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Family Services: Adoption Articles

Sun, 28 Nov 2010 21:30:02 -0500

HCCM was invited by SENNIAF to present information to Prospective Adoptive Parents in Panama related to Institutionalization. We were able to provide valuable information to prepare future adoptive parents on identifying the needs of their future children. This presentation was the first of many to come. We also presented a Booklet titled, Effects of Institutionalization: Goal of Permanency as a means of further information for these individuals. The Effects booklet was translated into Spanish and handed out to those in attendance, about 40 people in all. You may click on the link above to download the English PDF version of the document. Also, check out photos and other information in our Blog section regarding this training seminar.

Rewriting the Law with Panamanian Legal Committee

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 16:06:41 -0400

During the Findings meetings with the Director of SENNIAF, she informed us that they were about to propose a change in the adoptions law, in coordination with a team of attorneys and the Judiciary. She was interested in our opinion on the changes, so she forwarded us the changes that were being recommended by the Committee of attorneys, and Ari translated them. Misty and Ari were then able to review the changes and recommend many more, based on compliance with the Hague Treaty and international best practices standards. The amazing part of this, too, is how perfect the timing was. Had Matt, Misty and Ari not performed the investigation within SENNIAF and written the policies and procedures manual, we would not have been able to write such informed recommendations to change the law. More>>>

We then presented the proposed changes to the Director and her legal advisor today, for quite some time. The meeting was supposed to be a few hours, but ended up lasting all day. The attorney went over many of the recommendations with us, reviewing, brainstorming and working through the wording in order to prepare them for submittal to the Judiciary. We will next meet with the Committee of attorneys in order to continue through the recommended law changes with this team. Thereafter, the recommended law changes will be submitted to the Judiciary, and thereafter to the Legislature. We hope these important changes will be made to the law in the next few months. Please pray with us, that the necessary law changes will be made in order for these children to be freed to live with their forever families soon.

Presentation of Consultation Findings to SENNIAF

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 16:03:39 -0400

In June 2010, we met with the Director of SENNIAF in order to present our Findings of the Adoptions Department, based on the investigation performed within SENNIAF (who is the governmental entity that performs functions similar to the Social Services departments in the U.S.). During the end of 2009 and beginning of 2010, we spent over 3 months performing an investigation of the processes and procedures within the Adoptions Department, as well as the Protection of the Right to Live with the Family Department (PRLF, similar to Social Services). We performed interviews of staff, reviewed forms, and assisted teams during their performance of biological family investigations. We had previously performed similar functions at several orphanages in Panama. Based on that investigation, we began writing the FINDINGS & RECOMMENDATIONS TO SENNIAF for the Progressive Implementation of Best Practice Standards. More>>>

Due to the depth of our investigation, it became clear that we could not just write out the problems and recommend changes in general. We actually needed to write detailed Policies and Standard Operating Procedures, as well as Departmental Forms, all based on the law in Panama, the Hague Treaty, and international best practices standards. The document went from 30 pages to over 170! All of which had to be translated by our wonderful co-worker Ari (and reviewed by our amazing volunteer Maruja Langman)! This process took several months, but the end result is a concise manual for SENNIAF to utilize and will aid in their duties being performed in a thorough yet efficient manner.

The great news is that the Director was thrilled at the proposed changes. We began a series of meetings with her in order to go over each finding and corresponding recommendation with an attached policy/procedure, in order to plan for prompt implementation. We are currently finishing up the Adoptions Department Recommendations with her, and hope to begin the PRLF Department Recommendations over the next few weeks. The new government is committed to helping these children. They understand the importance of Permanency in a child's life. We are thankful for the opportunity to assist them, as they make life better for the children of Panama that are in their care.

Presentation of Proposal for implementing changes to adoption and orphan care systems

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 05:40:15 -0400

On Monday, July 6th, 2009, we presented our Proposal to the new Director over the adoption and orphan care system in Panama. Titled, Progressive Implementation Proposal benefiting Panamanian Children Deprived of their Rights through Law 61 and the 1993 Hague Intercountry Adoption Convention. It is about a 50 page legal document on the need for change within these systems and how to facilitate change with the help of HCCM. This document was also presented to the office of the President of Panama. This Proposal helped lay out the general need for change, as well as the overall plan for changing the system within Panama so as to comply with international standards. More>>>

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD PROPOSAL