Latest From The Department of State

I went to the Department of State's website this morning to see if they had anything posted and here is what I read......please keep praying that the right people get involved with the right words, and the right officials have burdened hearts for their orphaned children!

Government of Ethiopia Plans Major Slow-Down in Adoption Processing

March 9, 2011

Citing the need to work on quality and focus on more important strategic issues, the Government of Ethiopia’s Ministry of Women, Children, and Youth Affairs (MOWCYA)  will reduce to a maximum of five the number of adoption cases it processes per day, effective March 10, 2011.  Under Ethiopian adoption procedures, MOWCYA approves every match between prospective adoptive parents and an Ethiopian child before that case can be forwarded for a court hearing.  The U.S. Embassy is working with Ethiopian government officials and adoption agencies to learn more about this change in procedures.  We will continue to share information as it becomes available.

Given MOWCYA's current caseload, the U.S. Embassy anticipates that this change could result in an overall decline in case processing of some 90 percent.  If this change is implemented as proposed, we expect, that parents who have begun the process of adopting from Ethiopia but have not yet been matched with a child could experience significant delays.  It is not clear if this change in procedures would have any significant impact on cases in which MOWCYA has already approved matches. 

Prospective adoptive parents should remain in close contact with their adoption service provider to obtain updates on individual cases.

HERE IS THE UPDATE FROM THE JOINT COUNCIL'S WEBSITE:

Emergency Campaign for Ethiopia: Update

In only 24-hours, over 11,000 concerned individuals have joined our Emergency Campaign for Ethiopian Children by signing our petition. We extend our thanks to all who have supported this initiative by signing the petition, distributing the campaign information and expressing your support of child protections and ethical adoption.
Today, we have continued our communication with the Ethiopian government and respectfully brought the outpouring of concern to them. We believe that there may have been positive developments and will provide further updates as information is confirmed.

THANK YOU ALL who have signed the petition and forwarded me your email reciept!  I know that this is an awesome opportunity to watch God unfold HIS plan before our eyes!  Thank you for defending those who cannot defend themselves!  I have been watching a "blog friend's" blog because her sister had her court appt. while we were sleeping last night.....anxious to see how it went this morning.  I also know of others who have court appts. already in place and nothing has been changed for them and travel still actively happening.......we will see how it all goes.  SO MUCH PRAYER IS NEEDED FOR THE FAMILIES IN COUNTRY PROBABLY MORE NERVOUS NOW THEN EVER FOR THEIR APPTS.! 

More to come I'm sure.....