The Peru program is currently full; therefore, CAS is currently not accepting applications.
“Every day is getting better and better. I am so thankful to have her in my life. It has been a great experience.” -K. L.
Quick Reference
Children:
Age: 1 year and older depending on the age and marital status of the parents
Parent Requirements:
Age: 25-55
Marriage: Married or single
Parent Age / Age of Child
Age: 25-43 / 1 year and older
Age: 44-50 / 3 years and older
Age: 51-55 / 5 years and older
Singles: 5 years and older
Estimated Process Timeline:
From dossier to approval: 6-12 months
From approval to referral: 6-12 months
From referral to travel: 1 month
Travel: 1 trip, approximately 30 days
*CAS cannot assist with adoptions for families living in AL, GA, ME, MI, MN, NY, & WA.
Children Available
The children are of mixed Spanish and Incan heritage. They are beautiful children, with a wide range of skin tones from fair to dark. Most have dark eyes and dark hair. Children under five years may be available provided one of the prospective adoptive parents in a marital relationship is 43 years old or younger.
Recently, the Peruvian government is encouraging foreigners to adopt from its “Waiting Angels” program. In the “Waiting Angels” program, children five years and older, sibling groups, and special needs children of any age are available for adoption.
The term “special needs” reflects a broad range and variety of issues which can affect a child which may be very mild and acceptable.
Eligible Applicants
Married couples and singles are eligible to apply. There are restrictions as to the parents age and age of adoptive child (see above chart). There may be other children in the home.
Program & Process
The new adoption program and process in Peru are designed to be in the best interest of the children. The National Secretary of Adoptions (SNA) at MIMDES (Ministerio de la Mujer y Dessarrollo Social - The Department of the Woman and Social Development) is the central authority in all matters of adoption in Peru. SNA meets once a month to approve prospective adoptive families’ dossiers, develop the “Waiting Angels” program list and to match children who have been declared legally abandoned with parents. Recently, SNA officials have been mandated to decrease the time it takes for a child to be declared legally abandoned, which should increase the number of available children for adoption. Prospective adoptive parents can either select a child who is on the “Waiting Angels” list, or they can wait for the Peru agency to select a child for them. Families in which both parents are 44 or over are only eligible to adopt children who are older than three, or from the Waiting Angels Program, which is comprised of older children, older sibling groups, and children with special needs (some of which may be minor and acceptable to applicants).
Generally, families are approved within eight to ten months, and may be referred a child within ten to twelve months. Those families willing to adopt an older child (five years old and above) or a child from the Waiting Angels Program will have a shorter wait after approval to adopt from MIMDES. Once parents have indicated that they want to adopt a child, travel to Peru must occur within 45 days. After meeting their child and being approved by SNA officials, families then stay with their child for the balance of the 30-day stay in-country, which gives Peruvian social workers a chance to evaluate the child and family’s progress, and allows the child/children to bond with their adoptive parents while still in Peru.
The Country
Peru is in western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador. It is home to the world famous archaeological sites of Macchu Pichu and the Nasca lines in southern Peru. Ancient Peru was the seat of several prominent Andean civilizations, most notably that of the Incas, whose empire was captured by the Spanish Conquistadors in 1533. Peruvian independence was declared in 1821. After a dozen years of military rule, Peru returned to democratic leadership in 1980.
President Alberto Fujimori’s election in 1990 ushered in a decade that saw a dramatic turnaround in the economy and significant progress in tourism in Peru. However, scandals and international pressure eventually led to Fujimori’s ouster by Congress in November of 2000.
A caretaker government oversaw new elections in the spring of 2001, which ushered in Alejandro Toledo as the new head of government.
In 2007 Peru and the United States signed a fair trade agreement, which has helped to develop a better relationship between the two countries.
Why Chose the Peru Program?
The Peru Program is one of the most inexpensive international adoption programs that Carolina Adoption Services offers. Orphanage care is excellent and orphanages have a strong volunteer base. Peruvian orphanage workers are told they are first paid to love the children, and secondly to take care of them as if they were their own. A detailed social history will be available when you travel to Peru.
Peru is an inexpensive place to travel. While in Peru, children are living with their adoptive parents. This promotes an easier transition for the family and allows time for the parents to learn about Peru’s rich culture. Peruvian government is rigorous about fighting corruption in adoption.
If you are interested in adopting from Peru, contact Angela Jackson or Trudy Tobias, Peru Program Coordinators.
Peru Further Reading
Adoption Centered
International Adoption: Sensitive Advice for Prospective Parents—Jean Knoll & Mary-Kate Murphy
For Kids
Secret of the Andes—Ann Nolan Clark & Jean Charlot
Zorro & Quwi—Rebecca Hickox
Moon Rope/Un lazo a la luna—Lois Ehlert & Amy Prince
Isabella : A Wish for Miguel—Shirlee Newman
Huatya Curi and the Five Condors: A Huarochiri Myth—Melinda Lilly & Charles Reasoner
Life Is a Jungle—Ron Snell
Macchu Picchu: The Story of the Amazing Inkas and Their City in the Clouds—Elizabeth Mann & Amy Crehore
Lost City: The Discovery of Machu Picchu—Ted Lewin
How Llama Saved The Day—Janet Palazzo-Craig & Charles Reasoner
Inca Town—Fiona MacDonald, et al
General
The Ancient Kingdoms of Peru—Nigel Davies
The Peru Reader: History, Culture, Politics—Orin Starn, et al
Peru: Society and Nationhood in the Andes—Peter F. Klaren
Insight Guides Peru—Pam Barett
Journey to Machu Picchu: Spiritual Wisdom from the Andes—Carol Cumes, et al
Lost City of the Incas—Hiram Bingham