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Hey all. I've been quietly waiting and watching the board for a while, I'm sure you've all missed my 20 questions a week. hehe
We are in the process of leaving our agency (CAI), like several other families have done recently, as told to us by our agency co-founder and local caseworker. Our caseworker told us the agency is pulling out of Panama and urging their families to switch countries. Our agency caseworker said she submitted for a 100%refund for us, without us asking. We hope the agency head honchos agree without a fight, in spite of the contract clause saying all monies paid are earned and nonrefundable. We are not switching countries, so that leaves us with going independent.
Just wondering what fellow families, if there are any left on this board, are gonna do.
Robin
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Yikes! I wouldn't recommend going independent in Panama right now (unless you can use Y's attorney). Probably the best bet is to see if the other agency (that we all know has been the only one to have success) will take your case.
In the meantime, our home study expires this month, so in just a few short weeks, we're done with Panama.
Good luck, everyone!
One thought: there are MANY minority newborns needing homes each year. We just learned that we could adopt an African American infant through our local Lutheran Social Services for 10% of our gross income. Problem is, we have never planned for an infant and want our adopted children to be old enough to play with and know their older brothers (youngest of whom is almost 14). ;)
Rebecca
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Just based on my own experience and seeing that the DNA is NOT being helpful to our attorney.
And keep in mind, our attorney said that she helped the new president campaign for office (same social circles?) and that once he took office, she had lunch with his wife to discuss the "crisis" at the DNA (this was just after Carmen Donna left)...and that was when she learned who would be taking over the Ministry of Family (some woman who our attorney says she knows personally and thinks highly of).
And after all of this, the ONLY referral we got (after waiting 2 years for one) was for a 2-yr-old BOY who probably has Down's Syndrome.
The mere fact that we turned down that referral has probably put us on the DNA director's "no way in heck I'm giving THEM another referral!" list. :(
Our attorney just e-mailed the other day that "every day I ask and I ask (the DNA for a referral), but they just tell me that they are 'still going through all of the (children's) files.' What more can I do?"
So that's the only reason I'd caution against adopting independently at this moment...UNLESS you can use Y's attorney. Hers worked very hard and was successful. ...However, if I recall, you might have access to an attorney who knows all of the "right" people in the "right" places, right? See what that person says. Maybe he/she has an "in" that ours just doesn't seem to have.
Good luck,
Rebecca