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Guatemala
Our Guatemalan program was established in 1991 when our agency was just a “baby” itself. Since then we have placed about 300 children. The selection process of adoption attorneys to work with was done personally by one of our founders, Ann Berkley, the Director of International Adoptions. It took over 6 weeks of many, many in-person interviews. Ann has since retired and Vicki Paulson has been the Guatemala and China Coordinator for the past three years. During her travels to Guatemala, Vicki has been able meet the attorneys and form a close business relationship.
Today we proudly work with two very reputable attorneys who have proved their expertise and integrity over and over again. We know of their compassion for the birth mothers and responsible supervision of the babies while they are in foster care. We enjoy a wonderful working relationship with them.
The infants who are referred for adoption usually are born to single women employed as domestics who are unable to support the child. The babies are usually placed in foster homes right after birth. Each attorney uses his or her own foster families. It has been our experience that the foster care of these children is excellent and the babies seem to make the transition to their new families quite easily due to the great socialization they receive when in care. Their ethnic background can vary from European (“Latinos”) to Mayan Indian (“Indigenos”).
Listed below are answers to the most frequently asked questions concerning our adoption program in Guatemala.
1. How much time does it take? Approximately 10-14 months from time of application. (Please keep in mind there are variables over which Heritage has no control that may affect the time frame, such as how long it takes to have your home study done, get the required documents assembled and legalized, adoption protocol in Guatemala, changes in U.S. Immigration regulations, etc.)
2. What are the ages of the children available for adoption? Newborn infants who are usually relinquished by their birth mothers within a few days of birth. The children are placed in foster care during the adoption process which usually takes 5-9 months.
3. What is the health of these children? Our experience is that the Guatemalan children seem to be in excellent health, even by American standards. However, the health reports and health standards are often substandard according to our American custom. You will receive a Certificate of Health from a Guatemalan doctor, both at the time your child is assigned to you and at the time you exit the country with your child.
4. Who qualifies to adopt from Guatemala? Generally, married couples or single women, with a favorable home study, 25 years or older, with or without children qualify.
5. What restrictions are there on adoption from Guatemala? None that haven’t otherwise been mentioned.
6. Is travel involved? It is preferable to travel to Guatemala City to receive your child, which takes 2 – 3 days.
7. Can you request a male or female child? Yes, we have noticed that there seems to be almost a 75% preference for girls in international adoption by adoptive parents. As more boys are relinquished at birth in Guatemala, you may experience some delay in receiving your referral if you specify a girl.
8. What will you know about the child before going to Guatemala? You will receive a copy of the child’s birth and health certificates and a baby photograph. If the child has any illnesses while in foster care, you will be notified. Other than routine well-child checkups you will be responsible for any emergency care while the child is in foster care.
