The Unknowns

There is a lot going on right now in the world of Ethiopian adoptions...

Government of Ethiopia Plans Major Slow-Down in Adoption Processing

March 9, 2011

Citing the need to work on quality and focus on more important strategic issues, the Government of Ethiopia’s Ministry of Women, Children, and Youth Affairs (MOWCYA) will reduce to a maximum of five the number of adoption cases it processes per day, effective March 10, 2011. Under Ethiopian adoption procedures, MOWCYA approves every match between prospective adoptive parents and an Ethiopian child before that case can be forwarded for a court hearing. The U.S. Embassy is working with Ethiopian government officials and adoption agencies to learn more about this change in procedures. We will continue to share information as it becomes available.

Given MOWCYA's current caseload, the U.S. Embassy anticipates that this change could result in an overall decline in case processing of some 90 percent. If this change is implemented as proposed, we expect, that parents who have begun the process of adopting from Ethiopia but have not yet been matched with a child could experience significant delays. It is not clear if this change in procedures would have any significant impact on cases in which MOWCYA has already approved matches.

Things change SO much in adoption. What it comes down to is that Ethiopia’s Ministry of Women, Children, and Youth Affairs is saying that they will only process the paperwork for 5 adoption cases per day versus the current 40-50 cases a day. As far as I can understand they have good motives. They want to look more into each case, and each child. The only problem is that it will create a huge slow down in the adoption process and WAY more institutionalized kiddos, kids staying longer in orphanages, instead of in loving permanent homes. We're praying that they can find a better way to crack down on the corruption and on agencies that lack integrity. Maybe they will change things in a few weeks or months down the road, or never. We cannot know, but the Creator of the universe knows. He knows who our baby/babies are, and that is where we will put our trust and hope. Can you please join us in praying for wisdom, discernment and open minds for those in Ethiopia that are making these decisions?

There is also a petition that you can sign to help out, it honestly only takes about 1 minute...Sign Petition Here. Thank you so much!

And on the brighter side of things, we are estimating that we are now about number 29 on the wait list!!! :)

*Update- This explains everything a little bit better...new article.