PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS 

Infants and children up to age six
Sibling sets
Adopt unrelated children
Process has been in place for many years
Singles accepted
Fastest program of any Haiti adoptions

The Haiti adoption program offers flexible age and eligibility requirements for families. Also, the adoption process is full and final in Haiti. Most importantly, adoption allows children from Haiti the chance to escape poverty and life-threatening conditions.

Requirements:
· No religious requirements
· Married couples - must be married 10 years, one parent must be at least 30 years of age, only 1 or no biological children (do not count adopted children). No parent over the age of 55.
· Couple not married - same requirements but must be able to show proof of cohabitation for 5 years.
· Single woman - 35 years of age, no more than one biological child in the home when you begin the adoption, not over 55 years of age
· Single man - 35 years, must be widowed or recently divorced, no biological children, not over 55 years of age.
· No more than 2-3 divorces allowed but that Haiti needs to approve this on a case-by-case basis.

Note: If you have more than one biological child, you may adopt a special needs child or a child over age 5.
As of October 1, 2007, the director of Haiti adoptions (IBSER) will likely not accept or approve families/singles to adopt if they do not meet all of these requirements. The director is strictly enforcing these requirements that date back to the Haiti Adoption Law of 1974.

In addition, the option of visiting the orphanage prior to being matched with your child is an important benefit to those families who wish to travel to see the adoption center and our beautiful children.
We have one of the highest caregiver to child ratios you will find. We currently employ a staff of 45 and typically have between 60-70 children in the orphanage. We also employ two fulltime nurses, an English speaking preschool teacher, and a pediatrician who comes weekly to make checkups on all the children, and offer the services of a physical therapist. In addition we do thorough medical screening and lab tests on all children prior to placing them in the Creche. HIV is prevalent in Haiti and we test all children to make certain they have not contracted HIV, VDRL, Sickle Cell, or TB, as well as providing you with a number of other lab and blood work ups on the children at the adoption center.

Costs:
Agency fee: $2500
Fee to Haiti: $9900 for the first child, $9000 for a second child adopted at the same time
Translation of parents’ paperwork in French: $375
Authentication of parents’ file: $375
U.S. immigration: $1105 – 1185
Homestudy: additional, varies state-to-state, generally $1200 - $2000
Additional costs: travel to Haiti
Possible fee (unlikely): DNA tests on child in Haiti