Your Guiding Hand in Guatemala

Q&A with Edna Cruz, Latin America Program Coordinator

Wide Horizons' Program Coordinator, Edna Cruz, moved to Guatemala City in Fall 2006 to open a local office. She works with our attorneys, their staff, as well as children’s caretakers and foster families. Edna answers our questions below:

Edna with Estuardo, who will be coming home to the U.S. this spring

How has your presence in-country helped adoptive families?
In the past, families received updates once or twice throughout the process. Now they receive updates every month or so. I am available to answer questions or facilitate meetings whenever families visit and I've also had the opportunity to witness the excellent care the children receive.

What are the homes and orphanages like?
We work with two different children’s homes. One has children from 0-30 months old; and the other, 0-8 years old. The homes are spacious and have multiple caretakers. Older children have classes each day, including regular school work, art and emotional therapy sessions.

How should adoptive parents prepare for their time in-country?
When families travel, they will learn that children are very important in Guatemalan culture. Everyone, including foster families, caretakers, and attorneys and their staff has the child’s best interest in mind. Also, families should prepare for a 6-8 month legal process, with no precise timeline. For example, DNA testing can range from 1 to 3 months after referral; a family’s case can be in court from 6 to 12 weeks, and sometimes even longer.

What have been the most rewarding and most challenging aspects of your move?
The most rewarding part is finally getting to meet all those people I only had an email or phone relationship with. This includes adoptive families and partners. Of course, I also enjoy visting with the children and the caretakers. Challenging? Traffic, traffic, traffic!

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