Hagelin Happenings

Here's the latest update from our agency.

Dear Adoptive Family,

A number of adoptions have passed court this past month and families are making plans to travel in late December and in January. Most cases are passing on the first hearing and those that have not have generally had hearing dates reset with a couple of weeks.New cases are being filed about every two weeks.

For families waiting for referrals, there have been delays in getting child files completed due to the International Laboratory being out of the substance used for HIV and Hep B testing. Gail reported today that they now have them again, but it will take time again for the testing to take place and reports to be sent to us, probably another 10 days to two weeks.For babies, we had a family at the top of the list off hold. The next family who will be offered a baby girl had their dossier sent in December of last year, and for a boy, in March. We expect to make more referrals in this month, but probably not until the babies are tested.

We continue to get new babies and preschool age children. And we have recently received a number of HIV + children. There are several deaf children, under the age of 8, a girl with hypothyroidism, and a sibling set of five boys seven under seven that need families.

There has been reference recently on the aaiethiopia list to cases from Sheshemone. There has been a change in the organization and staffing of the department that approves adoptions there and new officials are nervous about adoption cases, fearing that there have been cases done improperly in the past (not with AAI cases). Temesgen was in Sheshemone last week and continues to advocate and promote adoption with these folks. With cases where we believe there will likely be a long delay we have notified the families involved.

We know it is especially hard to wait during the holiday season. There is no getting around it; waiting is difficult. Your child will come home, however, and we are very grateful for families who wait through the process and eventually provide a loving home for an Ethiopian child.