[carrik1]

Ok....this is what I just received from my agency. Please don't attack me......I am seriously freaking out NOW!Hi there clients--

It was reported to me today (by ATTNY NAME HERE) who was at PGN in connection with birthmother interviews (being conducted by PGN and CNA staff) that birthmothers are being offered money to cancel their adoptions:

Specifically, if a birthmother cancels her pending adoption and takes back her child, she will receive (at least this is the promise) Q500 ( which is approximately $70 US ) per month until the child turns 18 years of age.

This is quite shocking, taking into account that

the only role that CNA was supposed to have in old adoptions was to register and certify them as such
the role of PGN, under the old adoption law, was to ascertain that in every case that all Guatemalan and international norms with regard to child protection had been met
under the new adoption law, old cases that were properly registered and certified as such were supposed to be handled completely as old cases
PGN never had the role of bribing birthmothers to cancel their adoptions
therefore, this is hardly the time for PGN to take on that role
moreover, since CNA apparently does not even have enough money to take care of children entering orphanages in 2008, nor enough money to fully carry out its administrative mandate, how in the world does it plan to fund these promises to birthmothers ?
This ugly turn of events requires strong action, and it also requires that the word be spread rapidly. It would make me happy to see the contents of this email disseminated via word of mouth from one family to another, but more importantly, publicized on the various e-lists and adoption blogs and Guatemala adoption news websites that you all read.

If enough families bring this to the attention of their agencies, and if enough agencies alert their Guatemalan facilitators (some of whom probably do not know about this), maybe there will be a groundswell of indignation that will lead to telephone calls and emails to our State Department, to the Guatemalan Embassy in Washington and to the offices of President Colom and the PGN in Guatemala City.

Indeed, perhaps some of the agencies potentially affected will even see fit to send some money to Guatemala to launch a legal attack ( such as the filing of an amparo ) on this strange method of stopping adoptions.

[duckmom]

Well, first I would take a deep breath.
Breathe..........
Then again
Breathe............
Then I would sit tight and wait to see what happens the beginning of June. There are so many rumors and crazy things being talked about, I don't know who or what to believe. To save my sanity, I am going to trust that things will get moving when PGN said they would, which is early June.
I am not freaking out. I may in June, but not now. Not yet.

[WaitingforBrian]

Is this a ploy to see how firm Birthmoms are in their decision to place their child for adoption?
I also wonder how they would intend to pay for this if they really meant it and if they have that kind of money why aren't they using it to provide care for those children born after the new adoption law came into being.
I don't really know what else to think except that if true it is very shocking and completely against the image the new PGN are trying to project.
Thanks for posting though. I will be checking with my agency to see if they have heard anything about this. Although they hadn't heard this up to about 2 hours ago when I last spoke with them and they are a good agency and keep us well informed.
Bernie

[brinalilah]

If this is happening it is a rather shallow promise, governments will come and go in Guatemala over the next 18 years, there is no way this promise can be upheld. Also if they are so concerned about helping children what are they doing to help the children that are currently living and dying on the streets of Guatemala. Why are they not helping them find a home?

I think it might be a ploy to see if the birhtmother is willing or susceptible to being bribed, then they will sling further accusations at her maybe insinuating that she may have accepted a bribe in the first place to relinquish the child.

[pvanabel]

I sent message on to our agency too - see if they respond and will let you all know. Let's all try to breathe and stay positive

[kzwief]

I totally don't think this can happen. I mean how can they afford to do that? Seems unethical for them to be promising these women that kind of money. Crazy if it is true. I'm not going to freak out about this. Has anyone had an interview recently and has the low down on what is being discussed?

[KevinK]

Forum rules prevent me from naming any agency or person who works in adoption. But let me say this rumor came to us today and that it was coming from an agency director who I do not deem trustworthy. Last time I hinted or gave a clue to the name of an agency I was banned so I won't break that rule again (aren't you happy Brandy :-) NO sarcasm intended, honestly.

I will add that we are seeing numerous weird excuses being given by some agencies for things and my only conclusion is that they are not true.

If this has in fact happened, we will find out about it, verify it, and post it on Guatadopt.

CarriK, I don't mean to minimize what you were told and obviously have no idea who your agency is. If this is true it would undoutbedly be quite troubling. But I must say that I would be amazed if it was.

Paz,

Kevin
Guatadopt.com

[BrandyHagz]

(aren't you happy Brandy :-)

Kevin - I am an easy woman to please - you've just made me smile

[kzwief]

Thanks Kevin, once again you are VERY helpful!

[ana-mom]

I think we all need to remember that right now rumors and misinformation abound.

In my opinion, any information we can get - good, bad or ugly - helps give us an idea of the climate in Guatemala right now.

I agree, don't panic. Read the information and balance it against everything else we have been reading recently.

[sferrick]

I think its completely unacceptable that your agency would email you this kind of "speculation" and "non-factual" info. All this does is set their clients up for doubt and fear....and you paid them for this? This is wrong of them. I honestly do not think this is true, keep the faith. Susie

[mightadopt]

Originally Posted by KevinK

Forum rules prevent me from naming any agency or person who works in adoption. But let me say this rumor came to us today and that it was coming from an agency director who I do not deem trustworthy. Last time I hinted or gave a clue to the name of an agency I was banned so I won't break that rule again (aren't you happy Brandy :-) NO sarcasm intended, honestly.

I will add that we are seeing numerous weird excuses being given by some agencies for things and my only conclusion is that they are not true.

If this has in fact happened, we will find out about it, verify it, and post it on Guatadopt.

CarriK, I don't mean to minimize what you were told and obviously have no idea who your agency is. If this is true it would undoutbedly be quite troubling. But I must say that I would be amazed if it was.

Paz,

Kevin
Guatadopt.com

Kevin,
My very reliable agency heard this from one of their lawyers as well. It seems to have some credence. Scary!

[WaitingforBrian]

Originally Posted by carrik1

Ok....this is what I just received from my agency. Please don't attack me......I am seriously freaking out NOW!Hi there clients--

It was reported to me today (by ATTNY NAME HERE) who was at PGN in connection with birthmother interviews (being conducted by PGN and CNA staff) that birthmothers are being offered money to cancel their adoptions:

.

Ok Carrick, I checked with my agency and it did happen to one of my attys cases yesterday. What ever comes out of his mouth I believe. The birthmom did not believe it and so was able to maintain her initial decision but it is true. It did happen. Now I am not sure if it is happening all the time He has only told the agency of one case and that was following my enquiries. I don't know what can be done except the attys report this straight to Portillo and Flory DeLeon themselves. I suspect it is a rogue interviewer but just awful anyway. Thanks for posting. To be honest, I expected it not to be true. And I really really wish it wasn't.
Bernie

[KevinK]

I did just hear it from a reliable agency (forwarded e-mail). With that said, I am guessing we will find out it is not what it seems. I will be away from my computer much of the day and will try to see if we cna get an explanation.

Kevin
Guatadopt.com

[adoptlove66]

this seems to get worse by the day