Haiti: A Beautiful Island Country
Haiti is a beautiful island country located in the tropical Caribbean. Haiti shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. Even before the devastating earthquake in January 2010, Haiti was considered one of the poorest countries in the world, and the poorest nation in the western hemisphere. Almost 3 out of every 4 adults in the country are unemployed. Due to years of an unstable political and economic climate, there are thousands of precious children who need loving Christian homes. Children as young as two months old are referred and sibling groups are available (older children and special needs children are also available). The orphanage we work with is well maintained and staffed. The qualifications for families are unique in many aspects for other countries, but on occasion special provision can be made. Please feel free to call our staff for more specific details.
The adoption process begins with a home study report. This report consists of four interviews with a social worker as well as various accompanying documents that will be gathered during the process. Lifeline will complete the home study report for families residing in the state of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Washington. For our families residing outside of these States, we will refer you to a home study provider in your state of residence. After the home study report process, you will also apply to Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) as well as begin gathering documents for your Dossier. The documents that make up your Dossier will be verified through a series of stages that will include having your documents notarized, State sealed, and authenticated. After Lifeline has helped you complete this process, we will check your Dossier for accuracy before it is translated and sent to Haiti. Your Dossier will be reviewed by our orphanage in Haiti and then be sent to Civil Court. Once your Immigration Approval has been received you can receive a referral.
Referral and travel times are subject to change during your Haiti adoption. Two trips are required for families adopting from Haiti (see notes below). The first trip occurs shortly after immigration approval, and travel to pick up your child typically occurs between 12 and 18 months after your Dossier has been sent to Haiti (for childless couples) or 18-24 months (for families with other children). Families with other children will require a presidential dispensation, a special exemption issued by the president’s office, as Haiti prefers childless couples.
- On your first trip (4 days; one or both parents may travel), you will be picked up from the airport in Port-au-Prince and taken to your mission home/hotel. The next day you will file and submit your I-600. On the second or third day you will meet with a judge to be officially interviewed (the adoption process continually changes and this step may or may not be necessary at the time you travel). While in Haiti, you will also visit the orphanage and have time to meet and bond with your child.
- On your second trip (1 or 2 days; one or both parents may travel), you will travel to Haiti to pick up your child! You will travel to the orphanage to pick up your child (2 day trip) or your child will be brought to you and placed in your custody at the airport (1 day trip).
Our facilitation team in Haiti will be available to you throughout your entire stay, helping you through each stage of the in-country process.We are anticipating high interest in our Haiti program because of the benefits of short, inexpensive trips and the young age and health of available children.
NOTE: Once families accept a referral for a specific child an orphan care fee of $300 a month is required. The time from referral to completion of adoption is currently at 24 + months. Issues of gender, age, and health of the child can effect the waiting period. All orphan care fees are submitted by the family to the orphanage through Lifeline.
We are excited about the opportunity to work with Haiti and help needy children find their forever families! For more information about Haiti, Lifeline, or any of our adoption programs please call the Lifeline office at (205) 967-0811 or email Mallory Blackmon.
