2009 from the JCICS Files

January 2009
The Members Survey on Hague-Denied Agencies“Survey Results

Kathy, Jared & Rick put together the survey. Responses were shared with the board. 100 out of 224 members responded. 54% felt having Hague denied members would not make a difference. 70.8% felt JCICS is advocating for a clear and transparent accreditation process.”

The majority that even bothered to answer the survey couldn’t care less if their fellow members were denied Hague accreditation!

Breaking (down and laughing) News: The JCICS just set a standard about Hague-denied members. As of January 31, 2011, Ethiopia agencies must be Hague-accredited to be part of the JCICS. In 2012, all members will need to be Hague-accredited. Guess they need 1 more year’s worth of high agency member dues.

March 2009
IRI initiative
See http://www.jcics.org/IRI%202007.htm for the description of this International Relations Initiative. The $4500 donation they received for this “will be put towards an advocacy trip to Ethiopia in late April as JCICS has been asked by the consulate there to come for a visit.”

It was already known that there were major ethical issues in Ethiopia in March of 2009, yet they are pouring their donated money into keeping this ethically-challenged program going.

FFOAEven though the JCICS thought that this bill was going to be introduced in the summer of 2008, it still had not been introduced yet.

“The actual text was sent to the board along with an explanation of each section. There will be a congressional meeting to decide when the bill should be introduced, JCICS should know by the end of next week. NCFA will announce its support of the full bill, JCICS will not, given its concerns about providing false US citizenship that is retroactive to birth.”

The FACE Act became split from the FFOA bill. The JCICS DOES give full support for the FACE Act that includes the false backdating of US citizenship for international adoptees. See
http://www.kidsave.org/pdf/FACEActPressRelease.pdf. For an explanation of reasons to oppose this bill, please read http://pear-now.blogspot.com/2009/08/following-legislative-proposals-were.html

April 2009
Yet Another Ethiopia Visit
“Ethiopia – just back from visit and 22 member agencies showed up at meeting; met President; event hosted by CHS was succsssful. May 11, 09. T.D. going to Guatemala with Caucus Chair L. Armistead. Vietnam delegation went exceptionally well, and VN delegation requested that U.S. delegation visit VN in May. No MOU anytime soon. Russia, on-going challenges.”

Future of JCICS
“T. DiFilipo notes that a number of potential donors are unable/unwilling to donate as long as JCICS focus is unclear. Board discussion on topic – T. DiFilipo notes that JCICS is a membership based advocacy group and primary function is not to serve members but to serve children.”

Its primary function is indeed to serve its adoption agency majority membership that has no problem with including Hague-denied agencies… Yep, that is really “to serve the children.” ROFL!

July 2009FFOA“Families for Orphans Act – Act has been introduced to House, and will be introduced on floor tomorrow.

Call to action will be launched soon”

Tuberculosis (TB)“Updates on TB issue – A number of board members and T. Difilipo stated that this issue is urgent and requires immediate action.”

For an in-depth explanation of the issue of TB in the international adoptee, read http://www.pear-now.org/PEAR_Position_on_TB_Management.pdf

The Nauseating “Be the Answer” Campaign

“Be the Answer Campaign – TD – Target date Sept. 1, 09 – Signature event May 31, 2010 – Have the ability to reach 500,000 people if the campaign is managed. JC needs $80,000 by the end of the year. Anything short of that will have significant impact on JCICS. K. Wallace says he believes it is important that every member donate $40 if we are to ask others to donate. K. Wallace moves that every board member committees to putting a min. of $40 into the Be The Answer camp and each board member commits to sending the be the answer campaign to their own data bases and posts the campaign on their websites.”

In November 2010, the JCICS even stooped so low as to photo-list available children from their member agencies on their blog (See http://betheanswerforchildren.wordpress.com/30-day-challenge-the-basics/ )

January 2009 full notes http://poundpuplegacy.org/files/jcics/January%2028,%202009%20Minutes.pdf

March 2009 Full notes

http://poundpuplegacy.org/files/jcics/March%2011,%202009%20Minutes.pdf

April Full notes

http://poundpuplegacy.org/files/jcics/April%2030,%202009%20Minutes.pdf

July 2009

http://poundpuplegacy.org/files/jcics/July%2015%202009%20%20Minutes%20JCICS.pdf

REFORM Puzzle Piece