An Update on Adoptions in Haiti
I’ve had a number of people e-mail or call me recently asking for more details on what the status of adoptions is at GLA and in Haiti. I figured that if some of you are asking the questions, there are a LOT more who are wondering but haven’t asked.
So, I talked to Jean and Dixie about it and below is the response that Jean has been sending to people.
I hope it helps answer questions and remember that even if it’s not what you wanted, God is in control and He has a plan. And His timing is better than ours. I can testify to that from when we adopt our two kids from GLA in 2004.
Tom
Hello!
Thank you for your interest in adopting a child from God’s Littlest Angels. Here’s the facts about Haitian adoptions at this time:
IBESR has stated that referrals may be given for children who were already considered legal orphans before the earthquake.
GLA had only one child who met this criteria and approximately 20 dossiers waiting for referrals.
IBESR has also stated that if the birth parents relinquished a child directly to the orphanage, the children can then be proposed to families. But we will work first with families with their dossier already at the orphanage.
We will not be accepting any new dossiers until we have taken care of the families already waiting.
We do not know for sure what the criteria will be, nor the process, nor the cost. The government is just beginning to function again. We do not know how long the adoption process will take. We can’t send out applications or information packets until we have more information and available children.
UNICEF has control of all the newly orphaned children. We have no idea if or when they will release them to the orphanages.
If you want to go ahead and start preparing their paperwork, this is the criteria that was in place before the earthquake:
Age 35 – 50
Married 10 years
Single mothers must be at least age 35
No biological children. Presidential dispensations were given for families with up to 2 biological children. We do not know if this will continue to be the case.
Previously the cost was $12,500 for the Haitian fees. The cost of preparing your dossier on the US or Canadian side varies. We cannot give a quote for those fees. We do not know if the fees going forward will be the same, more, or less. It will also depend on how long the adoption process takes.
We have had hundreds of requests to adopt. Once we can begin moving forward with new adoptions, we will post the details on our webpage. www.glahaiti.org.
Blessings,
Jean Bell
US Coordinator
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