Haiti Adoption

I have noticed a lot of interest in Haiti adoption. This is good. There is such a great need for care of orphans in this country. One of the recent comments from this blog dealt with adopting a child/children from Haiti whose parents are still living and want you to take the kid for a better life. I do not know much about this. I know that relinquishment papers can be signed in some countries but am not certain in Haiti. One of the biggest obstacles that could be  for adopting out of this situation is that the governments of both Haiti and United States are VERY careful in the wake of the 2010 devastation that occurred. I know that adoption regulations have… [more]

If I were to go to the street and ask people about the poorest country in their eyes, Haiti would be one of the top answers that I would get. The country of Haiti has struggled economically for many years. This has been magnified by the earthquake that hit their capital in 2010. The city was demolished, people's lives were devastated- it was a heavy blow to an already struggling nation. Since that time, many people have stepped up to help the Haitians. There have been fundraisers, item collections and mission trips. The heart of the people has been touched by the great outreach. This is where adoption comes in. The children of Haiti are in need. They have lost. They are often… [more]

I sat in the darkened church on Saturday night with tears filling up my eyes. My husband's cousin was marrying the man of her dreams- the wedding was beautiful. It was very simple, just a gathering of family and close friends. They didn't want more than that. Some people may wonder why this couple did not want more glitz and glamour- more money spent. The reason is very simple. They have a heart for a nation of people who are hurting. They wanted to put their money toward the people of Haiti. What an amazing couple. In lieu of a honeymoon, they traveled to Haiti back in November to minister to the orphans. When I look at them, I see the passion… [more]

It is hard to believe that the two year anniversary of the earthquake that devastated a large portion of Haiti is coming up. On January 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake rocked this nation. They have not recovered. I have many family members who have visited there in the past year and they come home with broken hearts and a regained sense of the urgency that is faced by the Haitians every day. The need is great. In light of that, I have to tell you about a neat girl and what she is doing on behalf of the Haitian people. She is a Chinese exchange student who is living in my home. As part of a Christmas dinner, she saw a movie… [more]

Haiti has been the hot topic around this area for the last week because several people we know have gone over to serve there in whatever capacity is needed. I love that! It seems that Haiti has struggled so much since the devastating blow it received. There is little that can be done but to serve. I am grateful to be surrounded by compassionate people who choose to give of their time and money so freely to help the poorest of the poor. In regard to adoption from Haiti, a fraud threat has surfaced. Recently, a church who served in Haiti found that much of what they were in the form of food and clothing to a particular orphanage was disappearing before it… [more]

I have been meaning to update you all on how my little friend 'Grace' has been. She, if you remember correctly, is one of the children who was air-lifted out of Haiti very soon after the devastating earthquake. Her adoptive family had been working tirelessly to bring her home at the time of the earthquake and the governmental officials approved her (and several other) pending adoptions. How amazing it was to watch that plane touch down and the children unloaded. I have had the joy of connecting with her aunt on a weekly basis and receiving updates on her growth and development. It has been a neat experience. It has been almost two years since Grace's arrival to her adoptive family and if you remember… [more]

The adoption numbers from Haiti are on the rise. This is not surprise to anyone given the devastation that occurred. It is a natural byproduct of major calamities for compassionate people to desire to provide for the children who were affected. The media and constant coverage of the Haiti devastatio0n left pictures of starving children who were living on the streets and foraging for food from the local dumpsters. In many cases, that picture is not far off from reality. Many children lost parental figures. They are left to care for younger siblings or cousins. They do live on the streets. They beg on the streets. Simply, they have no choice. This is where the adoption movement has made a difference. It has opened up… [more]

As I was browsing the shelves of the local library recently, I noticed a child's magazine that was called, "Faces." There may have been more to the title but I remember the word 'faces' the most because it caught my eye. Anyway, I picked the magazine up and was pleasantly surprised to see that it was all about the country of Haiti and the children who live there. I could not help but to continue to read because of my avid interest in children from foreign countries. It was the neatest children's magazine that I have read. Not only was it full of interesting facts, it also talked about the devastation that occurred and how the country was working to rebuild. It… [more]

Adoption from Haiti continues to regain strength. Organization and clarity has begun to be established and growth is the natural outcome of those two strengths. While that is progressing, Haitian officials continue to watch closely for threats of fraud. There is little that strikes fear into the hearts of anyone involved with adoption then the word- fraud. When mishandling [whether directly or indirectly] occurs, people suffer. Of course, the most difficult suffering to witness is that of the children. They already have experienced loss in their lives- compound that with another major loss. The effects could be insurmountable for the child. Any international adoption comes with a certain amount of risk. This risk is only magnified when major disasters occur. Parents are separated… [more]

The country of Haiti is embarking on important changes within their adoption program. They are working with other adoption partners and governmental agencies to rewrite the legal requirements in order to meet Hague Convention statutes. This is a great move for Haiti because of the large number of children who are in need and the threat of fraud that is looming. In regard to the threat of fraud, the United States Department of State issued this statement on June 27, 2011: [We] have seen a recent increase in US citizens seeking to pursue adoptions in Haiti through independent agents instead of licensed adoption workers. While these private adoptions are currently permissible in Haiti, prospective adoptive parents should be aware of the risks associated… [more]