[Julielea]

I realize this is an old post, but in the event that others have the same question, I wanted to reply. I can't speak about the foster care in Guatemala, but just wanted to say that I spent several months working at a privately run orphanage/hogar in Guatemala City that had about 40 children under age 6. The staff ratio was about 4-1, and the caregivers were very consistent, especially with the children under age 3 (they focused their most experienced care-givers on the youngest children). These younger children had caregivers that had been with the orphange for at least 3years and really cared for the children and formed attachements with them.
There was also a reasonable amount of regulation and oversight to ensure proper care, including a social worker who visited regularly. If I were comparing American foster care and this Guatemala orphanage, I would say the hogar I worked with was superior to many of the foster care situations here in the US, unfortunately, and I can't imagine that Guate foster care can be much better than the US. But, like others have said, it's really a case-by-case thing. I wouldn't rule out either option. Best to you.