State Leaders Spearhead Transport Of 32 Haitian Children

By Author: Jennifer Orton
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The Colorado Governor’s Office in conjunction with other community partners worked together to rescue 32 Haitian children from a devastating earthquake measuring 7.0. The children were awaiting adoption by Colorado families.

On January 24, 2010, thirty-two Haitian children whose adoption by Colorado families was placed in jeopardy after a deadly earthquake, arrived safely at Denver International Airport thanks to massive rescue efforts.

Colorado Governor’s Office representative Stephanie Villafuerte coordinated with the state department of human service workers and other community partners to transport these children from Haiti to their Colorado families.

Villafuerte said that it took a solid week of working with state and federal officials to determine where the children were located in the Haitian rubble and how best to ensure their safe transport to Colorado. She said, “Once we were able to determine they were safe we worked on how to get them out of the country.” United Airlines and a private donor arranged for social workers and medical personnel to fly to meet the children in Florida and bring ...
... them back to Colorado.

In addition to these donations Villafuerte stated, “Community partners like Walmart donated diapers,
formula, food, bottled water, car seats and extra clothing for these children. We knew these children would be in desperate need of essentials given the devastation that occurred in their country.” State human service workers supplied the expertise needed to care for the young children who had suffered from the traumatic experience.

Villafuerte said that the children arrived in Florida via military transport and were healthy and in good spirits. She stated, “We had medical doctors who examined every child upon their arrival in Florida, fortunately they were all healthy except for some minor dehydration.”

Upon arrival at the Denver International Airport, the children were met by an enthusiastic crowd including their new adoptive families. There were tons of balloons and stuffed animals everywhere.

“It was heart warming to see the children greeted so enthusiastically,” Villafuerte said. “I watched these children enter the United States for the first time and meet their new adoptive families. The parents were filled with such emotion and relief because their children were safe from the earthquake.” “This was truly a team effort and a great example of how the government and private sectors can work together for the community good,” Villafuerte said. “It was an honor to have been part of the mission.”