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Adoption from Haiti

Adoption from Haiti is a topic that has been addressed often in the past year. The devastating earthquake of January 12, 2010, opened the eyes of the world to the desperate plight of Haitians, including the countless orphans of Haiti. American citizens especially have been moved to open their homes to these children, but the U.S. State Department is urging these parents to slow down.


After the January 12, 2010 earthquake, many Haitians were forced to live in refugee camps like this one.

Haiti Devastation

Haiti has always had problems, including civil unrest, high unemployment, limited access to health care and lack of education. But all those struggles became trivial compared to the utter devastation of last year's earthquake. More than 230,000 people were killed, another 300,000 were injured and countless buildings were destroyed, leaving many homeless.

A year later, Haiti is still struggling to get back on its feet, and while there has been some progress, it could take up to ten years before Haiti makes any true progress. In the past year, in addition to the earthquake's devastation, Haitians have also had to deal with a cholera epidemic and an electoral crisis.

But What About the Children?

We adoptive parents have tender hearts for children, and especially for children who are homeless and suffering, so it's only natural that we would be motivated to pursue an adoption from Haiti, but the State Department is currently discouraging what they fear might be "knee-jerk" adoptions.

The concern the State Department has, along with Haitian officials, is that in their haste to rescue these children, adoptive parents and agencies would take short cuts that could lead to illegal adoptions, child abduction and the selling and trafficking of children. Of course, no one wants to take a child away from parents who want to raise him, but what it means for parents wanting to adopt a child from Haiti is a much longer wait.

The Legal Requirements of Adoption

In order to satisfy the requirements of U.S. immigration law, a child must be proven to be an orphan. Because Haiti is currently in crisis mode, this is a daunting task. Many of the children currently living in orphanages or shelters may have parents looking for them.

Also, it's common in an emergency for parents to send their children out of the area until things settle down. Their parents have no intention of giving up their parental rights but only want their children cared for temporarily until they can get back on their feet.

So if you have your heart set on an adoption from Haiti, you will likely need to find a reputable adoption agency and be willing to put up with a long wait. In the meantime if you truly want to help children in need, find a trustworthy organization providing humanitarian relief to Haitians and either donate or volunteer your time. You'll be glad you did.

Other Helpful Information

The high cost of international adoption is one reason many couples don't adopt. Don't let finances stand between you and your child. Learn more.

Would you like to adopt from China? Although the wait can be up to two years, the price is very reasonable and the adoption program is stable. Here are some tips for adopting from China

Many couples are now planning to adopt from Ethiopia because of the shorter wait and the reasonable costs. Learn more about adopting these beautiful children.



The children available from Kazakhstan are generally well cared for and the program usually takes less than a year. Learn more about adopting from Kazakhstan.

The Ukraine might be an excellent adoption country choice, especially if you are interested in an older child adoption. Click here to learn more.



Are you wondering what the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoptions is and how it might affect your international adoption? Learn more.

Adoptions are currently on hold from Guatemala. Learn why.

If you would like to adopt from Russia, it's a great choice if you are older or already have several children in your home. Here are some tips.

Are you thinking about adopting from Korea? You can adopt a baby from Korea, but there are age limits, and recently, the process has been extended to about three years. Learn more.

If Haiti is your adoption country choice, here are some things you should know.

A Jamaica international adoption is an affordable, yet relatively unknown way of building a family. Here's the scoop on adopting from Jamaica.

Unfortunately, if you hoped to adopt from Romania, you will have to look elsewhere. Here is a brief explanation of why international adoptions from Romania are not allowed.

A Russian international adoption can rescue a child from the stigma of being an orphan. Here's what it's like to grow up an orphan in Russia.

Do you have your heart set on adopting a child from Brazil? It is possible, but be prepared for a complicated and sometimes lengthy process. Read more about it here.

If you feel you can't afford the high agency fees, take heart. The Ukraine may be an excellent adoption country choice for you. You can pursue an independent adoption from the Ukraine. Learn more here.

Are you interested in pursuing an independent adoption from Kazakhstan? It is possible. Learn some of the steps you will have to take by clicking here.

Adoptions from Nepal are now once again possible. Learn more about it by clicking here.

A Taiwan adoption might not be something you considered when deciding on an international adoption, but adopting from this small island off the mainland coast of China can mean a far shorter wait. Here's what you need to know about adopting from Taiwan.

If you're looking for an international adoption choice that isn't as expensive, consider some of the low-cost alternatives by clicking here.

The devastating earthquake of January 12, 2010, opened the eyes of the world to the desperate plight of Haitians, including the countless orphans of Haiti. American citizens especially have been moved to open their homes to these children, but the U.S. State Department is urging these parents to slow down. Read more.

Corruption and greed brought an end to adoptions from Cambodia, but new laws and regulations are now being established that might one day allow American parents to again adopt from Cambodia. Learn more.

It is possible to adopt from Honduras without using an agency, but you will need to know the language and have contacts there. Learn more.

An update to pursuing a Haiti adoption: It is now not only once again possible, but necessary in light of the devastating earthquake in 2010. Learn more.



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