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 gave will make a difference.
Children in that area have been hit hard. Many have lost families and are living with extended family or on the street. They rely on pillaging to eat. The devastation of the buildings in this area have left many living in tents. Though protected somewhat, these makeshift shelters cannot withstand the high winds and rains that come seasonally. My husband’s uncle, one of the family members that traveled there recently, said that as the people struggle to rebuild and replant, the children often do all of the water hauling. This is irrigation for them and must be done in order that any planting of much needed food survive. This is a tough job but is often completed by young children in order to free the parents/adults to do other labor intensive work that is necessary.
As the adoption program for this country continues to develop and the orphaned children are made available for adoption, hope for these children will rise. Haiti is doing all that is in its power to protect its children while locating the best options for them. The need is great, the children are beautiful and the program continues to grow. The people from this country are resilient. They have lost and are picking up the pieces and trying to move forward. I look forward to watching this country and its adoption program in the near future. I believe that we will be seeing growth and hope from it.
On the home front, Grace, the little Haitian girl that I blogged about previously, is doing well. She is in pre school and loves to visit with the other children. She struggles with some delays but everyone believes that she will level out as time passes. I will try to keep you updated when I hear more about her.
~Angie
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Thank you for sharing your story Angie! Transracial adoption is a complex situation that requires a different approach to parenting. We produced a movie entitled Struggle for Identity: Issues in Transracial Adoption, and are trying to reach out to these families in hopes that this resource might be helpful. Many happy regards to you and Grace, may she continue to fluorish!
Sounds neat. Thanks for the response. As the mother of two children who are transracially placed, I agree it can be a complex situation.
Why is it so hard to adopt from Haiti?
After any devastation, just as the earthquake (Jan 2010), it is difficult to establish orphans. Families get alienated from each other and extanded family as well. Each child’s paperwork must be verified. The main reason is for protection against fraud.
~Angie