[DolciLady]

Hey guys.

Sorry I haven't been around much lately, but thought you might want to hear what my caseworker told me today.

She said that Panama is issuing no new referrals with the interim director. (Jim, if you read this, would you confirm this for us?) She said that if you don't already have a referral, you won't get one before September. But if you have a referral, your case will continue to be processed. She also said the DNA has 60 applications including domestic and international (but she didn't know what ther status was).

In fact, our dossier should arrive in Panama tomorrow, the 27th, but it will only go as far as being translated and then will be held onto. Our agency won't even turn in our dossier to the DNA until September. She would not come out and say the DNA isn't accepting new applications, but she said there's no point in turning in the dossier if we can't get a referral before then. I tend to disagree with that line of thinking, but....whatever.

What is your agency caseworker telling each of you? Once again, our caseworker wants to discuss our options (implying we should look elsewhere?). I know some of you have reported what your Panamanian attorneys are saying...but it totally goes against what I was told today. So, for those using an agency, what are you being told?

Trying to stay sane (if I ever was LOL),
Robin

[pnamajmy]

We are getting the same information. However, no one has told us yet that we cannot submit new dossiers. I will have more in the next few days. If you submit now, and the new administration comes into play with a new set of guidelines, I would guess (I emphasize guess) they would still use the same procedure for honoring those first in the queque. We are not taking any new applications for Panama at the present time but we do have parents in process and new dossiers here in Panama now.

Jim

[JUF]

Jim,
In your opinion (and I know it is likely a guess) will any adoptions in progress (family has referral and it's going through the system) be completed during this interim time between old and new government?

Thanks,
Julie

[pnamajmy]

Its as you say a guess. Here is what I see happening so far; the new interim staff is overwhelmed with the problems in the DNA that I felt were there with the prior director. Organization was in my opinion lacking and therefore, things were falling through the cracks. I intend to meet with this new person next week if at all possible and see if I can get a feel for who she is on these issues and if we can expect movement of our documents and parents until the new admin is in place.

They appear to be making an attempt at getting up to speed. If they are making a genuine attempt it won´t go any slower than it did previously and they might even step up the pace considerably. I for one, given the information we have so far am not concerned about those parents already in process as they have said that docs already there are going to be properly processed. We will follow up on everybody in our area of responsibility. Even if its slow, we will know that something at least is being done as the cases have dates to follow and we can put pressures in the areas necessary to attempt to speed things up.

Don´t know if that helps, but we are committed to making it work. There is a greater guide than us at work here. All will be as planned and it will be for the best for all of us. I know that sometimes it is frustrating and tough, but know that everyone in this process, whether or not they are working with us, is going to benefit from each others efforts and many of us are here to make those efforts. Trust, your child will come home to you.

Jim

[JUF]

Hi Jim,
Did you get a chance to meet with the new interim person at the DNA this week. Any new insight for us?!
Thanks,
Julie

[pnamajmy]

Our information as of yesterday was that there will be no referrals until the new adminstration gets into the DNA. Please be patient. News changes from this DNA office pretty much on an hourly basis.