Adopting An HIV Positive Child

8
Nov

hiv adoptionAfter attending the Together for Adoption conference, I am more convinced that the international adoption landscape is changing. The majority of the children that were adopted five years ago were healthy, non special need, or older children. Today the percentages are very different. Special need and older child adoptions are growing. The importance of Support Services to families adopting older children or children with special needs is also growing.

MLJ recently opened an international adoption program in Haiti. Haiti moved onto the adoption radar after the devastation this country suffered in the 2011 earthquake. MLJ is one of nineteen agencies approved to process adoption in Haiti. We are passionate about finding forever families for the children of Haiti. Many of the Haitian children in need of a loving, permanent home are HIV positive.

Many families choose not to adopt an HIV positive child because they think that the child might pose a health risk to biological children or might require a great deal of medical attention. Families have misconceptions about HIV. Some of the HIV facts that families need to know are:

    • HIV is not transmitted or found in tears, nasal fluid, sweat, saliva, urine, of fecal matter.
    • HIV is only transmitted through Mother to child transmission through birth and breast feeding.
    • HIV can be transmitted through contaminated needles, syringes, sexual contact.
    • HIV has never been transmitted through a normal family living environment.

MLJ is passionate about educating families on the truths about HIV. Adopting a child with HIV can mean life or death to that child. In third world countries, health care and necessary medicines are harder to obtain. Here in the United States, there are a growing number of doctors and specialist that can walk with you through the journey of adopting a child with HIV. MLJ along with specialist can help you determine if adopting a child with HIV is right for your family. There are many factors to help in determining this. We want to make sure you are prepared as possible.


Photo Credit:uusc4all

MLJ Adoptions is a Non-Profit, Hague-Accredited adoption service provider located in Indianapolis, Indiana, working in Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Pacific Isles. We are passionate about serving children in need.

MLJ Adoptions is a Non-Profit, Hague-Accredited adoption service provider located in Indianapolis, Indiana, working in Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Pacific Isles. We are passionate about serving children in need.