Lifelink International Adoption's Haitian adoption program is now operational. The agency is working with Haiti-based Three Angels Children's Relief to place orphaned and relinquished children for adoption from Haiti. "We are thrilled to resume placing children for adoption from Haiti and are now working hard to find loving families for the children brought into care," explained Lifelink Director of Adoptions Pat Radley.
Three Angels has been committed to placing orphaned and relinquished children from Haiti since 2003 and has facilitated the placement of more than 100 children with families. "The goal of Three Angels Children's Relief is to provide hope to the children of Haiti," said Three Angels Marketing Director Shannon Hoffmann. Their orphanage is licensed by IBESR, the Haitian social service authority. The children receive dedicated 24-hour care with assigned nannies to encourage healthy attachments.
Haitian adoptions were temporarily suspended after the devastating earthquake that ravaged the country in January 2010. The Haitian government reported that an estimated 316,000 people died during the tragedy and another 1,000,000 were left homeless. While Haiti continues to move forward with rebuilding, it has reinstated international adoptions in order to find loving homes for the many children left without families.
Haitian children available for adoption are infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers. They are all screened for HIV, Hepatitis, TB and sickle cell. Each child receives regular check-ups and has access to the Three Angels medical clinic as well as the Bernard Mevs Hospital in Port au Prince. Boys and girls are available for adoption, as well as twins and sibling groups.
Those individuals eligible to adopt from Haiti include married couples and single women between 35-50 years of age for a healthy child and 55 years old for a child with special needs. Only one parent needs to be 35, and age exceptions can be made if there is medical proof of infertility. Married couples are also required to have been married for at least ten years. Haiti prefers childless applicants or families with adopted children, but IBESR will allow families with biological children to adopt with presidential dispensation. Families are required to take two short trips to Haiti as part of the adoption process, which can take from 12 to 24 months.
Three Angels has four children, all less than three months of age that have been brought into care since April 2012. Individuals interested in learning more about the availability of these children and the requirements for adopting through Haiti can visit www.lifelinkadoption.org or call 630-521-8281.
Lifelink International Adoption (license #508312), a ministry of Lutheran Child and Family Services, has established and maintained a reputation for the quality individualized service it provides to all applicant families, the expertise and professionalism of its staff and its commitment to be available throughout the adoption journey and beyond. It serves families and children in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. Lifelink has direct placement programs with China, Haiti, Hong Kong, Philippines and Korea, as well as cooperative programs with Poland and other countries. The organization is accredited by the Council on Accreditation as well as the Hague and is a member of the Joint Council on International Children's Services.
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