Eye on Adoption Agency Programs-August 2013

Spence-Chapin Opens Host-Adopt Program for Colombia

” New York, New Jersey and Connecticut area. The program allows families interested in adopting an older child the opportunity to host a child in their home for three (3) weeks prior to making the commitment to adopt. ”

Spence-Chapin Adoption Services Launches Host-Adopt Program

[PR Web 7/21/13]

Kidsfirst Opens Ethiopia Program and Hopeful to Open Ukraine Hosting program

Without Russia, they had to open a new country. See http://www.kidsfirstadoption.com/ “We are also taking new applications for the Ethiopia program! For Ethiopia, the wait times are 6-8 months for an infant male, 8-11 months for an infant girl, and 1.5 years for children age 2-5 years”

“We are hoping to do a Ukraine host program this fall. ”

WACAP has Congo Pilot Program

See http://www.wacap.org/InternationalAdoption/DRCongo/tabid/245/Default.aspx Again, Russia is no longer available to them. Recall that they are the agency that placed Artyom Savelyev (formerly Justin Hansen) and then sued the adoptive mother and WON $29,000 from her in addition to obtaining the adoption fees. See here.

 

Defunct Adoption Advantage Inc. loses lawsuit to Arkansas Attorney General and former clients.

Donna Webb (now Donna Hight) and her employee Jacklyn Potter have been found to have violated the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. They must pay $1.2 Million in fines and restitution. $850,749 will go to PAPs. Hight will have to pay $370,000 in fines and Potter will pay $2,000 in fines.

See our post here. A commenter claims that Gail has opened an unlicensed adoption operation in Texas.

 

Downey Side adoption agency in Minnesota had its license revoked.

Downey Side is a  national nonprofit agency headquartered in New York. They placed some of the children in the Connecticut Harasz/Wirth case. See that case here.

See State scraps Sauk Rapids’ Downey Side license [SC Times 8/2/13 by Kristi Marohn]