The first three months of 2017 were exciting for MLJ Adoptions! After bringing seven children home in December 2016, we were eager to see what the new year had in store for our international adoption families. The first quarter has been full of good things!
Bulgaria
Six children joined their forever families from Bulgaria! They ranged in age from 21 months to almost fifteen years old.
Members of our in-country team, Vesta, traveled to Indiana to meet with our office staff. We were encouraged to work together in improving our Waiting Child Program. The greatest need in international adoption is for families to adopt older children, sibling groups of 3 or more children or children with additional medical needs. We enjoyed being able to talk with Vesta about how to best advocate for these children.
Two families received referrals, and one traveled to meet the child who they were matched with. The second family will travel soon to meet their children.
- Family 1: Matched with an 18 month old; waited 19 months from dossier submission to referral.
- Family 2: Matched with a sibling group of three children, ages six, four and three years old; waited 12 months from dossier submission to referral (most of that time they were only open to two children.)
Burkina Faso
The first child in our Burkina Faso program arrived home in March!
We had a family receive a referral in October. Their case is moving through the adoption process in Burkina Faso! We are excited to see progress continue to be made in a second case.
In March, we received profiles of more waiting children in Burkina Faso. Only families who have registered dossiers in the Burkina Faso program are eligible to adopt these children. All of the children either had significant medical needs or were over the age six. We continue to be impressed with the organization and processes of the Central Authority in Burkina Faso!
Two dossiers were submitted to the Central Authority in Burkina Faso. These families join several others waiting to be matched with children. At this time, none of our families have been waiting longer than six months for a referral. We are eager to see what time frames these families experience. To date, both families who have been matched with children from Burkina Faso have waited twelve months or less from dossier submission to referral.
Haiti
A family in our Haiti program was matched with a four year old boy! They travel to meet him in April! This family waited 28 months from dossier submission to referral.
We have spots remaining in our Haiti program for dossiers that can be submitted this year! If you’re interested in international adoption from Haiti, it would be our privilege to share additional information with you.
Ukraine
One family in our Ukraine program was invited to travel, matched with a child, and brought him home this quarter! Their newly adopted son just turned five years old. Their dossier was in-country two months before receiving their invitation to travel.
We have several families hoping to adopt the children who they hosted this winter.
MLJ Adoptions just received profiles for children participating in our Summer Hosting Program! We are excited to find families for the children who are participating. Hosting is a life-changing experience for both the host child and the family!
For more information about our international country programs, contact us.
Caitlin Snyder
Caitlin Snyder works as the Director of Marketing and Outreach for MLJ Adoptions. Working in international adoption has given Caitlin the unique opportunity to pursue both a passion to advocate on behalf of vulnerable people and a profession at the same time.
Caitlin Snyder
Caitlin Snyder works as the Director of Marketing and Outreach for MLJ Adoptions. Working in international adoption has given Caitlin the unique opportunity to pursue both a passion to advocate on behalf of vulnerable people and a profession at the same time.