade à tous,

Laura Gómez y Mar Granyer

Directoras de APNI Internacional



Hello everybody,

Yesterday on the evening, Haitian hour, APNI (Association for our infancy of Argentina) was accredited by the IBESR to collaborate in the adoption of Haitian minors on the part of Argentine families.

It has been a long way that we begin more than one year ago, (in Haiti), and that finally to concluded successfully.

We want to give thanks to all those who have helped us to that this was possible, to all those who have believed in us, to all those who have listened to us when everything seemed to be lost. You have been a great many people and for it also we are grateful, to have people as you to our side it is exciting.

Our happiness is to continue helping the children of Haiti in the orphanages and schools.

Love from,

Laura Gómez y Mar Granyer

Directoras de APNI Internacional

Jacmel

City of Jacmel

Our last day of our trip. Marg and I cross the mountains to go to Jacmel, a beautiful old city by the sea. Marg’s agency is completing several adoption cases handed to them by their Central Authority when another adoption agency shut down.

We arrive in time for the end of church services. A young woman greets us in such fluent English that I ask her if she has ever studied in the United States. She stammers, laughs, and denies having left Haiti. The music in the main room is exquisite – a small band comprised of teens who live here accompany the children and teenagers singing passionate hymns in rich, glorious harmony. Haitian church leaves every church, temple, or other place of worship I’ve visited in the United States cold. These children are on fire with passion for the words they sing. Eyes closed, hands lifted they worship God with a devotion and adoration that denies all suffering and celebrates the gifts that they do have. Marg is just as touched as I am.

The young woman who welcomed us gives a short sermon written for young children about leadership, and how we set an example to others all the time even when we fail to act when we should. It speaks to me, as I often wish I could do much less of the advocacy work that I do. It is hard. But it is necessary, and it would seem that I was the one picked to do it. At least for now. We have a motto in our family: “you don’t have to like it, you just have to do it.” I must keep reciting that to myself as I wish for a simpler life in which my mistakes are less costly to others.

The church gathering breaks up. We are examined with mild curiosity before the children scatter to more interesting pursuits. We are give the grand tour. This is a very nice facility, with plenty of space and even open land around the buildings. The kids go outside the complex to go to school every day. Our guide explains that the birth families are only permitted to visit three times per year. However, in this orphanage, a lot of thought has been given to an exit strategy for each child. The teenagers are conscientiously being trained in useful, marketable skills. I’m shown tile laid by one young man who is almost finished with his apprenticeship. Some of the girls sew beautiful bags and make uniforms for their orphanage siblings. Uniform sewing is a much needed skill in Haiti. One ‘graduate’ is currently in medical school in the Dominican Republic!

Project House Above Jacmel

I’d still rather see a model where these kids went home on weekends and holidays, but at least I can see that they’ll have a future.

Jacmel is one of those places where we can see what a paradise Haiti could be. On the way home, we ask our driver to take us someplace for lunch. He asks if we want to get ‘little food’ or a ‘big lunch’. I tell him I’d like Marg to really enjoy her meal and that I want to be very sure that the food is safe. He knows just where to take us.

We have lunch on a hotel terrace overlooking the glittering turquoise Caribbean sea. The breeze is mild, the temperature perfect. Between the waves and the wind and all of the good food, I can hardly stay conscious. Give me a hammock and I’ll be set for the afternoon! But tomorrow we must fly home, so reluctantly we bid farewell to a paradise to rival any in the islands. This interlude was a glimpse of what we can all hope for Haiti.

The View From the Hotel Terrace





A Day at Home

Guess which one is the naughty twin?

This morning I met with the directors of a small, independent orphanage regarding a pre-identified adoption. We’re considering very few of these, as IBESR discourages them and each one must be presented on a case by case basis. This case is worth fighting for. The family has travelled to Haiti again and again, by themselves, over several years and the children are older. They have nowhere else to go, having been abandoned years before at the orphanage. We still have some very intimidating logistics to try to work out, but it’s worth trying in this case. If we can ever get to the point, between the quota and legal requirements, of presenting the case, I think I’ll be able to argue convincingly why these older kids should have a strong say in who their parents should be.


In the afternoon it’s back to BRESMA to play with the rather intimidating number of children already in care for whom I am responsible for finding families, and finding a way to submit the dossiers of those families. The pressure is overwhelming, the stakes very high. Failure is not an option. I have now seen the alternative up close and personal and I will never forget it.

Thomassin

Thomassin Kids

I’m still shell shocked after yesterday, so I am deeply grateful my ‘public’ appearances for this trip are over. If I drift off into a state of blank and helpless ruminations, nobody around me is going to ask me why.


Marg and I drive up into the mountains to visit yet another foreign funded orphanage – this one supported by Canadians. It’s beautiful up here. The house is large and well provisioned, and the children in care are obviously healthy and content. They even show off on their bicycles for us. The orphanage sends then alternate years to a school to learn English and then to a Haitian school to catch up on the basics.

I am told that all of the children here have biological families living. These families are allowed to visit them a few times each year. Many more families would like to place their children in the orphanage.

This is so common in Haiti. These children are getting a fine education, food, medical care. They live in health and safety. They’ll leave this place at eighteen knowing how to read and write in three languages, perform mathematical operations, and have a background in science and social studies. I wonder how they will possibly know how to actually function in Haitian society? How to be a wife, and husband, a mother a father? How to find a job, when most jobs in Haiti come from personal connections and they won’t have any? Are they better off in this isolated, idealized house so separated from Haitian reality than they would have been in desperate poverty but real families? I don’t know. But I do worry. I just can’t see how orphanages such as this, that strive to break family connections instead of functioning as a charitable boarding house while children go to school and go home for summers and weekends, is helping them for the future as well as the present.

I’m stepping off my soap box now. Thousands of American, European, and Canadian sponsored orphanages aren’t listening anyway. But hopefully they are thinking hard about what will become of the children they take in as they grow into adults and must find a way to survive in the Haitian economy.