Haiti Adoption

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]

Haiti is an amazing country with a strength and resilience that has made the national news repeatedly. It is a poor area with great need. The children have suffered the loss of family and continue to need help in order to survive. Many people have expressed an interest in adopting from this country since the earthquake that devastated Port Au Prince and surrounding areas. As I stated in earlier posts, Haiti has re-opened their intercountry adoption program. In January 2011, a notice was released stating that they were accepting applications for adoption. I checked into many sources to see how the adoption program is working and found that though they have re-opened, there are many hardships that must be overcome. So if you are interested in adopting from Haiti, expect… [more]

Haiti continues to be on the hearts and minds of people worldwide as they struggle to regain their footing from the earthquake that devastated a large portion of it over a year ago. Times have been difficult. Children have been hungry. People want to help. At this point, adoption from Haiti is open. In January of this year, the Haitian government released a document stating that they were open to begin accepting and processing adoption cases. This is good news. Yet, it is important to keep in mind that adoption from Haiti could be lengthy. It takes such a large amount of time and money to rebuild an area that has been devastated. So as the country is re opened, the infrastructure is… [more]

From the information that I have gathered, Haiti is still open for adoption. This country has suffered tragedy that devastated it in many ways. They have used intercountry adoption to help the children who are orphaned by this devastation and previous poverty and disease. The stories of need coming from this country are undeniable. We have family who returned from a mission trip to Haiti last week. They came bearing tales of need and devastation that are difficult to comprehend. Before they left, we gave a little money in hope of meeting even the smallest need. No matter how big the problem is, it can only be dealt with bit by bit. Armed with that knowledge, we felt confident that the money we… [more]