I am very surprised that more people aren't adopting from Haiti. From what I've been able to find out, Haiti is one of the simpler and least expensive countries to adopt from and there are many children who need homes ranging from infants to older children. In some cases and with some agencies the adoptive parents do not even need to travel to the country, but if they do the time in-country can be as little as 2 days. Children are adopted from orphanages, so if an older child is adopted there will probably be developmental delays because of institutionalization (depending on how long the child has been in the orphanage), but from looking at agency websites it seems like many of the orphanages that they work with are privately funded or funded through religious organizations and so the situation may be better off than in the state-funded orphanages of Eastern Europe.

Costs of adoption seem to range from about $13,000 to $16,000. Ethnically, the children are black or mulatto. Right now, it takes around 12 months from start to finish to adopt a child from Haiti.

Some agencies require that the adoptive family is Christian, but that's not true of all, and there may be problems for families that already have 3 or 4 children, although some agencies don't see this as a problem at all. One of the parents must be a least 30 years old. Some agencies require that adoptive parents be married for at least 5 years, but I personally know a single woman who is adopting from Haiti so I know not every agency requires this.

Here's what the JCICS (the Joint Council of International Children's Services, an international adoption advocacy and governance group, says about adopting from Haiti:

Haiti is currently currently OPEN to adoptions by US citizens.

PLEASE NOTE: While Haiti is open to adoptions, agencies and families have experienced increasing delays with adoptions from this country. Families are strongly encouraged to be aware of travel warnings to Haiti as issued by the US Department of State.

I think this is information prospective parents should definitely keep in mind, but at the same time most agencies provide for safety measures while you are in-country and in many cases parents don't even have to go to Haiti. So don't let this stop you.

Here are the agencies the JCICS reports are working in Haiti:

A New Arrival

Adoption Associates, Inc.

CASI Foundation for Children

Children of the Nations International Adoptions, Inc.

Dillon International, Inc.

Heritage Adoption Services

His Kids Adoptions International

Plan Loving Adoptions Now, Inc.

Project Oz Adoptions, Inc.

Wasatch International Adoptions

West Sands International

If you are open to international adoption as well as open to adopting a black or mixed-race child, it seems to me that Haiti is a great way to go! If you have adopted from Haiti, please let me know. Use the space below or e-mail me at hopetoadoptblog2@adoptionblogs.com to tell me about your experience.