Summer is almost over, and it's back to school for me. I figured I would post this update that I received from my agency in August. I have been so lazy lately, recovering from surgery and our wonderful trip to Maui, Hawaii (pic below). Not much news, just continuing to wait. It's been 17 long months since our dossier was submitted to IBESR.....sigh.
 |
| Road to Hana |
Haiti Family Program Update
August 2015
Dear Families,
Hope all of you are well and are enjoying your summer!
We at CAS have had a busy summer, with a lot of activity and changes happening in the agency as well as the Haiti Program. Julie Glandt, who has been with the agency for the past 16 years and has served in the capacity of CAS Executive Director for the last four years, has left the agency to begin a new chapter in her life. Angela Jackson, who shared the responsibilities of the Haiti Program with me and who has worked with many of you on your adoptions from Haiti has accepted the position of Interim Director of CAS as of August 1, 2015. As Angela will be focusing on the responsibilities of her role as Interim Director, all of her Haiti cases have been transferred to me, Tania Griasnow. I am looking forward to assisting all of you with your adoption journeys from Haiti and will continue to send you the Haiti Program Updates on monthly basis.
Our attorneys, Silvia and Daniel, have been apprised of the changes in Program and have assured us that the “vintage cases”, those who have filed I-600-A, will remain a top priority with the IBESR as well as Silvia and Daniel. Daniel and Silvia have been visiting the IBESR several times a week to check on status of their cases and to see if there is any other documentation that is required by IBESR to move the cases along.
Families have been expressing concern about the length of time it is taking the IBESR to schedule birth parent interviews and making official matches of referrals. Our attorneys as well as agency representatives from the U.S. and other countries that have programs in Haiti acknowledge the validity of this concern and have met to discuss these issues. Those present at the meeting have submitted a letter to IBESR listing their concerns and requesting that action be taken by the IBSER to implement changes to expedite the adoption process. All concerned parties hope that the IBESR will take steps to expedite the adoption process, however, it is expected that there will not be much activity or information coming from Haiti in the month of August as most IBSER officials will be on vacation and IBESR will be operating with a skeleton crew. It is anticipated that IBESR will resume full operation in the beginning of Sept.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding this update or your particular case.
Tania Griasnow
Program Coordinator, Haiti Program
