January 2010 Donors, We Appreciate You!

In the midst of the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti, we have posted a live news-feed in the right hand column of our site. Many families have called and emailed, wondering what can be done for Haiti ’s orphans. We have chosen to join forces with International Child Foundation to support the orphanage Ruuska Village. There are teams preparing to travel and hand deliver supplies and money, the only safe way to transfer money at this time. All your donations are tax deductible through Little Miracles International, Inc.

If you wish to send tax-deductible checks:

Check made out to “Little Miracles International”

Haiti Earthquake Orphan Relief
Little Miracles International
PO BOX 19776
Amarillo, Texas 79114

Your tax-deductible donation will provide food, formula and medical supplies to orphans in Haiti. The need is great. Babies and children are living outside for fear of falling buildings. People are desperate. Everyone is at risk. The Red Cross and other aid organizations are attempting to reach orphanages but in many cases, are not there, yet. Injured children need medical care. Transportation is difficult and looters are stealing fuel. Please help. These children should not suffer starvation after losing their families, and then their orphanages. PayPal will come faster to our agency, but checks are also welcome!!!

In order to understand why we cannot assist with adoption of these orphans I am re-posting an excerpt of an article located on Rainbowkids website written by Martha Osborne.

Many people hear of natural disasters in various parts of the world, and want to open their homes and hearts, via adoption, to children who have lived through them. While these well intentions are commendable, it is rarely possible or advisable, at least in the short term. The reasons are simple:

1. In the immediate aftermath of a disaster, it is often difficult to ascertain that a child is truly an orphan. Parents may have become separated from their children in the confusion and may be in another refugee camp or just over the border. It is not ethical to place a child for adoption unless it is clear that no parent able to care for that child will be found. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will not grant an orphan visa to a child unless he/she clearly meets the definition of an eligible orphan; eligible orphan status cannot be considered if there is a possibility that a parent could provide care at the country’s normal standard of acceptability and did not purposely abandon or relinquish the child.

2. Even if it is clear that a child has no parent able to care for him/her, good adoption practice requires that attempts be made to place the child with extended family, members of the community, or others in his/her birth country. Intercountry adoption is appropriate only if a child is unlikely to find a permanent, loving family in his/her birth country. In addition, children may need to be treated for post-traumatic stress disorder and international adoption may not be in their best interest at this time.

3. Ethical adoption practice requires that a child be considered legally relinquished or abandoned, and then legally adopted according to the laws of his/her country of citizenship. In the immediate aftermath of a disaster, a country’s government may be in disarray and what resources are available may be deployed on projects such as providing safe water and food, caring for the injured, burying the dead, maintaining order, etc. Thus, the courts and other entities that could handle relinquishments and adoptions may not be functioning at all, or may be giving first priority to projects in other areas. Adoption cannot proceed in such an environment.

4. In the immediate aftermath of natural or man-made disasters, an area may not be safe for travel. Occasionally, U.S. government officials who review the legitimacy of adoptions and process exit visas are unable to work safely in a country. Moreover, even if staff and families might be willing to travel, civilian air and ground transport to and within an area might be unavailable.

5. Even if a country manages to get its legal system functioning and to identify parentless children, the process is long and thorough. The best interests of children who have been through traumatic situations is to receive immediate care within familiar surroundings. Families wishing to help children during this crisis may best do so by contributing to their loving care through a reputable charity or humanitarian group.

On a sad note, we have learned of one orphanage near the epicenter that has been completely destroyed. We were unable to confirm the name of the orphanage, and will add it to this article once confirmed. Several orphanages are taking the precaution of having the children and caretakers sleep outside in the yards or driveways. There are many orphanages that have been damaged, and are in need of the most basic of supplies, including diesel fuel to run generators, water and water purifiers, food, and antibiotics.

While the need to take in additional children is being considered by the orphanage staffs, it must also be noted that the caretakers of the orphanages are primarily Haitian women who have their own families to care for during this time of tragedy. Fortunately, we are hearing reports of local families coming forward in the less damaged areas to offer temporary care for the children of the orphanages. Though poor economically, it should be noted that the people of Haiti are a warm and loving people who recognize the needs of their community. They are reaching out to one another, offering their homes and care whenever possible.

Currently, the greatest challenge is getting the much needed supplies in and around the country. The easiest and most economic way to do so is to buy supplies in the Dominican Republic, Haiti’s nearest neighbor, and use emergency transport (by air and land) to reach the orphanages. This requires monetary donations, and the coordination of existing in-country charities and humanitarian-aid organizations. In short, donations to small, established organizations that have been working with orphanages for years, is the best way for donations to reach the children in an expedient manner. Most of these orphanages are small, housing from 12 to under 100 children.

While it is not possible to adopt Haitian children who have been separated from their families (due to their undetermined orphan status), there is still much that may be done to ease the suffering of these children. Please donate today through the donation button above or by check.

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Tags: Adopting Haiti Orphans, child charity, Donations, Donors, Haiti, Haiti Earthquake, Haitian, Haitian Orphanage, humanitarian, Interational Adoption Haiti, Little Miracles International, Orphan, orphanage, orphans, poverty, Ruuska Village