Grant for HIV+ Ethiopian Children Over 2

by Bethany, posted in Children Waiting for Families

ADOPT CHILDREN WITH HIV+ FROM ETHIOPIA WITH $6,000 GRANTS

This program is open to single applicants and married couples. There are countless numbers of children age 2 and older in Ethiopia who are waiting for homes. World Association for Children and Parents (WACAP) has assigned children age 2 and older that are HIV+ with adoption grants of $6,000 for eligible families. Their photos are not available on the website. If the average of your income (less $3,700 for each child already in your home) from the past two years is less than $125,000, you may be eligible for one of these Promise Child grants. For more information on Ethiopia’s waiting children, e-mail FamilyFinders@wacap.org or call 1-800-732-1887. Singles may apply for children age 2 and older with HIV. To visit the web site, go to wacap.org.

Antiretroviral Therapy Significantly Cuts Risk of HIV Transmission

by Bethany, posted in HIV/AIDS News

A while back I had posted about this BBC report which stated that antiretroviral therapy (ARV/ART) medications make HIV positive people become “close to non-infectious”. It also stated that “early detection and treatment would prevent transmission”. This new article Study Confirms That Antiretroviral Therapy Significantly Cuts Risk of HIV Transmission states that HIV positive individuals who used antiretroviral therapy reduced the risk of transmitting HIV to their uninfected partners by 92 percent. I find these studies interesting because it is increasingly clear that medicated individuals  are hardly a risk to people they are engaging in risky behaviors with. Therefore, they are absolutely not a risk to people with whom they are not having sex with, nor sharing needles with. The point is that the people who are spreading HIV are people who do not know they have it (and are therefore not taking medication) and people who unfortunately do not have access to the medication (in resource poor settings).

Waiting Children in Ghana

by Bethany, posted in Children Waiting for Families

This little girl is waiting in Ghana. Please contact hislittlebeacons@yahoo.com for more information. Here is a brief introduction to adopting from Ghana. More info after the picture.

Girl. Date of birth 18 August 1997. There is a $1300+ grant through From HIV to Home which will reimburse travel expenses for the adoption of this child. She is a delightful girl and is  described as a “ray of sunshine”. She arrived at the orphanage quite ill, but she is on medication now and she is doing very well. **Update – sadly, this girl took a turn for the worse in summer 2010. She was hearing voices in her head telling her to do things. Schizophrenia is suspected although it may be some other mental health disorder. Resources are limited in the area for an actual diagnosis. She needs a family that can help her get the medications she needs to thrive, preferably someone who is familiar with similar mental health issues. When she is healthy and not hearing voices, she is wonderful and helpful and a ray of sunshine.

Fees are $6700 for a single child with special needs. (Includes all in-country fees. There are no agency fees. However, USCIS filing fees, fees related to homestudy and dossier preparation, as well as travel and accommodation, are not included).

Time line for Ghana is typically 9-12 months from dossier submission.

 

International Adoption from RUSSIA

by Bethany, posted in Country Programs

There are many HIV positive children of all ages, including babies under 2, who are waiting to be adopted in Russia.

Currently, families residing in the United States and Canada cannot cadopt these children, although families residing in other countries CAN.

[Previously, some American agencies experienced with HIV adoption included Hand in Hand, Global, Children’s Home Society & Family Services and HAPS. The two agencies which specifically state ‘single men’ are Adoption Center of Washington and Cradle of Hope.] If you are outside the United States, you could try REEAA, Irina O’Rear and others. Canadians can try ChoicesAdoption.ca

There are adoption photolistings on this site. See also Reece’s Rainbow, Project Hopeful, and Rainbow Kids (login 1st before clicking the link and keep in mind the region may be called ‘Eastern Europe’ or ‘Unspecified’).

For support groups and further information about Russian adoption, here is the link to the Russian Adoption Yahoo group and  FRUA.org. In the United Kingdom, see the RussianUKAdoption Yahoo group.

Requirements according to Adoption.State.Gov, FRUA, Creating a Family and Reece’s Rainbow:

Age Requirements: Applicants must not be more than 60 years older than a special needs adopted child (varies by region). There should be at least 16 years age difference between the child and parent if the adopting parent is single.

Marriage Requirements: Single men may adopt from certain regions. Single women are also accepted, as are married couples. Prior divorce is acceptable and there are no restrictions on the number of children already living in the home (varies by region).

Other Requirements: Medical requirements: some disqualifying parent conditions include tuberculosis (active and chronic), illness of the internal organs and nervous system, dysfunction of the limbs, infectious diseases, drug and alcohol addictions, psychiatric disorders, and any disability preventing the person from working.

Travel: Three trips in most regions. 1st trip, one or both parents travel for 5-10 days to meet the child and accept the referral. Wait 2-3 months for a court date. Both parents travel for 2nd trip for court; about 5 business days. There is a 30 day wait after court before you can return to Russia to pick up your child – only one parent must travel on Trip 3 which varies in length from 5-15 days.

The Children: Aged 14 months – 16 years.  Multiple unrelated children can be adopted at the same time (varies by region).

Timeframe: This program generally takes 12 months for a waiting child (including the time spent on homestudy), depending on how quickly you complete your dossier.

Boy in Uganda w/HIV & Down Syndrome

by Bethany, posted in Children Waiting for Families

This little boy needs a family. Look at his smile! Here is some brief info about adopting from Uganda although Salem might have some additional information.

Special Needs Adoption

J. has Downs Syndrome and is HIV+. He also has some other health issues that will need to be taken care of once he is adopted.

I spent a lot of time with this little guy and he is amazing. He is three years old but looks and acts more like a 9-12 month old. He sits up on his own, scoots around on his belly and likes to scoot around in a walker (he can’t actually walk forward but propels himself backward). He has the best smile and loves to cuddle. He really likes standing up now (if you lift him into a standing position) and is gaining strength in his legs. He has an adorable giggle. He isn’t fussy, is generally quite content and happy unless you take his food away before he is finished!

He is living in a wonderful babies home, but really, really needs an adoptive family and access to medical care and therapy.

Please let me know if you are interested and I can get you more info and send pictures and video.

Feel free to share this with anyone who might be interested.

Salem
sister_haiti@yahoo.com

Domestic Adoption Situations

by Bethany, posted in Children Waiting for Families

There is a 5 year old HIV+ girl in need of a new family. She was adopted from Ethiopia and her family is looking for a new home for her with no younger siblings. Please contact me for additional info.

There is an 8 year old HIV+ boy in need of a new family. He was adopted from Ethiopia and his family is looking for a new home for him with no younger siblings. Please contact Lisa at the above link for additional info.

International Adoption from HAITI

by Bethany, posted in Country Programs

International adoption from Haiti

According to Rainbow Kids and Chances By Choice:

Requirements are flexible for adopting HIV exposed children, so inquire even if you do not meet the stated criteria. Single parents are allowed to adopt from Haiti. Couples should show proof of marriage or proof of cohabitation for 10 years. One parent should be between the ages of 35-55. In the past, only 2 children in the home were allowed, although this orphanage is allowing up to 5 children in the home for married couples (not singles).

Travel is required. First trip is 5 days. Second trip to get the child’s visa at the American embassy and bring the child home. Traveling to Haiti from North America is relatively easy.

Timeline: Chances by Choice states 10-14 months from the time the dossier is submitted. Rainbow Kids states 2-3 years total from start to finish.

Bethany Christian Services has also had photolistings of waiting children with HIV.

Children of the Promise

God’s Littlest Angels and blog

Maison Arc en Ciel

Haitian Angels Yahoo Group.

HIV+ Baby Boy in India Waits for a Family

by Bethany, posted in Children Waiting for Families

Journey’s of the Heart is looking for a permanent loving family for a baby boy in India who was born January 8, 2009. This little one is developing well socially, physically and intellectually. He is testing positive for HIV. If you would like to consider bringing this beautiful little boy into your family, the adoption agency can provide you with copies of the medical documents so you can consult a physician.

The adoption process takes about 15 months or less. The agency comes highly recommended. The orphanages this agency works with have great reputations. Although the orphanages are small and lack resources, the children are clean, well fed and very loved. The caregivers live with the children and have very strong bonds with them. There is little or no turnover in staff. While in the orphanage, the children visit a doctor regularly and their bloodwork is monitored to ensure the CD4 counts are in a healthy range.  India tends to introduce ARV meds when the CD4 counts drop below a certain level.

Contact the agency directly for more information about child IC4040. You can read more about adopting from India here and here.

3 Young Siblings in Eastern Europe

by Bethany, posted in Children Waiting for Families

Children’s House International is advocating for 3 adorable siblings in Eastern Europe. Married couples only may adopt from this country and one parent must be under 46.

The youngest child is a 2 year old boy. His date of birth is August 10, 2007. He is a darling little boy with dimples and blonde hair. His mother is an HIV carrier but he has tested negative. He has been hospitalized for hipogammaglobulinemia in the past. He is developmentally on track and has excellent motor development. He is said to have established very good emotional contact and he loves cuddling with his foster parents.  They describe him as “obedient, nice and smart”.  He lives in a foster home with his 2 biological sisters.

The middle child is a 4 year old girl. Her date of birth is September 18, 2005. She is a beautiful little girl with curly blond hair and brown eyes. She has tested positive for HIV and is undergoing antiretroviral treatment. She attends kindergarten with her siblings. She is cognitively on track, but is a bit small for her age. Her favorite activities at school are singing and reciting rhymes. She is described as “independent, protective towards her brother, smart, well behaved, helpful to others and winning.”

The oldest sibling is a 6 year old girl born April 9, 2004. She is a beautiful and vibrant kindergartner. She is HIV negative. Her cognitive and motor development are on track for her age. She is described as “mature, independent, smart, well behaved, protective of her siblings, helpful, good and beautiful.” The children are all together in a foster home, waiting for a permanent family.

The children are gorgeous! I wish I could publish their photographs, but the agency is very quick to get profiles and pictures to people who inquire. Contact Children’s House International.