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HAITI HOPE PROGRAM

 

Program Update August 2008: Our Haiti Hope program is currently on hold.

Due to the very long wait for children to come home from Haiti, Chances for Children, the organization that manages the Crèche de Enfant Jesus that we work with, has announced they are unable to accept new families at this time.

Please check this page periodically for news and updates.

Haiti Hope is a program of Heritage Adoption Services that joins adoptive parents with their Haitian children. We work with Crèche de L’Enfant Jesus, an orphanage in TiMache where children under seven years old live while waiting for their adoptive families.

 

Due to abject poverty, political unrest, high unemployment rates and a host of other issues, many Haitian children are relinquished or abandoned by their birth parents in an effort to provide them with better opportunities in their lives.

 

Unlike other Haitian adoption programs, Haiti Hope is open to married couples and singles regardless of religious affiliation. We work with Chances for Children in Arizona to keep fees as low as possible while providing helpful and professional guidance during the process. Chances for Children runs the crèche and works with the attorneys to complete the legal requirements through the Haitian government.

 

The adoption process from Haiti typically takes about 18 to 24 months from application to travel. Families should allow three to six months to complete the homestudy process and receive approval from the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS). Once U.S. approval arrives, Heritage works with the families to identify the family’s child(ren). The adoption process in Haiti takes about 16 to 18 months after the US approval.

 

WHY USE HERITAGE ADOPTION SERVICES?

 

Heritage Adoption Services is committed to ethical, professional, caring adoption services. We partnered with the Crèche de L’Enfant Jesus because it creates a safe and nurturing environment for children whose biological parents are not able to care for them. While at the orphanage, the Chances for Children staff prepare the children for their adoptions. Heritage has been working in Haiti since 2003. The Crèche de L’Enfant Jesus has had a number of successful adoptions of Haitian children to the US and Canada since 2005 and provide excellent services to the children and adoptive families.

 

WHY HAITI?

• The children are amazing!
• The orphanage staff in TiMache provides wonderful care of these children. The kids are in a preschool setting, learning English, and preparing for their adoptions. 
• The trip to Haiti is short. Families typically spend five to seven nights in Haiti, a country rich with culture, tradition, and history.
• Reasonable fees with ethical, efficient, and friendly service.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: HAITI HOPE

 

1. WHO CAN ADOPT FROM HAITI HOPE?

The Haitian Government and Haiti Hope program require that prospective adoptive parents meet the following requirements: Married couples must be between the ages of 30 and 50; have been married at least 10 years; and have no biological children (exceptions may be made if the parents have one biological child an can document infertility). Single women who are between 35 and 50 may apply to adopt from the Crèche de Enfant Jesus. Haiti Hope does NOT require any religious affiliation of the parents. At least one adoptive parent must be a US Citizen in order to adopt internationally due to U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security requirements.

2.  WHAT WILL HERITAGE ADOPTION SERVICES DO FOR US?

• Provide encouragement and support while you are going through what we hope will be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life
• Assist you in putting together your dossier (adoption file) documents
• Notify you of changes or new procedures in adoption protocol as we are notified.
• For Oregon, Washington, and applicable Montana and Alaska residents, we prepare the Home Study.  For non-residents, we work with your agency and review the final product.
• Prepare and obtain Secretary of State Authentication of Notary Signature.
• Arrange for the dossier documents to be translated into French.
• Prepare and obtain Haitian Embassy legalization of the family dossier, which is submitted to the Haitian government in order to process your adoption.
• Send your dossier to the crèche director for the referral for the referral of your child(ren)
• Process the referral of your child(ren)
• Provide you with our International Education course, which is an excellent guide through the adoption process
• Assist you in preparing for a trans-cultural adoption if appropriate
• Assist you in obtaining your child’s visa approval from the U.S. Consulate office.
• Coordinate your adoption journey to Haiti
• Provide post placement reports for families for whom we prepared the homestudy
• Provide professional adoption-related counseling

3. WHAT WILL WE KNOW ABOUT OUR CHILD BEFORE TRAVEL?

You will receive:

• Pictures of your child
• A medical report with comprehensive test results (The children are tested for HIV, Hepatitis B, and TB)
• A social history of your child, and monthly updates until your trip
• A copy of all the adoption legal work completed in Haiti

4. WHAT IS THE TRIP LIKE?

Most US families fly through Miami or Ft. Lauderdale to Port-au-Prince. A staff member from Crèche de L’Enfant Jesus picks you up at the airport and takes you to the orphanage to meet your child(ren). You will stay at the crèche and they will provide all transportation, lodging, food, etc. for which you will be billed later. Most families stay in Haiti only five to seven nights. Though the accommodations are not like we are accustomed to in the United States, the trip will be one of the most memorable of your life; it will be well-worth meeting your child in their own familiar surroundings and culture! While in Haiti, you will get to know the people who have been caring for your child which will prove invaluable during the crucial bonding time.

5. CAN HERITAGE ADOPTION SERVICES PROVIDE US WITH REFERENCES OF FAMILIES WHO HAVE ADOPTED FROM HAITI OR ARE IN THE PROCESS?

Yes, of course.  We are happy to provide you with references.  Simply contact us via e-mail at vbaker@heritageadoption.org or phone at 503.233.1099. We will gladly provide you with references from parents who have adopted through our international and domestic programs.

 

6.  HOW MUCH DOES HAITI HOPE ADOPTION COST?

                 

 

7. WHAT IF I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?

Many of our staff members have lived through the thrill of adopting and the wild ride of the paperwork; we believe in loving, professional, and ethical service to adopting families.  We love to share in the joys of this major life changing process. Interested families are welcome to call or email with questions.  If you have questions about Haiti Hope, please contact Vicki at (503) 233.1099, or email vbaker@heritageadoption.org.

                                                                                                           

READY TO GET STARTED?

Great! Haiti Hope requires that families interested in adopting from the Crèche de L’Enfant Jesus fill out a pre-approval profile that allows the staff in Haiti to be as sure as possible that a family would be approved to adopt from Haiti. We can fill out the profile over the phone or one can be sent to you electronically to fill out. Just contact Vicki at (503) 233.1099, or vbaker@heritageadoption.org to receive the information. Once your profile is pre-approved, we’d be happy to review your application for adoption. You may download an application for couples here and single applicants here. Or call or email Vicki to request one. Once your application is approved, we’ll get you started on the path to adopt your child.