Sounds slightly controversial.

Unfortunately this seems to be the state of affairs all over the place. The funding for children's protective services are being cut by governmental officials that need to find ways to balance budgets. Many of the officials believe the services can be streamlined but don't realize the dire position they leave the children and the service providers.

I am licensed as a teen foster care provider, general foster respite provider and as a daycare provider and know the desperate situation many of the children come from. I also understand the funding streams as I am on the school board here as well (speaking of governmental official). I have plenty of opportunity to talk with our congressmen/women and senators.

I hope and pray things will turn around. It does take a village to raise a child - maybe we need to start watching out for each other again. hmmm

It is controversial.
The unfortunate and controversial circumstances were discussed in some detail here a few months ago.

Somehow I managed to let this one slip past me. There are so few good facilities available in Belize to care for children. This is terrible. I was aware of the work done by the Liberty Foundation a few years ago and have heard on many occasions that they offer an excellent level of care. I haven't heard about the other home but I do know that these places are desperately needed. The children of Belize are the future of Belize and are so precious. This makes me very sad.

My reasons for first visiting Belize a couple of years ago was to start processing international adoptions of Belize children to the US. I run an international Adoption Agency licensed in NC and SC (USA) and Hague Accredited according to the US Dept of State Federal Regulations. I am in the process of helping 2 people adopt from Belize. I have tried to assist to provide funding for these types of places but due to the way the US thinks and Belize they seem to look down on adoption. I have told officials that if I could place children for adoption part of the adoption fees could be sent to these homes to help children that will never be adopted.

I am trying to HELP... but when I go to DSS in Belize City they tell me they have no children to be adopted.

I am still trying to establish a relationship with them to help orphaned children.
Mary

Mary, We have experiencd the same thing for many years now as well with the GOB. Conditions are poor, many children could be adopted out for much better lives but the GOB digs its heels in and makes it almost impossible. And only the children suffer.

If you look at what Madonna gets up to you can see why they might be cautious.

Please explain that comment

She has been doing her best to adopt children against the wishes of their family. The government of that country, and many other "expert" organisations throughout the world, believe that adoption away from the country and culture of the child is highly undesirable, only to be undertaken when there really is no other choice. Madonna seems to have been in it for her benefit, not the child's, and using her great wealth and (unrelated) fame to try to shortcut the process.

As I understand it, Belize even opposes adoption by expats who have become full time Belizean residents... and even those who have obtained Belizean citizenship.

Where did you hear/read that?

I've talked with many who have been through the process unsuccessfully.

I know several expats that have adopted..usually Maya kids

Would you mind sending me their info? I have never found one expat who has adopted successfully in the last 6 years. I'd love to find out how they did it.

I wouldn't release that info without their permission. Send me your contact info and I'll pass it along.

I know an expat couple who have adopted. If memory serves correctly they they were only resident not nationalized when the adoption took place. They fostered first and then adopted the child. This all took place within the last 4 years.

I have a friend who adopted a Belizean baby last year. She had to move here and live full time for 6 months so that social services could evaluate her as a parent. The dad came back and forth to Belize since somebody had to make an income. The baby is now living the UK, happy, healthy and well cared for. His parents will bring him home to Belize on a regular basis and will ensure that he is aware of his ancestry.

There are other non-Belizeans that are permitted to adopt, but they are few in number.

If you really, really wish to adopt a Belizean baby - yourself, not as a broker, then send me a pm.

Adoption isn't impossible in Belize, but you will certainly have to work to expand your family.

The childrens homes here are more like long term day care centers and it is truly sad many of these kids not getting the opportunity of a family. They have some dumb ass concept here that as long as Mommy or Daddy shows up every six months and pats junior on the head then the child is not abandoned and/or then can not be available for adoption and so the child spends its entire childhood (in many cases) stuck in the center. Who suffers in the end?

Te Belize system is developed on the assumption that family reunification is best for the child. In fact, most studies show that to be true. There are children who are released for adoption when family reunification is not possible. Many of the kids are adopted by Belizeans here and in the US. It is not easy, and I personally believe it should not be easy.
Mary is working her way through a frustrating system intent upon protecting the kids. Through her good faith work, she will eventually set up an ethical system under the Hague treaty I am sure.
As to the general foster care system, there are good foster homes ( Marla's House of Hope.) and not so good ones. The government shuts down the bad ones when they can.
The largest group of new residents to these homes is sexually exploited young girls. Perpetrators of this particular crime come in all colors and residency status' so it behooves all of those concerned with this issue to take a stand.

Why don’t you adopted children in your own country, or will they not let you?

That doesn't even deserve a response.

Why? I know nothing about this subject but I find it plausable that not too many countries in the world don't have more orphans or unwanted kids than foster parents, and as was stated earlier it makes more sense for kids to be brought up in their own culture where possible. Not everyone subscribes to the West is best, where the reasoning seems to be the kid will be better off in the First World.

I was specifically and directly addressing Inplub's very rude assertion that those of us interested in Belizean adoptions are interested because we are unfit for adopting in our own country.

Does the truth hurt? Some people will go to any country to adopt children when their own will not let them. By the way it was in the news today Madonna is now taking her 4 year old to a therapist. This is what can happen when you take a child from one country to another.

No, but your ignorance pains me greatly.



By your statement, you imply the following.

1. Madonna is an unfit mother.
2. Therapy is bad for children.

I don't believe either of the above to be true.

Maybe you should go and see a therapist. I hear America is full of them.

I should see a therapist because you are ignorant? I don't get your logic.

At least I am not lazy or a drunk. Yours words not mine.

I don't believe I've ever called you lazy or a drunk. Just ignorant.

Do we really want to drag this worthy original post any further in the mud gentlemen? Perhaps the name calling can move to PM?

Why am I ignorant? I was not talking about you adopting children. I was only stating what was in one of today newspaper.

Sorry Amanda.

I do believe that it is relevant to this worthy post to reiterate that people like me who are interested in adopting in Belize face such ignorance as this...



Until we educate those in Belize that not all of us who wish to adopt are looking to steal their kids and corrupt them, you are facing an up hill battle in finding good homes with good parents for these kids.

Agree that name calling is inappropriate. I was addressing the ignorance of the position which goes to the core of the problem.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to adopting children that need a home. The problem is that when a person wants to adopt cross culture, there are inevitable conflicts that make it more difficult. There have also been some really bad people in Guatemala and Samoa that have ruined it for reputable people. Belize is also starting to come to grips in a real way with sexual exploitation of children and for now that makes it more difficult.
A sincere paranoia has entered the thinking as professional people struggle to change the loop holes in the law that have allowed residents and visitors alike to escape going to jail for an extended period of time for engaging in the exploitative practices.
If you really are interested and want to adopt a child, stick with it and do not give up. It may, sorry will ,mean walking through a frustrating but child oriented set of movable regulations

sorry about the illiterate first sentence

That's OK