Colombian Culture, Colombia Adoption and Raising Colombian Kids

GOOD NEWS!!! There was a new wait list posted today, February 13, 2011. Remember, the ICBF Wait List applies to adoptions through ICBF only -- not through CASAS PRIVADAS. It also ONLY APPLIES TO NON-COLOMBIAN FAMILIES. It DOES NOT reflect special needs children. The definition of special needs are children with disabilities, children over 8 years of age, and sibling groups of 3 or more. The dates that have moved are in BOLD. Also, this list only reflects that there are no more dossiers at the national office prior to the date shown. Dossiers from before January 2008 in the 0-23 months category, for example, may still need a referral, but they have already been sent to a region and are no longer waiting at the national office. Age of Child ------- Date of Application Approval by ICBF Child 0-12 months ------ Jan - 2008 Child 13 - 23 months ---- Jan - 2008 Child 2 - 3 years -------- May - 2007 Child 2 years ----------- Feb - 2008 Child 3 years ----------- Feb - 2008 Child 3 - 4 years ---...

GOOD NEWS!!! There was a new wait list posted today, November 24, 2011. I hope that this is a sign that we will be getting a new wait list more often, but I will not hold my breath. For now, there has not been much movement, however for those waiting for slightly older children there has been some movement in the SIBLINGS category. Remember, the ICBF Wait List applies to adoptions through ICBF only -- not through CASAS PRIVADAS. It also ONLY APPLIES TO NON-COLOMBIAN FAMILIES. It DOES NOT reflect special needs children. The definition of special needs are children with disabilities, children over 8 years of age, and sibling groups of 3 or more. EVERY CATEGORY HAS ADVANCED THIS TIME!!! The dates that have moved are in BOLD. Also, this list only reflects that there are no more dossiers at the national office prior to the date shown. Dossiers from before December 2007 in the 0-23 months category, for example, may still need a referral, but they have already been sent to a region and are...

This most recent Wait List was published by ICBF on October 21, 2011. Once again, there has been a lot of movement. Great news for adoptive parents and for Colombian Children!! Remember, the ICBF Wait List applies to adoptions through ICBF only -- not through CASAS PRIVADAS. It also ONLY APPLIES TO NON-COLOMBIAN FAMILIES. It DOES NOT reflect special needs children. The definition of special needs are children with disabilities, children over 8 years of age, and sibling groups of 3 or more. EVERY CATEGORY HAS ADVANCED THIS TIME!!! The dates that have moved are in BOLD . Also, this list only reflects that there are no more dossiers at the national office prior to the date shown. Dossiers from before December 2007 in the 0-23 months category, for example, may still need a referral, but they have already been sent to a region and are no longer waiting at the national office. Age of Child ------- Date of Application Approval by ICBF Child 0-12 months ------ Dec - 2007 Child 13 - 23 months ...

If you compare this new report with that from the final 2010 report, you will see that the number of families waiting has decreased and increased in the following way: THERE ARE NOW: 0 families from 2006 DOWN 19 families. 2007 DOWN 94 families. 2008 DOWN 43 families. 2009 DOWN 45 families. 2010 DOWN 24 families. 2011 UP 121 families. What happens to these families? One of three things is happening. 1- The family gets a referral for the age range they requested. 2- The family leaves the list or puts their application on hold. This can happen because of pregnancy, another adoption (domestic or foreign), family issues (divorce, job loss, weariness, etc.). 3- The family changes age range or sibling category. This has been happening quite a lot in Europe. Families that have been waiting for a couple of years realize that by changing to the sibling category their referral will come faster. So, they change categories and move to near the front of the sibling list...

This most recent Wait List was published by ICBF on August 19, 2011. Once again, there has been a lot of movement. Great news for adoptive parents and for Colombian Children!! Remember, the ICBF Wait List applies to adoptions through ICBF only -- not through CASAS PRIVADAS. It also ONLY APPLIES TO NON-COLOMBIAN FAMILIES. It DOES NOT reflect special needs children. The definition of special needs are children with disabilities, children over 8 years of age, and sibling groups of 3 or more. Several dates have advanced again this time!!! YEAH!!! The dates that have moved are in BLUE. Also, this list only reflects that there are no more dossiers at the national office prior to the date shown. Dossiers from before October 2007 in the 0-23 months category, for example, may still need a referral, but they have already been sent to a region and are no longer waiting at the national office. Age of Child ------- Date of Application Approval by ICBF Child 0-12 months -----...

Yesterday we learned that there are more Colombians (living both inside Colombia and Expats) adopting form Colombia. While this is SUPER news for Colombian children, it does mean longer wait times for foreign families, though at this time only slightly because we are not talking hundreds of Colombians. Today, let's take a look at the number of families currently on ICBF's Foreign Family Wait List. DRUMROLL PLEASE. 2,880 Here is how that 2,880 is broken down. 227 families waiting since 2007 721 families waiting since 2008 707 families waiting since 2009 745 families waiting since 2010 480 families waiting from this year. ICBF's report does not show how many families are waiting in each age range category, though this would be helpful. It is possible, however, to look at the last posted wait list and see that all age ranges from 0-4 years 11 months had families waiting from 2007. Even those waiting for 2 siblings 0-4 and 0-5 were still in 2007 on the...

ICBF recently published its mid-year report (July 29, 2011) on Adoption statistics. I intend to highlight this report over the next few days. Today, I wanted to adress the number of families currently approved to adopt through ICBF. As of July 29, 2011, there were 124 Colombian families on the Colombian wait list . This list is prioritized over all other lists. In years past, there was practically no wait list for Colombians. When we processed our adoption in 2006, there was NO COLOMBIAN FAMILY WAIT LIST. The referrals were practically instantaneous. For example, we submitted our paperwork to ICBF and were approved within 2 weeks. The week following our approval our dossier was sent to the Bogotá regional office and the next week we had a referral -- 4 weeks total. Now, that was considered fast even then, but most of the Colombian families we knew at the time were going through the same process in no more than 6-8 weeks. Today, however, it seems to be taking 3-6 months f...

This most recent Wait List was published by ICBF on May 10, 2011. Once again, there has been a lot of movement. Great news for adoptive parents and for Colombian Children!! Remember, the ICBF Wait List applies to adoptions through ICBF only -- not through CASAS PRIVADAS. It also ONLY APPLIES TO NON-COLOMBIAN FAMILIES. It DOES NOT reflect special needs children. The definition of special needs are children with disabilities, children over 8 years of age, and sibling groups of 3 or more. Several dates have advanced again this time!!! YEAH!!! The dates that have moved are in BLUE. Also, this list only reflects that there are no more dossiers at the national office prior to the date shown. Dossiers from before July 2007 in the 0-23 months category, for example, may still need a referral, but they have already been sent to a region and are no longer waiting at the national office. Age of Child ------- Date of Application Approval by ICBF Child 0-12 months ------ Aug - 2007 Child 13 - 23 mon...

This most recent Wait List was published by ICBF on March 14, 2011. Once again, there has been a lot of movement. Great news for adoptive parents and for Colombian Children!! Remember, the ICBF Wait List applies to adoptions through ICBF only -- not through CASAS PRIVADAS. It also ONLY APPLIES TO NON-COLOMBIAN FAMILIES. It DOES NOT reflect special needs children. The definition of special needs are children with disabilities, children over 8 years of age, and sibling groups of 3 or more. Several dates have advanced again this time!!! YEAH!!! The dates that have moved are in BLUE. Also, this list only reflects that there are no more dossiers at the national office prior to the date shown. Dossiers from before Jun 2007 in the 0-23 months category, for example, may still need a referral, but they have already been sent to a region and are no longer waiting at the national office. Age of Child ------- Date of Application Approval by ICBF Child 0-12 months ------ Jul - 2007 Child 13 - 23 mo...

I got the new wait list Friday -- gracias Nina :). This most recent Wait List was published by ICBF on January 13, 2011. Once again, there has been a lot of movement. Great news for adoptive parents and for Colombian Children!! Remember, the ICBF Wait List applies to adoptions through ICBF only -- not through CASAS PRIVADAS. It also ONLY APPLIES TO NON-COLOMBIAN FAMILIES. It DOES NOT reflect special needs children. The definition of special needs are children with disabilities, children over 8 years of age, and sibling groups of 3 or more. Many dates have advanced again this time!!! YEAH!!! The dates that have moved are in BLUE. Also, this list only reflects that there are no more dossiers at the national office prior to the date shown. Dossiers from before Jun 2007 in the 0-23 months category, for example, may still need a referral, but they have already been sent to a region and are no longer waiting at the national office. Age of Child ------- Date of Application Approval by ICBF Ch...

I got the new wait list today -- gracias Nina :). I thought that you wouldn't mind if I preempted Friday's post for the new Wait List. I am also posting it Thursday night for Friday's post. This most recent Wait List was published by ICBF on November 10, 2010. Once again, there has been a lot of movement. Great news for adoptive parents and for Colombian Children!! Remember, the ICBF Wait List applies to adoptions through ICBF only -- not through CASAS PRIVADAS. It also ONLY APPLIES TO NON-COLOMBIAN FAMILIES. It DOES NOT reflect special needs children. The definition of special needs are children with disabilities, children over 8 years of age, and sibling groups of 3 or more. Nearly all of the dates have advanced again this time!!! YEAH!!! The dates that have moved are in BLUE. Also, this list only reflects that there are no more dossiers at the national office prior to the date shown. Dossiers from before Feb 2007 in the 0-23 months category, for example, may still need a...

Yesterday, I wrote about the age range changes for adoptive parents. Today I wanted to discuss what the new "lineamiento" or guidelines say about special needs adoptions. First, ANYONE (including single parents) OF ANY AGE over 25 can be considered for the adoption of a child with Special Needs -- no matter the age of the child in question. Second, people wishing to adopt children with special needs RECEIVE ALL PRIORITY. Meaning that their paperwork will be processed before any other people. Third, Adoptive Parents requesting a child with Special Needs are considered 1st Priority and therefore are NOT placed on a wait list at all upon approval. Fourth, ICBF states that once the dossier is approved by them, the referral process will take no more than 3 months. Finally, Special Needs children are defined as the following: a. Sibling groups of 3 or more. b. Sibling groups of 2, when one is older than 8 years of age. c. A single, healthy child, if older than 8 years of age. d....

ICBF recently announced a major change in the adoptions process. This will significantly impact adoptive families of Colombian origin. In turn, this will also have an impact on foreign families who are on the waiting list to adopt. Let me explain. Previously all adoptive parents -- Colombian or Foreign --wishing to adopt a child younger than 36 months (0-3 years) needed to be 38 years of age or younger. Now, while foreign adoptive parents must still be younger than 38 years of age, Colombian adoptive parents may be up to 40 years of age to qualify to adopt from this youngest age category. Additional changes include: Colombian families 41-45 years of age may adopt a child 3-4 years of age, while foreign families must be 39-41 years of age. Colombian families wishing to adopt a 5-6 year old will be between 46-50 years of age, and foreign families for this same category must be between 42-45 years of age. Finally, Colombians up to 54 years of age may adopt a child as young as 7 years of ...

The most recent Wait List was published by ICBF on August 30, 2010. Once again, there has been a lot of movement. Great news for adoptive parents and for Colombian Children!! Remember, the ICBF Wait List applies to adoptions through ICBF only -- not through CASAS PRIVADAS. It also ONLY APPLIES TO NON-COLOMBIAN FAMILIES. It DOES NOT reflect special needs children. The definition of special needs are children with disabilities, children over 8 years of age, and sibling groups of 3 or more. All dates have advanced this time!!! YEAH!!! Also, this list only reflects that there are no more dossiers at the national office prior to the date shown. Dossiers from before Feb 2007 in the 0-23 months category, for example, may still need a referral, but they have already been sent to a region and are no longer at the national office. Age of Child ------- Date of Application Approval by ICBF Child 0-12 months ------ Feb - 2007 Child 13 - 23 months ---- Feb - 2007 Child 2 years ----------- Jan - 2006...

The most recent Wait List was published by ICBF on June 18, 2010. Once again, there has been a lot of movement. Great news for adoptive parents!! Remember, the ICBF Wait List applies to adoptions through ICBF only -- not through CASAS PRIVADAS. It also ONLY APPLIES TO NON-COLOMBIAN FAMILIES. It DOES NOT reflect special needs children. The definition of special needs are children with disabilities, children over 8 years of age, and sibling groups of 3 or more. All dates that have advanced I am putting in BOLD and RED. Also, this list only reflects that there are no more dossiers at the national office prior to the date shown. Dossiers from before Oct 2006 in the 0-23 months category, for example, may still need a referral, but they have already been sent to a region and are no longer at the national office. Age of Child ------- Date of Application Approval by ICBF Child 0-12 months ------ Oct - 2006 Child 13 - 23 months ---- Oct -2006 Child 2 years ----------- Dec - 2005 Child 2 - 3 ye...

With their latest statistical report ICBF also shed some light on the number of families that are currently waiting for a referral. It is not particularly helpful as there is no break down as to how many families wait in each age group, however, you will note that there are a lot of potential adoptive families waiting with you. As of April 31, 2010, there are: 217 --- Colombian families waiting for a referral 3,350 - Foreign families waiting for a referral Total: 3, 567 families waiting The following information helps you to see how long the wait can be. Remember, the wait starts from the time your application to ICBF is APPROVED and NOT the day you submitted it to ICBF for approval. There are many families waiting for referrals. Approved in Year: 2005 -----21 families still waiting for a referral 2006 -----298 families still waiting for a referral 2007 -----749 families still waiting for a referral 2008 -----1,036 families still waiting for a referral 2009 -----968 families still...

The most recent Wait List was published by ICBF on April 9, 2010. Joyfully, there has been a lot of movement again this time. Once again, the ICBF Wait List applies to adoptions through ICBF only -- not through CASAS PRIVADAS. It also ONLY APPLIES TO NON COLOMBIAN FAMILIES. It DOES NOT reflect special needs children. The definition of special needs are children with disabilities, children over 8 years of age, and sibling groups of 3 or more. All dates that have advanced I am putting in BOLD and RED. Also, this list only reflects that there are no more dossiers at the national office prior to the date shown. Dossiers from before May 2006 in the 0-23 months category, for example, may still need a referral, but they have already been sent to a region and are no longer at the national office. Age of Child ------- Date of Application Approval by ICBF Child 0-12 months ------ Jul - 2006 Child 13 - 23 months ---- Jul -2006 Child 2 years ----------- Oct - 2005 Child 3 years ----------- Feb - ...

The most recent Wait List was published by ICBF on February 1, 2010. Joyfully, there has been a lot of movement. Once again, the ICBF Wait List applies to adoptions through ICBF only -- not through CASAS PRIVADAS. It also ONLY APPLIES TO NON COLOMBIAN FAMILIES. It DOES NOT reflect special needs children. The definition of special needs are children with disabilities, children over 8 years of age, and sibling groups of 3 or more. All dates that have advanced I am putting in BOLD and RED. Also, this list only reflects that there are no more dossiers at the national office prior to the date shown. Dossiers from before May 2006 in the 0-23 months category, for example, may still need a referral, but they have already been sent to a region and are no longer at the national office. Age of Child ------- Date of Application Approval by ICBF Child 0-12 months ------ May - 2006 Child 13 - 23 months ---- May -2006 Child 2 years ----------- Sep - 2005 Child 3 years ----------- Jan - 2006 Child 2 ...

As of October 30, 2009, there were 3,749 potential adoptive families that have been approved by ICBF to adopt. This number is down by 19 families from July. These are the families -- in Colombia and abroad -- that are currently on the WAIT LIST. The actual break down is Colombian families 205, foreign families 3,544. Remember, Colombian families (whether living in Colombia or ex-pat Colombians abroad) receive PRIORITY and PREFERENTIAL treatment. That means that the Colombian family will be considered for any available child BEFORE any foreign family. If the Adoptions Committee considers that the Colombian family makes the best match, then the available child is assigned to the Colombian family. If the Adoptions Committee does not think that the available child makes a good match with the Colombian family, other families are then considered. Some Colombian families (those living in Colombia) will remain in the Region where they processed they paperwork -- no matter how many children are...

The most recent Wait List was published by ICBF on November 23, 2009. Once again, the ICBF Wait List applies to adoptions through ICBF only -- not through CASAS PRIVADAS. It also ONLY APPLIES TO NON COLOMBIAN FAMILIES. It DOES NOT reflect special needs children. The definition of special needs are children with disabilities, children over 8 years of age, and sibling groups of 3 or more. There also has been limited movement, all dates that have advanced I am putting in BOLD and RED . Also, this list only reflects that there are no more dossiers at the national office prior to the date shown. Dossiers from before Jan 2006 in the 0-23 months category, for example, may still need a referral, but they have already been sent to a region and are no longer at the national office. Age of Child ------- Date of Application Approval by ICBF Child 0-12 months ------ Mar - 2006 Child 13 - 23 months ---- Mar -2006 Child 2 years ----------- Jul - 2005 Child 3 years ----------- Dec - 2005 Child 2 - 3 ...