Children's House International (CHI) is excited to announce that we have opened a new program in the Democratic Republic of Georgia! This program is expected to be very quick in terms of referral and travel, and we have infants and older children waiting for their forever families.

Hi! I'm Erin Tucker, the Program Coordinator for Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and now the Democratic Republic of Georgia! I am a Masters level Social Worker, and the proud parent of 3 young children. I am pleased to say that I've been placing children in their forever families for over 5 years.

WHERE IS THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA?

Located on the Eastern shore of the Black Sea, Democratic Republic of Georgia is bordered by Russia to the North, Turkey and Armenia to the South and Azerbaijan to the East, and has long been considered an important crossroads between Asia and Europe. It is predominantly Christian, and Georgian is the main language. Since declaring its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Georgia has struggled both politically and economically to maintain its identity. Since 2000 Georgia has made great strides in economic growth, but over 54% of the population still lives in poverty, and there is 13.8% unemployment. Despite the dire conditions of much of the population, many Georgians feel their lives are better now than in more than a decade, and nearly 100% of the population is literate.

CHILDREN WAITING FOR FAMILIES:

The special needs children waiting for homes in Georgia range in age from approximately toddlers to 16 years. The baby houses are home to toddler age children and the orphanages house children from 3-10 years of age. Older children are in boarding schools. Families may adopt siblings or 2 unrelated children at once. There are many children waiting for forever families in Georgia, with needs including surgically correctable issues, limb differences, impairments of vision and hearing and developmental disabilities. We work with orphanages and baby houses in 4 cities within 3 regions of Georgia. Most children come from Tiblisi, though it is possible for families to travel as far as Batumi (a 6 hour drive from Tiblisi). Georgia has a wonderful foster care system for children after they are formally accepted by an adoptive family. Once your child is placed with a foster family, you will receive updated information and pictures while you wait to travel.

ADOPTIVE PARENT REQUIREMENTS:

Qualifications for adoptive parents are reasonably flexible in Georgia. Couples that have a strong and long-term relationship, whether legally married or partnered, are able to pursue adoption in Georgia. Single mothers are also able to adopt from the country. Adoptive mothers must be under 50 years of age to adopt children under 2 years. The age of the adoptive father is not a factor. There is no set income requirement so long as the adoptive parents have proven their financial ability to raise a child. There is no restriction on family size so long as there is sufficient financial, emotional and social support available.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

After submission of a completed dossier, it is translated and submitted to the Ministry of Science and Education. The Ministry reviews and approves a dossier, a process that takes approximately 1 month, and the family can travel soon after acceptance of the referral. The in-country portion of the adoption will take approximately 10-14 days. Both parents must be present for court, though 1 parent may arrive the day before court and leave immediately afterward. After the adoption is finalized, families will complete exit procedures through the US Embassy in Tiblisi.

ADOPTION TIMELINE:

Although each adoptive family will have a different adoption timeline based on their individual preferences, most adoptive families can expect to complete their adoption within 6 months of the submission of the dossier.

ADOPTION FEES:

* Please call our office for information about the fees for The Democratic Republic of Georgia.

TO GET MORE INFORMATION:

Please contact Erin Tucker at 919-749-1087 or email Erin.T@chiadopt.com for further information regarding this program.

Revised 02/19/2008