Colombian Culture, Colombia Adoption and Raising Colombian Kids

ICBF (as of a couple of years ago) requires that Casas Privadas or Instituciones Autorizadas (as they are called in Colombia) list, on the ICBF website, the prices that they charge people in order to pursue an adoption. Yesterday, the latesest list was posted. There are two columns for each Casa. The first is what they charge in Colombian Pesos to Colombian families. Colombian families are required to go through workshops and training, as well as receive a homestudy through the Casa. They must pay fees to the Casa for this service. If, however, the Colombian family chooses to adopt through ICBF, the service of training and homestudy is FREE. Unlike here, if a family receives training from ICBF the Casas do not accept it. Therefore, a paid training is the only option if a Colombian family wishes to adopt from a Casa Privada. Additionally, while the training with ICBF is free, so is the adoption process. The only fees a Colombian family must pay are to a private attorney (typica...

According to the year end statistics, the overall number of adoptions was down last year. From a near record breaking year in 2010, with a total of 3,058 adoptions, to 2,713 total adoptions in 2011. I find it interesting the these statistics show drops in adoptions during 2 years of change in Colombia. In 1993, Colombia began implementing Hague rules and suffered a drop in the numbers of Adoptions. In mid 2006, the Authorized Institutions aka Casas Privadas came under greater scrutiny because of "irregular practices". This resulted in changes in late 2006 and 2007, which in turn, led to fewer adoptions. Clearly, Colombian adoptions have rebounded, and today, there is more confidence in the adoption process.

So far in 2011, Special Needs Adoptions have made up 55% of all the adoptions in Colombia (534 of the 977 adoptions). THIS IS AMAZING!!!!! To gain some perspective, look at the list below: In 2002, there were 349 -- 13% of all adoptions. In 2003, there were 392 -- 22% of all adoptions. In 2004, there were 356 -- 15% of all adoptions. In 2005, there were 383 -- 15% of all adoptions. In 2006, there were 608 -- 22% of all adoptions. In 2007, there were 776 -- 25% of all adoptions. In 2008, there were 730 -- 31% of all adoptions. In 2009, there were 824 -- 30% of all adoptions. In 2010, there were 889 -- 30% of all adoptions. What is changing? As waiting lists for healthy children have become longer, many adoptive families have become more willing to look into other options, and this includes adopting larger sibling groups, older children, and children with physical or mental disabilities or special health issues (like HIV +). Here are a few blogs from families that adopted THIS...

Another way of seeing the growth of Colombians adopting form Colombia is to see the statistics from this year. Not only are there 124 Colombian families waiting to adopt, but so far this year Colombians have adopted more children than foreign families. Here are the numbers: Since January 1, 2011: 551 children have been adopted by Colombian families while 960 children have been adopted by Foreign families This means that 57.4% of all the adoptions in Colombia so far this year have been to Colombian families. Just for perspective: In 2010, 53% of the adoptions were to Colombians. In 2003, 35% of the adoptions were to Colombians. In 1991, 28% of the adoptions were to Colombians. In 20 years, the number of Colombians adopting form Colombia has more than doubled.

Yesterday, ICBF published its latest Adoption Statistics Report. Today, I want to focus on the number of families on the waiting list. Unfortunately, the report does not divide those waiting into the age group they are waiting for, but it does show how many families are left in each year. According to the report, there are 151 COLOMBIAN families waiting for referrals. While there are 2,984 foreign families who are also waiting. Below is the graph that shows how many foreign families are left on the waiting list for each of the last 5 years.

The new report also shows some interesting trends in Colombians Adopting From Colombia. First, some history. Back in the early 1990's, very few Colombians were adopting, and most of them were very demanding about wanting "only and infant in perfect health". In 1991, 2,893 children were placed for adoption. This number included the 1,926 placed by ICBF and the 967 placed by the Casa Privadas. At that time, ICBF placed 529 with Colombian families and 1,397 with foreign families. The Casas Privadas placed 77 with Colombian Families and 890 with foreign families. 1991 = 28% of Adoptions by ICBF were to Colombian Families 1991 = 8% of Adoptions by Casas Privadas to Colombian Families 2003 = 35% of Adoptions by ICBF were to Colombians Families 2003 = 11 % of Adoptions by Casas Privadas to Colombian Families Later statistics combined the ICBF and Casa Privada Numbers in one single statistic. SO here are what the combined statistics look like. 1991 = 20% to Colombian Famili...

Recently, ICBF posted their report of the adoption statistics for 2010. I found them very interesting. Today and tomorrow, I will highlight some aspects of the report. In 2010, there were a total of 3,058 adoptions in Colombia. The surprising statistic is to see how many of those adoptions were of children with special needs -- 889. Keep in mind the definition of SPECIAL NEEDS ADOPTION in COLOMBIA: Children with disabilities (physical, mental or health issues), children over 8 years of age, and sibling groups of 3 or more. In 2003-2004, Colombia implemented their Hague compliant adoption program, with goals to increase adoptions of children with Special Needs. The cool thing is to see how their desire to meet their goals has actually brought about as increase in Special Needs Adoptions. Look at the statistics for children with Special Needs that found forever homes: In 2002, there were 349 -- 13% of all adoptions. In 2003, there were 392 -- 22% of all adoptions. In 2004, there were ...

It just happens than on Monday, there was a report in El Tiempo about the increase in abandonment and therefore in adoptions in the department of Boyacá. It is a sad statement on the state of social affairs to recognize that fewer children are able to stay with their birth families. Yet, in a strange paradox, it marks a positive change for adoptive families who are waiting. On a personal note, I think that the most amazing thing is that social stigmas about adoption within Colombia are clearly changing. Here is a translation/summary, and a link to the article. In the last 10 years, children placed for adoption from Boyacá has increased by 60%. In 2000, only 53 children from the department were placed for adoption. In 2009, there were 85, the majority of whom were placed with adoptive parents in or from Colombia. According to Gloria Esperanza Medina Alba, Defensora de Familia (Family Advocate) for ICBF in Boyacá, the increase in the necessity for adoption has caused a great deal of worr...

As of March 31, 2009, there were 7,937 children and adolescents that have official declarations of abandonment and belong to the category SPECIAL NEEDS. This number is down from October's report of 8,211. Special Needs in Colombia is defined as children with disabilities, children over 8 years of age, and sibling groups of 3 or more. On the report by ICBF, from which I obtained these statistics, it states: These children are available immediately and families requesting children in this category will receive PRIORITY and PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT . Here is the breakdown of the 7,937 adoptable children in the Special Needs Category: 1,063 ---- children in good health younger than 7 that belong to large sibling groups down from 1,319 in October 543 ---- children younger than 7 with a physical or mental disability up from 504 in October 2,359 -- children between 8-17, some belong to sibling groups down from 2,843 in October 1,869 -- children between 8-17 with a physical or mental disabi...

ICBF recently posted an update of their adoption statistics. Below is a summary of those statistics which were current as of April 30, 2010. But first, for comparison, here are the final stats for 2009 : 2,753 children of all ages placed for adoption 1,153 were placed with Colombian families 1,600 were placed with Foreign families Here is what we can learn from these statistics: #1 -- the number of children being placed for adoption seems to be stablizing around 2700 per year. 2008........... 2009............ As of April 30, 2010 2,542..............2,753......................895 #2 -- the number of Colombian families adopting children also appears to be stablizing around to between 1,000-1,100 per year. 2008...........2009.............As of April 30, 2010 1,019..............1,153......................363 -- with only 217 on the waiting list Of the 895 children placed for adoption in the first quarter of 2010, 128 were placed by Casas Privadas de Adopción. If this trend continues, the C...

ICBF recently updated their adoption statistics. Below is a summary of those statistics which were current as of October 30, 2009. But first, for comparison, here are the stats for 2008 : 2,542 children of all ages placed for adoption 1,019 were placed with Colombian families 1,523 were placed with Foreign families Stats from January 1, 2009 and Ocotber 30, 2009: 2,174 children placed for adoption in Colombia 909 to Colombian families 1,265 to Foreign families. Of these, 311 were placed by Casas Privadas and 1,863 were placed by ICBF. ICBF would like to point out that as of October 30, 2009, there were 8,211 children and adolescents that have official declarations of adoptability and belong to the category SPECIAL NEEDS. Special Needs in Colombia is defined as children with disabilities, children over 8 years of age, and sibling groups of 3 or more. These children are available immediately and families requesting children in this category will receive PRIORITY and PREFERENTIAL TREATME...

Last week, I read a great article in El Tiempo about how an internal ICBF change in that region is getting children out of the system and into adoptive homes more quickly. So far this year (as of September) 114 children from the department of Valle del Cauca have found new homes. This is the same number that found adoptive homes in ALL of last year. Here is a summary translation of the article. All night he slept, covered from head to toe with a blanket. Only his hand slipped outside of his cocoon to take that of his mother, confirming that she would still be there when he awoke. This was the first time that Pepe (named changed) had shared a bed with a mother and father. In his nine years of life, he had never felt such a marvelous sensation. It was the sealing of a pact that had opened the door to the home he had waited for since he was born. Even though expressing what he feels is difficult because he has been deaf since birth, nothing is too difficult for this little boy -- not...

The newspaper El Tiempo recently had a article that discussed the top reasons why children in the department of Cundimarca (the cities and area surrounding Bogotá) end up in ICBF care. According to the article, the number one reason children come into the care of ICBF Cundinamarca is physical abuse and neglect. The report states that in 2008, 3,178 children were referred to ICBF for reasons of physical abuse. So far this year, 2,496 children have been referred to ICBF for the same reason. According to the Infant and Adolescent Police, the cities of Soacha, Chía and Facatativa are the cities with the highest number of reported abuse cases in Cundinamarca. http://www.eltiempo.com/colombia/cundinamarca/ARTICULO-WEB-PLANTILLA_NOTA_INTERIOR-6309387.html

ICBF recently updated their adoption statistics. Below is a summary of those statistics which were current as of July 1, 2009 . In 2008, there were 2,542 children of all ages placed for adoption. Of which, 1,019 were placed with Colombian families and 1,523 were placed with Foreign families. It would be important to note that COLOMBIAN families are families in Colombia or families with at least 1 Colombian parent living abroad. Between January 1, 2009 and July 1, 2009 , there have been 1,227 children placed for adoption in Colombia -- 524 to Colombian families and 703 to foreign families. Of these, 174 were placed by Casas Privadas and 1,053 were placed by ICBF . ICBF would like to point out that as of July 1, 2009, there were 8,127 children and adolescents that have official declarations of adoptability and belong to the category SPECIAL NEEDS. Special Needs in Colombia is defined as children with disabilities, children over 8 years of age, and sibling groups of 3 or more. Thes...

Today in Colombia, there are 61,121 children that have been removed from their biological families because ICBF considers that they are in danger. Children that have been removed from their families have experienced one or more of the following situations: sexual abuse, physical abuse, child labor, abandonment, neglect, or life on the streets. The number of children under the care of ICBF has increased in the last three years. In 2007, the number was over 48,000. In 2008, it was over 54,000. Even with this staggering increase, the national director of ICBF, Elvira Forero, believes that there are many more children who are in a vulnerable situation. She hopes that people who recognize abuse and neglect will contact ICBF officials in their area. Despite the plea for people to be on the look out for abuse and neglect, the director explains that ICBF's goal is not to find new homes for the children, but to educate the parents and hope that the children can safely be returned to either...

On December 14 th , 2008, El Tiempo published and article about 2,678 people, who although they were abandoned as children, were never adopted. This is the number of people who are now adults and yet remain dependent on ICBF for their care. The article states that of the 2,678, only 1,074 have some sort of disability. Here is a summary , in English, of the article. The article follows the life of Luz Ameida , who became part of the ICBF system when she was 8 year old -- now 27. She is paralyzed on one side of her body. She recently received her diploma and hopes to find a job in a supermarket and become more independent. On average, 8,000 children ages 0-18 are on the waiting list for adoption. Of these 5,749 are considered SPECIAL NEEDS because of disability, age (over 8), or because they are part of a sibling group. Others are not adopted because they are of African American or Indigenous decent. The article mentions that the KIDSAVE program in the US and the Private Adoption Ho...

In November, ICBF had a conference where they annouced the 2008 adoption statistics . As of October 31, 2008, 2,093 children had been adopted . Of these, 831 were adopted by Colombian families and 1,262 by non-Colombian families. 2007 was reported as a year with the highest number of adoptions a total of 3,077 -- with 1,175 children adopted by Colombians and 1,902 adopted by foreign families. Once again, in 2008, Italy topped the list as the destination spot for Colombian children with 354 Colombianitos going to Italy. Next on the list was France with 249, and then the US with 215 adoptions. The end of year totals for 2007 were: Italy 444, France 406, and the US 339. There were 598 special needs adoptions this year with 917 children still waiting . Special needs are considered to be children with mental or physical disabilities, sibling groups, or children older than 8 years of age.

In Colombia, October has been declared National Adoption Month. So, I thought I would share with you some information and statistics about Colombian adoption. In Colombia , as of September 30, 2007, there were 34, 795 abandoned children . Of these, there were 7,386 available for adoption . The rest were in the process of being officially declared in abandonment. The department with the greatest number of adoptable children was Santander with 724, followed by Antioquia with 710, Caldas with 630, and Valle with 628. As of October 2007 , ICBF had placed 2,242 children for adoption . Of these, only 840 were placed with Colombian families. The rest were sent to Europe and the US. Surprisingly, Italy tops the destination chart for Colombian children with 301, followed by France with 286, and the US with 224. Colombians appear to prefer adopting young children as 40 percent of the children adopted were under 2 years of age and only 12 percent were over 10 years of age. In an interview the dir...