Adoption Agency Ratings

The following was sent to all in process Children's Hope International
families today

(July 21).

I have been asked to post this to all the CHI country Yahoo
groups as well. Ann Tollefson

****

On Friday we sent you an email that Children's Hope, to our great surprise, was
denied Hague approval. It was on the basis of an incomplete corrective action
plan in one state that we thought was totally resolved. . This is nothing new
but something unfinished. We are appealing the decision but we are also
preparing details for you on how this affects your adoption process or even if
it does affect it. Each country is different so your country program director
will let you know later today the information you need. As you can imagine this
was a complete shock for us as well - as we believed that all requirements were
in perfect order.

As you already know, last year we made the discovery

(Russia made the discovery)
that improper procedures by two staff within our Russia department
(one the program director)
were done in the St. Louis office. There was misuse of notary privileges and mis-handled paperwork to Russia . Children’s
Hope began an investigationin to what is a
(federal multi state )
violation of the principles and ethics
of our agency. On the date of discovery, we immediately notified the Division
of Family and Children’s Services in Missouri , which evaluated and issued a
Corrective Action Plan to establish a proper checks and balance of notarized
documents within the agency, which was completed to their satisfaction.

Our investigation last summer found that 10 documents in 6 states were affected.
and so we began the process of notifying those states and undertaking any review
of our license

(why aren't federal authorities reviewing your license?)
that those states deemed necessary. Except for two states, this license review process was completewithin 3 months. We however continued to work with Kansas and Illinois to follow any requirement they thought necessary.

Children's Hope believed that all requirements had been met in Kansas while
still waiting for Illinois to finalize what turned out to be a 9 month process.
Therefore, we could not meet all the Hague requirements in the first round of
approvals for the Hague on February 29, 2008, so Children's Hope was issued
a "Pending Status" from the Hague Commission.

When Illinois finalized their corrective actions and issued our new permanent 4
year license in June, we immediately applied for Hague approval. They reviewed
our case on July 9th. On that very same day!, we found out through our new KS
Office Director that we were not in compliance in all points as we had thought.

This meant - as we found out on July 17, 2008, that our Hague approval was
denied! The problem seems to be that we were deemed non-compliant to the
regulations required for domestic adoption agency licensing in the state of
Kansas even though we are not a domestic – but international adoption agency.

In the world of international adoption you should know that logic is not followed !!

In an international agency, for example, it is impossible for the social worker
to visit the child before it is placed, which is one of the regulations. We had
already instituted what we thought were all the requirements of the state. We
greatly respect those in authority in the state of KS and are only sorry that we
did not get the communication in STL until we had applied for the COA to review our
application.

We have been and always will be committed to the highest moral and
ethical principles. comical

We immediately began talks with the Kansas officials to resolve any licensing
issues so we can re-apply to the COA for Hague Accreditation within the next few
weeks. But it is the discretion of COA to schedule our application for review,
or make us wait up to one year before re-applying.

In addition we are in talks with our friends in Holt International how we can
work under and through them to assist any families in application and those
whose dossiers have not been submitted – and that possibility looks very
positive.

We are going forward in the faith that this will soon be resolved. We are
committed to you and so appreciate those of you who have expressed your
understanding. We regret that we did not have the time to compose and share on
Friday what we are sharing in this email.

At that time, we were just wanting you to hear an announcement from us – and not someone else– until we had more information.

Please call or email me with your questions or concerns. Your program
consultant will be of more help with program issues, but I hope you will contact
me and I will try to explain anything I can.

We will leave nothing possible undone to make your adoption a reality.

comical

.With best wishes and high hopes,

Dwyatt Gantt

From Dwyatt Gantt, director of agency:
On July 9th, 2008 CHI was reviewed by COA for our Hague accreditation. Yesterday, July 17, 2008 we were informed by COA that our Hague application has been denied. Our denial was based on being non-compliant in one state where we are licensed. This was not brought to our attention until last week after the Hague review was already underway. We are currently working to resolve this issue and will be requesting from COA re-consideration to our approval.
Specific information on how this affects you - or if it will affect you will be coming next week from your adoption consultant.

I'm not sure where you are getting this information but when I've called and spoken with the program director at CHI, he's told me that they have indeed completed female adoptions this year and that families who are currently in country are adopting girls.

Who told you this information?

We are a CHI waiting family in Kaz program and I agree with the posts above describing the problems with the program. Originally we applied to CHI's China program but got discouraged with the rapidly expanding wait time. We were encouraged to switch to the Kaz program which was billed as a much shorter wait time (10-12 months from submission of dossier). Well our dossier went in Nov 2007 and it is stuck at the MOFA with no word of movement. There are 50 ahead of us with dossiers at the MOE so we are looking at switching agencies. CHI has only started 6 adoptions so far this year in Kaz and none for girls so doing the math it will be forever before our number will get there. My CHI coordinator is blaming changes in Kaz requirements which I can not verify with other agencies that have Kaz programs. I definitely would advise all POP to avoid CHI's Kaz program.

We used this agency to complete the adoption of our daughter and found them to be incredibly ethical and professional throughout a process that is, unfortunately, not always an easy process. Our social worker was very honest with us in every communication. There were times when the information she had to pass on may not have been the most pleasant and what we wanted to hear, but she told us anyway.

If I had to give some sort of a critique, it would be on the communication between Russia and here. Selfishly, I wanted responses faster but I do realize that Russia is on the other side of the world and with the time differences, it's difficult to get an immeadiate response.

In the big picture, that's not really a big deal though because I have a darling little girl.

If we adopt again, it will be with this agency.

We have used Childrens Hope for 2 adoptions (Guatemala 2002 and Colombia 2006). We love them and plan on using them again to adopt an older child from Colombia. We waited a long time for our daughter from Colombia (3 years) however, our CHI rep. never mislead us and this wait time is common for all agencies using ICBF in Colombia. Both the staff in the US & Colombia are amazing and they go out of their way to help you. We will always be grateful to CHI for bringing our children home to us.

Quote from another poster : ( "Karen Carnesciali, director of Russia and Kazakhstan program, announcing today that she is taking a job with the U.S. government and leave agency too." )

Would like to know more please. Haven't seen it posted anywhere else. Not doubting you just very curious.
Thank you

Please post this. For ANY Children's Hope Internationa Families

I filed a compliant against Children's hope with the COA and the Hague. I also sent the Kaz consulate a copy of my letter (both DC and NY) as well as directly to the assistant director. I STRONGLY encourage all current and former Children's Hope's PAP's do the same. I have done this not with the expectation of any funds being returned- I have filed to stop this agency from hurting any more families.

COA (certification arm of Hague). Phone number: 212-797-3000 X241. Name: Julie Fullmer. Toll Free number: 866-262-8088 X241.
To file on line:
http://www.coanet.org/front3/page.cfm?sect=8

Hague: Now, CHI is not Hague accredited. They are working on it. FILE NOW! Let them know just what CHI is doing. Here is their website:http://adoptionusca.state.gov/HCRWeb/WelcomeForm.aspx

KAZ Families:
Call or write to the Kaz Consulate: here are the email address:

washington@kazakhembus.com-DC
kzconsulny@un.int-NY

Assistant Director:
Zhanbolat Ussenov
Assistant to the Ambassador and Third Secretary for Press
Embassy of Kazakhstan to the United States of America
1401 16th Street NW, Washington DC, 20036
Office: 202-232-5488 (ext 104)
zhan@kazakhembus.com

Whatch out for frua.....they delete posts with negitive information about CHI. There not about letting the truth be heard. When CHI took hundreds of pops they got in way to deep. That is a fact. They neglected pops from 2006. Fact. They go through employees like candy. They should be exposed. Lots of pops think what they have done is criminal. They took money for a services that were not rendered. We got our money back, but other have not been so lucky. I would not be surprised to see a class action lawsuit. But what good would that be if they are going broke.

If by "they" you mean anyone involved with this website you are wrong. Post are deleted if it should be a comment, just like this one. I will keep it active as a example. This info is on the first page in red.

We have had the worst time getting any results with CHI. We also have gone to another agency. For the same reasons that are on Frua and in the above unhappy posts.
If you are with CHI I hope you get your child and have a smooth adoption.
Now I will be a Mom with my new agency.

I do need to share, I too was like you.. a waiting mom who so wanted to adopt a child. Yes, I have moved to another agency. So have many others. The point of this arena (is for everyone) to share and voice their issues and concerns.

While this information may upset you (believe me it did me when I first started reading about the problems in the Kaz program), the purpose of this forum is to share and update others who may be "exploring" an adoption and to make sure they understand where the issues are.

To tell people to "go away" and "stop posting" because this information is upsetting to you- is wrong. While as a PAP I too only wanted to hear the "good" (because it kept my fears in check about the decision I made to go with CHI) that is nothing more than hiding your head in the sand. While you may choose to do that; others do not (and) do appreciate the information.

If you look thru the postings- many have shared similar stories. Be open to what is and be prepared if need be (given) how this agency runs their programs.

Best to you and your journey to bring your child home.

Hello,
We are a 2006 Family in Kaliningrad WAITING TO ADOPT . We too are waiting for our Child. I look at the other Agencies and see the same thing as Children's Hope International. All are trying to get referrals to match with their Families. I understand that many feel that change in Staff is alarming. Although, any business or Adoption Agency will have to make changes to survive in todays economy. It is more noticeable in a open agency such as CHI. This is a non profit Christian Adoption Agency and they give large amount of money to Orphanages all over the world. I believe they are doing all that they can do to get the Adoption world back open.
I have always had my calls returned to me and most all of my questions answered that could be answered. My rep even calls and emails me in her off hours or on weekends. I believe that they have the best intentions at heart to give every person their Forever Family that is signed with them or more to find their way to CHI's door. It would be easy to be mad at them although, I dont think they have done everything wrong. Everyone cant be pleased with them all the time. I look at all the info and see that If they can match up someone with a Child they do - I know it is awesome for the rep to be able to make that call to tell the Family all about their new addition.
Believe me I know its hard, although I have searched other agencies and they seem to have the same problems. Its easy to get upset and be angry at someone. Our agency didn't make accreditation come about to stop our adoptions - it did everything to get it to start up again. There is a new programs in Russia for their citizens to Adopt or Foster their Russian born babies. This has lowered the amount of available children to become up for international adoption.
We would have put 5 stars if our Adoption was finished.
We are hoping for our phone to ring and bring us that long desired call. I wish that for all of you too. I know each Family has to do what is best for them.
Good luck and God Bless. Try to stay at peace.