CAS has officially received their license in Kenya. Applications are being accepted to this program.
Read the most recent news about our Kenya adoption program (click here to read).
Quick Reference
Children:
Age: 15 months and older
Parent Requirements
Age: 25 and older
Marriage: 3 years or single women on a case-by-case basis
Estimated Process Timeline:
From dossier to referral: 4-5 months
From referral to travel: Immediate
Travel: 10-15 months in Kenya
Children Available
Struggling from problems associated with widespread poverty and AIDS, Kenya’s orphan population has grown to an estimated 2.5 million children. For those who live in orphanages, adoption is the avenue to a brighter future. In these facilities HIV negative boys and girls age 15 months and older are available for adoption.
Eligible Applicants
Couples between the ages of 25 and 65 who have been married at least 3 years. Kenya will also allow single women to adopt on a case-by-case basis.
Program & Process
The Kenya Adoption Program can be a challenging program, primarily because the Kenyan government requires adoptive couples to relocate to Kenya for approximately 10-15 months. CAS staff will assist families in assembling and submitting their dossier. A referral of a child typically is available about four to five months after dossier submission. Upon approval, the family will begin their stay in Kenya. Shortly after arrival, the family will spend about three weeks visiting with the child in the orphanage. Afterwards, there is a mandatory three month fostering period, where a social worker will periodically visit your home to assess the child’s well-being and the family’s adjustment.
Following the initial three months fostering period, three to four court hearings will be scheduled to process the adoption. They should be completed in about six to eight months, making the entire stay in Kenya last approximately eight to ten months. Adoptive parents MUST be prepared for the possibility of the adoption processing taking longer.
At least one of the prospective parents must reside in Kenya for the entire adoptive period. Both parents and child must be present for all court hearings. Under U.S & Kenyan law, former Kenyan nationals, who are now U.S. Citizens and seeking to adopt a relative, must go through the same adoption process. The mandatory fostering period may or may not be shortened in adoptions of relatives.
Kenya requires 11 post-adoption reports. The first 3 reports are social worker generated. The remaining reports are family generated. There are additional requirements, in which our post-adoption coordinator will assist families upon return.
The Country
The Republic of Kenya is in East Africa, bordering the Indian Sea. Kenyans are gentle and kind people who place a high priority on matters of faith. Most of its 33 million people are Christian but there is also a large Muslim population as well as a sizable Hindu community. English is spoken by most Kenyans, along with their National language, Swahili.
Approximately 42 tribes and associated cultures exist within Kenya and influence daily life, including government elections. Loyalty to one’s tribe is commonplace.
An example of the country’s success is its thriving tourism industry. Travelers worldwide are visiting Kenya to go on Safari and experience the country’s beautiful landscape and more than abundant wildlife.