How old are the children?
|
|
|
|
24 months to 7 years at time of placement.
|
What is the profile of children to be adopted?
|
|
|
|
This varies. Most children are in good health with minor developmental delays. Other children have varying degrees of health issues and developmental delays, primarily due to the difficult family background and situation they come from.
|
Who can adopt from Haiti?
|
|
|
|
Couples married 5+ years and 30 - 50 years of age are accepted. However, at least one of the spouses must be 35+ years of age. One divorce each is accepted. Single women 35 - 50 years of age accepted as well. Childless couples preferred, but families with up to 3 - 4 children accepted as well.
|
Can we choose the gender of child?
|
|
|
|
Yes
|
How are families selected for children?
|
|
|
|
Families are put on a wait list upon receipt of their home study. When Holt receives information on children, Holt will match these children with families on the wait list. If a child cannot be matched with any of the wait list families due to the child's age or special needs, the child will be referred to Holt's Waiting Child Program for home finding.
|
What kind of information is available about the children?
|
|
|
|
Upon referral, there will generally be a child background report, progress reports (including medical information) and pictures. A video of the child is sometimes available as well. Quarterly reports on the child's health and development follow after that. Since children referred for adoption live at Holt Fontana's Children's Village (see “Where do children live while they are in Haiti?” below), we have access to providing the children with excellent care and receiving good, thorough child reports.
|
What kind of medical care do children receive?
|
|
|
|
Children in Holt's care receive regular health care and appropriate immunizations. All children receive HIV and Hepatitis B testing prior to referral. Children are also referred to outside medical specialists for evaluation and treatment when appropriate.
|
What kind of information do families receive during the adoption process?
|
|
|
|
Families receive updated quarterly progress reports and child photos. See “What kind of information is available about the children?” above for further feedback about this.
|
How do children come into care?
|
|
|
|
Some children are found abandoned, but most are relinquished for adoption directly by a birth parent. Sometimes older children enter the system (same reasons as above) and become available for adoption as well.
|
Where do children live while they are in Haiti?
|
|
|
|
Children live in group homes within the self-contained Holt Fontana Children's Village. Each home comprises of a house parent, and 7 - 8 children living in a family-like environment.
|
Do parents travel to Haiti?
|
|
|
|
Due to political instability in Haiti, travel is restricted to short time frames. Each family will make 1-2 short trips, 2-3 days each in length, depending on security issues.
|
