Haiti

I have great news for those of you are waiting for Haiti to re-open their adoption program. On September 14, 2012, the Haitian Adoption authority released a statement regarding the status of adoption for their country. This statement lays out the changes that will be made to the Haitian adoption program in order to bring about certification for Hague Convention. These changes are slated to begin on October 1, 2012. According to this release these new administrative procedures will allow Haiti to update their adoption program and fulfill necessary requirements to open a full fledge adoption relationship with the United States under the Hague Convention. Part of the changes will involve a regulating the orphanages and children's homes through an authorization process… [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]

Adoption from Haiti continues to rise as new dossiers are now being accepted. This change came about in January of 2011. Haiti is regaining their footing after the devastating earthquake a year prior. By fully re-opening their program, they have made it possible for many children who were orphaned in the catastrophe to find families. This is a difficult process because the children must be legally free for adoption. With all of the chaos and confusion it is hard to distinguish between the children who have family and those who do not. Yet, Haiti has undertaken this important task in order to ensure the care of its orphans. The costs to adopt from this country are on par with normal international adoption programs… [more]

The country of Haiti continues to rebound from the horrific earthquake that occurred there in January 2010. In response to that earthquake, many people stepped up with a desire to care for and adopt the children of the area. This was difficult to do because of the lack of communication and unity among families. Many children were separated from their parents and extended families in the aftermath. All of the chaos and separation left many children alone and often begging on the streets. These are the images that often came across our televisions in the time following the earthquake. This is where many of us began to connect with the country of Haiti and perhaps desire to make a difference. In January of… [more]

Do you remember the little girl 'Grace' that I posted about previously? She was one of the children who was flown out of Haiti soon after the major earthquake. She lives very close to me and I have routine contact with her aunt. She is doing very well. She came to her family at three years old. She was severely malnourished and struggled in many areas. Next week, she will be five years old. Wow! It doesn't seem like it could be that long. Yet, fifteen months ago almost to the day, Grace was flown from her native home of Port-au-Prince, Haiti to join her forever family. She is doing so well. She loves school and is a buddy to all of her teachers… [more]