Tag: Non-Profit Organizations

Adopting a Child with HIV from Vietnam

by Bethany, posted in Country Programs

Vietnam Adoption

In the past, children with HIV in Vietnam have been adopted by American parents. US / VN adoptions were placed on hold in 2008 and have re-opened as of September 2014. At the time of this writing, the 2 US adoption agencies approved for processing Vietnam adoptions are Dillon International and Holt International.

According to Dillon Int’l: they have placed children with HIV, children with HIV are waiting for families, both heterosexual married couples and single applicants between 25-55 can apply (this may be an agency rule not a country rule). Only one trip about 2-3 weeks in length.

 

Toddlers in India with HIV & $9,500 adoption grant

by Bethany, posted in Children Waiting for Families, Non-Profit Organizations

After a period of quiet while officials in India made changes to the adoption process–World Association for Children & Parents (WACAP) is now seeing adoptions in India up and running successfully for families interested in children with medical needs. Each month, information about a group of children with medical needs is shared with the agency. In recent months WACAP has been seeing toddlers and young children with HIV on India’s list. The agency has a grant program that offers a $9,500 grant to (eligible) families who adopt an unidentified child age two or older with HIV from India. Eligible family incomes must be less than $125,000 a year after subtracting $3700 for each child in the home. The family must be paper ready with a complete homestudy and dossier before being able to review child information. You do not have to be of East Indian origin to be matched with a child with HIV. With the new system in place, WACAP strongly encourages families who are interested in adopting children with HIV to apply to the India Program! Please email Jo Reed in FamilyFinders@wacap.org or Priyanka Joshi, PriyankaJ@wacap.org manager of WACAP’s India program, or call her at 206-575-4550.

WACAP (www.wacap.org) is a non-profit adoption agency.

Girl in Ethiopia Needs a Sponsor

by Bethany, posted in Sponsorship

This beautiful girl is living with HIV. Her parents have died of AIDS and she now lives with her grandparents. I have been sponsoring her for the past couple of years, but am looking for a new sponsor to take over this role. She can be sponsored through Children’s Heaven, a wonderful organization helping at-risk orphaned girls through community support. Sponsorship is only $25 per month. She is very good about sending pictures, letters and cards at the holidays. She is a very sweet girl and the sponsorship funds go to helping her get medication, clothing and school supplies.

5 Year Old Girl in Uganda Needs a Sponsor

by Bethany, posted in Non-Profit Organizations, Sponsorship

This is Joyce. She is 5 years old. Awaka Children’s Foundation is working on finding out her HIV status which is unknown at this point. Her parents are both HIV-positive and so is her little brother. Joyce suffers from severe malnutrition. Awaka is working on helping Joyce to receive the medical care and access to regular food to get her healthy again but they need the help of a Sponsor to do that. To Sponsor Joyce on a monthly basis is $25 per month. She can also be Sponsored on an annual basis for $300 per year.

World AIDS Orphans Day

by Bethany, posted in HIV/AIDS News, Media, Non-Profit Organizations

May 7th is World AIDS Orphans Day. I am commemorating the day by highlighting how we can end pediatric HIV. There are several campaigns going on concurrently to end vertical transmission of HIV from mother to child by 2015 by enabling pregnant women with HIV and newborn babies born to positive mothers universal access to ARV meds. Pediatric HIV is an entirely preventable disease.

I have reported on this topic before, but it bears repeating. All the major players are now saying it is an achievable goal to halt mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS within the next few years. UNICEF has revealed it’s Children and AIDS: Fifth Stocktaking Report, 2010. Here are some statements from The Global Fund, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, UNICEF, and World Health Organization. I can’t wait until there are no more HIV-positive orphans for me to advocate for! Here are some video reports.

UNICEF has released a statement which states an “HIV-free generation is achievable”.

According to latest United Nations data, 370,000 children were born with HIV in 2009.

“This is something we know how to prevent.”

Just over half of all pregnant women infected HIV got the drugs they needed to prevent mother-to-child transmission in 2009, compared with 45 percent in 2008.

Margaret Chan, director-general of the World Health Organization, said there was now “strong evidence that elimination of mother-to-child transmission is achievable.”

In a separate statement before world AIDS day on December 1, the UNAIDS director Michel Sidibe said: “Nothing gives me more hope than knowing that an AIDS-free generation is possible in our lifetime.”

’20 20′ – ABC News

Born HIV Free Achievements of the Campaign to Move us Toward an HIV free Generation

UNICEF – Children and HIV and AIDS – ‘Children and AIDS Fifth Stocktaking Report’ launched

Fabulous Giveaway w/ more than 100 Prizes to Raise Money for Grant

by Bethany, posted in Children Waiting for Families, Family Stories, Other Topics

Adeye, otherwise known as No Greater Joy Mom is hosting a fabulous giveaway which includes fantastic prizes such as a new Kindle, $100 Amazon gift card, $50 and $100 Gift Certificates, artwork, jewelry, Vera Bradley bag, quilts, girls clothing and accessories, and tons of other stuff – more than 100 prizes total. She is raising funds for an adoption grant for Vanya with HIV in Ukr*ine, to help him find an adoptive family. The giveaway ends April 13th, so CHECK IT OUT, spread the word and enter to help Vanya and win some fantastic prizes! It’s very easy to enter – even a $1 donation or blogging about the giveaway will get you entered into the giveaway.  At the time of this writing, Adeye has raised $7,000 with a goal of $20K.

Sponsor Needed for 2 Year Old Boy in Uganda

by Bethany, posted in Sponsorship

This little boy and his family can be sponsored through Awaka Children’s Foundation

This is Edward Segawa. He is 2 years old. His father has abandoned the family. His mother is HIV+ and Edward is positive as well. Your sponsorship would mean that Edward and his mother could receive ARVs and the other medical treatment they need to survive. It would also provide them with better food to speed their recovery. It is clear from his distended belly and light hair that Edward is suffering from malnutrition. Sponsors are crucial for families such as this to avoid this little boy from becoming orphaned.

HIV Adoption Forum February 12th in Chicago

by Bethany, posted in Non-Profit Organizations, Other Topics

Project Hopeful – HIV Adoption Forum Invitation

Project HOPEFUL in partnership with University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital Adoption Clinic are pleased to offer their first Parent Forum of 2011. These parent forums have been hugely successful educational tools for parents and extended family members who desire to learn more about HIV/AIDS and adoptive parenting.

Come join us February 12th from 10am-noon at the University of Chicago where attendees will benefit from expert medical knowledge regarding the latest in HIV/AIDS treatment and care, along with the opportunity to have specific questions answered by University of Chicago medical staff. Project HOPEFUL will offer real-life practical insights into adopting and raising children who are positive. This parent forum is designed to offer prospective adoptive families a realistic understanding of the joys and challenges of parenting a child or children living with HIV/AIDS.

Topics University of Chicago Adoption Team will Discuss:

  • Medical, developmental, and psychosocial aspects of adoption
  • Thriving with HIV in 2011

Topics Project HOPEFUL will discuss:

  • Day-to-day experiences
  • Medications and medical visits
  • Educating family and friends
  • Preparing for adoption

The session will also feature open Q&A time allowing attendees to question the panel  along with several experienced adoptive parents.

To register for the forum simply click HERE to use the Donate page. Fill out the form and add “Univ of Chi Forum” in the comments section at the bottom of the page. Please be sure to indicate the number of attendees in your party. Registration is only $10.00 per family.

Waiting Children in Eastern Europe

by Bethany, posted in Children Waiting for Families

These children are living in an HIV/AIDS orphanage. It is urgent they get committed adoptive families before they get transferred within the next few months. They are only 4 years old and at a critical time in their lives at which their future is about to be decided. I have met all of these children and they are wonderful. Please join me in advocating for them.

Boy.   July 25, 2006

This little boy is a really lovely kid who will do great in a family. He is a very sweet child. He gets along with everybody and he is very well liked in his group. He has an easy-going personality and he goes with the flow. He likes to wrestle and get silly like all little boys. It is critical that a family commit to adopting him very soon. Everyone that has met him raves about how adorable and sweet he is.

UA waiting child photolisting

Boy. April 7, 2006

He is an orphanage favorite.