Watch for Updates on Orphans, Foster Sit coming soon

I've been gathering reports, updates from Orphan directors, aid groups, and trolling the Ushahidi, Twitter posts and media stories - to try to collect what we know about the impact of the earthquake on Orphanages/Orphans, and their status.

As it stands, every few minutes brings a report of such despair regarding children who are orphaned, ill, without adults, without access to aid - even as other groups rush to help them. It's very, very hard to keep on top of the many posts. My own effort is to try to streamline the reports/updates and respond to the desperate adults who are trying to help these children in Haiti, and the people who care for them around the world, as well as the Haitian government and UN/US authorities charged with responding to the orphan crisis that has erupted since last Tuesday.

What's being done?

Right now, the US State Dept, HHS,and UN agencies in charge of Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URM), as well as the US Conference of Catholic Bishops -- and the Archdiocese and the Catholic Charities network --have been working hard to develop an emergency multi-agency coordinated plan for expediting the transfer of orphans into safer locations, helping those with pending adoptions, etc.

A plan is in development for a a possible expedited transfer of many Haitian orphans to the US, into safety, and then, possible adoption and foster care situations. But there are norms and rules to follow and those in charge must be certain that any plan is legal, and reflects the needs of the children first and foremost. A huge number of inquiries have flooded in from around the world of individuals and groups who want to help orphans, and to adopt, foster, etc.

Many people, including those with pending adoptions, are desperately trying to reach their adoptive children. They want to know where to get or share information. I hope this blog helps. I'll be posting key agency contacts and am passing on information that comes to me with appropriate authorities.

I'll be posting a full report on all this as soon as I can firm up the still-fluid details a bit.

Meantime, please spread the word that I'm monitoring the Orphans situation and would like to hear from anyone with updated information about this.
Please email me at talktothefuture@gmail.com and cc my colleague Julie Sutherland at julieseasuth@gmail.com.

Note: We've just developed an online database form in English, French, Kreyol and Spanish to collect this information in an organized manner. We'll post this form soon, here at the blog. It to allow any of you to directly fill in the information you may have or get. We'll make sure the appropriate authorities are informed as soon as we get this information.

Thanks and again, please Spread the Word. Many vulnerable children's lives hang in the balance of our actions now.

Again - men anpil, chaj pa lourd.