Category: Children Waiting for Families

Adoption Photolistings: Children in South Asia

by Bethany, posted in Children Waiting for Families

H15-16Agency staff describe “G” as a really cute and fun little girl with an awesome personality. Her favorite place to go is to the park and her favorite food is chocolate! She likes to play ball and the movie Tangled. She was able to answer questions appropriately during the meeting and gave some answers in English. She has HIV and has some scarring on her eye which does not allow for it to shut completely. There are no health or vision concerns related to her eye. “G” aspires to be a doctor when she grows up! Please reference ID H15-16 to learn more about “G” born in 2008.

H15-12Agency staff had the privilege of meeting five-year-old “H” and she appeared to be happy and healthy. She enjoys going to the park and playing with bikes, dolls and balls. During the observation, she answered questions with some answers in English, colored, sang Twinkle Twinkle with hand gestures and greeted staff with “hello” and “thank you”. “H” attends a Montessori-type school where children advance at their own pace. “H” hopes to be a teacher someday. “H” has HIV and it is managed with medication. Please reference ID H15-12. Eligible families may qualify for a grant through CH/LSS and Brittany’s Hope Foundation.

There are children of all ages waiting in this country. Please contact the Waiting Child Program at Children’s Home & LSS

Children Living with HIV in India Need Families

by Bethany, posted in Children Waiting for Families

CHSFS.India.HIV.pngFrom Children’s Home Society:

During a recent trip to several regions of India, we had the opportunity to meet many children who are waiting for adoptive families. There are children of all ages waiting who are HIV positive, and there is a large need for adoptive families to provide them a home. We had the privilege of spending time with several of the children, who were able to color pictures to represent themselves, and who told us about their favorite things. They are children who want to be “a teacher,” “a doctor” or “a nurse”  when they grow up; who love to eat “pineapple” and “chocolate;” and to watch the “Princess Barbie movie,” and “Cars” with their friends at the orphanage. The children enjoyed singing for us; singing the “ABCs” in English, and other songs they have learned, such as “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” Each child, filled with potential, waits for a family who can look past the social stigma of their need and open their home to a new family member.

The prevalence of HIV in India is decreasing, but it continues to impact many citizens. It is reported that there are an estimated 2.1 million people living with HIV in India. While there are programs to assist in decreasing the rate of infection, there continues to be mother-to-child transmission of HIV, and it was estimated that 13,000 children in India were born with HIV in 2013. Although there have been many medical advances that have made living with HIV – a manageable condition with regular medication, people with HIV continue to face stigma in India. As a result, the best opportunity for waiting children with HIV to be matched with families is through international adoption.

The adoption landscape in India has experienced many positive changes lately. Over the last several years India has been developing an online system through which licensed adoption agencies are able to review the information of waiting children, and match prospective adoptive families who are approved by CARA (the central authority in India) to waiting children. Additionally, in August of 2015 India implemented new adoption laws allowing more licensed childcare facilities/orphanages where children fit the legal orphan status to take part in the adoption process. Therefore, more children’s paperwork is being completed, and many children are waiting on the online system to be matched with approved prospective adoptive families. Every day, we see children who are HIV positive waiting for adoptive families in India on the online system.

We sincerely hope that you will take a moment to consider adopting a child living with HIV from India, and encourage you to visit our India Program page to learn more. If you would like to learn more about parenting a child with HIV, we have a free, recorded webinar available that speaks to a medical professional and adoptive parent about bringing home a child living with HIV. We would also be happy to discuss the possibility of adoption with you (welcome@chsfs.org; 800.952.9302).

Reference: http://www.avert.org/professionals/hiv-around-world/asia-pacific/india

Watch a recording of a webinar “India Program: New Opportunities in 2016“

7 Year Old Boy in Eastern Europe

by Bethany, posted in Children Waiting for Families

Eastern European AdoptionThere is a little boy in Eastern Europe who is 7 years old and living with HIV. He is in need of an adoptive family. He is described as a sweet and calm child and pretty healthy with the exception of HIV. The agency prefers someone that is currently working on their homestudy or already has a homestudy, but they will also consider those who are ready to begin a homestudy. The agency wants to find a loving home for this child. For additional information, please contact info@adoption-related-services.org

9 Year Old Girl in Eastern Europe with HIV needs Family

by Bethany, posted in Children Waiting for Families

“Patty” (9) is a beautiful young girl from Eastern Europe with a lot of spunk. She is HIV positive and experienced a rough early family life. She is very talkative and does well in school. She is a cheerful and strong-willed girl who knows what she wants! She is in need of a loving forever family!  To inquire more about adopting Patty please email Jill at jill.d@chiadopt.org from Children’s House International. Her country does not allow photos to be published; please contact the agency photo photographs.

LGBT Individuals and Couples Adopting HIV+ Orphans

by Bethany, posted in Children Waiting for Families, HIV/AIDS News, Other Topics

SouthAfricaHIVadoptionGreat news for LGBT individuals, couples and families hoping to adopt HIV+ orphans internationally.

La Vida International adoption agency is working with gay and lesbian men and woman who want to adopt children with HIV from South Africa.

From their website:

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We are excited to announce that we are accepting applications for the South Africa Special Needs Program.  This program is open to single male and females and married couples. LGBT individuals and couples are welcome to apply.

Most of the children available for adoption are living with HIV and/or some have other moderate to severe special needs.  In the last 30 years, living with HIV has changed dramatically and with proper treatment chldren are expected to have a normal life span.  HIV has never been transmitted in a normal family living environment.  Most orphans have contracted the virus through mother to infant pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding.

The South African government has flexible eligibility guidelines to adopt. These include:

Applicant/s are over the age of 25 (USCIS regulation, South Africa only requires that you be over age 18)

While there is no official cut off age, applicants age 50 and over will be accepted by Wandisa on a case-by-case basis

Applicants must be physically and mentally able to care for a child (If there is a significant health concern a doctor’s letter will be required)

Married applicants’ length of marriage should be a minimum of 2 years (at time of dossier submittal)

Applicants with minor criminal histories may be considered.

Male and Female single applicants may also apply

LGBT individuals are invited to apply

UPDATE 2016. Children’s Home | LSS is placing children from Brazil and Mexico with LGBT families. Contact them directly to find out if any children with HIV are waiting

Children Waiting in Latvia For International Adoptive Families

by Bethany, posted in Children Waiting for Families

As of October 2013, according to the official adoption authority in Latvia, these 3 children are living with HIV and are currently registered for international adoption:

11. Girl, born on December 30, 2012:

  • girl has blue-grayish eyes and brown hair. The girl is calm, has good sucking reflex, eats well but does it slowly, holds head well, makes an eye contact, reacts to light and likes bathing;
  • child was born to a 38 years old mother, from her 5th pregnancy, in the 4th delivery, with a weight of 4130 g, height – 54 cm, after Apgar’s score 8/9 points. During the pregnancy the mother was not monitored by a doctor;
  • child has been consulted by a physiotherapist (22.01.2013.) – the psychomotor development of the child corresponds to age. Crawling age – in a position laying on the back turns head to one or another side. Hold head in a centre line for a several seconds. Kicks (motions) with both legs. In a sitting position has good head control, holds head for several seconds. Muscle tone in norm. Walking age – reflectory leg support reactions – hip straightening and automatic walking when in vertical position. Grasping age – palms mostly are in fists, pronounced grasping reflex. Perception age – with an eye gaze follows to a red rattle to both sides when it is moved. Reacts to a bright light and noise. Social age – fixes the face which moves and follows it for a short time. Looks in the eyes. Mostly gets calm when is taken on the hands;
  • final medical diagnoses – HIV infection, HCV exposition, anti-syphilis course;
  • further necessary treatment – regular medicament treatment, surveillance of an infectologist, a hepatologist and a dermatovenerologist, prevention of rickets;
  • the mother abandoned child in a hospital, nor maternity, nor paternity for the child has been stated.

12. Boy, born on May 19, 2011:

  • boy has brown eyes and hair. The child is smiley, loves communicating with the adults, enjoys playing with toys and other children, likes looking picture books, moves by crawling, sometimes by holding with his hands pops up on a little platform, eats with a help of the adult, has good appetite. The boy is active, is interested, joyful. Caretakers of the child says that boy develops well and his positivism helps in improvement of his development, he is a real combatant;
  • child was born to a 36 years old mother, from her 5th pregnancy, in the 3rd delivery, in the 37 gestation week, with a weight of 2970 g, height – 47 cm, after Apgar’s score 7/8/8 points. During the pregnancy the mother was not monitored by a doctor;
  • child was consulted by a physiotherapist (18.01.2013.) – psychomotor development of the child delays in every area. Notable dynamic of the development. Gross motor – child moves forward by crawling, often plays in the position laying on the right side, by crawling activates the left side in a support to the right side. Is able to sit down on the right side-sitting by supporting on the right hand or on support with both palms when they are on the front. Stands on his knees. By holding stands up and stands for a while. Alternates the weight to one or another leg, has different height for his inner part of the feet, notable outward-rotation of the hips, knees and feet. If the weight is on the left leg, then the right leg is bended. The child has pronounced posture and motion asymmetry due to congenital developmental anomalies. The child is active and dapper. Sleight-of-hand – plays with a different size and shape objects, has ‘pliers gripe’, leafs the book of pictures, pushes a toy car when is in the position laying on the back or in a sitting position, takes a toy in each hand, claps them together or puts them in one another. In other positions works more with his left hand. Perception – simultaneously is able to play with 2 objects, tries to connect them is able to put smaller cup into the middle cup and then into the larger cup), is able to find the object beneath the cup, using string can drag a toy which tied to the string to himself, tries drawing. Social age – when asked, gives toy, tries to imitate gesture ‘bye’, rolls a ball to the adult. Gladly gets in contact with the adults or a child. Smiles a lot. Self-dependence – drinks from a mug which is held without getting dirty, takes food and eats it with his hands, when getting dressed helps with his motions;
  • final medical diagnoses – multiple congenital anomalies; teratogenic dislocation of the left hip joint; contracture of left hips, left clubfoot; scholiostic spinal deformity; multiple vertebral anomalies in the thoracic and lumbar part; flaccid lower limbs, parapresis, movement disorders, HIV I A III, HIV infection with other specified expressions (B23.8), OU Astigmatism hypermetropic, glasses; psychomotor development delay;
  • further necessary treatment – to continue assigned therapy of an infectologist, control of the infectologist. To wear glasses. Consultation of a psychiatrist. Physiotherapy. Speech therapy;
  • by a court verdict the mother of the child was deprived of custody rights in November 2012, paternity has not been stated. The mother did not visit her child in the hospital for a long time. Periodically the mother has phoned to the out-of-family care institution and shown interest about the child, often she was under the abusive substances while phoning;
  • the child has 1 older brother who is under the guardianship. The decision of Orphans’ Court on separation of the children in case of adoption has been made.

30. Girl, born on 31st of May 2004:

  • she has brown eyes and hair, she was born to a 23 years old mother in her third pregnancy, in her third delivery with the weight of 2450 g and height of 47 cm, she started sitting at the age of 13 months, crawling when she was 1 year and 8 months old, walking without assistance at the age of 1year and 10 months, first teeth came out when she was 8, 5 months old. The girl is emotional, likes individual attention, likes when someone occupies with her, sometimes whining. The general development of the girl has been retarded; girl is mutual sensoneural partially-deaf in serious stage. Child doesn’t speak, doesn’t walk, she doesn’t control where she is going or what she wants to do;
  • medical diagnosis – the backwardness of psychomotor development, mutual sensoneural partially-deaf in serious stage, B 20 (the infection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)); the backwardness in serious stage with the indices of autism;
  • further medical treatment – the surveillance by audiologue, the use of hearing aid, the surveillance by neurologist and psychiatrist, continue the control in AIDS center of Latvia;
  • by the court verdict parents have been deprived from custody rights in April 2006, the paternity is not determined;
  • the girl has one elder sister and brother, who are in the guardianship of their grandfather and two younger brothers – one of them lives with the parents, one lives in other out-of-family care center. A decision of the Orphans Court on children separation in case of adoption has been made.

13 Year Old Girl with HIV in Hong Kong

by Bethany, posted in Children Waiting for Families

‘Jackie’ is a 13 year old girl waiting for an adoptive family in Hong Kong. She is a cheerful, pleasant and friendly girl who has good conduct and academic performance at school. She receives awards, praises and appreciation from her teachers and staff at the residential home. Her hobbies are playing badminton, cycling and reading. She has her own opinions and can listen to others’ ideas and comments. Jackie is HIV positive. She is being advocated for by A Helping Hand. Potential adoptive parents can sign up for a password to view her photolisting on the agency’s password protected page.

10 Year Old Boy in China Waiting for an Adoptive Family

by Bethany, posted in Children Waiting for Families

Updated May 2015. Precious ‘Jack’ is now 10 years old. He is waiting for a family in China.

At 6 years old, Jack was described as active and “naughty,” liking to play. He attends school and can prepare his bag and clothes every day. He is said to obey the traffic rules and cares for his little foster sister. Jack is also stated to like making friends and playing with friends. He is said to be able to finish his homework carefully and is independent. His file states that he can put on his clothes, go to the bath, brush his teeth, wash his face and make the bed. He is also said to like to talk, to draw and to do math homework! Apparently wonderful Jack has a “pet phrase.” It is, “I am a little tiger!” So cute! Jack is listed with Lifeline. For more info or to review his file, please email Annie at annie.hamlin@lifelinechild.org

You can register to see Jack here: http://wonderfulwaitingkids.com/2013/jack-2/