Bonjour!

Thank you for your interest in our adoption program in Haiti. My name is Katherine Holliday and I am pleased to be the Program Coordinator for Children's House International's Latin American adoption programs. I adopted my two children from Bolivia in 1993. I am very familiar with the paperwork required in Latin America, as well as the emotional ups and downs you may encounter during the adoption process. Children's House prides itself on providing a personalized service - like friends helping friends. We will be available to help you, whether it is for gathering documents, filling out forms or giving advice and support.

Below is a summary of the new program we have in Haiti. Thanks again for your interest!! If you have any questions or would like additional information, please feel free to contact me.

Best Wishes,

Katherine Holliday
Chilatinam@aol.com

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Haiti

Haiti, a tropical country located in the Caribbean, occupies the Western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. It shares the island with the Dominican Republic (to its West) and is directly East of Cuba. Eight Million people live in Haiti, which is slightly smaller in size than Maryland. The official languages are French and Creole. People of African descent make up 95% of the population, mulatto and white the remaining 5%. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and 80% of the population lives in abject poverty.

Haitian children are strikingly beautiful! They are of African descent and most have dark skin and large dark eyes. Children who are available for adoption through this program are infants up to 6 years old. Sibling groups are available and two unrelated children may be adopted at the same time. All children have tested negative for AIDS. Sibling groups are available and two unrelated children may be adopted at the same time. Most of these children are abandoned, while many are orphaned or placed there by a parent who simply cannot take care of them.

CHI works with a private orphanage in TiMache where the children get lots of attention and care. Children's House International works in conjunction with Chances for Children.

Haitian requirements:

• Adoptive parents must be over 30 years old (at least one spouse).
• Married couples and singles
• Married couples must be married at least 5 years.
• Divorce is permissible (case by case).
• Families with up to 2 biological children are accepted.
  ***If you are interested, please request the Family Profile Form. This is sent to the Foundation so they can pre-approve your age, family size, etc.

Required Documentation:

• I-600A - CIS Approval (I-171H)
• International Home Study
• Documentation for Haiti - List of documents and a detailed booklet on obtaining them, including samples, will be provided upon entering program.

We will be glad to assist you in filing your I-600A with CIS and also in retaining a social worker to complete your home study.

Children Waiting for Families:

• 6 months to 6 years old
• Sibling Groups
• 2 Unrelated children may be adopted at the same time

Child Referral Process:

Upon receipt of your Application packet, CHI will forward your Family Profile Form to the director of the orphanage. She will verify that your family meets the criteria for adopting in Haiti. Once CHI and Chances for Children receive and approve your Home Study, you will be given a referral or will be able to select a child from the Chances for Children website. The website will contain a photo and basic information on the children available. Once a child selection is made and approved by Chances for Children, you will receive a certificate matching you with the child/ren and a social history. You will then have one month to finish the dossier.

You will then have one month to finish your dossier.

Once your dossier is received in Haiti, the process takes approximately 6-9 months until the adoption is final. CHI will receive regular progress reports on the status of the process, as well as updated photos and medical reports. This information will be passed on to you.

Time Frame:

Once a child is selected and your dossier is received in Haiti, the process takes approximately 13-16 months until the adoption is final. CHI will receive regular progress reports on the status of the process, as well as updated photos and medical reports. This information will be passed on to you.

Travel:

Both parents must travel 4-6 months after referral to file forms for the end of the process. Only one parent is required to travel at the end of the process to pick up the child. The typical stay in Haiti is 5-8 days. We encourage families to travel to Haiti to pick up their child so they can see first hand their child's birth country. If this is not possible, arrangements can be made to escort the child to Miami; however, setting up an escort does add months and additional expense to the adoption.

Fees:

The total agency program fee includes attorney fees, complete care of child, doctor visits, vaccinations, photographs for parents, photos for passport and visa, passport, new birth certificate, legal, court, administrative fees.

Thanks again for your interest! If you have any questions or would like additional information, as well as personal references, please contact Katherine Holliday at Chilatinam@aol.com or (801) 766-3412.