We got an email today from Commonwealth stating that we are having the conference call this Thursday, August 21st at 4:00 pm with Gladney. This is our opportunity to ask any questions we have about the transition to Gladney. We were instructed to email the topics we would like to discuss. Of course I'm sure the #1 topic regards the money aspect of it...additional fees, whether they will cover the foreign fee we have already paid, etc. I assume the Taiwan program is a go. I guess we will find out on Thursday. I'll let you know how it goes!
Misty
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Still waiting
Sorry we don't have anything new to report. We have decided to see what options Gladney gives us and go from there. We're just praying they will be able to cover the foreign fees that we have already paid; although, I am expecting them to charge us agency/processing fees which could end up to be a few thousand dollars.
Please keep us in your prayers!
Shane and Misty
Please keep us in your prayers!
Shane and Misty
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Something else to focus on...
I think I posted a few months ago about going back to school. I took a class at a local community college during the summer to get into the medical field. At the time I was debating between Medical Coding or Medical Transcription and signed up for the medical terminology class which is needed for both programs. BTW - I made a B in the class! I am thrilled none the less because it was a tough course. Anyway, I have chosen Medical Transcription.
"Assistance with job placement is included. In fact, you receive 1 full year of follow-up and assistance with resumes, job leads, etc."
Not a bad deal if you ask me. I will also get to work from home and the pay is not bad.
We'll see....I'll give updates when I sign up for the program. This will keep me busy for a year. :)
Misty
"Assistance with job placement is included. In fact, you receive 1 full year of follow-up and assistance with resumes, job leads, etc."
Not a bad deal if you ask me. I will also get to work from home and the pay is not bad.
We'll see....I'll give updates when I sign up for the program. This will keep me busy for a year. :)
Misty
Monday, August 11, 2008
Trying to find good in bad news
Although this has been a horrific experience with Commonwealth I will again reiterate that I have met some awesome people while traveling along this winding road. God is great! :)
With that being said I found out through a yahoo group that Cathwel (the orphanage we are working with in Taiwan) requires a $10,000 fee to be paid to them when a referral is accepted. *For those of you who don't know (or forgot) what a referral is, it is basically when the birth mother chooses your family as the adoptive parents of her child. You have a choice on whether or not to accept that referral.*
Well, we paid 1/2 of that fee ($5000) to Commonwealth and assumed that the fee was being paid to Cathwel. Surprise! Apparently it wasn't. I guess Commonwealth was 'holding' the money for us. Oh yes, and now the money is gone and they are unable to refund it. BUT on the bright side of the situation, Gladney is supposedly going to cover that fee for us. We're praying they will!
So now we wait (some more) for Gladney to make the trip to Taiwan. What's another 3 or 4 weeks compared to 7 months, right? :)
To be continued!
Blessings,
Shane and Misty
With that being said I found out through a yahoo group that Cathwel (the orphanage we are working with in Taiwan) requires a $10,000 fee to be paid to them when a referral is accepted. *For those of you who don't know (or forgot) what a referral is, it is basically when the birth mother chooses your family as the adoptive parents of her child. You have a choice on whether or not to accept that referral.*
Well, we paid 1/2 of that fee ($5000) to Commonwealth and assumed that the fee was being paid to Cathwel. Surprise! Apparently it wasn't. I guess Commonwealth was 'holding' the money for us. Oh yes, and now the money is gone and they are unable to refund it. BUT on the bright side of the situation, Gladney is supposedly going to cover that fee for us. We're praying they will!
So now we wait (some more) for Gladney to make the trip to Taiwan. What's another 3 or 4 weeks compared to 7 months, right? :)
To be continued!
Blessings,
Shane and Misty
Friday, August 8, 2008
Thanks everyone
We just want to take time to show appreciation for every one's support and encouragement during this rough spot in the adoption.
I have kept myself busy with researching domestic adoptions and fostering...and I have also met some really awesome people who have inspired me to keep fighting for what I believe God wants us to do. Some of them have been down this road before and have offered great advice. I admire their courage and faithfulness.
Of course we have not made a final decision as to what we will do. I guess it all depends on the director of Gladney and their trip to Taiwan. It is all in God's hands...
Blessings,
Shane and Misty
I have kept myself busy with researching domestic adoptions and fostering...and I have also met some really awesome people who have inspired me to keep fighting for what I believe God wants us to do. Some of them have been down this road before and have offered great advice. I admire their courage and faithfulness.
Of course we have not made a final decision as to what we will do. I guess it all depends on the director of Gladney and their trip to Taiwan. It is all in God's hands...
Blessings,
Shane and Misty
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Gladney Center of Tx
We finally heard from Commonwealth...through email of course....still no phone call. Here is the email:
"We thank you for being patient in receiving further information. We are working out a “provisional” arrangement with another agency, The Gladney Center in Texas, to take over our Taiwan program. It is our hope that Gladney would assume the responsibility for completing the adoptions of our families in every phase of their Taiwan adoption process. If we successfully transfer this program, we do not anticipate that you would pay additional fees beyond what your contract fees are with Commonwealth. You would pay your remaining contract fees (if there are any) to the new agency when the arrangement is finalized. You may have some home study fees, training or other updating expenses which may be necessary to comply with the new COA/DOS regulations and Hague requirements. Gladney will also be required to assess each case to assure the file is fully compliant with their licensing, accrediting and policy standards."
"This arrangement is contingent upon the three entities in Taiwan (Cathwel, TWCA and Chung Yi Social Welfare Foundation) *we are working with Cathwel* agreeing to continue the relationships we had with them with the new agency. Gladney’s Vice President of International Adoption, along with our Program Director, Ray Mak, will be traveling to Taiwan to meet with all three orphanages’ directors to discuss this transition. That trip is scheduled for the week of August 20th, 2008 (firm dates have not been set but that is the target week). The trip will likely last 7-10 days. If successful, then you will have a seamless transition to the new agency and your process will continue forward. The arrangement, however, cannot be finalized until after the trip to Taiwan."
"We have no reason to believe the orphanages/agencies in Taiwan will not be willing to work with the new agency. There have already been preliminary discussions to this end, and initial responses are positive. Gladney is very reputable and has been in the process of adoptions for over 100 years. They are solid, have great integrity and are a highly ethical and philanthropic organization."
"This is the absolute best situation you could be in, and we are very grateful that this agency has agreed to help – the only downside is having to wait until the end of the month for the arrangement to be solidified. Switching to another agency other than this one is not really an option for Taiwan program families, as Commonwealth no longer has the financial resources to refund the fees that you paid."
"Once the final arrangements are in place, we will notify you and swiftly transfer your file after you sign a consent to transfer. You will be introduced to your new case manager at that time as well. We plan to have a conference call with all our Taiwan families the first week of September in order to fully inform you of the plan and the general status of the adoptions from Taiwan. Please do not attempt to contact Gladney for additional information, as their staff will not have the information you may want. We understand the worry and concern you are feeling, and we are committed to assuring that your adoptions are not delayed. We are also committed to full and complete information-sharing and to being totally transparent. Therefore, we will not participate in sharing rumors or speculation. We will only share information we have confirmed, and we will keep you fully informed. As of this moment, Gladney is committed to helping us help our families, to the success of Taiwanese adoption, and to helping the many children currently in care in Taiwan."
"We ask you to be patient for the next 3 to 4 weeks until these meetings transpire and then we will update you immediately when things are confirmed. In the meantime, please continue to work on your dossier if your case is in that stage. If your dossiers are with the Courts in Taiwan, the court process is continuing without any disruption."
"Finally, let me just say that we are utterly committed to ensuring your adoption is not disrupted and is completed. That has been and remains to be the UTMOST priority for us at Commonwealth".....BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. (Had to add that...it's been very frustrating)
So now our options are:
1. Wait to see how the trip to Taiwan goes and participate in the conference call
2. Participate in the class action lawsuit (hopefully one is still in the works)
3. Cut our losses and go with domestic adoption (privately or with the State)
Advice anyone?
"We thank you for being patient in receiving further information. We are working out a “provisional” arrangement with another agency, The Gladney Center in Texas, to take over our Taiwan program. It is our hope that Gladney would assume the responsibility for completing the adoptions of our families in every phase of their Taiwan adoption process. If we successfully transfer this program, we do not anticipate that you would pay additional fees beyond what your contract fees are with Commonwealth. You would pay your remaining contract fees (if there are any) to the new agency when the arrangement is finalized. You may have some home study fees, training or other updating expenses which may be necessary to comply with the new COA/DOS regulations and Hague requirements. Gladney will also be required to assess each case to assure the file is fully compliant with their licensing, accrediting and policy standards."
"This arrangement is contingent upon the three entities in Taiwan (Cathwel, TWCA and Chung Yi Social Welfare Foundation) *we are working with Cathwel* agreeing to continue the relationships we had with them with the new agency. Gladney’s Vice President of International Adoption, along with our Program Director, Ray Mak, will be traveling to Taiwan to meet with all three orphanages’ directors to discuss this transition. That trip is scheduled for the week of August 20th, 2008 (firm dates have not been set but that is the target week). The trip will likely last 7-10 days. If successful, then you will have a seamless transition to the new agency and your process will continue forward. The arrangement, however, cannot be finalized until after the trip to Taiwan."
"We have no reason to believe the orphanages/agencies in Taiwan will not be willing to work with the new agency. There have already been preliminary discussions to this end, and initial responses are positive. Gladney is very reputable and has been in the process of adoptions for over 100 years. They are solid, have great integrity and are a highly ethical and philanthropic organization."
"This is the absolute best situation you could be in, and we are very grateful that this agency has agreed to help – the only downside is having to wait until the end of the month for the arrangement to be solidified. Switching to another agency other than this one is not really an option for Taiwan program families, as Commonwealth no longer has the financial resources to refund the fees that you paid."
"Once the final arrangements are in place, we will notify you and swiftly transfer your file after you sign a consent to transfer. You will be introduced to your new case manager at that time as well. We plan to have a conference call with all our Taiwan families the first week of September in order to fully inform you of the plan and the general status of the adoptions from Taiwan. Please do not attempt to contact Gladney for additional information, as their staff will not have the information you may want. We understand the worry and concern you are feeling, and we are committed to assuring that your adoptions are not delayed. We are also committed to full and complete information-sharing and to being totally transparent. Therefore, we will not participate in sharing rumors or speculation. We will only share information we have confirmed, and we will keep you fully informed. As of this moment, Gladney is committed to helping us help our families, to the success of Taiwanese adoption, and to helping the many children currently in care in Taiwan."
"We ask you to be patient for the next 3 to 4 weeks until these meetings transpire and then we will update you immediately when things are confirmed. In the meantime, please continue to work on your dossier if your case is in that stage. If your dossiers are with the Courts in Taiwan, the court process is continuing without any disruption."
"Finally, let me just say that we are utterly committed to ensuring your adoption is not disrupted and is completed. That has been and remains to be the UTMOST priority for us at Commonwealth".....BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. (Had to add that...it's been very frustrating)
So now our options are:
1. Wait to see how the trip to Taiwan goes and participate in the conference call
2. Participate in the class action lawsuit (hopefully one is still in the works)
3. Cut our losses and go with domestic adoption (privately or with the State)
Advice anyone?
Other Commonweatlh families and their struggles...
http://www.adoptionagencyratings.com/
This started out as an agency rating website but has recently turned to support group/rally.
Click on Commonwealth Adoptions International Inc.
This started out as an agency rating website but has recently turned to support group/rally.
Click on Commonwealth Adoptions International Inc.
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