FacePalm Friday: Step Forward for Orphans Special Edition

By Rally on 5-17-2013 in Both Ends Burning, FacePalm Friday

Everything I have ever read about Both Ends Burning (BEB) or Craig Juntunen ended up as a richly deserved FacePalm.

Finally after a long wait, the Empty Stroller Step Forward For Orphans March happened today. The media is also there to help promote his cause with his National Call- in Day to “let them know you’re concerned about the state of International Adoptions.”

From the producers that brought “Stuck” to the big-screen, it’s National Call-In Day.”

So I think it’s vitally important that you take a look at these quotes that I dusted off from 3-year-old documents about Craig’s activities. They will help refresh the stink accompanying the genesis of BEB. One that started with his involvement with his initial charity, Chances4Children.

Both Ends Burning was announced on May 26, 2010 at the Chances4children site–a charity that Craig and his wife Kathi founded with partnerships with orphanage and adoption agencies.

Their Secretary was listed as Rick Federico who was Chairman and CEO of P.F. Chang’s China Bistro and has 2 kids from Haiti.

Their Treasurer was listed as Ray Croghan , Independent Director and Chairman of Compensation Committee, CROCS Inc

Their organization worked with Crèche de l’Enfant Jèsus. That meant his foundation worked with two agencies at that time: A Child’s Hope Foundation , and

International Child Foundation Inc. Oro Valley, AZ 85737 “ABC Adoption Services Trade Name Certification 460999”

At that time in 2010, International Child Foundation had published the following fees: Creche de l’Enfant Jesus: $16,000 for the adoption of one child; fee reduced for the adoption of a sibling; this does not include translation and document authentication fee of $375 ($225 for Haitian Consulate certifications, $30 postage and $120 for translations). These fees were to be “paid upon approval of the Home Study by the Orphanage Liaison”.

In other words, the $16,000 was paid right after the Homestudy!!! Not for travel, referral, or the international fee. But BEFORE any of them occurred. This was not the norm at all for IA—not then and not now. It does not constitute ethical placement.

But what does Craig and Both Ends Burning moan about? Red tape and kids getting “stuck.”

It is important to examine Craig’s baseline beliefs at this time to see how far off course he is with the Both Ends Burning movement. His objectives are the exact opposite of what mainstream child welfare organization across the globe promote. He didn’t even recognize the complexities of restaveks and trafficking (see 167 -page 2004 USAID report) nor did he acknowledge living family links of the children. Take a good careful look at what was posted on the Chances4Children website three years ago:. These “General Objectives” are primarily adoption first, and trying to help the locals last.

General Objectives

(a) To support creches in Haiti which care for children under the age of six until they are adopted

(b) To support the adoption process of these children by interfacing with the families and adoption agencies

(c) To increase public awareness of the orphan epidemic in Haiti and as a result of this increased awareness expand the network of people who are willing to help solve the problem

(d) Work with governmental and civic leaders in Haiti to improve family planning initiatives in the country

(e) Work with local groups to expand the services in the community where the orphanage is located.

In the last three years, Craig and Both Ends Burning they have re-branded themselves just like Bethany…oh are we to believe that they are for “family preservation” now?

Did a magic fairy wand suddenly sprinkle moon dust in their eyes?

Why, shucks, what an Epiphany!

In other words, You can see the difference in their goals now that the Stuck campaign is running: Vision “We believe that the answer to Haiti’s orphan epidemic is not just adoptions.”

Chances4Children boast of 100 placements while at the same time claiming that they are NOT an agency.. So why are they STILL photolisting kids? There must be some Ministry handbook on this template: photolist, claim to place kids, yet vehemently claim they are not an adoption agency.

It all makes sense once you realize that they now partner with AWAA, CAN, Wasatch, and CHI because they have to since they are Hague-approved agencies. (Who does this remind me of? Reece’s Rainbow!)

When Chances4Children partnered with their previous agencies, they talked about matching in post-earthquake times:

“Chances4Children Makes Their First Adoptive Match Since the Earthquake

The Beckstead Family of Utah has been matched with Dina, age 6 & Ricardo, age 3. The brother and sister are being cared for at one of our new orphanage partners in the southern part of Haiti.

We feel fortunate to be able to provide a family for these two children, as many orphanages in Haiti have not yet been able to resume adoptions. Since this is our first match after the earthquake, it is unclear how long the adoption process will take. For Dina and Ricardo as well as the Beckstead family, we are optimistic it won’t be much longer than it was before the earthquake, but only time will tell”

Complete with a picture of these 2 kids that were not legally the Becksteads’ at the time of posting.

So before Both Ends Burning even started, Craig’s focus was FIRST adopting kids to the US while publishing photos of referred children and being A-OK with charging $16,000 at the beginning of the process.

Do you think this is ethical?

Does Craig ever discuss his involvement with this charity in detail, specifying the fees and how and when they were to be paid out, especially now that he’s getting national attention with his “All about the children” campaign? Has he ever discussed why the fees were so high?

Does he have a financial stake in keeping international adoption open that he hasn’t disclosed to his followers?

I don’t know the answers.

I’m just asking.

But Craig Juntunen has a lot to answer for. He’s too busy either trying to cross-pollinate the world with orphans (as he said in a speech once) or being STUCK to deal with the truth.

If you want to read what really has happened in Haiti—like the substandard orphanages that supposedly had these great child sponsorships, the lack of inspections, and the TRUTH about the adoptability of the children in orphanages…read all the updates in our Haiti Hague post .Pay attention to what the people on the ground are saying about the orphanages that referred children to the US and other countries. Then buy a copy of “Travesty in Haiti: A true account of Christian Missions, orphanages, fraud, food aid and drug trafficking” by Timothy T. Schwartz, PhD which captures an NGO worker’s on-the -ground reporting of the orphanage and child sponsorship corruption.

Now, everyone together, take a deep breath and let’s put on our red sequined shoes , close our eyes, click our heels three times and together say, “We have placed 100 kids but we are not an agency. We operate a crèche with child sponsorships but we don’t have any financial motivation. We have adoption agencies on the Board of Both Ends Burning and partner with 4 agencies in our NGO but we are FOR family preservation and have NOTHING to do with the adoption industry. We have gone on a national tour in which adoption agencies have sponsored talks but we are not associated with adoption agencies….” ….MARCH….MARCH…MARCH… MARCH… LEFT, Right, LEFT, Right.. MARCH MARCH MARCH MARCH and maybe it will come true…oh wait…that was another Fantasy that I was thinking about with evil witches and sparkly things that distract…