Albania Adoption Blog

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As we enter into the fall we rejoice with families who will be traveling soon to meet their children. We anticipate one family will travel within the next month and a second before Christmas. One other family is working on their dossier to proceed with adoption of a special needs child.

Raul and Genti are still waiting for their parents. Please call Janie VanDyke about these precious boys.

Posted by Jan A. Parmenter At 10:39:43 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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The hot summer months have past and the AAC and other services have returned from vacations. Families that are able to do so, head for the western coast along the Adriatic Sea or the mountains where the air is fresher and there is some relief from the heat. As we head into fall we will have the first adoption under the Hague Convention standards occurring. The adoption of this sweet child with medical risks should occur within the next month. Delays have occurred due to the working out of details to make sure that the home study met the new Hague guidelines. This was a challenge for all workers and families who are working with Hague countries. As all parties involved go through the process with this adoption we anticipate that these final steps in immigration will become routine. Several families have expressed interest in COP children. However, we are still looking for families for two charming boys that have lived their young lives in the Bethany Group homes. Both are diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. One is the brother of the girl mentioned above that will soon join her forever family. Though it is never desirable to separate siblings, due to the medical challenges that both children have it was determined it was best to find placement for each child in their own family. The sibling’s grandmother is hoping that the children will be able to continue contact in their separate families in the US. If you or someone you know has the ability to meet this child’s needs please contact Janie VanDyke at (616) 224.7548.

Posted by LaDawn G. Penner At 10:26:16 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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As we enter the hot months of summer we rejoice with a family who has waited close to 3 years to bring home their beautiful daughter from Albania. One additional family has received their letter approving them to adopt a special needs girl whom we have been praying for. We hope to be able to complete this adoption soon also.

August is a very hot month in Albania. many of the officials go on vacation and governmental offices are closed. During this month we do not anticipate any families traveling for their adoption as courts are likely to not be operating.

Please continue to pray and consider adoption of our COP children. Raul, Genti, and others continue to wait for their families. We have updates on these children and would be glad to share them with workers and their families.

Posted by Jan A. Parmenter At 11:57:42 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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The end of April we had the pleasure of receiving Teuta Gjokrushi, Director of the Albania Adoption Committee, along with Agim Xhumari and his wife Marieta from Bethany Albania. We enjoyed the Spring Conference and meetings with Administration. They also were able to connect with a couple of families and see some local sites of interest.

We are thankful for the ungoing relationship Bethany has with the country of Albania. Director Gjokrushi recognized and commented on the number of families and children in Albania who receive a services because of the generous donations of time and money from people like yourselves.

Posted by Jan A. Parmenter At 11:27:50 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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Spring has finally arrived and with it a referral for a family that has been waiting over 2 years. They have accepted the referral of a young girl.

We have also received some information on younger children with special needs. Please see our COP children or contact Janie Van Dyke.

Posted by Jan A. Parmenter At 12:34:55 PM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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We are pleased to announce receipt of Hague Accreditation. Please see the following notice we received from the Council on Accreditation. Beginning April 1, 2008 families submitting for USCIS approval for adoption from Albania, should file the I800A rather than the I600A. You will find this form and instructions on the USCIS.gov website.

I am extremely pleased to notify you that the Council on Accreditation (COA) has granted Bethany Christian Services’s application for Hague Accreditation pursuant to the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (IAA). Your achievement of Hague Accreditation demonstrates your commitment to the children and families you serve both here and abroad.
 
A formal notification letter and a sample press release will be mailed to you within 2-3 weeks specifying the length of your Hague Accreditation and your expiration date, and within 45 business days, you will receive a certificate and a Final Accreditation Report (FAR) that details your ratings of compliance with the standards. As you share this news with your stakeholders, please remember to clearly state that you have achieved Hague Accreditation from COA (COA accredited is a designation reserved for agencies that are voluntarily accredited through COA).    
 
On behalf of COA’s staff and volunteers, congratulations on your achievement!
 
Sincerely,  
Richard Klarberg

Posted by Jan A. Parmenter At 05:03:01 PM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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The last 3 months of the year have brought a lot of activity in Albania. During the month of November Bethany Albania staff were actively involved with hosting 5 families who were in the process of adopting 5 children. Age of children varied from toddler to teenager. Two of the families were able to complete their adoptions successfully before Christmas. Two of the families are bringing their children home in this new year.

We currently have 7 families waiting referral. Longest wait has been 2 years.

Posted by Jan A. Parmenter At 02:35:19 PM Location | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Category Albania Holidays
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There are several days throughout the year that are observed in Albania. These holidays include observation of Christian, Islamic and Moslem observances, as well as National holidays. During these holidays/holy days governmental agencies and many businesses are closed. Today the 12th of November on the English calendar, Ramadan is being observed in Albania.

Ramadan (Arabic: رمضان, Ramaḍān, Ramazan in Turkey) is an Islamic religious observance that takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, when the Qur'an was revealed. The name "Ramadan" is taken from the name of this month; the word itself derived from an Arabic word for intense heat, scorched ground, and shortness of rations. It is considered the most venerated and blessed month of the Islamic year. Prayers, sawm (fasting), charity, and self-accountability are especially stressed at this time; religious observances associated with Ramadan are kept throughout the month. (taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan).

Posted by Jan A. Parmenter At 10:39:41 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Category Pictures and information on Bethany Albania
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This is Hannahs House just outside Tirana Albania. The lower floor houses children 0-2 years of age. The upper floor serves as office space, meeting rooms, and houses our American House Parents the Watanabe's. There are two other similar buildings in the gated compound. One building houses the children age 3-6 and the other serves as housing for families and teams who come to do short term mission trips and work trips in Albania.

Posted by Jan A. Parmenter At 08:38:36 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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The month of September flew by with our daily anticipation of receiving travel dates and referrals for families. Septembers AAC meeting was delayed until the first week in October which increased our waiting time. We do have one family scheduled for court in mid-October. One additional family is awaiting court date and 3 families await confirmation of the matching to their referred child.

Posted by Jan A. Parmenter At 12:51:42 PM Location | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)