IT'S OFFICIAL! WE'RE A WAITING FAMILY!!

Just got this email today from our adoption agency............ Yay!!

Dear Denise & Don Sullivan,

I just wanted to send you this quick email to let you know that your dossier has been sent back to our office from Washington D.C. You are now on the waiting list for a referral. We will be keeping your dossier in queue here in the St. Louis office until it is time to be expressed to Ethiopia. Congratulations on having this piece behind you!!!! You're now a waiting family!!!

After you have accepted a referral, the dossier will be translated and authenticated, and presented to the Ministry of Womens Affairs (MOWA), which is the first entity in Ethiopia to approve you to adopt the child.

Waiting for a referral can really be a difficult wait for most families. We suggest keeping busy and doing those things that you may not have a chance to do once your child comes home. You also will want to read as much as you can related to raising adopted children, bonding and attachment, transracial adoption, Ethiopia, etc. etc., and you may even want to start learning some phrases in Amharic.

This would also be a good time to look into the immunizations that you will need for your trip. Some immunizations are good for 3, 5 and even 10 years so it's not too early to start. Visitwww.cdc.gov/travel . Information is also noted in the CHI Ethiopia Travel Guide located on the CHIFamily.net website.

Please know that we are here to support you during your wait and answer any questions that you might have.

Congratulations again, you are one step closer to bringing your little one home!!!


Blessings,
Angie Thorn

Ethiopia Adoption Consultant

Ethiopia Adoption Petition

Please consider signing a petition asking that Ethiopian officials consider alternate options as it relates to the new process that is to be implemented by the Ministry of Women, Children and Youth Affairs.

CLICK HERE TO SEE PETITION AND MORE INFO

Adoption News...

Just found this out. I'm not worried about it as I know everything will happen in God's time. We found that out with Nate and wouldn't change a thing. However, the adoption agency keeps us in the loop and we'll keep our eyes and ears open...and prayers going up.

Statement on the Pending Reduction of Intercountry Adoption in Ethiopia

7032011

Statement on the Pending Reduction of Intercountry Adoption in Ethiopia

Last week the Ethiopian Ministry of Women, Children and Youth Affairs announced their intention to reduce intercountry adoptions by 90% beginning March 10, 2011. The Ministry’s plan for a dramatic reduction is apparently based on two primary issues; 1) the assumption that corruption in intercountry adoption is systemic and rampant and 2) the Ministry’s resources should be focused on the children for whom intercountry adoption is not an option. Without further announcements by the Government of Ethiopia, it is our understanding that the Ministry’s plan will be initiated this week.

The Ministry’s plan is a tragic, unnecessary and disproportionate reaction to concerns of isolated abuses in the adoption process and fails to reflect the overwhelmingly positive, ethical and legal services provided to children and families through intercountry adoption. Rather than eliminate the right of Ethiopian children to a permanent family, we encourage the Ministry to accept the partnerships offered by governments, NGOs, and foundations. Such partnerships could increase the Ministry’s capacity to regulate service providers and further ensure ethical adoptions.

The Ministry’s plan which calls for the processing of only five adoption cases per work day, will result not only in systemic and lasting damage to a large sector of social services, but will have an immediate impact on the lives and futures of children. Moving from over 4,000 adoptions per year to less than 500 will result in thousands of children languishing in under-regulated and poorly resourced institutions for years. For those children who are currently institutionalized and legally available for adoption, the Ministry’s plan will increase their time languishing in institutions for up to 7-years.

Joint Council respectfully urges the Ministry of Women, Children and Youth Affairs to reconsider their plan and to partner with governments, NGOs and foundations to achieve their goals and avoid the coming tragedy for children and families.

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In addition to this formal statement,we are also preparing a large scale advocacy, education and awareness campaign, which will launch later this week. We will post details here, so please check back for the launch of this urgent and important campaign.

We hope you will join us in advocating for the continuation of intercountry adoption in Ethiopia.

ETHIOPIA ADOPTION UPDATE!!

Well everyone...after 9 long months and a few snags, our adoption paperwork (dossier/or paper pregnancy) IS OUTTA HERE!!!!! We were finally able to send it off to Children's Hope International who will prepare it for translation to be sent to Ethiopia! Now we wait a few months to be matched up with our child-to-be!! I feel like a big weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Having the paperwork around was a nagging reminder that was haunting us.

Now we have $13,000 left to raise for the remainder of the adoption fees. Scary, because at this point, we don't have it, but I know God will provide..through fundraising, through my art licensing royalties and other means.

Thank you everyone for your prayers and support. I know that you are as excited as we are and I looked forward to telling you this news.

Don't forget our MARCH COFFEE FUNDRAISER in the previous post and please share it via Twitter, facebook, blogs, emails...any way to get the word out! Thanks!!!!!

Denise

MARCH ADOPTION FUNDRAISER!

IT'S JAVA TIME!!

Our goal...sell 200 bags of coffee in the month of March!

When we reach 10% of our goal, everyone who bought a bag will be in a raffle.

The winner gets a free bag of coffee and a coffee mug from our fundraiser store.

Share this with your friends!

Click on our website to buy your first bag.

Thanks for your support and enjoy your cup 'o joe!

www.justlovecoffee.com/TheSullivans