Child Protection in Haiti - Joint Council Standards of Practice Initiative

As part of Joint Council's growing Initiatives in Haiti we are pleased to announce that on January 30th, representatives from several Haitian crèches and U.S. adoption service providers working in Haiti signed the Joint Council Standards of Practice for Child Welfare Organizations With Respect to Intercountry Adoption.

Over the last two years Joint Council has strived to further elevate ethical standards and practices though developing Standards specific to individualized countries. The country specific Standards seek to identify and promote country-specific best practice models for the purpose of protecting children. The development of the Standards for Haiti is perhaps Joint Council's most ambitious effort with collaboration from UNICEF, The Association of Haitian Crèche Directors, the Joint Council Haiti Caucus, and other key stakeholders.

U.S. Consular General Donald Moore generously hosted the signing ceremony at the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince, with UNICEF's Child Protection Chief Julie Bergeron, USCIS representative Marie Josee Domond and Consular Officers from France, Canada and Switzerland present to witness. Joint Council hopes that the signing of the Standards will be a catalyst for ensuring that every child have as safe, permanent and loving family as quickly as possible. The establishment of the Standards will be followed by a series of child protection trainings for child welfare advocates and providers as well as continued support for the new Haitian adoption law. The signing of the Standards represents an important step in Joint Council's ongoing efforts in Haiti to ensure that best practices and ethical conduct are utilized in intercountry adoption.

Click here<http://www.jcics.org/Haiti.htm> to read a copy of the Standards.

To see more photos of the event check out Joint Council's Page on Facebook
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