Child adoption from Haiti via Flash stopped

AMSTERDAM - The Flash adoption agency is no longer allowed to bring Haitian children to the Netherlands. The data from the agency about the children is incorrect, says Justice. Adoptive parents would be misinformed about the ages and backgrounds of the children.

From our reporterSeptember 28, 2002 , 0:00

The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport received three complaints in the spring from parents who had adopted a child from Haiti via Flash. The parents suspect that the children are older than the adoption agency states. One child also has behavioral disorders that may indicate abuse. The department then called in the inspectorate for youth assistance and youth protection for an investigation. After examining 26 files, he concluded that the information provided by the institution about the children is incorrect.

Chairman P. van Loon of the foundation that the adoption agency falls under, says that his agency meets all the requirements set by the government. Since Flash was founded in 1993, the agency has brought about 150 children to the Netherlands. “We also notice that the ages of the children sometimes do not match what is stated in the birth certificate. We have always said that to the parents. Now two parents have complained, one of which has two children. Before that, we have always had good reports from the inspection. Now we would have too little insight into what our contacts are doing in Haiti. ''

Professor Hoksbergen, professor of adoption, knows one of the duped parents. “I have read the correspondence between the parents and the foundation. Such an organization must take a critical look at the information it receives from Haiti. When parents are expecting a baby and they have a child of more than two and a half years, that is a different story. It can hurt the adoption process. ''

The Flash adoption agency now needs to get its information complete and in order. Until then, the agency is not allowed to mediate in adoption cases.

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