MLJ is happy to share that our first two adoptive families have completed their adoptions from Haiti and brought their children home! This is a milestone for these families, as well as for MLJ as an agency. We could not be happier!
Adoption from Haiti by U.S. families has been popular for many years in the adoption community. Haiti is considered the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, and continually experiences devastation from natural disasters,leaving its residents in desperate need. Additionally, Haiti has had and continues to have a history of church groups and other organizations traveling there for service trips to help those who live in poverty. The close proximity and continued partnership between U.S. citizens and Haitian residents has familiarized Americans with the need for international adoption from Haiti.
Given the amount of poverty and the number of vulnerable children, American families frequently seek to adopt from Haiti, but the landscape of adoption from Haiti has recently changed. In 2014, Haiti joined the Hague Convention, thus making changes to the adoption process. These changes may have led to a slowdown in adoptions from Haiti in 2014 and 2015, and these families weathered the slowdown with patience and grace. Their belief was unrelenting: children belong in families.
The first child to come home from Haiti was a four year-old girl. Her family waited sixteen months to be matched with her and then sixteen more months to bring her home.
The second child to come home from Haiti was a four year-old boy. His family waited eighteen months to be matched with him, and then seventeen more months to bring him home.
Once children are matched with families in Haiti, then the adoption process in-country occurs; the approval from the U.S. Embassy in Port Au Prince is the final approval needed before the child can travel home to the United States.
We are hopeful that these children coming home is an indication of continued success in the Haiti program!
If you’re interested in adopting from Haiti, please contact us.
Photo Credit: Feed My Starving Children
Sonja Brown
Sonja Brown works as the International Program Director for MLJ Adoptions’ programs in Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti and Samoa. Sonja is also proud to work directly with our Individualized Country Program families who are adopting from countries where no adoption service providers currently operate.
Sonja Brown
Sonja Brown works as the International Program Director for MLJ Adoptions’ programs in Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti and Samoa. Sonja is also proud to work directly with our Individualized Country Program families who are adopting from countries where no adoption service providers currently operate.