IHNFA – Protector and Advocate for Honduras' Most Vulnerable

On September 19 – 22, Michele Jackson, executive director of MLJ Adoptions, Inc. and I travelled to Honduras to meet with officials of IHNFA (Instituto Hondureño de la Niñez y la Familia) to discuss adoption of Honduran children by American families. Ivonne de Torres, Secretary General of IHNFA expressed her desire to work together to help children, whom she referred to as "angels", to find forever families, stating, "it is in the best interest of the child". The staff at IHNFA was friendly and voiced their desire for us to help find good families for their children.

Terry Mallasch, director of International Missions, Arrow Child and Family Ministries Honduras, with INFHA’s permission took us to of some IHNFA facilities. Arrow is providing much needed training in Honduras, taught by Honduran Christian Psychologist Edwin Mejia, is delivered in five three-hour sessions on Communication, Normal Childhood Development, Separation Grief & Loss, Sexual Abuse and Behavior Modification.

IHNFA, recently signed an agreement with Arrow to register children who are under their care. Presently, when a child is placed with the Honduran child welfare system their information is a paper trail. Tracking children in this manner is very difficult, and potential problems can occur. Having a database will be a more efficient process for the children and enable them to be placed with families in a more timely manner. Honduran children can be thankful for the those to whose care they are entrusted for a brighter future.