2006 Recertification:
The Complaints Pile Up
As both threatened and promised in February 2007 we received Building Blocks Adoption Service, Inc’s Recertification review from the ODJFS.
This time the file was thinner than the previous years dockets. We would have liked to have had further “Board Minutes” but alas, it was not to be. The file was nonetheless filled with very useful information.
To wit: FIVE complaints against BBAS from disgruntled families – one from the Sterns, an Amrex family (link when formed), two from Guatemalan families we’d never heard of and at long last – the Anderson’s and Janet Ostrander’s complaints.
Regarding the Anderson and Ostrander complaints – thanks to a regime change in Ohio, it appears the ODJFS and the powers that be have finally released these very important documents. It’s about time.
The Anderson’s complaint was another stellar performance of debauchery by Denise Hubbard. In it, Denise Hubbard gave the name of a contact we’d never seen or heard of previously: Robert A. Jones and his for-profit company, U.S. & Global Solutions.
Until the Anderson’s complaint, we believed BBAS was working one-on-one with its attorneys in Guatemala. We did not know of another layer between the agency, the clients and the children. Robert A. Jones organization was the scapegoat for the Anderson’s missing $1,000.
The “recertification review” allowed BBAS to continue on for yet another two years. How this is allowed to happen makes us ill. Their current License runs until May 1, 2008.
A few new “adoption professionals” were added to BBAS payroll: Elizabeth Dellinger as BBAS “Board President.” (No other information was given as to her qualifications). Karen McFarland as “Administrator”. An Adrienne Colon. She joined BBAS as a Support Staff. We wonder if she were related to the Michelle L. Colon who had written Denise’s initial recommendation letter in 1997.
Andrea Kilroy was another Support Staff employee. Was this Kilroy woman a FOD (Friend of Denise)?
The recertification review meeting took place on March 14, 2006 between Denise, Kim Hutchings (Adoption Assessor) and Linda Saridakis. According to the ODJFS documents, BBAS had four contract Adoption Assessors on staff. Here’s a funny one:
The agency was in 100% compliance with all applicable review areas, except three. These areas were 89% and 90% compliant. No corrective action plan is required.
Of the four complaints received?
Substantive? No. Explain: All complaints were reviewed and investigated and revealed no findings of non-compliance with applicable Ohio Administrative Code Rules.
It must be okay in Ohio if you run an international adoption agency to contract with for-profit child traffickers for Russia and Kazakhstan. It’s even better when you contract with an in-state for-profit company for Guatemala. Let’s remember to set up an international adoption agency in Ohio. Obviously, anything goes if Building Blocks gets away with it time and again.
Building Blocks Adoption Service, Inc. is currently reviewing accreditation requirements through the National Council for Adoption (NCFA) in preparation of the implementation of the Hague. Additional areas reviewed and discussed are attached.
We had been made aware of the above in January 2007. An organization called The Council On Accreditation had a list on their website of adoption agencies wishing to become accredited under the Hague regulations for international adoptions. You better believe us and others let the COA have it when we saw Building Blocks on their list.
We gave them a barrelful.
Also, shame on the NCFA for allowing such inhuman, greedy scum such as Hubbard & Marco into their organization. It reflects poorly on their entire organization.
At least BBAS records and files were “very organized and easily reviewed.” Ten adoptive parent records were also reviewed. No glaring errors were present in their paperwork.
Linda Saridakis made an additional visit to BBAS offices on September 27, 2006. We think this is troublesome, because as the international programs keep faltering (we still don’t know which organization has been foolish enough to partner with BBAS for their Chinese program), Building Blocks is looking to get into domestic foster care and domestic adoptions. This cannot be allowed to happen.
“This specialist,” Linda Saridakis wrote, “discussed policy and rule changes with the agency, effective November 13, 2006 and training on rule revisions for the agency, foster care and adoption. The agency is also evaluating whether they would like to amend their functions to include placement of children for foster care and adoption and recommending pre-adoptive and family foster homes. These policies were also reviewed with the agency.”
After the latest goings on with A Child’s Waiting, the ODJFS needs to be leery of allowing such “specialists” as Building Blocks in placing children from their foster care system with ANY adoptive family in Ohio or elsewhere.
If people think the A Child’s Waiting debacle is bad, Denise Hubbard is going to make Jennifer Marando and her sister Crissy Kolarik look competent and caring. Then again, it was a BBAS client who got ACW involved with disrupted child adoptions initially. After Natasha Ponish, Marando & her Grabbing Wallets LLC saw the full potential in the international second hand kid market.
Let’s just keep Building Blocks out of the domestic market. We don’t need a repeat of the Stephanie Bennett situation in Ohio.