USCIS Stakeholder Meeting on Ethiopian Adoptions

USCIS Stakeholder Meeting on Ethiopian Adoptions

Friday, October 28, 2011 @ 10:30 am (EDT)

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) would like to invite you to attend a stakeholder call to discuss USCIS processing of Ethiopian adoption cases which the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa is referring to USCIS as "not clearly approvable". Recently, the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, has identified a number of adoption petitions (Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as Immediate Relative) that it has determined are not clearly approvable (NCA), and thus, must be referred to USCIS for adjudication. USCIS would like to explain what “not clearly approvable” means and how the processing of such cases will unfold once the cases are referred to USCIS.

To Participate in the Session

Any interested parties may participate in this event by telephone. All participants must respond to this invitation. Please contact the USCIS Office of Public Engagement at public.engagement@dhs.gov by Thursday, October 27, 2011 referencing “Ethiopian Adoptions” in the subject line of your email.

Please also include your full name and the organization you represent in the body of the email.

Once an RSVP email has been received, USCIS will provide you call-in details.

---

Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.
http://www.pear-now.org/

USCIS Presentation onTeleconference on Bringing Home Adopted Children

On September 21, USCIS National Benefits Center (NBC) invited interested parties to participate in a national stakeholder meeting to discuss steps that should occur with USCIS after a family returns home to the United States with their adopted child. USCIS has published a power point of the issues covered. The information may be helpful to prospective adoptive parents in preparing for adoption.


http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=e5b419ed2f091310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e0b081c52aa38210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD

---

Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.
http://www.pear-now.org/

DOS Adoption Notice: Ethiopia - More Orphanage Closures Announced

Ethiopia

October 17, 2011

Notice: Confirmation of Orphanage Closures in Ethiopia

Ethiopian government officials confirmed the closure of several orphanages in the Southern Nations state due to revocation of the orphanages' operational licenses. Each orphanage in Ethiopia receives an operational license that the Charities and Societies Administration administers and monitors to ensure compliance with Ethiopian regulations. This is an update to the previous Adoption Notice posted on August 3, 2011.

These orphanages are:

• SOS Infants Ethiopia (Arbaminch, Dila and Awassa branches)
• Gelgella Integrated Orphans (Tercha and Durame branches)
• Bethzatha Children's Home Association (Sodo, Hosaena, Dila, Haidya, Durame, and Hawassa branches)
• Ethio Vision Development and Charities (Dila and Hawassa branches)
• Special Mission for Community Based Development (Hosaina branch)
• Enat Alem Orphanage (Awassa branch)
• Initiative Ethiopia Child and Family Support (Hawassa branch)
• Resurrection Orphanage (Hosaina branch)
• Musie Children's Home Association (Hadiya, Hosaina, Dila, and Kenbata branches)
• Organization for Gold Age (Kucha, Dila, Hawassa branches)
• Hidota Children's Home Association (Soto branch)
• Biruh Alem Lehisanat, Lenatochina Aregawiyan (Hosaina branch)

According to officials in the Charities and Societies Agency office, which oversees the licensing and regulation of orphanages in Ethiopia, the children in the care of those facilities have already been transferred to other orphanages.

Ethiopian officials indicate that cases involving orphaned children from these facilities which are already pending with the Federal First Instance court will continue to move forward. The Embassy in Addis Ababa is working closely with Ethiopian officials to determine if children from these facilities who had been previously referred for matches will be allowed to continue in the adoption process. Regional officials have confirmed that the affected children's case files are currently being reviewed on a case by case basis by regional Ministry of Women's Affairs offices.

We continue to ask prospective adoptive parents and agencies that are hearing news of specific closures to inform the Department. Please send any specific information regarding orphanage closures to AskCI@state.gov with the subject line "Ethiopia Orphanage Closures."

Prospective and adoptive parents are encouraged to remain in contact with their adoption service provider to stay up-to-date on any information pertinent to their individual case. The Department will post any confirmation on www.adoption.state.gov as we receive it.

http://adoption.state.gov/country_information/country_specific_alerts_notices.php?alert_notice_type=notices&alert_notice_file=ethiopia_12

---

Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.
http://www.pear-now.org/

Adoption Service Providers Seeking Hague Accreditation, Hague Approval or Renewal of Hague Accreditation or Approval as of 10/1/2011

The Council on Accreditation, one of two agencies appointed by the US DOS to accredit adoption service providers (ASPs) under the Hague, has published it's latest list of ASPs under consideration for Hague Accreditation, Approval or Renewal of Accreditation or Approval. If you have a comment concerning any ASP under consideration, please submit it to the COA by visiting their website: http://www.coanet.org/front3/page.cfm?sect=54&cont=4251 click on "click here" for a list of agencies, then click on the agency name to submit a comment. Or, you may mail or call in your comment to COA:

Jayne Schmidt, Hague Accreditation Project Manager
COA
45 Broadway, 29th Floor
New York, NY 10006
FAX: (212) 797-1428
Phone: 866-262-8088 ext. 203

Information is presented in this order:

Applicant Name
Mailing Address
Under Active Consideration Since

**PEAR has added information on whether each organization is a new applicant, is seeking renewal, or has been previously denied accreditation.

Adoption Service Providers Seeking Hague Accreditation, Hague Approval or Renewal of Hague Accreditation or Approval as of 10/1/2011

ABC Adoption Services, Inc. (reaccreditation)
c/o Carolina Adoption Services, Inc.
301 N. Elm Street, Suite 500
Greensboro NC 27401
6/17/2011

Adopt-A-Child, Inc. (reaccreditation)
6315 Forbes Avenue, Suite L-120
Pittsburgh PA 15217
7/12/2011

Adoption & Beyond, Inc. (new applicant)
16236 Metcalf Avenue
Overland Park KS 66085
5/6/2011

Adoption Advocates International (reaccreditation)
709 South Peabody
Port Angeles WA 98362
6/3/2011

Adoption Assistance, Inc. (new applicant)
306 East Lexington Avenue, #3
Danville KY 40422
5/3/2011

Adoption Resource Center, dba Adoption ARC (reaccreditation)
4701 Pine Street J-7
Philadelphia PA 19143
6/28/2011

All God's Children International
(AGCI), dba Families are Forever International (reaccreditation)
3308 NE Peerless Place
Portland OR 97232
8/9/2011

American Adoptions (reaccreditation)
9101 West 110th Street, Suite 200
Overland Park KS 66210
9/27/2011

Baker Hall dba Baker Victory Services (reaccreditation)
780 Ridge Road
Lackawanna NY 14218
8/10/2011

Bal Jagat - Children's World, Inc. (reaccreditation)
5199 East Pacific Coast Hwy, Suite 204
Long Beach CA 90804
7/8/2011

Carolina Adoption Services, Inc. (reaccreditation)
301 N. Elm Street, Suite 500
Greensboro NC 27401
6/28/2011

Catholic Charities of Tennessee (new applicant)
30 White Bridge Road
Nashville TN 37205
5/18/2011

Catholic Social Services of Southern Illinois (new applicant)
8601 W. Main Street, Suite 201
Belleville IL 62223
5/18/2011

Celebrate Children International (previously denied accreditation)
1757 W. Broadway, Suite 5
Oviedo FL 32765
3/15/2011

Children's Aid Society in Clearfield County (new applicant)
1008 South 2nd Street
Clearfield PA 16830
5/20/2011

Children's Home Society of West Virginia (reaccreditation)
P.O. Box 2942
Charleston WV 25330
5/27/2011

Children & Families of Iowa (new applicant)
1111 University Avenue
Des Moines IA 50314
8/9/2011

Christian Family Services of the Midwest, Inc. (new applicant)
10500 Barkley, Suite 216
Overland Park KS 66212
7/8/2011

Community Residences, Inc. (new applicant)
732 West Street
Southington CT
5/20/2011

Dove Adoptions International (reaccreditation)
180 North Maine Street, Suite A
Banks OR 97106
7/8/2011

European Adoption Consultants, Inc. (reaccreditation)
12608 Alameda Drive
Strongsville OH 44149
5/20/2011

Families United Network, Inc. (reaccreditation)
P.O. Box 264
Muncy PA 17756
12/30/2010

Family Resource Center (reaccreditation)
5828 N. Clark Street
Chicago IL 60660
4/5/2011

Hillcrest Family Services (new applicant)
2005 Asbury Road
Dubuque IA 52001
8/23/2011

Hillside Family of Agencies (reaccreditation)
1180 Monroe Avenue
Rochester NY 14620
9/15/2011

Holston United Methodist Home for Children, Inc. (reaccreditation)
P.O. Box 188
Greeneville TN 37744- 9982
7/19/2011

Home at Last Adoption Agency, Inc. (new applicant)
1727 N. Atlantic Avenue
Cocoa Beach FL 32931
7/12/2011

International Adoption Services, Inc. (reaccreditation)
4940 Viking Drive, Suite 7B
Minneapolis MN 55435
5/27/2011

International Family Services, Inc. (reaccreditation)
700 South Friendswood Drive, Suite F
Friendswood TX 77546
7/6/2011

Jewish Family & Career Services of Louisville (new applicant)
2821 Klempner Way
Louisville KY 40205
5/10/2011

Jewish Family Service of Rochester (reaccreditation)
441 East Avenue
Rochester NY 14607
6/17/2011

Miriam's Promise (new applicant)
522 Russell Street
Nashville TN 37206
7/12/2011

Saint Mary International Adoption (reaccreditation)
1515 Mockingbird Lane, Suite 204
Charlotte NC 28209
5/24/2011

Shepherd Care Ministries, dba Adoption by Shepherd Care (reaccreditation)
5935 Taft Street
Hollywood FL 33021
8/30/2011

The Datz Foundation (reaccreditation)
311 Maple Avenue W, Suite E.
Vienna VA 22180
12/29/2010

The Sacred Portion Children's Outreach (new applicant)
7104 Bristol Lane
Bozeman MT 59715
2/23/2011

Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services (reaccreditation)
3200 Motor Avenue
Los Angeles CA 90034
9/9/2011

---

Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.
http://www.pear-now.org/

Nepal -- Paper Orphans documentary posted on the web

Nepal -- Paper Orphans documentary posted on the web:

Part 1:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B5QiFFxAu4

Part 2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0adJdVBPvto

Part 3:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsUWaToRWuQ

Part 4:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95Fyy3UY_U0

It would be useful if the FBI and Interpol took a good look at the Western organizations that worked with these homes.

Some background to the TDH/Image Ark documentary Paper Orphans.

The Terre des hommes/Image Ark documentary Paper Orphans was a major reason so many receiving countries suspended adoptions from Nepal.

Paper Orphans focuses on three NGOs -- Nepal Children's Organization (NCO/Bal Mandir), the Helpless Children Protection Home (HCPH), and the Education Centre for Helpless Children (ECHC).

For background to the documentary, see the following links.

The Nepal premier at Patan Museum (March 2010):

Paper Orphan\Kishan Sharki (Kantipur Daily):

http://pearadoptinfo-nepal. blogspot.com/2010/03/paper- orphankishan-sharki-kantipur. html

and

Paper Orphans on the Screen (Voice of Children):

http://pearadoptinfo-nepal. blogspot.com/2010/05/draft- agenda-for-special-commission- on.html

The Hague screening (June 2010):

2010 Special Commission of the Hague Releases its Conclusions and Recommendations:

http://pearadoptinfo-nepal. blogspot.com/2010/07/2010- special-commission-of-hague. html

and

Nepal skips the Hague meet on adoption (Republica):

http://pearadoptinfo-nepal. blogspot.com/2010/06/nepal- skips-hague-meet-on-adoption. html

Nepal Children's Organization (NCO/Bal Mandir):

Victims of Balmandir:

http://poundpuplegacy.org/ node/43654

and

Corruption at Nepal Children's Organization (NCO/Bal Mandir):

http://poundpuplegacy.org/node/48144

(Also discusses NCO/Bal Mandir's new alliance with the Mitrataa Foundation.)

and

Prachanda Raj Pradhan -- head of the Child NGO Federation Nepal (CNFN):

http://pearadoptinfo-nepal. blogspot.com/2010/03/ prachanda-raj-pradhan-head-of- child-ngo.html

The Helpless Children Protection Home (HCPH):

Paper Orphans & The Helpless Children Protection Home:

http://poundpuplegacy.org/ node/43603

and

Dalit Couple Foils Adoption Of Offspring (Republica):

http://pearadoptinfo-nepal. blogspot.com/2010/02/dalit- couple-foils-adoption-of.html

and

Adopted Children always in disputes! (Voice of Children):

http://pearadoptinfo-nepal. blogspot.com/2010/04/adopted- children-always-in-disputes.

Uttar Tamata (interviewed in Paper Orphans) owns the Children's Home (Bal Griha) -- a home at the center of Al Jazeera's recent adoption documentary:

Nepal: Children for sale (Al Jazeera):

http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/101east/2011/09/2011920125119853524.html

Also worth reading (for general background on Nepali adoptions):

Trade of Children (Voice of Children):

http://pearadoptinfo-nepal. blogspot.com/2010/06/trade-of- children-voice-of-children. html

and

Orphaned or Stolen? The U.S. State Department investigates adoption from Nepal, 2006-2008

Exclusive State Department internal cables from Freedom of Information Act requests

The Huffington Post:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ schuster-institute-for- investigative-journalism/ orphaned-or-stolen-the-us_b_ 825451.html

and

Swiss National Radio on Nepali adoptions (English translation):

http://pearadoptinfo-nepal.blogspot.com/2011/10/swiss-national-radio-on-nepali.html

---

Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.
http://www.pear-now.org/

DOS Adoption Notice: Mexican Central Authority Grants National Authorization to an Additional U.S.-based Hague Accredited Adoption Service Provider.

Mexico

October 13, 2011

Notice: Mexican Central Authority Grants National Authorization to an Additional U.S.-based Hague Accredited Adoption Service Provider.

The Mexican Central Authority recently granted national authorization to provide adoption services in Mexico to an additional U.S. based Hague accredited adoption service provider, Across the World Adoptions, bringing the total of authorized U.S. based providers to three. It is our understanding that U.S. based adoption service providers Carolina Adoption Services, Inc. and International Child Foundation have also received national authorization from the Mexican Central Authority. Because this information is subject to updates, we encourage prospective adoptive parents to check the authorization status of an adoption service provider with the Mexican Central Authority before initiating an adoption. The Mexican Central Authority publishes information about the intercountry adoption process as well as contact information on its website.

We remind U.S. citizens wishing to adopt in Mexico that Mexican states may choose whether or not to work with adoption service providers that have achieved national authorization. Please see our May 19, 2011 adoption notice regarding Mexico's process for authorizing U.S. adoption service providers for more details. Mexico's complex system for intercountry adoption is described on our Mexico country information sheet. Working with an adoption service provider that has received only state authorization (and not national authorization) may cause the case to go through a verification process at the national level, delaying the adoption and possibly resulting in the Mexican Central Adoption's refusal to issue Hague certifications that are required for visa issuance.

We will publish additional updated guidance as we receive it. If you have any further questions please write to us at adoptionUSCA@state.gov or call us at 1-888-407-4747.

http://adoption.state.gov/country_information/country_specific_alerts_notices.php?alert_notice_type=notices&alert_notice_file=mexico_4

---

Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.
http://www.pear-now.org/

DOS Adoption Notice: Ethiopia

Notice: Information regarding processing of Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative, Filed at the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa

In January,April and September, 2011, the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa, the Office of Children’s Issues of the Department of State, and the Department of Homeland Security U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) conducted public meetings for adoption service providers (ASPs), adoptive parents, and other stakeholders to address concerns about the quality and completeness of intercountry adoption cases presented in Ethiopia. To ensure prompt adjudication and avoid concerns about possible malfeasance, it is important that I-600 petitions (Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative) and accompanying evidence be fully and carefully prepared before presentation to the Embassy.

Approximately 80% of I-600 petitions submitted to the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa in recent months were incomplete, contained inconsistencies or errors, or did not contain sufficient evidence to document the child as an orphan under U.S. law. In addition, the Embassy continues to see cases which involve abandoned children but do not include sufficient evidence to document the abandonment and/or evidence of appropriate efforts to locate a child’s birth family. The Embassy also has received evidence of unethical recruitment of children from birth relatives and cases involving known birth parents from whom parental rights have not been severed by the Ethiopian courts. In these cases, consular officers in Addis will need to take additional measures to confirm that a child meets the legal definition of orphan, which could delay processing by several months.

The Department of State and USCIS remind all families interested in adopting from Ethiopia that consular officers are required to forward any I-600 petition that is not “clearly approvable” to the USCIS Field Office in Nairobi for adjudication.

For families that already have an I-600 petition on file at the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa, consular staff will advise them when a determination is made to approve the petition and the case may be scheduled for an immigrant visa interview in Addis Ababa, or when the petition is not “clearly approvable” and forwarded to USCIS Nairobi for adjudication. Upon receipt of a petition,” USCIS in Nairobi will notify the parents that the case has been received and issue any requests for additional evidence if necessary. Families can find more information about processing I-600 petitions referred to USCIS Nairobi at www.USCIS.gov under “Adoption/Country Information.”

It should be noted that, although this update specifically addresses I-600 petitions filed with the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa, USCIS sees similar problems with I-600 petitions filed with the USCIS National Benefits Center (NBC). Families can contact NBC at NBC.Adoptions@dhs.gov.

If families have concerns about their adoption, we ask that they share this information with the Embassy, particularly if it involves possible fraud or misconduct specific to their cases. The Embassy takes all allegations of fraud or misconduct seriously.

The best way to contact the Embassy on issues related to adoption is by email at ConsAdoptionAddis@state.gov. Please include your name, your child's name, your adoption agency, the date of the adoption (month and year), and, if possible, the immigrant visa case number for your child's case (this number begins with the letters ADD followed by several numbers and can be found on any document sent to you by the National Visa Center). Please let us know if we have your permission to share concerns about your specific case with Ethiopian government officials and any other person or entity.

We strongly encourage you to register any complaint that you may have about an adoption agency in the following ways:

• You may file a complaint with the state licensing authority where your adoption agency is licensed and conducts business. The Child Welfare Information Gateway, which is maintained by the Department of Health and Human Services, provides such a list at the link below: http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/reslist/rl_dsp.cfm?rs_id=15&rate_chno=AZ-0008E
• You may also file a report with the state's Better Business Bureau. Following is the link to the Better Business Bureau's website where you may file a complaint on-line: https://odr.bbb.org/odrweb/public/getstarted.aspx
• If your agency is a Hague-accredited adoption service provider, you may file a complaint on the Hague Complaint Registry located at the link below. While Ethiopia is not a Convention country, the ASP’ practice in a non-Convention country may impact its substantial compliance. http://adoption.state.gov/hague_convention/agency_accreditation/complaints.php The U.S. Embassy continues to work with the Government of Ethiopia to ensure that appropriate safeguards exist to protect prospective adoptive children, their birth parents, and prospective adoptive parents.

We encourage prospective and adoptive parents to remain in contact with their adoption service provider to stay up-to-date on any information pertinent to their individual case. The Department will post relevant information on www.adoption.state.gov as we receive it.

http://adoption.state.gov/country_information/country_specific_alerts_notices.php?alert_notice_type=notices&alert_notice_file=ethiopia_11

---

Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.
http://www.pear-now.org/

DOS Adoption Notice: India Update on CARA's Temporary Suspension of Acceptance of New Dossiers

October 5, 2011

Notice: Update on CARA's Temporary Suspension of Acceptance of New Dossiers

This is an update to our notice dated July 22, 2011 announcing a temporary suspension on the acceptance of new intercountry adoption cases in India. CARA informed us that they will not accept new adoption applications until December 31, 2011.

CARA is giving priority to processing applications started before the release of the new guidelines before accepting new applications. We will update the notice promptly once CARA notifies us when they are ready to receive new applications.

CARA's latest announcement reiterated that all dossiers must be forwarded to CARA under the new guidelines. CARA will no longer accept any dossier through a RIPA.

If you have any questions about the details of the guidelines or suspension, please do not hesitate to contact us by phone at 1-888-407-4747 or e-mail us at adoptionUSCA@state.gov.

http://adoption.state.gov/country_information/country_specific_alerts_notices.php?alert_notice_type=notices&alert_notice_file=india_3

---

Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.
http://www.pear-now.org/

COA Lifts Temporary suspension of St Mary's International and Joshua Tree Adoptions

Suspension of Saint Mary International Adoption lifted

The Council on Accreditation (COA) has announced that effective October 2, 2011 it has terminated the suspension of the Hague accreditation of Saint Mary International Adoption that was imposed effective August 27, 2011. Saint Mary International Adoption completed its corrective action plan to COA's satisfaction and COA has determined that Saint Mary International Adoption is now in substantial compliance with applicable U.S. accreditation standards. Saint Mary International Adoption may resume providing adoption services in Hague Adoption Convention cases as of October 2, 2011.

If you have further questions, please contact Miki Stebbing, the Accrediting Entity Liaison, who may be reached at (202) 736-9119 or by email at StebbingMD@state.gov or LaTina Woolen, who may be reached at (202) 663-3119 or at WoolenLA@state.gov in the Office of Children's Issues.

http://adoption.state.gov/about_us/suspension_saint_mary_lifted.php

Supension of Joshua Tree Adoptions Inc. lifted

The Council on Accreditation (COA) has announced that effective September 27, 2011, it has terminated the suspension of the Hague accreditation of Joshua Tree Adoptions Inc. that was imposed effective August 27, 2011. Joshua Tree completed its corrective action plan to COA’s satisfaction and COA has determined that Joshua Tree is now in substantial compliance with applicable U.S. accreditation standards. Joshua Tree may resume providing adoption services in Hague Adoption Convention cases as of September 27, 2011.

If you have further questions, please contact Miki Stebbing, the Accrediting Entity Liaison, who may be reached at (202) 736-9119 or by email at StebbingMD@state.gov or LaTina Woolen, who may be reached at (202) 663-3119 or at WoolenLA@state.gov in the Office of Children’s Issues.

http://adoption.state.gov/about_us/suspension_joshua_tree_lifted.php

---

Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.
http://www.pear-now.org/