[NashvilleGirl]

Hi All,

Just wanted to share that I got an update from our agency this week. The good news is that it seems at this point that the Casa Privadas WILL continue to be able to place Colombian children with non-Colombian families just as they have been before! Colombians will still get priority, of course. The bad news is that the wait times estimated by ICBF will probably be increased, with the worst case senario being up to a 30 month wait. In the past it seemed that sometimes the wait for the casas was shorter that ICBF's, but I'm not sure if that will still be the case or not. We're supposed to be getting a letter from the Colombia program director next week, so if there's any more new info to share, I'll let you know! Has anyone else heard anything new from their agency?

[montanagirl]

Hi all.

Sorry I haven't posted in so long. I've been out of town on vacation and then to a professional conference. Ruth Ann, thanks for the update! That update seems a little more positive. I e-mailed my agency 3 weeks ago, and still have not heard anything. Arggg. If it wasn't for the forum community I wouldn't have any information about anything. Thanks to everyone for sharing news and updates. It's really a lifeline for me right now. If I do hear something (ha!), I'll be sure to share.

Jody

[AdoptInMN]

Hi! I've heard rumors, but I don't want to say anthing until I hear something directly from my agency, so hopefully I'll get a response from them tomorrow (Monday). But what I've heard is good news, and since we were already expecting a long wait (though HOPEFULLY not 30 months!!!) I hope it won't be too much!

Jody and Ruth Ann, I hope you're holding in there! We casa privada folks will be parents!

[AdoptInMN]

Well we got GREAT news today! Our agency confirmed that the casa privadas are referring to non-Colombian families again!!! There was a referral of a biological infant to a family, and there is also supposed to be a referral coming any day from Ayudame to a family (not at our agency, but one affiliated with them). They got word that referrals to our agency should be coming "very shortly."

They did not mention anything about extended wait times again, though they have in the past so I'm guessing they expect us to know it'll take longer. But at least things are moving again!

I really hope your agencies start getting referrals again soon, Ruth Ann & Jody! And I'll let you know as soon as mine gets one.

[DrLaura]

That is great news Kate! Selfishly hoping that means they have cleared most of the list of Colombian families too! Here's to referrals all around! Where is the drink smilie when you need it!

[AdoptInMN]

Originally Posted by DrLaura

That is great news Kate! Selfishly hoping that means they have cleared most of the list of Colombian families too! Here's to referrals all around! Where is the drink smilie when you need it!

Laura, I'm sure your referral will come through in no time! My agency said they're still processing Colombian families before non-Colombian ones, so you should have a very quick time to referral!

[AdoptInMN]

Just wanted to let you know that my agency got 2 referrals. One is a biological sibling (so they try to first place with the sibling, even if it's with a non-Colombian family) and the other is of an infant to a waiting (non-Colombian) family. Just thought I'd let you know.

[montanagirl]

Gals,
Thanks for the updates, especially as they relate to referrals from the casas. Please share if you get any more updates, or if your agencies receive any referrals. I promise to do the same. Although, I STILL have not heard from my agency. What a wild ride!
Jody

[NashvilleGirl]

Kate,

Thanks so much for the update! It's so great to hear that agencies are receiving referrals again! A non-Colombian family with our agency recently got a biological sibling referral, and hopefully there will be lots of other referrals to follow. Still waiting on the update letter from the director, so I'll let ya'll know as soon as I hear anything else. What Casa are you adopting from Kate? I don't think it will be a 30 month wait (at least I REALLY hope not!) but I think our agency just has to prepare everyone for a worst case senario.

[ExcitedMomtoBe]

For the folks planning to adopt through casas privadas, is it pretty standard for your agency (because of the hold up and uncertainty) to not be taking your application just yet? Our agency (whom we used to adopt our son two years ago from Guatemala) is currently taking a waiting list of applicants but doesn't want people doing any paperchasing until they know more about how the referrals are coming along. My best guess is that they're concerned paperwork will expire, etc.??? Is this standard? I just want to be sure we're not at a disadvantage waiting "unofficially" for now. I know we're not allowed to talk about our agencies - but we use CHSFS. Maybe anyone who's using them could PM me if they know more than I do:-) Thanks!

[MNbadgerfan]

Rachel,

I pm'd you.

Beth

[Zuke]

Even though we have been submitted to the ICBF for our referral, I am watching this closely and I appreciate the posts and updates from all of you. We actually were informed this week that we should expect now up to a 30 month wait too. So, it's not just the casas privadas that have the long wait times right now!! I think it will be interesting to see what really happens in the coming months...it seems like things should settle down into some kind of a more predictable routine again, and I will be hoping that it will be a good one for all of us!!
At least we can all go crazy during the wait together, right??