Considering Everything

If you read the posts from the last year or two, you'll see that not one person had an "easy" adoption from Panama. There are certainly "easier" countries to choose from. On the other hand, we keep hearing promises that things will get better, but I sure wouldn't go with an agency that has not worked in Panama or had any successes there. Given that, your list of appropriate agencies and/or private attornies gets VERY small. Good luck with your decision! Rebecca -hired first Panamanian attorney Sep. 2002 -finished home study and INS paperwork, Nov & Dec 2002 -mailed dossier to 1st attorney in Panama Jan 2003 -first attorney had dossier translated to Spanish and submitted it to DNA June 2003 -hired 2nd attorney July 2003 (due to 1st attorney dragging his feet) -2nd attorney searched for legally-free children until Oct/Nov 2004. None found. DNA told her about a boy who had Down's Syndrome & missing his right ear who was "available." Not an official referral, but we would have rejected it anyway (we were requesting a girl or siblings). -no other children offered to us, so we pulled out of Panama Dec 2004. ....We tried adopting independently (without a US adoption agency), but our attorney was recommended by a Panamanian family who had used her, and she works for one of the orphanages (it was the first placed she looked for children, too)! And she met with the new president's wife, etc. to no avail.

Most of us would agree with Rebecca's assessment. The process has been long and there have been alot of hurdles. This has been the case for both agencies and independent adoptions. Faith International has completed several adoptions in Panama, so you might want to talk to them. There is certainly hope that the process will improve and move faster. There is a also a tremendous commitment to improve the process in Panama, but that will take time. If you are in a hurry, then this might not be the best country to chose. Lauri Dossier submitted - July 2003 Unofficial Referral received - August 2003 TPR Hearing - July 2004 TPR Complete - October 2004 Waiting for final referral and court date

Yes, I would like to hear if anyone has experience with Los Ninos. I am strongly considering them for Panama. YOu can post it or PM me. thanks. Lynette

My husband and I chose Panama as well and are with Faith International. At the time we decided to proceed with Panana, there were two primary agencies, Commonwealth and Faith. Since then, Commonwealth has closed their office due to challenges with adoptions out of Panama. The program with Los Ninos must be fairly new. Panama is a new program so it has been a long process for those who decided to pursue adoption through this country. Processes have not been established so it has been tough.

Just curious---has anyone had any success lately? The birthmom of the three siblings that we're hoping to adopt from our own county (foster care) will have her TPR hearing this week. Biodad has already signed over his rights, so she doesn't really have a support system in place. (Not to mention that she has only done HALF of her case plan (judge's orders to get kids back) in the 3 years that they've been in foster care!) So it looks pretty good. I'll drop in once we get the news. Rebecca

I know one family returned to the states in December and I believe that another family will soon return to the states from Panama with their child. The process has been very slow as there have been many changes within the government.

Hello! We are using Los Ninos for our adoption. We just resently changes countries to Panama. LNI has been wonderful to us!!!I was wondering if you decided to use LNI or someone else? Have you started the process with Pananma? How is it going?? I'd loveto hear from you.

We all are going to wish you lots of luck and never give up hope. I'm working with Faith and they had success last year with 2 families but since the new President and changes, no other successful adoptions have occurred in Panama that I'm aware of. I got my referral for my little boy in Dec.'04. Still awaiting the TPR. Seems the judges don't appear very motivated to get these beautiful children into loving homes or they'd be jumping at the opportunities we are offering. My attorney in Panama is expecting to get some info back to my agency this week after meeting with the judge in charge of my son's case. Here's hoping things will begin to move in some direction! I never heard of the agency you speak of so, they must be new. Be very wary of any new agency as they won't know how the system works in Panama and for those who do know, it's not an easy path. Good luck!

Just thought that I would give everyone an update. We have had to stop everything my husband was injured a couple of months back and is being given a medical discharge. So we are both out of jobs and a home coming up in the next month so until we get everything settled with all of that we are not able to move forward. And everything is on hold.