[duckmom]

I did contact JSCIS and received the following. I am so grateful for what they do. They made such a difference during Guatemala 5000 and made it possible for all to bring home their children. They have something in the works, but I want to do something NOW. Maybe I'll just have to be patient. But I've been patient for a year and a half!! I am fresh out of patience. Ok, well, that's not entirely true, but I want to do something while we wait. And wait. And wait..........and then wait some more.

"Thank you for your e-mail. At Joint Council, we are aware of the recent events in Guatemala. Our goal at Joint Council is to ensure that Guatemala's children receive the safe, permanent and loving homes they deserve. I would encourage you to continue visiting our website XXX for the latest developments. Following is an update on our recent achievements in Guatemala:
Tom DiFilipo, Joint Council's President and CEO, has held several conference calls regarding the current situation in Guatemala. Joint Council is briefing the embassy and the Congressional Coalition on Adoption regarding the latest developments. We agree that it is not in the best interests of the children that cases be further delayed, and that interviews of birthmothers may not be legal or an appropriate use of limited resources at this crucial transitional time.

Joint Council’s Tom DiFilipo traveled to Guatemala from April 16th-19th. In collaboration with the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, Joint Council briefed staff for 27 Members of Congress on the issues related to Guatemala and the Casa Quivera cases. Following the briefing, all participants met with five families directly impact by the Casa Quivera situation.
The Joint Council Guatemala Caucus Co-chairs, including Bruce Mossberg of Bethany Christian Services, Chris Huber of FTIA, and Margaret Orr of Small Miracles traveled to Guatemala on April 16-19, 2008. The delegation met with the Executive Director and Vice-Director of the Guatemala Central Authority, the Director of Bienestar Sociale and the Director of SOSEP. Additional meetings were held with the U.S. Consul General, John Lowell, and the U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala, James Derham.
Immediately after the trip, Joint Council appointed Roberto Echeverria as Joint Council Guatemala Representative. Mr. Echeverria will significantly increase the effectiveness of Joint Council’s advocacy efforts within Guatemala.
In Congressional news, Joint Council attended a meeting hosted by Senator Landrieu, eight senators, and four congressmen and women. The meeting was held during the recent visit of the Guatemalan President Colom. President Colom reiterated his position that he is supportive of inter-country adoption and is hoping to address the larger issues of poverty and economic growth during his presidency.
Joint Council is actively moving forward with its initiative on Guatemala, following the success of last year’s Guatemala 5000 call for action. Tom DiFilipo will shortly be issuing a letter to PGN, as well as a briefing paper to Members of Congress. It is our objective to draft a new MOU, with the assistance of CNA and Bienestar, in order to ensure that the children of Guatemala obtain the permanency and safety they have been denied."

[lovefamily]

I just received an email from my attorney and he said that he has gone to the PGN everyday and thay keep telling him the same thing "we cannot release anything until the high authorities order them to". This is crazy. I don't understand why the would want to hold these cases that are sitting at the exit window.

I received this attachment from the USE in Guatemala as a reply to an email I sent them:

ADOPTIONS IN GUATEMALA
NOTICE: New PGN Plans to Review of All Adoption Cases Currently in PGN
April 29, 2008
The new Guatemalan Solicitor General (Procuradoría General de la Nación) or “PGN” advised the U.S. Embassy on April 29 that it plans to review all adoption cases physically present in the PGN office, including those that may have already been approved by the PGN under its former leadership. The PGN emphasized that cases approved by their office should be transparent.
The PGN indicated that in certain cases they will require the presence of the birth mother and child to verify identification. They confirmed their intention to identify any cases that are readily approvable and to release them as soon as they have been reviewed.
The Embassy continues to be in frequent communication with the PGN and has expressed the hope that the review of cases can be accomplished as quickly as possible, in the best interests of the children who have already spent months separated from their birth parents and are in need of permanent homes.

It even says in this that the PGN "WILL RELEASE THEM AS SOON AS THEY HAVE BEEN REVIEWED". Well this is not happening and I'm not sure that anyone will help us??

[Theslaws]

Dont forget that although there are fewer of you in process now than say 8 months ago, those of us who are finished will still support you!!!! We are so thankful to have our girls home and cant imagine what you all are going through. If you come up with something and need help, just ask. There are still lots of us in the forum who will help eventhough we arent in process anymore!!

[cbmstephanie]

I do have a website set up that I have been working on. It's fairly generic right now, but it can be made into anything we want it to be made into. PM me if you want the website address. (I'm not sure that I can post it, so I edited it out of this post). It also has an area for a forum. Maybe that area can be used to post your personal stories?? Just a suggestion.

[ej-momtobe]

Originally Posted by lou0728

My attorney has files at the window. AT. THE. WINDOW. Obviously they are approved, or they wouldn't be at the window. If the case is signed aren't the adoptive parents legally the parents of the child??? .

I'm not trying to derail your thread, I just wanted to clarify one thing. You are not legally the parents until the protocolo is signed by the Bmom (or her proxy) AFTER the case has been released from PGN.

I wish you the best of luck getting your file released ASAP. What's going on with PGN is insaine, and I can certainly see the frustration in your post.

[adoptlove66]

what about a march (peaceful of course) in washington , DC in front of the USDOS and invite the press? If we want to make an impact and get our voices heard this is the way to do it? I know this means travel for a lot of people but in the end we are the only ones who are standing up- for our children and ourselves. We can contact CNN, all the local affiliates in DC and have signs that say let our children come home, Our govt has turned their backs on us etc?

thoughts???

[karen nickols]

our attorney is very upset the US refuses to stand up for us. I know he is working like crazy to get this craziness stopped.

[t-square]

this is the reply today - after 5 e-mails to JCICS - leaves a lot to be answered!!!!:

I am sorry to hear of your troubles. At Joint Council, we are in touch on a daily basis with lawmakers and key stakeholders, as well as associates in Guatemala about the situation on the ground there. We know you have been incredibly patient, but we are asking you to continue to do so, as this is an incredibly complex and difficult situation.

[ana-mom]

Originally Posted by t-square

this is the reply today - after 5 e-mails to JCICS - leaves a lot to be answered!!!!:

I am sorry to hear of your troubles. At Joint Council, we are in touch on a daily basis with lawmakers and key stakeholders, as well as associates in Guatemala about the situation on the ground there. We know you have been incredibly patient, but we are asking you to continue to do so, as this is an incredibly complex and difficult situation.

Sounds more like a non-statement...one of those 'let me seem interested in your plight but not really say anything' kind of things.

[adoptlove66]

Originally Posted by ana-mom

Sounds more like a non-statement...one of those 'let me seem interested in your plight but not really say anything' kind of things.

Was that all they said? doesnt sound like there is much anyone can do. I think the march in DC is going to be the only thing that brings attention to our plight and our children being held hostage.