Tag: Adoption Agencies

International Adoption from LATVIA

by Bethany, posted in Country Programs

There are a few HIV positive waiting children in Latvia who are available for international adoption. Latvia is an Eastern European country between Lithuania, Estonia, Russia and Belarus across the Baltic Sea from Sweden. It is a Hague country. Parents are required to travel for 1 to 2 weeks and rent an apartment where the child comes to live with you for a bonding period. If the referral is not suitable, you can request another. Once a referral is accepted, there is a court hearing, followed by a 20 day waiting period, during which you can fly home or wait in country. Total travel time is 5-6 weeks if you stay in Latvia, or you can make 2 trips. Dossiers for special needs children are given priority. The children are aged 1-16.  Most adoptions take 12-18 months. Typically it takes 3-5 months for document preparation, then 1-2 months to be registered in Latvia. Unrelated children can be adopted simultaneously. Requirements:

Age Requirements: The adoptive parent should be at least 25 years old, and at least 18 years older than the child.

Marriage Requirements: Single men and women are allowed, as well as married couples.

More information about the process: Adoption.State.gov

Agencies: The following agencies have advocated for HIV+ children waiting in Latvia:

Other American adoption agencies working in Latvia include:

One World Adoption Services, All Blessings International, CCAI Adoption Services, World Links Association, and Nightlight Christian Adoptions

For people outside the United States, wishing to adopt a Latvian child, first try to find an adoption agency in your country which processes Latvian adoptions. If there aren’t any, try contacting the authority via a translator:

Latvian Adoption Authority
Adoption Division, Department of Out-of-Family Care
Ministry of Welfare
28 Skolas St., Riga, Latvia, LV-1010
Tel: 371-6702-1600
Fax: 371-6727-6445
E-mail: lm@lm.gov.lv
Internet: http://www.lm.gov.lv

International Adoption from ETHIOPIA

by Bethany, posted in Country Programs

There are HIV positive orphans waiting in Ethiopia. See the Adoption Stories page to see many wonderful children who are now home with their families in America, or in the process of being adopted. The program is now a 2 trip process in the $30K range which often takes longer than one year.

It is rare for a child under 3 to be waiting for adoption. There is a waiting list of adoptive parents hoping to adopt HIV+ babies and toddlers from Ethiopia. This is a great program for PAPs interested in adopting preschool and school age children. You will find information on this site about children waiting in Ethiopia by visiting the Waiting Children page.

The most experienced agency placing HIV+ children in families is Adoption Advocates International (AAI) and there are several other agencies as well – click and scroll down to Adoption Agencies.

Yahoo groups include Single Adopt Ethiopia and Adopt Ethiopia.

Requirements according to Adoption.State.Gov, and AAI.

Age Requirements: If single, the prospective adoptive parent must be at least 25 years of age.  If married, there is no minimum age. There also is no maximum age limit for adoptive parents (according to the US Dept of State). The max age of 43 can be flexible for those adopting HIV+ children (according to AAI).

Marriage Requirements: Single persons may adopt HIV+ children.

Other Requirements: No restrictions on family size.

International Adoption from INDIA

by Bethany, posted in Country Programs

There are many HIV positive orphans in India. Here is an adoption story and the same family is featured here.

Adoption agencies include Children’s Home | LSS, Illien Adoptions, America World Adoption, Children’s House International and Holt International. In Canada, contact Children’s Bridge.

Here is the link to the yahoo group for adoption from India.  Here is the link to the yahoo group for single parents adopting from India. One family adopted a 2 year old girl from the Naz Foundation Care Home and the care was excellent.

Requirements according to Adoption.State.Gov and Rainbow Kids

Age Requirements: Applicants must be at least 30 years of age and not more than 55. Married couples must have a combined age of 90 years or less if adopting an infant. The age of any one of the PAPs should not exceed 55 years (although US Dept of State says this is flexible for children with special needs). Single parents up to age 45 can adopt (according to US Dept of State). PAPs should be 21 years older than the child.

Marriage Requirements: A married couple that has been in a stable relationship for at least 5 years.  Single persons may adopt. LGBT individuals and couples welcome. According the US Dept of State, singles should not be widowed or divorced, but these requirements aren’t listed on the other 2 sites.

Other Requirements: No more than 3 children in the home.

Contact the agency to find out if any of these eligibility requirements are flexible for children with HIV.

Travel: Usually 3-5 days.

The Children: Infants to Pre-teens.

US Embassy in India

Central Adoption Resource Authority in India and eligibility requirements

2 Waiting Children in Asia

by Bethany, posted in Children Waiting for Families

WACAP has waiting child photolistings for 2 children in Asia. Their adoption fees are reduced considerably. Contact Lynne Mason LynneM (at) wacap (dot) org.

Boy – Asia

Born February 2004

• Expresses himself well

• Is regarded as being polite and quiet

• Born with an immune system disorder for which he receives comprehensive treatment

• Plays well with others and is very talkative, engaging friends and strangers alike.

Adoption assisted with a grant of $7000.

OAS.0204.15760.05

Girl – Asia

Born June 2003

• Has been successfully treated for tuberculosis

• Receives comprehensive treatment for a congenital immune system disorder

• Plays well with her friends and has excellent self-care skills

• Health problems occasionally prohibit her from attending school outside of her institution

Adoption assisted with a grant of $7000.

RSL.0603.15755.05

2 1/2 Year Old Boy Waiting in Ghana

by Bethany, posted in Children Waiting for Families

Sampson is a 2. 5 year old little boy currently waiting for a family in Ghana, West Africa. He has been legally cleared for adoption by the appropriate authorities. Sampson is HIV+. At this time, we do not know to what level the virus has affected his health. CD4 count/percentage and viral load are hard to get in Ghana, but we are working toward that end. Sampson is also a sickle cell carrier. Sampson has a minor special need in his rectal area, which makes it difficult and painful to potty. He will very soon be under the care of an HIV/AIDS specialist in Accra, Ghana, where he will receive competent care until his adoption is complete.

Sampson needs a family who has a completed homestudy and is prepared to take on his special needs. He is a smart little boy who has had a very rough start to life. He is currently living at Eban House Foster and Rehabilitation Center in Teshie, Ghana–a very good child care facility with high staff to child ratio. Right now Sampson is a bit lost, and a bit sad. His whole life has changed in the last few months. We wait expectantly for the day when he will “blossom” into the joyful and energetic child he was meant to be! Families who have visited Eban House since Sampson’s arrival have been very taken with this exceptionally beautiful little guy.

Sampson can be adopted through Adoption Advocates International. Couples must be between 25-50, and 21 years older than the child they intend to adopt. Families with 0-6 children can adopt. At least one short trip to Ghana is required (by at least one parent). The process from referral to homecoming in Ghana is typically 5-8 months. For more information, please contact Anita Gillispie at anita@adoptionadvocates.org or 918-960-2676.

International Adoption from THAILAND

by Bethany, posted in Children Waiting for Families, Country Programs

special needs adoption from thailand

Adoption Advocates International (AAI) has placed HIV positive children from Thailand.  Children’s Home Society and Family Services (CHSFS) is also placing HIV+ children from Thailand (see this blog post). Try contacting Lisa.

Here is the link to the Yahoo Thailand Adoption support group.

Requirements according to Adoption.State.Gov and Rainbow Kids:

Age Requirements: Applicants must be at least 25 years of age and not encouraged older than 55.

Marriage Requirements: Married couples with no more than 2 divorces between them who have been married 3 years or longer. Single people may apply and will be considered on a case by case basis.

Travel: Both parents must travel to complete the adoption process. Parents must be prepared to stay approximately 10 days.

The Children: Aged 18 months – 12 years. It is not possible to apply for more than one child at a time, except for twins and siblings.

The Orphanages: Nikki’s Place / Agape Home and Home of the Open Heart

International Adoption from GHANA

by Bethany, posted in Country Programs

Special needs adoption from Ghana

Adoption Advocates International (AAI) has placed HIV positive children from Ghana. Anita is the Ghana coordinator for AAI and her daughter has recently come home. She can be reached at: anita@adoptionadoptive.org. She may be able to provide you with adoption photolistings and costs involved.

Independent adoptions are also possible. You can contact the Beacon House orphanage: hislittlebeacons@yahoo.com, as this orphanage has HIV+ children in need of adoptive families. The fees for an independent adoption with Beacon House range from $6700-$7800 (as of 2010 –  includes orphanage donation, attorney’s fees, visa medical) plus the costs of homestudy, USCIS, documents, travel and accommodation.

Requirements according to Adoption.State.Gov and Rainbow Kids:

Age Requirements: Applicants must be at least 25 years of age and at least 21 years older than the child. Couples over 50 cannot adopt from Ghana.

Marriage Requirements: Married couples preferred although single women are welcome to adopt HIV+ children. Previous divorce is allowed.

Other Requirements: Applicants must be of sound mind and must undergo a medical exam as part of the pre-approval process. Parents with health issues and disabilities may adopt as long as your doctor will support your decision to adopt. AAI is reporting that larger families can adopt children with HIV. Parents with more than 6 children may apply on a case by case basis for special permission from Social Welfare.

Travel: There are several travel options with this program. Families may either make two trips 4-6 weeks apart, one short trip with escort, or one longer (2-3 week) trip. Full escort is also available.

Timeline: The process generally takes about 7-12 months from the time a child is identified (for Americans adopting).

*Update – as of May 2013, the Ghana program closed temporarily. Check Adoption.State.gov for current information* 

International Adoption from COLOMBIA

by Bethany, posted in Children Waiting for Families, Country Programs

There are several HIV positive waiting children in Colombia (not Columbia) who are available for international adoption through CHLSS, Adopolis, La Vida and other agencies. This is a great program for people interested in adopting from Central America, South America, Latin America, etc. Requirements according to Adoption.State.Gov and the agency:

Age Requirements: Both parents are required to be 25 years old, and the agency recommends no older than 55.

Marriage Requirements: Colombian law allows adoptions by a married man and woman and common law spouses of more than three years. Single men and women are only allowed to adopt children over the age of seven, or who have special needs. No more than one divorce per applicant. [Update, as of April 2016, gay marriage is now legal in Colombia which may mean that LGBT individuals and couples will be able to adopt – ask an agency]

Other Requirements: No history of physical or mental diagnosis, and no history of criminal incidents.

See also AdoptColombia Yahoo Group

Sisters Waiting in Haiti

by Bethany, posted in Children Waiting for Families

Bethany Christian Services adoption agency is advocating to find a family for two sisters in Haiti.

The older girl was born in Haiti on June 15, 1999. She has been in English school for two years and is doing well. She is described as an average student with a pleasant personality. She is a follower, not a leader, and she struggles with her studies.

The younger sister was born on December 23, 1997, and has also been in English school for two years. She is bright and helpful and loves to be part of any project. She is friendly but keeps her emotions close to her heart. She is HIV-positive, and her health is closely monitored. There is no need for HIV medications at this time.

These sisters want to be adopted together. Adoptive parents will need to make two trips to Haiti: one for two to three days and one for three to five days. Bethany’s fees for the Home Study, administrative work, and post-placement services vary from state to state. The Haiti fee for adopting two children is $20,000. There is a grant available from Brittany’s Hope for $7,500 to offset the costs of adoption. Applicants may also be eligible for a grant from Bethany’s Caring Connection Fund.

I can email you the current newsletter which contains pictures and names, or you can contact Bethany about adopting the girls.