Adoptions in Haiti are OPEN! There are many children waiting to be matched with their forever family and CAS is accepting new applications! If you have any questions contact Allie Weldon.
Read the most recent news about our Haiti adoption program (click here to read).
Watch the Adopting from Haiti introduction by clicking here (18 minutes).
Quick Reference
Children
Age: 4 months to 9 Years
Parent Requirements:
The parent requirements which are currently in effect were set by the Haitian Government in 1974. New adoption laws have been on the table for several years now and last summer the first chamber of the Haitian Government passed these laws. They still must be heard by the second chamber. Haiti’s new President, Michel Martelly, seems dedicated to following through with proposed changes, but it is not known when the legislation may be reviewed. At this time CAS, along with most other American agencies, will continue to accept applications from families who meet the current laws of 1974, this is under the recommendation of the orphanage director with whom we work.
Age: 35 and up, One parent must be 35 years of age
Marriage: Married, 10 years or married 5 years and lived together for five years prior, or Single women and men.
No children in the home is preferred; however families with 1-3 children may qualify for a Presidential Waiver from the Haitian government. Families with more than 3 children (in or outside of the home) are not eligible.
Estimated Process Timeline:
From dossier to referral: Up to 6 months
Civil court approval to travel: 9-12 months
Travel: 2 trips, 3-5 days each
Children Available
The children available for adoption from Haiti are of African heritage. Most of the children have a dark complexion, brown eyes and dark hair. Infants and children through 9 years of age are available for international adoption. Children with special needs are also available.
Eligible Applicants
Married couples who have been married for 10 years or married 5 years and cohabitated for 5 years prior to marriage, and single women ages 35 and older can adopt children from Haiti. There is no maximum age limit for adoptive parents; however, adoptive parents 50 and older should be open to a child at least 3 years and older. The family should not have any children in the home. If you do have a child you can request a Presidential Waiver, which may add up to one year to the family’s wait after being matched with a child, this policy changes and cases are evaluated on a case by case basis.
Program & Process
Carolina Adoption Services is working with the Maison des Anges orphanage. This orphanage is located in Tabarre, on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince. The children are well cared for with an average of five children to one caregiver. There are nurses on staff and a pediatrician visits twice weekly. Children who are two and older receive tutoring.
On the January 12, 2010 earthquake Maison des Anges suffered severe destruction of their facilities; they were later torn down as a result of the significant structural damage. For nearly 19 months following the quake the children resided in a temporary structure down the road while MDA was being re-built. In July 2011 they were able to return to the orphanage’s original location. The children are now living in a secure building. The property is gated and guarded 24 hours a day by professional security staff to ensure the safety of the children and to prevent any supplies (food, medicine, etc.) from being stolen during these dire times. There is a wonderful guest house on the property where families are encouraged to stay when visiting with their children. The guest house is guarded, guests have their own bathroom and it is air-conditioned!
Carolina Adoption Service’s staff is here to assist families with every step of the dossier. Once submitted, the dossier is sent to our partner in Haiti and a family is matched with a child. Our Haitian staff then submits the dossier to the Institut du Bien Etre Social et Recherches (IBESR), which is the Haitian department of social services, or the central adoption authority. Once the IBESR grants approval, all paperwork is submitted to the Parquet (the public prosecutor’s office), next the dossier is legalized, then sent to the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) and finally to immigration. From submission of dossier until the child is referred takes up to 6 months. You will receive any available information about a referred child. This information consists of a medical, social, developmental and background report along with pictures of the child. Families are welcome and encouraged to visit the child they have been matched with in Haiti while waiting for approval and issuance of the decree of adoption.
Adoptive parents must make two trips to Haiti, each lasting 3-5 days. During the first trip families will meet their child and file the I-600 Petition with the U.S. Consulate in Port-Au-Prince. Parents are met at the airport by an in-country representative and are escorted throughout their trip. Parents are welcome, and encouraged, to visit their child on additional trips while waiting for the adoption to be finalized. Haiti’s close proximity to the U.S. and relatively inexpensive flights make it easier for parents to visit as much as possible. The orphanage staff welcomes adoptive families with open arms!
The Country
Haiti is a small island located in the Caribbean, which was established in 1804. This country is approximately the size of Maryland and features two beautiful mountain ranges and two great valleys. Haiti shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic and has a population of approximately 8.7 million people. Haiti is the poorest country located in the Western Hemisphere. The needs of this country are significant. Prior to the earthquake there were more than 400,000 orphans, a staggering number for such a small country.
If you are interested in adopting from Haiti, contact Allie Weldon, Haiti Program Coordinator.
January 2011 Update
The staff and children at Maison des Anges maintain their positive spirits as they eagerly anticipate the opening of the new building! The re-building process has been slow and difficult but they are moving forward and hope it will be complete in early summer. Due to the cholera outbreak in the Fall, they built a temporary shelter out of wood and tin roofs as the tents became a breeding ground for disease.
Another problem has been the significant increase in the cost of living. Food prices have skyrocketed and with fewer adoptions being completed the MDA has been struggling. There are currently 62 children who call MDA home and on a regular basis the staff are asked to accept new children.
The pending adoption laws are at a standstill as there is a provisional government in operation. The elections held at the end of 2010 have been questioned and until a new legislature is in place the proposed laws will not be further examined. The laws from 1974 will continue to be in effect until further notice.
There are many precious children waiting for forever families! For more information please contact Haiti Program Coordinator, Allie Weldon