UPDATE ON THE HAITI ORPHANS CRISIS:

UPDATE ON THE HAITI ORPHANS CRISIS:

 

I.  The following Emergency Bulletin is from Kristen Hammond, the creator of http://www.HumanitarianParole.com

 

Humanitarian paroles have been authorized by DHS, but some children in the adoption process have still received no food, water or medical supplies.  Now is the time to contact your legislators to ask for aid to be directed to children in orphanages, that a safe staging area be created for Haitian children being adopted ...while they wait for processing and that the government send more people to Haiti to help process these children.

It's time to contact our members of Congress/White House/State Department/DHS AGAIN to bring these children home to the US.

 

Sample letter Addressing the Health and Safety of Children in Haiti:

On January 18, 2010, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano granted humanitarian parole to many of the Haitian children being adopted by United States citizens. While I applaud this measure, many of these children are still in Haitian orphanages which to date have not received any humanitarian aid such as food, water or a safe area to sleep. These children will not survive if they do not receive help. I ask you to contact the State Department and the USCIS on my behalf and request that:

1. Aid be directed to orphanages that have made repeated requests for assistance and are in dire need, 2. A safe staging area be identified where children in the adoption process may wait for processing for humanitarian paroles and immigrant visas so that their medical needs may be met, 3. That those children already processed with a humanitarian parole or an immigrant visa be given immediate assistance in leaving Haiti, and 4. That the State Department and USCIS detail additional personnel to the Embassy in Port au Prince to facilitate faster processing.

We are already beginning to lose children in Haiti due to the delays. Please act swiftly so we do not lose more.

Here is a link where you can find your State Representatives' Contact Information

By the way, if you only have a few minutes, you can just copy & paste this letter and e-mail it to your two senators and your congressman.  Their e-mail addresses are included in the contact information provided by the link.  I just did mine and it took less than five minutes.

II.  The following is another idea from another member of the group, Mark Howerton:  Call your County Social Service office, Governors office, and Congressmen offices and tell them you'd be willing to 'take in' and/or 'Foster' a Haitian child who is in the US on HP. There's no doubt that one of the main questions lawmakers are asking is "where will the children go who are not already place...d in an adoptive home?" Your call may help them answer that question and expedite getting these children to safety.

 

III.  For those who are interested in adopting Orphans from Haiti right now these two organizations seem to the best way to go:

a. Bethany Christian Services - To Start A Haiti Adoption Process

b. The Archdiocese of Miami

Tammy Cavaness Shelton Right now as far as she knows that the Catholic church of Miami and Bethany Christian services are the only ways to possibly get a emergency placement for these children. If anyone else knows how...I would love more options but will continue to try these.

Jessica Zerwas Brockardt And the Archdiocese of Miami says "People willing to provide resources or are interested in adoption or foster care for this disaster can email Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami at info@ccadm.org."  Here is a link to the Archdiocese of Miami.

 

Here are a couple of blogs explaining this extreme emergency:

CHILDREN ARE DYING IN HAITI - PLEASE HELP BRING THEM HOME!

URGENT PLEA FOR HELP AT THIS HOUR - HAITI BABIES NEED WATER NOW!!!

I have received several e-mails and comments from many of you wanting to help.  The support of the Active Rain Community has been incredible.  I am proud to be part of this amazing community, my Active Rain Family!  What can I say?  I love you guys!  You give me Hope!  Thank you! 

 

Mirela