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Guatemala Update (March 10, 2010)
The United States and the Guatemala Central Authorities are working on a pilot program should the United States be chosen as one of the countries licensed to complete adoptions from Guatemala. Once the Hague compliant rules are established, the USA could become part of the limited Guatemala pilot program which lasts until the end of 2011.
The Central Authority in Guatemala is in the process of expanding the domestic Guatemalan adoption system. For children whom it is not possible to be raised by the family of origin, the next choice is for children to be adopted within the domestic adoption system within Guatemala. If no family is found, then the international adoption is the choice for this child. Only after due consideration is given to national solutions, is international adoption established. The principals of the Hague Convention will be strictly adhered to in this process, in order to ensure real protection and respect for the rights of the children in both the domestic and international adoptions.
Only a very limited number of children will be available for international adoption with this pilot program. The children who will be available in this pilot program are mostly older children, siblings, or children with special needs or showing levels of physical, mental, and emotional disabilities.
The regulations for adoptions in Guatemala are not yet published.
Due to the limitations of this program, many of the families that were interested in Guatemala have chosen other EAC programs. In particular, our Russia and China Waiting Children programs have been excellent alternatives. Please contact us for additional information on these programs.
EAC will keep you posted as additional updates become available.
Guatemala Update (February 1, 2010)
Margaret will be traveling to Guatemala to deliver items that were donated to EAC. These items include clothes, shoes, and toys. She will also be buying much needed food and medical items for the children. Margaret is excited to see the children that are currently staying at New Dawn. Thank you for all of your generous donations!
Guatemala Update (January 05, 2010)
The National Adoption Council (CNA) reported yesterday that they started the process for making international adoptions.
Rudy Zapeda, CNA's spokeperson, reported that the procedure began in late 2009, and 10 countries sent letters indicating their interest to adopt Guatemalan children.
In each country, two to four adoption agencies must apply. It was reported that the CNA will evaluate how each agency receives requests from the families willing to adopt and how to qualify their suitability for through studies and analysis Also, they will assess the experience of the adoption agency in international adoption cases, especially in cases of children with special needs, or siblings.
Guatemalan couples always have priority.
In March to April they will know which five countries have been accepted in this process.
This is the opportunity for children not adopted in Guatemala.
The next step is for the United States CNA to work with Guatemala CNA, and after that on accreditation of Agencies!
Guatemala Update (December 19, 2009)
• Guatemala's National Council of Adoptions (CNA) recently announced a pilot program to reopen intercountry adoption on a small scale at some point in the future. The U.S. Department of State has filed an initial letter of interest despite its concerns about the readiness of the Guatemalan Central Authority to achieve Hague compliance. UNtil the United States Department of State ("Central Authority") and the Guatemala CNA resolve issues, the Guatemalan adoption can not reopen to the United States. Other countries appear to be "stepping up to the plate". Please email Margaret at margaret (at) eaci.com if you have any ideas or offers to help with this situation.
Monday, November 30, 2009
As many of you are aware, there have been recent reports that Guatemala will be re-opening for international adoption. On November 20, 2009, the Guatemalan National Adoption Council (CNA/Central Authority) released a statement saying that "letters of intent" are now being accepted from countries wishing to participate in a pilot program. Four countries will be chosen, with a limited number of placing agencies being licensed. CNA has set a deadline of December 3rd, 2009. The US State Department, and only the US State Department, must submit this letter of intent expressing their interest in participating in this program, prior to this deadline.
We remain hopeful that the United States will submit this letter of intent in a by December 3rd, 2009. Click here for an English translated version of the CNA statement.
Friday, June 19, 2009 - Margaret Walks in the Guatemala 900 March
 Guatemalan Children In Limbo of Orphanages
Franklin Azurdia, an official with the solicitor general's office who works with adoption cases, said that if his agency seems cautious, it is because investigators have come across 15 cases in which children adopted and taken to the United States turned out to have been stolen or bought. Some cases involved the collusion of officials within his agency, he said.
"We want to finish this process up as soon as we can, too," Azurdia said. "But we're checking and re-checking every detail because we don't want to approve any new cases in which there's the most minimal suspicion that it's not legitimate."
Once Marcela's birth certificate was resubmitted to the solicitor general's office, her case was delayed yet again when a birth records official was charged with corruption. Although Marcela's birth mother reaffirmed her desire to give up the girl, government officials put a hold on all adoption cases that the accused official had handled. The hold was lifted last month, but by then Marcela's case had run into a new barrier: The Guatemalan government is standardizing all birth certificates, so Marcela must get another certificate under the new system, a process that could take as long as a year.
Kvinta, who said he worries that Marcela will have a hard time bonding with him and his wife after so much time in the orphanage, has decided to move to Guatemala so he can visit the girl every day. His wife, whose job is less flexible, will remain in Atlanta. "It will be hard on our marriage, but we don't know what else to do," he said.
Rhonda Felgenhauer, a customer service representative from Bolivar, Ohio, said she wishes she could do the same. After almost two years of delays, she and her husband were granted full custody of their 5-year-old daughter, Julia, in the fall, only to learn that they cannot bring her from the orphanage because it is under investigation. The holdup is all the more perplexing because the couple adopted Julia's 8-year-old sister from that orphanage in months with no complications.
Unable to visit the child more than a few days at a time, Felgenhauer said she relies on news from other parents with children in the orphanage, and it is not promising.
"Everyone tells me that whenever someone walks in, Julie is the first child to run up and take their hand," Felgenhauer said. "She so badly needs affection, to have a family. I worry that she is going to have attachment problems if this goes on much longer."
Monday, March 2, 2009
New mission trip dates have been announced. For information on upcoming Mission trips to help prepare EAC´s New Dawn Orphanage in Guatemala visit our Mission Trips page.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
 EAC introduces the New Dawn Children's Home, plans for mission trips and continued fundraising campaign. EAC is looking for families to nominate and sponsor their child's Guatemalan foster mom to be considered for the roll of caretaker in the New Dawn Children's Home.
Click here for more information and to learn how to donate.
Important News from the Archive
Monday, November 5, 2007
On Sunday, November 4, the people of Guatemala voted for Álvaro
Colom to become their next president. He will take over from President Óscar Berger on
January 14, 2008.
Now that the elections are complete, the Congress will continue to
review the amendments for the new law, including the proposed "grandfather clause". We expect to
know more in the next 1-2 weeks.
We expect the new law to be implemented some time after January 1,
2008. We look forward to resuming adoptions under this new legislation, although we must wait to see
exactly how the new adoption law will affect prospective parents.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Guatemala has recently approved the Hague as an "adoption law of the land."
Implementation of the new Hague procedures will be January 1, 2008. The congress
is working on a Hague compliant new law that we hope will be passed and later implemented. As of now, EAC is
still accepting applications for our Guatemala program.
For now, nothing has changed in the way adoptions are done in Guatemala. Families who are in process
now with a registered Power of Attorney and have filed their I-600A form with USCIS, we are told, would
be able to finish their adoptions under the current system.
Any families who apply must submit a complete dossier on or before
November 1, 2007 should expect a referral of a child before the laws change.
Families should select a second country of choice in case there documents are not complete before
the Hague comes into effect. Families should be aware of the potential delays and changes as they
decide.
Adoption Process Summary (Visit the Guatemala Adoption Process for a more detailed list.)
- Submit application (download, print, and fax.)
- Complete homestudy and submit the I-600A for to the USCIS.
- Complete dossier documents.
- Upon acceptance of dossier by our program director, you will begin the child referral
waiting period; Timeframe is 0 - 2 Months.
- After receiving brief medical information and pictures of your referral, the dossier
is transferred to the representative attorney in Guatemala.
- Visit your child while the Guatemalan attorneys process and finalize your adoption; Timeframe for referral acceptance is 8-12 months.
- Travel to Guatemala shortly after finalization to bring your child home. The trip lasts approximately 5 days. Only one parent needs to travel. Other family member cand children are welcome to travel with you and share your adoption experience.
Experienced international adoption physicians and medical experts have found through research that
Guatemala children have historically been more healthy children that have been institutionalized.
Babies live with foster moms during the adoption process.
EAC conducts free educational seminars throughout the United States. We recommend that all families
interested in adoption attend an EAC seminar to gather information and meet members of the EAC staff.
Families who have adopted from Guatemala may be in attendance to tell their story and allowing time for
your questions about their experience.
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