[crathke]

Double-check with your agency and verify whether they are referring to an "orphanage" or a "hogar"; there are subtle differences in the two but people frequently use only the term "orphanage" because they don't want to take the time to explain a "hogar". Even so, orphanages in Guatemala are generally privately owned (not state-run as in some countries) and so the "institutional" issues are far less.

That being said, our son was in a hogar with 15 other children. The caregivers were *extremely* consistent with a 2-1 ratio during the day and a 3-1 ratio overnight. The family who owns the hogar is extremely involved in the day-to-day operations, there every single day, and care deeply for "their" children. We still have contact with them, and the family has visited our home in the US since bringing our son home in 2003. He was 31 months old when we brought him home and had precisely *one* incident that we can point to and say "ah, that was a 'bonding issue'." He is extremely well adjusted, his socialization skills are on target (and always have been) and his small motor skills are beyond age-appropriate. (we think that is in part due to his being encouraged to do for himself at the hogar, and partly due to his own independent personality).

I know a lot of people choose Guatemala for the foster care system, and I will agree that many foster moms are second to none in the world. However, I've also heard some hair-raising horror stories about FMs. Were we to adopt again, our choice would be to work with the hogar we already have experience with.

Could you get the name of the "small orphanage" and then post here for people's references? That may help, too.