Your Guatemala connection for non-legal support, services and information. Adoption Assistance Services ... hotel/housing assistance, transportation, information, support ... for families and individuals during their adoption process.
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ADOPTION INFORMATION AND PROCEDURES:
FOR ADOPTION RELATED SERVICES
Personal note: these links and information have been gathered from a variety
of sources and are not necessarily complete. I welcome feedback and
additional information. The inclusion or exclusion of any information is not
intended as a statement.
PROCADURIA (PGN)
The range of individual case PGN is generally from 2 days to 16+ weeks. 30
days is about typical but there are many cases that go longer. There are
huge variations even on apparently similar cases, depending on which
attorney in the PGN is assigned to them, and apparently many tiny details on
documents.
PGN is doing an important job -- having an attorney review the case and
verify that all the pieces are OK, and issuing the final decree -- but they
don't do it on a consistent timeline or in a predictable way.
***PGN has nothing to do with the INS (unless your case is awaiting pre-PGN
embassy approval, but usually the case is not submitted to PGN until after
that is done). INS is a US agency. PGN would not be affected by anything
that happens at INS offices.
Since February of 2001, citizenship is an easy process. Your children (if
you have already seen them in person) will be grand-fathered into American
citizenship as soon as you finalize your adoption in Guatemala and bring
them to the U.S. This link will give you the precise information directly
from INS.
Please see this link for the latest from the US State Department regarding
travel in Guatemala.
http://travel.state.gov/guatemala.html
U.S. EMBASSY IN GUATEMALA CITY
This link below will take you to the web page that lists all holidays that
the US Embassy is closed.
If you're wanting to write your Senators about the INS situation in
Guatemala City, here is the link to find their addresses -
http://www.senate.gov/senators/index.cfm
FAQ - A frequently posted agency checklist now has its own home on a web
site at:
www.adoptionagencychecklist.com.
MEDICAL ISSUES (info only - NOT advice)
"I am looking for a Pediatrician who specializes in International adoptions
to evaluate my son's vaccinations". "Our pediatrician says we should just
revaccinate and I want another opinion".
The American Academy of Pediatrics, Provisional Section on Adoption, has a
referral service to pediatricians who have adoption expertise. Individuals
or pediatricians can call to identify a medical specialist in adoption in
their area.
"WHAT is that pimple / raised bump / boil / deep depression … on my child's
UPPER RIGHT SHOULDER ???? Depending on the age of your child, this site will
look different. If your child has a "whitehead" there, DO NOT POP it…
List of "normal" (North American) vaccination shots. A handy reference tool
when figuring out what has/has not been done (if you feel the medical
records provided are accurate).
*1-2 Weeks - Weight Check
For a more up-to-date list, see the American Academy of Pediatrics list at:
For more medical information check the Centers for Disease Control web site
at http://www.cdc.gov/
The Benefits of Bilingualism.
http://www.alr.org/mj98/fbbll.html
Raising Children Bilingually: The Pre-School Years. L. Arnberg. 1987. Short
Run Press.
Should I raise my children bilingually? What resources are available to help
?
http://www.cal.org/ericcll/faqs/raising.html
Raising a bilingual child.
Tips on raising bilingual kids.
Why, how and when should my child learn a second language.
Doubletalk: Raising a bilingual family.
Bilingualism: The accent is on youth.
Bilingual parenting in a foreign language
The bilingual family's web page. There's an active listserv discussion group
associated with this site.
This link provides a real-time view of the eastern end of the central plaza
in Antigua, Guatemala.
RECIPES
GENERAL RESOURCES
International Adoption Stories
http://www.internationaladoptionstories.com
Celebrations in Guatemala (by Elaine (Elena) Krumpelman - a Peace Corps
Volunteer in Guatemala)
COMMON HOPE Family Development in Guatemala (formerly - FAMILIAS DE
ESPERANZA)
Diario La Hora, Ediciones Anteriores - An archive of news articles, in
Spanish, from Guatemala so you can see what was happening the day your baby
was born, etc.
http://www.lahora.com.gt/paginas/ediciones_ant.htm
Guatemala in general - an extensive directory of web pages on Guatemala
Guatemala On The Web is a comprehensive site of Guatemala, dedicated to
promote "The Land of
Index For Guatemala
Languages of Guatemala
Latin American Network Information Center (LANIC) - list of many bookmarks
related to Guatemala
Map of Guatemala
Descriptions of Guatemalan Holidays.
For information on villages, try:
Semana Santa Slide Show: Easter in Guatemala
Simon Family World Trip
The Maya of Guatemala
YAX TE' Maya Educational Foundation - Non-profit publishers and importers of
books by and about the contemporary Maya of Guatemala.
NIM POT …… add info relevant to their link….
http://www.nimpot.com/
Adoptive Families Magazine
Adoption Today - magazine
Highly Recommended Resources - Hand Picked by Omega 23 to save you valuable
searching time.
There are many books about Guatemala; if someone is interested in a
Quetzal Bird to color
Some favorite books are:
Abuela's Weave by Omar Castaneda. A young Mayan girls' journey with her
grandmother to see her weavings in the market.
Mario's Mayan Journey by Michelle McCunney. A boy who has a dream of
living in ancient Chichen Itza
A Guatemalan Family by Michael Malone. Non fiction account of a family
that immigrated to Florida
Song of the Chirimia by Jane Anne Volkmer, Mayan folktale about love and
music.
Children of Guatemala by Jules Hermes. Non fiction about how children
live in different parts of Guatemala
Kids Who Walk on Volcanos by Paul Otteson. Similar to above but covers
other regions of Central America as well
Mama and Papa Have a Store by Amelia Lau Carling. A Chinese family that
have a store in Guatemala (fiction)
Fiesta! byBeatriz McConnie Zapater . A family's preparations for a
Fiesta
Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaola. The beginnings of the
poinsettia being the Christmas flower in Mexico
Legend of El Dorado by Beatriz Vidal. Takes place in Colombia. It is a
beautiful story about a king who loses his daughter and wife, I believe, to
a jewel laden ceremonial lake and how the village tried to restore his soul.
The Most Beautiful Place in the World by Omar Castenada. A young boy who
only wants to go to school in Guatemala. It is a little depressing in
telling about his life as his mother can no longer have anything to do with
him on orders of her new husband, so probably for older kids.
"Gathering the Sun" by Alma Flor Ada. Has the alphabet in Spanish and
English with short descriptions in both languages. ISBN:0-688-13903-5
My First Spanish ABC Picture Coloring Book
Spanish Alphabet Coloring Book (Dover Coloring Book)
15 Reproducible Spanish Write-and-Read Books (Grades K-2)
http://www.ontheisland.net/babyslings > * ENTER COUPON CODE GuatAdopt5 TO RECEIVE A $5.00 DISCOUNT WITH THIS FIRST LINK!!!
http://www.mayawrap.com/mayawrap/default.asp
http://www.mommygear.com/babyslings.htm
http://www.nativebaby.com/maya.htm
MISC INFO:
KING EXPRESS -
FOSTER PARENT QUESTIONS:
Sleeping Habits
Health
His/Her Life With Foster Mother
Personal History
Personality
Pictures
Questions to Ask Birthmothers
Specific questions you may want to ask the
facilitator to ask the birthmother include the following:
1. Can we meet with her? (If answer to this is yes, then some of these
questions can be asked in person; if no than they can become quite
important. In any case, an eventual meeting might be easier if most of the
important information was already transferred.)
2. What region and ethnic group is she from? What language does she speak at
home? What are her traditional clothes? What does she, and her family, do
for a living?
3. What would she like us to tell our adopted child about her? About the
birth father? (any available information about the birth father usually is a
delicate subject.) About why child was placed for adoption?
4. May we send her pictures and letters once in a while, to assure her that
her birth child is growing up well and happy? (Specifically, what is her
address, or how can we contact her in future).
5. Would she be willing to keep us informed of where she is living? Would
she be open to our adopted child eventually meeting /seeing her?
6. What is her family like? Specifically, are there additional brothers and
sisters? (What are their first names (at least)?) Does our adopted child
have Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents? What are they like?
We would also like to know when our child was relinquished (ie: at birth, or
did she spend the first two months with her birthmother?) and something
about the foster care setting where she is now. We'd like to have some sort
of mental picture of her present environment as we wait for her, and we'd
like to know what other children the foster mother has in the house so that
we could send appropriate gifts for all.
2. Think about your choice of seat wisely. I don't have any great advice one
way or the other, just think about what would best fit you and your child's
needs.
3. Think carefully about ordering the child's meal.
4. Think carefully about pre-boarding. Pre boarding is nice because it gives
you extra time to get settled in. However, it also gives you extra time to
sit in seats rather than run around. This means extra time trying to keep a
child busy and out of the way of the boarding passengers
5. Break some rules - relax some of the things that are important to you,
i.e., t.v. watching and eating junk food... On vacation and we do some
things on that we don't normally do…
6. Make sure your child gets lots of sleep.
7. This is related to #6-if your child falls asleep on the plane, do NOT
attempt to move your child into a more comfortable position! This will just
cause your child to wake up.
8. Let people help you. Not everyone will offer to help, but when someone
does, say yes.
*
Send your Child's name to Mars for Free...best of all, print out a very cool
looking certificate with their name and a certificate number for their
memory books! *
Presidential Greetings: Receive a Congratulation Card on the birth /
adoption of your child.
*FREE SHOES FROM PAYLESS: Bring your baby to any Payless Shoe Store ask for
a registration card and pick out a free pair of baby white, blue or pink
shoes size birth to 6 months. *
Free Child ID Kit:
http://store.yahoo.com/emailshoppingnetwork/childsafetykit.html *
VERY IMPORTANT - "Appointing your child's guardian is one of the most
important tasks in parenting, yet many parents never get around to doing it.
ChildGuardianship makes it quick, easy and FREE!....- DOCUMENTS PREPARED BY
QUALIFIED ATTORNEYS AND VALID FOR EVERY US STATE " *
FREE Recalled Product Listing -
http://babiesonline.mysafefamily.com/ListingSend.asp *
Free printable contrast graphics that infants just love.
http://www.envisagedesign.com/ohbaby/infstim/graphics.html
Free entrance certificate to the Ringling Brothers Circus - Go to their
official website you can print out a form to order the certificate. It has
to be for a child born in the previous 12 months. The certificate is good
for one time use anytime in that child's lifetime.
Craft items from the Hispanic culture that can fairly easily be made by
children.
Terrorism and Children - This site has posted a variety of information for
helping children cope with disaster, including some specially prepared for
the current acts of terrorism. Special thanks to Judith A. Myers-Walls at
Purdue University for sharing this information through various list serves.
Tragic Times, Healing Words - Sesame Street Workshop developed this site in
response to the Columbine tragedy.
http://www.sesameworkshop.org/parents/advice/article/0,4125,49560,00.html
Children's Needs - This information from Prepare-Respond-Recover can help
you in the days and weeks following trauma, as children react in different
ways to disaster.
Post-Traumatic Stress - Site contains information about the after-effects of
trauma, and includes several helpful links to other resources.
http://www.casey.org/cnc/ptsd.htm
Resources from PBS - The Public Broadcasting System offers several
videotapes and transcripts of | |
