JCICS International Adoption Update
Romania
Nov. 1, 1997
We have word from the U.S. State Department that the Romania Adoption Committee will meet soon to approve the State Department's agreement that Romania will receive a letter from the U.S. Consulate when an I-600 is approved, and that the letter will specifically note who (the name of the agency) is responsible for ensuring that Romania receives post-placement reports.
The State Department may play a role in working with Romania and with agencies to make sure that post-placement reports are received in a timely, thorough fashion.
Aug. 4, 1997
JCICS Director meets with Dr. Tabacaru
Dr. Christian Tabacaru of the Romanian Adoption Center (RAC) visited Washington, DC, recently, and I was able to meet with him at the Romanian Embassy on June 27, 1997. I provided him with information about the commitment of Joint Council to the children of Romania, and appreciate the prompt response of JCICS member agencies to my request for material about current programs.
This visit was hosted by Dr. Ron Federici, and was planned with the Parent Network for the Post-Institutionalized Child. Dr. Dana Johnson also participated substantially in the visit. Certainly one of the main purposes was to share information on ways to improve services to institutionalized children in Romania. I very much appreciated the opportunity to listen and to be heard on behalf of Joint Council.
Romaniaís Policies for Children
Dr. Tabacaru discussed at some length his plans for improving services to children in need of permanent families. His approach is consistent with Joint Councilís philosophy: all children have a right to a permanent, nurturing family. If children cannot remain with their birth families, then in-country adoption should be a first priority. Intercountry adoption provides a viable alternative to provide a family for a child.
Dr. Tabacaru has impressive plans, and hopes the new law on services to children will go to the Parliament in September. He is interested in keeping the time a child is institutionalized to a minimum, and in moving children quickly to permanency plans. He discussed plans to move children from institutions to foster families, noting that subsidies will be available to the families and that ongoing efforts must be made to identify foster families.
Please be aware that this information is my best understanding, but certainly could be subject to change. Romanian birth parents will be able to sign a relinquishment immediately after the birth of a child, and would then have 30 days to revoke consent. After that 30 day period, a Romanian family would have 2 months at the most to adopt the child, and then the child could be referred for intercountry adoption. Thus, infants could be placed with American families at a very young age.
In terms of abandoned children who are placed either in institutions or in foster care, the abandonment procedures could begin after 6 months during which there has been no contact from birth parents.
My understanding of the process is as follows, though this may also be subject to change: the County Commission will tell the Romanian Adoption Center about an adoptable child. The RAC then tells all the County Commissions, who will try to find an appropriate family. If after 60 days there has been no request for the child, the RAC will give the job of identifying a family to a private agency. The County Commissions and agencies will be expected to keep the RAC informed about their efforts to find a suitable family. There may be time limits on how long an agency has: perhaps a few weeks for a healthy infant, a longer time for a severely handicapped child.
Intercountry Policies
Dr. Tabacaru met with officials from the State Department during his visit here, to discuss his concerns about the status of the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, among other issues. Both the State Department and Dr. Tabacaru want adoptions to continue smoothly and effectively, but I think everyone is aware that there may be some delays while the new procedures come into place.
We expect implementing legislation for ratification of the Hague Convention to be sent to Capitol Hill this summer. In the interim time before ratification, the State Department has expressed willingness for the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest to send a letter to the Romanian Adoption Center when an I-600 has been approved, notifying the RAC of the approval of adoptive parents. This arrangement appears to be satisfactory to the Romanian officials as well, and the State Department is in the process of formalizing this process.
American agencies will have to present their state licenses, perhaps in a notarized or other official form, and Romania has indicated that it will look closely at licenses as part of an increased effort to hold agencies to a high standard. Of particular concern are two areas of practice: parent preparation, and post-placement reports.
Many agencies are of course ethical and thorough in their parent preparation programs. We need to make sure that all agencies prepare parents for the reality of parenting a post-institutionalized and/or special needs child, that all available medical and social history is presented to the parents, and that parents have time to digest information and make appropriate, informed decisions. Joint Council is committed to strengthening the services provided by agencies to parents, so that adoption practices are truly child-centered, and that placements are successful. I will be back in touch with you soon about our concrete plans, and would welcome your ideas..
Romania is certainly committed to improving parent preparation, as it is very concerned about both media reports and information provided by parents and parent groups. Joint Council can and will provide effective leadership and support in this area.
In addition, Romania wants improvements in the provision of post-placement reports. The Romanian Adoption Center will be looking very closely for timely, thorough reports for at least the two years following placement. There was discussion about the format of the reports, and the possible establishment of a standard format for parents to use. Further, it seems clear that agencies that do not provide post-placement reports will jeopardize their adoption efforts in Romania.
U.S. agencies must work in a partnership with a Romanian non-profit organization, and that Romanian agency will have responsibility for local activities. The exact details about these arrangements were not discussed, but I hope to have more detailed information soon.
Medical Perspectives
Also attending the State Department and Embassy meetings were Dr. Ron Federici and Dr. Dana Johnson. Their insights on the medical and developmental research on the children was of great interest to the Romanian officials, who also visited several area hospitals.
This research is of course also of great interest to Joint Council, and Dr. Johnson (as you know) was very well-received when he presented his research at the Joint Council conference in April. We want not only to stay on top of the research, but also to ensure that it is available to families and to agencies. Joint Council supports efforts to learn more about the needs of the children, and is actively involved in putting together a Resource List to be provided to families by agencies. This Resource List, developed in conjunction with medical and other experts in intercountry adoption, will be useful for post-placement services. Please contact me for further information.
Representatives from the Parent Network for the Post-Institutionalized Child were also involved with Dr. Tabacaruís visit, and shared their valuable perspectives on medical issues and efforts to improve services to children within institutions, as well as on agency preparation and follow-up. I had the opportunity to talk with Lois Hannon and Lily Romine of the PNPIC about their concerns, and appreciate their willingness to share ideas about how to better meet the needs of families and children.
Conclusion
The Romanian Adoption Center has ambitious, positive plans to help the children, and we applaud and support their efforts. Dr. Tabacaruís visit presented us with an opportunity to stress the commitment of Joint Council agencies to responsible, child-centered practice, to humanitarian services, and to improvement of services.
I ask for your assistance in keeping communication clear and accurate, and in working together with Romania and with adoptive parents to ensure that we are all doing what is best for the children.
Please contact me with any questions or comments.
Maureen Evans
Joint Council
Joint Council on International Children's ServicesMaureen Evans, Executive Director7 Cheverly CircleCheverly, MD 20785-30401-301-322-19061-301-322-3425 Fax
© Copyright 1997 Lynn Rathbun and JCICS