Once you have compiled your adoption dossier, you will most likely send it to your agency. They will review your dossier to make sure everything is in order. They will then get it translated and will send it out to be authenticated. Some agencies require that the adoptive parent(s) take care of this process, so be sure to find out from your agency how they go about it.

When the dossier is translated and authenticated, it will be sent to your agency’s contact in Haiti. Once the dossier is received in Haiti, and most likely reviewed by Haitian staff, the adoptive parent(s) will be ready to accept a referral. Some agencies will refer waiting children prior to the dossier being complete.... more

What is needed to complete a Haitian adoption dossier, continued from Part One: • Positive Home Study: A state-licensed agency or social worker must do the home study. The agency and/or social worker should also include a copy of their license. Please request that it be no more than 6-8 pages in length. You need TWO Notarized originals. One for your dossier and one for your I600a which you or your social worker may send. (Notarized & State Authenticated.) • Psychological letter: This letter must contain specific results from a MMPI II (or newer version) test. The letter must... more

The first step in the Haitian adoption process is putting together your adoption dossier. What is required in the dossier? The requirements may vary slightly from agency to agency, but this is a general list of what is needed (please double check with your agency before compiling your dossier):

• 4 Passport Photos of each Parent: These will be sent to Haiti with the dossier. The dossier cannot be processed in Haiti without them. DO NOT use the photos off of your passport. • 1-3 Photo Pages: A total of four- color copies of these pages are needed. The pages should contain pictures of the adoptive parents, family and home. No more than 3 pages will be accepted. • IBESR... more

If you are interested in adopting from Haiti, you might be wondering what he requirements are?

• Heterosexual married couples and single women, who are living alone, between the ages of 35-50 are eligible to adopt. • No single men. • Age exceptions may be made for couples under age 35 with documented infertility. • Couples must be married for at least 5 years. • There aren’t any general religious requirements, BUT each agency is different and may have their own specific requirements. (Many agencies with Haiti programs do have a Christian requirement.) • You may adopt two unrelated children at the same time. • Families may have a maximum of... more

When my husband and I went to visit our girls in Haiti for the second time, we brought our eight year old son, Ryland along. When we returned home, I asked him to write an essay about his view on Haiti. This is what he wrote:

Last week, I went to Haiti. I saw lots of people that were poor and lots of trash everywhere. Sometimes people burned the trash. I also saw trash in the river, with pigs running around everywhere. I saw skinny dogs that you could see their ribs. I saw people carrying heavy things on... more

Out of all the countries one could choose to adopt from, why would or should Haiti be considered?

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, and has been plagued by violence for most of its history. I have traveled to Viet Nam, Ethiopia, and Mexico, and still the poverty of Haiti shocked me. Haiti has an estimated 8.2 million people. The unemployment rate is about 80%. The majority of the Haitian population lives on less than a $1 a day, with the median income about $60 per year.... more

Every family is drawn to adoption for different reasons, and just as those reasons vary, so do the choices of where to adopt from. One of the most common questions we adoptive parents will hear is, “Why adopt from ______?” How can one answer that question adequately? Choosing your path in adoption is a very personal decision. One must decide whether or not they will adopt domestically (and if they choose domestic, they must decide among a myriad of choices). If not, they are left taking an international journey. Once the decision to go international has been made, the adoptive parent(s) must then pick the country they will adopt from.

How does one choose the right country?... more

In Haiti, Christmas is called, Noel.

Traditionally, a few days before Christmas, Haitians would cut a pine branch to act as a Christmas tree. A few might get a freshly-cut tree from the market. At home, the branch (or tree) would be decorated with bright ornaments, and a large nativity scene would take up a vast portion of the living room. The nativity scene depicted a cave manger, with Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, the wise men, and sculptured stable animals complete with hay. On Christmas Eve, the children would clean their shoes, fill them with straw, and put them out for Papa Noel (Santa Claus). Papa Noel would remove the straw and replace it with gifts for the... more

About a year after we brought our kids home from Ethiopia, I began to get that old, familiar tug to adopt again. I cautiously brought it up with my husband. He was not interested. He explained all of the reasons he felt it was a poor decision for our family. I tried to convince myself that he was right. We had our hands full. Six children is indeed a very large family. Even though I made myself agree with him, I felt a twinge of sorrow. I truly felt there was another child meant to be in our family. I even knew it was another girl. No matter what, I could not shake the feeling that she was out there. Tim, my husband, felt the matter was closed.

A few months later, I brought... more

I will most likely share stories about my children here from time to time. I thought it might be helpful if I shared a little bit about each of them.

Bethlehem (Beth) is 11.5 years old. She was born in Ethiopia and adopted when she was 9.5 years old. She loves reading, ice skating, watching movies, and going to the mall. She loves to tease and play jokes. She has recently begun claiming to be “too old” to do certain things (such as have a yellow bedroom), though she has no qualms about playing with Barbie dolls.

Sahara is 11 years old and was our first child. She was born in Viet Nam and adopted at 8 months of age. She loves watching plays and movies, and hopes to... more