Comments on: Adopting a Child from Haiti Post Earthquake

By: Rhianna

Rhianna — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:55:20 +0000

What you say makes sense. I do understand your point about waiting even tho I wish we didn’t have to. Thanks for your compassion for us parents and for the kids.

By: Wesley and Annie

Wesley and Annie — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:31:39 +0000

This is a useful blog full of information rather than propaganda. Your radio show on this topic was the best thing I’ve heard. Thanks for providing us with facts rather than biased information on either side.

By: Alicia

Alicia — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 02:30:57 +0000

Thanks so much for all the info! I really appreciate you taking the time to inform us all! My husband and I have been really looking into adopting from Haiti. I pray that God would help all the children that are truly orphaned to find their forever families!!! Thanks again!

By: Dawn

Dawn — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:09:01 +0000

Agencies are divided right now about whether to accept applications for a Haiti adoption. The problem is that no one knows how long it will be before Haiti can start making referrals. On our Jan. 20 creating a Family show the representative of both the Dept. of State and Citizenship and Immigration Services indicated that it could be a long time. I am very hopeful that the legal infrastructure that would allow adoptions to resume will be reconstructed at least sometime in 2010, but quite frankly that is just a guess. There is some ground work that you can begin now, but it may be risky to complete your home study too soon because homestudies do expire. It is not too costly to do an update, but it make make better financial sense to wait until more is known. I would be cautious about paying money to an agency until we see when Haitian adoptions will resume. Check out our Adoption Chart for Haiti at http://www.creatingafamily.org/adoption/charts.html. Note that there is a new adoption law that has been pending for some time that will change the adoption process and requirements if is passed.

As to your other question, all adults over the age of 18 living in the home will have to have a criminal background check and will likely be interviewed during the homestudy. Some countries will also require more information on these adults.

By: Taryn

Taryn — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:51:51 +0000

I considered adopting from Haiti last year, but held off. Once of my choices was trying to conceive via IVF, but since I am single I would have had to use a donor. Now, I feel I am being led to rethink Haiti. I have fully family support, can finacially I can afford to adopt.

I have a brother who is temporarily living withe me (its been about two years), and I wonder how this will effect my home study. My nephew spends the weekends, he is wonderful too.

Any suggestions on what to do next? Any thoughts comments pushes in the right direction would be great…and suggestions of Agencies in NJ would also be helpful!!!!

By: Dawn

Dawn — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:14:15 +0000

YES, please pray for the people on the ground in Haiti before, during, and after the earthquake. My concern is trying to keep the focus on the huge needs in Haiti and for Haitian orphans after this in no longer the “hot” news. In a year, I hope we have a new and improved adoption process in Haiti. If you haven’t done so, listen to our Jan. 20 show on this topic. I thought it was particularly good.

By: Dee

Dee — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:10:40 +0000

This is a great blog. I think we all understand that even though pre-earthquake conditions in Haiti were often times deplorable, being poor doesn’t mean you can’t provide a loving home for a child. That’s why it is so important that these children are confirmed to be legitimate orphans before being put up for intercountry adoption. It only makes sense. That said, my husband and I recently adopted from the US foster system and are seriously considering adopting again, possibly from Haiti. If we start the process now, in a year or so when we’ve done what we need to on this end, hopefully the Haitian government will have a better grasp on the situation with the children there and the timing will just fall into place. Please pray for all of the Haitians and the international aid workers who were there during this tragedy, and who remain there trying to sort through what’s left of an already impoverished nation.

By: Joyce

Joyce — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 03:35:14 +0000

Noel, I am very interested in adopting from Haiti at some point in the future and your comment about some flexibility in the marriage requirement caught my attention. That and the age requirement were making me wonder if Haiti adoption would really be an option for my husband and myself. I was wondering if it would be possible to email with you since you are going through the process right now? If you are open to it, please email me at thewinglessoneATgmailDOTcom or if there are any other parents out there who are adopting/have adopted from Haiti and would be willing to share their experience with me, please email me. I understand that adopting from Haiti is not something that will be happening anytime soon but I’d just like to collect some info so that I can be ready if and when the time comes that adoptions start up again. Thanks in advance!

By: CC

CC — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:46:38 +0000

I was so drawn to adopting from Haiti as soon as Holt opened their program there a few years ago. Although we are no longer able to add to our family, my heart is with the children there, both before and after this tragedy.

By: Dawn

Dawn — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 18:15:41 +0000

Lisa, I both love and hate the 140 character limit on Twitter. It forces me and others to get to the point, but it eliminates most nuance and valuable details. Glad you were surprised for the better.