July Adoption Program Update
July 25, 2008
For families just beginning the adoption process, we know that choosing an adoption program can be difficult. This update is a reflection of what is currently happening in all of our programs. Due to the nature of adoption, this information may change at any time, but we hope that this will help you to determine which program is best for you as you begin the adoption process.
INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION:
A limited-time fee reduction is currently available to families signing up for the Ethiopia, India, Nepal, and Russia adoption programs. Visit our news item for details!
China Adoption Program
AAI’s regular China program continues to experience a 30 month wait from dossier submission to referral. The waiting time for the Waiting Child program can be much shorter, and is currently approximately five to six months from being matched with a child to bringing your child home. Interested families are encouraged to apply or call 616.667.0921 for more information.
We are also looking for individuals to participate as special advocates in our China Camp program. This group of special advocates will travel to Beijing in October of 2008 to meet a group of 30 older and special needs orphans while they are participating in a camp program. Applications for special advocates must be received by AAI by August 1, 2008. Additionally, we are seeking sponsorship funds of $1,000 per child to attend China Camp.* For more information on China Camp, please call 616.667.0921.
Colombia Adoption Program
AAI is pleased to offer a program in Colombia through HOPE for Children, Inc., an agency of Adoption Associates, Inc. in Atlanta. Colombian-born applicants are preferred for this program. Children available are infant to school-aged. Please call 616.667.0921 for more information.
Ethiopia Adoption Program
Our Ethiopia program continues to grow! Families who are open to adopting children over the age of two and families who are open to adopting preschool-age and older sibling groups are especially encouraged to apply. The average process time for adopting from Ethiopia is approximately 12 to 20 months from application to bringing your child home. Call 616.667.0921 for more information.
Haiti Adoption Program
Families adopting from Haiti can either select a child from our waiting children listing or choose to have a child referred to them. The process time for Haiti takes approximately two years, however, families can visit their child as often as they like while they wait. The Haiti program has flexible requirements, accepts single female applicants, and is one of the least expensive international programs. For more information on adopting from Haiti, call 616.667.0921.
India Adoption Program
AAI is pleased to offer a program in India through HOPE for Children, Inc., an agency of Adoption Associates, Inc. in Atlanta. Children available through this program are preschool- through school-aged, many with special medical needs. For more information, please call 616.667.0921.
Kazakhstan Adoption Program
Our Kazakhstan program can be a wonderful option for families wanting to adopt. Children available can be as young as seven months and are Eurasian, Asian, or Caucasian in appearance. Married couples and single applicants are accepted for this program, although there are some eligibility requirements related to age, medical history, and prior criminal histories. Although the adoption program in Kazakhstan remains stable overall, there have been some recent delays in dossier processing at the Kazakh Embassy in Washington D.C. which may affect the overall timing of the adoption process. Please call 616.667.0921 for more information on the Kazakhstan adoption program.
Nepal Adoption Program
The new adoption law in Nepal has passed and we expect Nepal to begin accepting new dossiers soon. Children from Nepal are of Asian or Indian descent. Preschool-aged children are most readily available. For more information on the Nepal adoption program, please call 616.667.0921.
Russia Adoption Program
Our Russia program continues to be active. Families open to adopting children over the age of two and families open to adopting preschool-age and older sibling groups are especially encouraged to apply. In addition to our regular Russia program, we have several families linked to children available through our Waiting Children program. Families open to adopting a child over the age of six or a child of any age with special medical needs are encouraged to apply for this program. With lower fees and a shorter process time than the regular Russia program, this can be a wonderful option for families. Call 616.667.0921 for more information.
We are excited to welcome seven Russian children to the U.S. who are arriving this month and will be staying with AAI host families through our Hosts of Hope program. Visit HostsOfHope.com for more information on this program.
Ukraine Adoption Program
We have several families in the process of adopting from Ukraine through our regular program who are expected to finalize their adoption process this fall. Families interested in adopting children age two and older are especially encouraged to apply! In addition to our regular program, families interested in adopting from our Waiting Children program are also encouraged to apply. Children who are over the age of six and children of all ages with special medical needs are available through this program. With lower fees and a shorter process time than the regular Ukraine program, this can be a wonderful option for families. Call 616.667.0921 for more information on adopting from our Ukraine or Ukraine Waiting Children programs.
DOMESTIC ADOPTION:
Our domestic infant programs had four placements in June. AAI continues to work with more and more African-American women who are making adoption plans for their babies. While many of these babies are being placed into Caucasian families, increasingly, these women are requesting that African-American and interracial couples parent the children. Call 616.667.0677 for more information on our domestic programs.
*NOTE: If you are a family currently in the process of adopting or in post adoption supervision through AAI, donation and sponsorship opportunities are for informational purposes only.
