Honduras, Honduras, Honduras…UPDATED
What do agencies think they are doing? 
In early March 2011, four US agencies got the green light for Honduras. One of those agencies had applied back in 2009, when things started to hit the fan in Ethiopia. That agency was Gladney.
Adoption statistics for the past three fiscal years were FY2009: 4, FY2010: 9; FY2011: 11. THAT is a tiny program.
Over the past weekend, I checked to see how many agencies had programs in Honduras. I easily found 7 agencies and one active NGO ministry: Dillon, working with Buckner; CHSFS; MLJ Adoptions (for profit agency); America World (AWAA); Gladney; Living Hope Adoption Agency and European Adoption Consultants (EAC).
An NGO ministry who recommends several agencies is called Seeds of Change Honduras. From their website “Following the interest of adoptions in Honduras, we have compiled a brief overview of our work and the process of Honduran adoptions. Please note: Seeds of Change is not an adoption agency. We are a Christian Foundation/ministry committed to working along side Honduran, government laws and guidelines in accordance to IHNFA and El Codigo de Familia y Ninez (Social Services).
Practically, we are an International Spirit-filled Non-profit organization (legally registered in Honduras) that works under the ethos of being a ‘bridge’ between orphans currently living within Honduran orphanages and families whose heart is adoption. In accordance to Biblical teachings, Seeds of Change is dedicated to facilitate orphans and impoverished children into loving, stable, small family units.
PSLAM 68 V 5… “FATHER OF THE FATHERLESS…HE SETS THE LONELY IN FAMILIES!!
Our ministry aim is to serve! We are here to assist you and be your Christian advocates during your Honduran adoption process! We will work alongside you & your family and assist you in any way we can.
Ways we support you:
· Translation of legal documents from Spanish to English
· Providing a place for you to stay during your time in Honduras
· Visiting your child during their transition process
· Praying you through the legal process
· Sending you photos and e-mails about the well-being & development of child
· Being a Christian ‘shoulder’ during an unknown & often emotional journey.
· Providing a small transition home for your child during the process in order to transition them socially, emotionally, psychologically, & spiritually into loving adoptive families.
The transition stage of an impoverished child or orphan jumping from their life in “developing world” Honduras to a loving functional family in the United States or the UK is vital for the well being of the adoptive child.
It helps prepare them in all aspects of cognitive development and also to facilitate new adoptive families & their existing children into their new family setting! Furthermore, it is a chance for the child to begin to learn English and adapt to a new culture, routines & foods before they move. * The only fee we charge is the monthly cost required to support your child. We are here for God and His glory, not to make a profit! ”
“All Honduran Children who are placed in orphanages DO NOT legally belong to those whom provide care. They belong to the Honduran social services called IHNFA or Juzgado de la ninez. If you are interested in adopting a child from an orphanage, you need to inquire about them through IHNFA.”
So, if they are not legally belonging to those that provide care, then WHY are you taking pictures of them, offering them a transition home and translating for adoptive parents? Those seem to be adoption services…but that’s right…it’s just a ministry.
In September 2011, the head of the INFA stepped down.
In October 2011, a new one came into the position.
On January 30, 2012, the US Embassy in Honduras bars two of the agencies-Gladney and Living Hope. See the notice here and pasted below:
“Message for U.S. Citizens – Barring of Two U.S. Adoption Agencies by IHNFA (January 30, 2012)
The U.S. Embassy in Honduras informs citizens that the Instituto Hondureño de la Niñez y la Familia (IHNFA ) has barred two U.S. adoption agencies from the local adoption process, effective immediately. The IHNFA will no longer approve adoption requests filed by families who utilized the agencies to facilitate the adoption of a local child, as the agencies are no longer registered in Honduras. Only adoptions approved by the IHNFA can be processed for Immigrant Visas, as the IHNFA is the Government of Honduras’ Central Adoption Authority.
The following U.S. adoption agencies are no longer accredited in Honduras:
1. Living Hope Adoption Agency, IHNFA’s resolution SG-016-2011
2. Gladney Center for Adoption, IHNFA’s resolution SG-017-2011
The Embassy continues to monitor the adoption situation in Honduras and will update U.S. citizens accordingly. Meanwhile, we recommended that families who have not finalized adoptions contact IHNFA directly at ihnfadopciones@yahoo.es or at 011-504-2235-3565 to be sure their applications are handled by an accredited adoption agency. ”
Look for the re-routes/the bait and switches…we are seeing people switched to Colombia already. The number of clients that agencies have signed up for their Honduras programs is sickening!
REFORM Puzzle Piece
Update: We have seen blogs of Gladney clients saying on February 1, 2012 that a “crisis was averted.” Additionally, we have seen blogs of Living Hope clients on February 3, 2012 that indicate that this is a temporary barring. Supposedly with the change in leadership in IHNFA, agencies needed new documentation to say that they were legitimate agencies. We have not seen this “explanation” on blogs of clients of the other 5 agencies. We are still seeing many Gladney switches to Colombia with supposed new partnerships with orphanages.
Update 2: Gladney Reinstated
http://honduras.usembassy.gov/messuscits12_ihnfaupdate.html
“Messages for U.S. Citizens in 2012
February 17, 2012Reinstatement of U.S. Adoption Agency by IHNFA (Instituto Hondureño de la Niñez y la Familia)
The U.S. Embassy in Honduras informs citizens that the Instituto Hondureño de la Niñez y la Familia (IHNFA ) recently reinstated U.S. adoption agency Gladney Center for Adoption, per IHNFA’s resolution SG-009-2012. This message updates the prior Message for U.S. citizens published on January 30, 2012. Gladney Center for Adoption is now accredited by IHNFA and is approved to process adoptions for families in Honduras.
The Embassy continues to monitor the adoption situation in Honduras and will update U.S. citizens accordingly. Meanwhile, we recommended that families who have not finalized adoptions contact IHNFA directly at at 011-504-2235-3565 to be sure their applications are handled by an accredited adoption agency. ”
Update 3/hat tip PEAR: Living Hope reinstated on February 29, 2012. DOS yet to publish notice.
http://honduras.usembassy.gov/messuscits12_ihnfaupdate3.html
“February 29, 2012
Reinstatement of a Second U.S. Adoption Agency by IHNFA (Instituto Hondureño de la Niñez y la Familia)
The U.S. Embassy in Honduras informs citizens that the Instituto Hondureño de la Niñez y la Familia (IHNFA ) recently reinstated U.S. adoption agency Living Hope Adoption Agency, per IHNFA’s resolution SG-014-2012. This message updates the prior Message for U.S. citizens published on January 30, 2012. Living Hope Adoption Agency is now accredited by IHNFA and is approved to process adoptions for families in Honduras. Both Living Hope Adoption Agency and Gladney Center for Adoption, which were reported on January 30th to have been barred by IHNFA, have now been reinstated by IHNFA to process adoptions.
The Embassy continues to monitor the adoption situation in Honduras and will update U.S. citizens accordingly. Meanwhile, we recommended that families who have not finalized adoptions contact IHNFA directly at 011-504-2235-3565 to be sure their applications are handled by an accredited adoption agency. ”
Please monitor adoption.state.gov. We will provide more information as it becomes available. Prospective adoptive parents are also encouraged to seek clarification on their individual cases from their adoption service provider.”
Update 7: Honduran strike is over as of October 19, 2012. DOS published alert on October 25, 2012.
Alert: The Honduran Adoption Authority, Instituto Hondureño de la Niñez y la Familia (IHNFA), has Resumed Normal Operations
This alert updates the alert published on October 17, 2012 regarding the temporary closure of the Instituto Hondureño de la Niñez y la Familia (IHNFA), due to a labor strike. U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa confirmed that as of Friday, October 19, 2012, the strike ended and IHNFA is operating normally. Prospective adoptive parents with cases currently pending with IHNFA are encouraged to seek updates on their cases from their adoption service provider.”
Gladney is busy spinning their tales to clients who hopefully will wise up very soon before handing over any more money to them. N
Gladney was reinstated as of February 17, 2012 per an email message sent out by the US Embassy in Tegucigalpa.
Suzanne, thanks for the tip. How many clients are waiting to be matched?
As a North American who adopted from Honduras in 2010, I can say that I had the pleasure of meeting the ministry team of ‘Seeds of Change’. They were wonderfully kind to my wife and I and worked closely with IHNFA & their registered lawyers to ensure that all legalities were up-held in accordance to laws & procedures at that time. I find it quite shocking that you berate a ministry who’s sole purpose was/is to work in partnership with the Honduran Social Services on behalf of those children legally available for adoption. There was zero concern or deviation from any legal procedure at any time during our stay & my wife & I had a wonderful 6 weeks in Tegucigalpa. At times our days were stressful & demanding during the unknown adoption process. The missions staff fed us, drove us to IHNFA appointments, translated for us during our interviews and made the whole journey of adoption from Honduras a very safe & blessed time. Please don’t disseminate un-truths about this ministry whom are humble & self sacrificing in their service to the orphaned & poor and were/are in open working partnership with IHNFA & the State on behalf of orphaned children. Moreover, no funds were ever asked for or exchanged outside of the usual costs of flights- lawyers – passport & USA visa fees. The only time we blessed these missionaries was to fill their old vehicles up with gasoline so they could transport us to our required appointments. I don’t know what we would have done without them. My final remark is this…thank you for your concern about NGO’S in Honduras – I hope and pray there are more ministries like Seeds of Change, whom agree with IHNFA, that the best place for a child is with a family, as opposed to years of institutionalized care in orphanage setting. I look forward to learning more about your site & comments. My Honduran daughter is a gift to our family and we are so thankful to the kind & loving support of Seeds of Change Ministries.