September Adoption Program Update
September 29, 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
Visit our news item to learn more about an international adoption fee reduction available to families signing up between September 1, 2008 and November 31, 2008!
China Adoption Program & China Waiting Children Program
The regular China program is still moving along slowly and is currently at 32 months from dossier submission to referral.
The China Waiting Children program has been quite active recently with families being matched with agency assigned and shared agency referrals. The process time for the Waiting Children program is currently approximately five to six months from being matched with a child to bringing your child home. Families who have not signed up but are interested in the Waiting Children program are encouraged to apply and begin the process as paperwork-ready families are able to select from either the agency assigned or shared agency referral listings. For more information, please contact us.
Colombia Adoption Program
Boasting a very stable adoption process, Colombia can be a wonderful choice for adoptive families. Children range in age from less than a year to school age. Colombian-born applicants are preferred. For more information, please contact us.
Ethiopia Adoption Program
Our Ethiopia program continues to grow! Families who are open to adopting children age four and older or preschool-age and older sibling groups are especially encouraged to apply at this time. For more information, please contact us.
Haiti Adoption Program
There continues to be a lot of interest in our Haiti program. The processing time for Haiti is approximately two years; however families can visit the orphanage and their child as often as they like while they wait. In fact, one AAI family has just returned from celebrating their child’s first birthday with her! Families can either select a Waiting Child or have a child referred to them. For more information, please contact us.
India Adoption Program
Children available through the India adoption program are between the ages of two and twelve years old, however older children and children with special needs are most readily available. For more information, please contact us.
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. In spite of this, we were overjoyed to have our first two dossiers approved there recently! For more information, please contact us.
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, please contact us.
Russia & Russia Waiting Children Programs
Our Russia program continues to be very active with families finalizing their adoptions and making first trips to accept their referrals. Families who are open to adopting children over the age of three are especially encouraged to apply.
There continues to be a lot of interest in our Russia Waiting Children program where healthy children over the age of six and children of all ages with special medical needs are available. Visit our Eastern Europe photolisting or call for more information on this program.
Ukraine & Ukraine Waiting Children Programs
Now is a great time to sign up for our Ukraine adoption program. Families who are open to children age three years old and older are very welcome to apply!
Ukraine is the least expensive Eastern European adoption program, and is unique in the fact that there is no referral process—families select a child from a database of children who are available for adoption.
There also continues to be a lot of interest in our Ukraine Waiting Children program where healthy children over the age of six and children of all ages with special medical needs are available. Visit our Eastern Europe photolisting or call for more information on this program.
DOMESTIC ADOPTION
Our domestic infant programs had six placements in August. We have temporarily suspended the acceptance of non-Michigan families for domestic adoption through AAI. Instead, we suggest that non-Michigan families consider one of our international programs, or check back with us for domestic adoption after January 1, 2009. For families residing in Georgia, please contact HOPE for Children, Inc., an agency of Adoption Associates, Inc. located in Georgia to inquire about adopting domestically.
