HUG groups hurt by a moratorium on Romanian adoptions

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Kids' aid agencies lose much of funding
HUG groups hurt by a moratorium on Romanian adoptions
Author: LESLEY T?LLEZ; Staff Writer
Article Text:
A Richardson-based charitable agency has lost most of its funding because of a one-year moratorium on Romanian international adoptions.
HUG Internationally, or Humanity United in Giving, has sent American volunteers to Romanian orphanages since 1990. Its sister agency, HUG Romania, sponsors group homes and child-care centers in Romania.
For 10 years, the agencies relied on a mix of donations and funding from adoptions.
But as of Sept. 1, HUG Romania has been forced to depend only on donations.
They've scraped enough money together to support their programs this month, but HUG founder Judy Broom of Richardson said the outlook wasn't good.
"We're in trouble," Ms. Broom said. "We are absolutely fighting to make sure we don't go anywhere, and they don't go anywhere."
HUG Romania raised $84,000 last year, Ms. Broom said. Romanian officials stopped the practice of allowing families from other countries to adopt Romanian children because of concerns about corruption.
Because of the cutbacks, 62 Romanian families that received HUG Romania funds were cut off.
A group home that HUG Romania planned to purchase for older boys and girls coming out of high school and college sits empty, waiting. HUG needs another $10,000 before it can buy the building.
The local HUG regularly sends teams to Romania with supplies. Ms. Broom still plans to send teams - the next trip is scheduled for October - but she doesn't have money to pay for it yet.
"It's kind of like an old person who says, 'Are we going to cut food, or going to cut the medicine, or turn off the heat?'" said David Jenkins, a member of HUG's board of directors who's been with the program for five years.
Six of HUG Romania's programs survived the first month of the funding crunch, including a day-care center for 16 children in Slatina; a transitional home for young girls ages 16 and older; support for 150 "families at risk" and support for 22 foster families in the Romanian child welfare system.
The HUG ladies and bunici, or Romanian grandmothers, programs also got funding. Both programs pay for women to travel to orphanages and to nurture and play with the children.
But that money will only support the programs through September, Ms. Broom said.
An additional $10,000 is needed to keep them running in October.
Mr. Jenkins went on his first trip to Romania two years ago, and he said he's seen the difference that the group has made.
The children "just seem to be better adjusted," he said. "They're just getting more attention. ... I've met people who've been helped. This moratorium on international adoptions is really going to hurt."
Other programs in Dallas were also affected by the moratorium, which is supposed to last until June 21, 2002.
Hope Cottage Pregnancy and Adoption Center has offered Romanian adoptions since 1997. They also work with a private Romanian outreach organization, Asociata Catharsis, in two Romanian orphanages.
International adoptions director Doris Marshall said Asociata Catharsis receives part of its funding from Romanian international adoptions, and it will be cutting back.
Locally, she said, six families are waiting to adopt Romanian children. The couples have already been approved and are hoping that the moratorium might be lifted, Ms. Marshall said.
"We're certainly feeling a loss of families that could be adopting those children who are living there," Ms. Marshall said.
Hope Cottage is sending a team of volunteers to Romania this month, and Ms. Marshall says the situation will be grim.
"We expect that if we get there next week, we'll see a lot more kids in orphanages than were there last year," she said.
Staff writer Lesley T?llez can be reached at 972- 234-3198, ext. 132, or by e-mail at ltellez@dallasnews.com
Copyright 2001 The Dallas