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

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

DOS Adoption Notice: Update Orphanage Closures in Ethiopia

Ethiopia

August 3, 2011

Notice: Confirmation of Orphanage Closures in Ethiopia

Ethiopian government officials have confirmed that several orphanages in the Southern Nations state are closed due to revocation of their licenses to operate by Ethiopian authorities.

These orphanages are:

• SOS Infants Ethiopia (Arbaminch, Dilla, and Awassa branches)
• Gelgella Integrated Orphans (Tercha and Durame branches)
• Bethzatha Children’s Home Association (Sodo, Hosaena, Dilla, and Awassa branches)
• Ethio Vision Development and Charities (Dilla branch)
• Special Mission for Community Based Development (Hosaena branch)
• Enat Alem Orphanage (Awassa branch)
• Initiative Ethiopia Child and Family Support (Awassa branch)
• Resurrection Orphanage (Hosaena 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 that are already pending with the Federal First Instance court will continue to move forward. The U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa is working closely with Ethiopian officials to determine if children from these facilities who were previously referred for adoption or matched with prospective adoptive parents will be allowed to continue in the adoption process. MOWCYA officials have confirmed that the affected children’s case files are currently being reviewed, a process that is expected to last at least one month.

We continue to ask prospective adoptive parents and agencies that hear 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 confirmed 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_10

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

Ethiopian Orphanage Closures

PEAR has been aware of rumors concerning impending revocation of orphanage licenses in Ethiopia since early spring of 2011. Beginning in July, we were made aware that the closures were imminent. We contacted the US department of State and the US Embassy in Addis Ababa for input and confirmation of the license revocations. On July 21, the US department of State publicly confirmed the license revocation of the Mussie Children's Home in Hosanna in an Adoption Notice, which we published on our blog: http://pear-now.blogspot.com/2011/07/dos-adoption-notice-orphanage-closures.html

At this time, we are attempting to gather as much information to confirm further revocations and any affect they may have on the children and on prospective families. Rumors are plentiful and we understand the anxiety that many families are currently experiencing as well as the frustration of attempting to get accurate and complete information. We are interested in clearing up rumors, so we hope to provide prospective families, regardless of agency, with the following information:

1. What are the names of the orphanages that have had their licenses revoked?
2. Are the revocations temporary or permanent?
3. Where are the children?
4. What steps are ASPs taking to assess the condition of the children and ensure their safety and well being?
5. What affect, if any, will there be on referred children in the adoption process?
6. Are any orphanage directors or personnel in police custody?
7. Have any criminal charges been lodged against orphanage directors and/or personnel?
What reasons are being given for the revocations/closings?

We have attempted to contact the Ethiopian authorities but have had no success. We are in continuous contact with the US Department of State, Office of Children’s Issues and the US Embassy in Addis Ababa, neither has been unable to confirm any further information or answer any questions concerning the revocations. From the information provided by DOS and the US Embassy in Addis, we assume that the Ethiopian government is not being prompt in notifying our government concerning the closures and the whereabouts of the children. This is similar to the situation during the previous closures in 2010.

We are now in the process of providing a list of questions to APSs working in Ethiopia and will report any answers they provide to us. To date, we have confirmed the following revocations and information:

1.What are the names of the orphanages that have had their licenses revoked?

Mussie Children’s Care Center, Hosanna/Hosana (previously called Bethzaida, Beth Saida)(CHSFS, Bethany, Holt)
Enat Alem in Awassa (Adoption Associates)
Special Mission Development Association, Hadiya Zone (WACAP)

Between 8 and 48 orphanages have had or will soon have their licenses revoked.

2. Are the revocations temporary or permanent?

It may be possible for the orphanages to reapply or appeal the license revocation, but the process for this remains unclear.

3.Where are the children?

Children from Mussie have been transferred to Kingdom Vision International in Wolyita.

4. What steps are ASPs taking to assess the condition of the children and ensure their safety and well being?

Awaiting responses from ASPs.

5. What affect, if any, will there be on referred children in the adoption process?

Unsure at this point

6. Are any orphanage directors or personnel in police custody?

According to CHSFS, the director of the Mussie orphanage is being held by police but no charges have been filed, another employee was briefly retained and then released without charges.

7. Have any criminal charges been lodged against orphanage directors and/or personnel?

Unknown at this point

8. What reasons are being given for the revocations/closings?

The three orphanages above were cited for failing to provide local humanitarian services and merely serving as a gateway for children destined for intercountry adoption. Licenses can be revoked for the following reasons:

Providing no, or very little, humanitarian aid in addition to adoption services
Providing care only for children for international adoption - not offering even temporary child care to assist local birth families in need (as a community service)
Poorly documented or mishandled paperwork
Insufficient space for the number of children
Inadequate staffing
Lack of compliance with regional or federal regulations
Documented proof of substandard care of children
Other negative actions affecting the care of children

Responses will be updated as they come in from ASPs. Anyone with further information, please contact the US Department of State at AskCI@state.gov and PEAR at reform@pear-now.org.

Persons interested in additional information are encouraged to visit the following blogs:
REFORM Talk : http://reformtalk.blogspot.com/2011/07/ethiopia-orphanage-closures-and-us.html
Finding Fernanda: http://networkedblogs.com/kQZwO

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

DOS Adoption Notice: Orphanage Closures in Ethiopia

Ethiopia

July 21, 2011

Notice: Orphanage Closures in Ethiopia

The Department of State has learned that several agencies are reporting to their clients the closure of Mussie Child Care Center in Hosana, Ethiopia due to a revocation of their license to operate by Ethiopian authorities. The Department is aware that rumors of several other orphanage closure are circulating through the adoption community.

The Department is seeking confirmation from Ethiopian authorities regarding the revocation of Mussie’s license and subsequent closure. We ask prospective adoptive parents and agencies that are hearing news of specific closures to inform the Department. The Embassy in Addis Ababa is working to gain confirmation of orphanage closure rumors from the appropriate authorities. 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_9

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