Ethiopia Adoption
- Our Ethiopia adoption program is one of CWA’s largest and most affordable adoption programs.
- Infants, toddlers, sibling groups, and young teens are all in great need of loving, forever families they can call their own.
Ethiopia Adoption Program
Poverty and disease have left a great multitude of children without parents. Typically older children, older sibling groups, or children with special needs are available for immediate referral. Otherwise, parents will likely receive a referral within 9-12 months of submitting their dossier. Time between referral and travel is about 4 to 6 months. CWA works with numerous orphanages located throughout Ethiopia. Christian World is very pleased to be among the first U.S. agencies authorized and accredited to have an Ethiopia adoption program. The Ethiopia adoption program is our largest program, and each year we place over 200 children from Ethiopia with loving, forever families. We look forward to helping connect some of the thousands of orphans with loving, permanent families through Ethiopia adoption.
Children in the Ethiopia Adoption Program
Infants, toddlers, sibling groups and older children who are available for adoption receive examinations and tests for HIV and hepatitis prior to referral. Parents will receive all biographical and medical information on a referred child that CWA is given by the child’s orphanage, which will include photographs. CWA does allow the adoption of two unrelated children at the same time. For adoption of two unrelated children, at least one child must be age 25 months or older, and the adoptions must be completed on the same trip to Ethiopia. CWA maintains a photo list of waiting children/sibling groups available for adoption. Please visit our Ethiopian waiting children webpage for more information.
Ethiopia Adoption Parent Eligibility
Adoptions by single women are limited to a certain number per year, so check with CWA if you are single and interested in this program. Married couples may adopt, and one parent must be at least age 25. Couples must be married at least one year before applying to adopt. Although Ethiopia does not have a legal upper age limit for the adopting parents, they do prefer a maximum of about 45 years age difference between the adopted child and the mother. Ethiopia does have some restrictive regulations regarding the health of adopting parents. Therefore, if you are currently taking any prescription medications, or if you have any medical conditions, please call or email our Director of Intake to discuss your specific case so we can help you determine your eligibility. If you are taking a prescription medication for any psychological diagnosis, including depression or an anxiety disorder, we need to know this up front. In addition, if there is any prior arrest record or prior criminal charge, please discuss this with us. While it does not automatically preclude you from adopting, we will address each situation on a case-by-case basis. With international adoption, all medical information and criminal issues must be fully addressed and documented in your home study as well as other adoption related documents. By fully disclosing any relevant information prior to your applying with CWA, we can hopefully help you avoid the expenditure of time, money, and emotions, only to later discover Ethiopia might not approve you to adopt.
Ethiopia Adoption Program Travel
An Ethiopian adoption requires two trips of 4-6 days each to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Both parents are required to travel on the first trip to appear in court. One or both parents may travel on the second trip for the US Embassy appointment and to obtain custody of the child(ren). The average time between trips is approximately 6 to 8 weeks. For both trips, a CWAE staff person will assist parents with transportation to and from the airport, visits to the foster home and all official meetings including Embassy document processing.
There are guest houses or hotels in which families can stay while in Addis Ababa. During the first trip parents may stay in a hotel or guest house. The child will remain in the foster home where visits will be arranged during the two days prior to court. For the second trip, it is our policy that parents staying in guest houses may have custody of their children during their stay and their children may accompany them to Embassy related appointments only. Parents who opt to stay in hotels will have custody of their children upon departure from Addis with the exception of Embassy related appointments and one hour visits daily at the Foster Home. This policy is in response to government cultural sensitivity and safety concerns and is a current standard among other adoption agencies in Ethiopia.
Note: Due to the nature of international adoption, all information contained on this webpage concerning Ethiopia adoption is subject to change without notice.
|
|
|
