[robertandlisa]

I am hearing in the pipeline that adoptions are going to start (there are so so many Babys in Guatamela needing) as soon as USA gives the green light-anyone know any inside info?

[cantwait2bmommy]

I met with the attorney who is doing my son's abandonment case while in Guate last week. She said she does not see Guate reopening to internationals in 2009. It came up because we were talking about my son coming home by Aug and we told her after that to keep her eyes open for us. She said she doesn't see that being possible any time soon and definitely not in 2009. I hope she is wrong (although there is nothing in the 18 months I have known her that she has been wrong about) because I know so many families whose hearts are in Guate.

Best of luck!
Chris

[mommytoEli]

i also have heard agencies doubt any opening in 2009 as well. although, my fingers are still crossed.

[wynnekj9967]

My agency has said that they believe that it will reopen by mid year some time. That Guatemala had wanted to stick with just domestic adoption, but they realize with the economy down there that is not going to work and they have way too many children that need homes. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, but not getting my hopes up.

[SchnauzerMom]

I sincerely hope Guatemala reopens sometime in 2009 or 2010. We would love to adopt again and Guatemala is at the top of our list since we already have 2 adorable toddlers from there. We have been researching domestic and other international countries, but haven't found a perfect process/timeline (for us) yet.

[becky]

The big issue with all of this, is that it really makes no difference what Guatemala wants to do. Until they put into place a system that is Hague compliant in the eyes of the US, then adoptions won't open. To me that is where the problem is going to be. I don't really see where they have put into place any system that the US is going to find OK.

I pray that some solution happens so these children can find homes!!!

[Sohmakun]

But I do think Hague will happen eventually Becky. Guatemala's attitude about trafflicking is different than Vietnam and Cambodia's who -according to our government - wanted to stick their heads in the sand about trafflicking problems.

[susy...patience]

I agree with Becky....no matter what the Guatemala govt wants (and remember that the law outlawing int'l adoptions was passed there only last year)....

US citizens won't be able to adopt from Guatemala until & if the US finds their system acceptable. Since Guatemala has no such system now (and little money to spend on funding a system) I don't see Guatemala opening up any time soon.

[becky]

I agree that Guatemala may 'want' to provide a Hague compliant system, but the bottom line is that it is going to be expensive and it requires infrastructure that they just don't have and I don't know how they would be able to pay for it.

I think the US will be super strict on them due to the issues in the past and that is why I think it will be very difficult for adoptions to reopen in Guatemala.

Of course this is just my personal opinion and I hope and pray for the children of Guatemala that I am wrong!!

[lmvsmom]

I truly hope they re-open as well for the sake of the children. As always, in a discussion like this, I like to remind people to please, please, please consider child sponsorship. It's one way we can help the children of Guatemala.

[Guatemom]

The CNA is trying to put a system into place now, but it seems to only be for us pipeline cases. And even that is going very slowly, very carefully. So to think of them having to put something together totally new, WOW. It could take a long time,

[Alexismandyjr]

I still communicate with my facilitator who has completed all her cases and is now on an extended vacation. She has many contacts within the adoption community and tells me that even with the best intentions Guatemala will take a very long time to implement Hague guidelines due to the lack of infrastructure and funding. They just do not have the availablity of establishing government funding to open orphanges that comply to the standards set forth by the Hague. They are and will continue to strive to establish new "hogars" but the government based funding just is not available at this time.

[mayaprincess]

My heart breaks for all of the children who will miss out on the opportunity to have a family who can provide for them.

[lou0728]

My attorney has interviewed with the CA several times.... He is going to be working for them when Guatemala does reopen. They are trying very hard to get things going...... They were hoping for January, but I'm sure that'll never happen.... It breaks my heart to think of all those parentless children without enough food..... I am donating 10% of all my profits from my sewing business to GOT. I KNOW these people and KNOW that the $$ goes to care for these orphans.

[sferrick]

Our agency is also not expecting Guat to open in 2009.