Rudy is a curious, sweet and strong boy who loves to explore the world around him. He needs a permanent family that will give him the love and care he deserves.
Due to a condition called retinoblastoma, he is blind in both of his eyes. At 3 years old, Rudy has already received two surgeries to help with his condition. He also wears an ocular prosthesis when he goes to sleep.
Even without sight, Rudy loves to play outside, spend time with others and play with toys! His favorite toys produce music or sound. Rudy also moves around freely in his environment.
The best fit for Rudy is a loving family that is committed to helping him thrive. His family should also have access to excellent medical and educational resources.
Could you or someone you know be the right family for Rudy? Please contact Alycia Fahr-Zarlons at alyciaf@holtinternational.org or view his photolisting profile for more information.
The beautiful children in the photos below have been matched with loving adoptive families! But many children are still waiting.
Did you know that children just like the ones below still need families through Holt’s China program? They are in China right now, waiting. And we currently don’t have enough families to match them with! In fact, our list of families has dropped to under 40! If you have taken the first steps in your adoption journey, or even if you are still only considering adoption, you could be matched with a child soon through Holt’s China program.
Children currently in need of families are both boys and girls with a wide range of medical conditions, ages 2-13 on arrival. More than half of all placements for 2019 so far have included children matched between ages 1-4! The reality, however, is that many children ages 5-13 also wait for families.
Examples of conditions that may be considered moderate/manageable include: prematurity, developmental delays (speech, motor), ear atresia, anal atresia, albinism, syphilis (treated), cleft lip and palate, orthopedic/limb malformations, and heart conditions like ASD, VSD and PFO.
Examples of more involved conditions or those requiring ongoing care after arrival include: epilepsy or history of seizures, thalassemia, vision or hearing loss, cognitive delays, incontinence, CT abnormalities, or heart conditions such as tetralogy of fallot (TOF), PDA and dextrocardia. Central nervous system conditions like cerebral palsy and spina bifida would also fall into this category.
Families who are willing to accept either gender, a wide range of medical conditions and a wider age range will be matched sooner. (We no longer accept applicants who are only open to females, 0-2, with minor/correctable conditions.)
We don’t have enough families for the children who are waiting right now! So if you have ever considered adopting through Holt’s China program, the time is now!
This sweet 1-and-a-half year old has been diagnosed with PDA, a heart condition. It took a year and a half for his family to be matched with him.
This sweet 2-year-old was born premature. Her family was matched with her in 21 months. This 2-year-old sweetheart has Thalassemia. She was matched with a family in 9 months.This 1-year-old cutie has been diagnosed with albinism. Individuals with albinism are born without the usual amount of skin pigment, which often creates very pale skin, hair and eyes. She was matched with her family in 1 month.This sweet 3-year-old’s cleft lip and palate was corrected after a successful surgery in China. She was matched with her family in 18 months.This sweet 1-year old girl was matched in 6 months, and has been diagnosed with congenital adrenal cortical hyperplasia.
This sweet 1-year-old boy was matched in less than a month, and has been diagnosed with cleft lip/palate, anal atresia (post operative) and a congenital heart condition.
This sweet little girl has been diagnosed with developmental delays. Her family waited 5 months to be matched with her.This sweet 2-year-old has post-operative congenital heart disease. He was matched with his family in 2 months.This 3-and-a-half year old cutie pie has developmental delays. It took 1 month for his family to be matched with him.
Look at the photos above once more. These children have their families, but there are so many more children waiting in China right now who don’t. In the past two decades, adoptions through China have seen many changes — including more domestic adoptions, changes in child profile and orphanage closures — but what has remained constant is Holt’s dedication to walking side by side with families every step of the way until they have their beautiful child in their arms.
As one of the largest and oldest international adoption agencies, we have the expertise and resources, and an amazing and experienced staff — both here and in China — to make sure that the journey to the child who is waiting for you is as smooth as possible. We will never pressure you into accepting a child whose special needs are more than you can manage, and we will work tirelessly to make sure that you are comfortable and happy throughout the entire process.
Children in China need loving homes, and we need loving families for them!
WEST ALLIS, Wis. (May 16, 2019) – Holt International Children’s Services and Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan (LSS) announced today that LSS will transfer its private domestic adoption program to Holt International. The transition of the program will be complete by June 3, 2019.
Approximately 60 families awaiting adoption will have the option to transfer their cases to Holt International. Holt has been expanding its presence in Wisconsin and has recently established a license in the state. To ensure a smooth transition, some members of the LSS adoption team will join the Holt team.
While Holt is best known for their pioneering work in international adoption and child welfare services, Holt also has a long history of helping to find loving, permanent families for children in the U.S. through domestic foster care and infant adoption. Families transferring from LSS will work with Holt’s Illinois/Wisconsin branch office located in Bolingbrook, Illinois, where Holt began providing domestic adoption services in 2014.
“For more than 60 years, Holt International has been helping to build families through adoption. We are very excited to be adding the LSS domestic adoption program to our existing programs and look forward to helping even more children and families,” said Amy Trotter, director of Holt’s Illinois/Wisconsin branch. “We look forward to meeting with the families to assist them on the path toward creating their forever families.”
LSS will continue to provide adoption services in the state of Wisconsin through public adoption. LSS works in partnership with the State of Wisconsin to place children from the foster care system into loving adoptive homes.
“LSS has made a difference in the lives of so many families through adoption. While this is a difficult decision, we are pleased that the program will continue with Holt International, which is internationally known for its adoption programs,” said Héctor Colón, president and CEO of LSS. “Holt International shares our values of compassion and courage. We know the families awaiting adoption will be served well throughout this transition.”
About Holt International
Holt International seeks a world where every child has a loving and secure home. Since our founding in 1956, we have worked toward our vision through programs that strengthen and preserve families that are at risk of separation; by providing critical care and support to orphaned and vulnerable children; and by leading the global community in finding families for children who need them and providing the pre- and post-adoption support and resources they need to thrive. Always, we focus on each child’s unique needs — keeping the child’s best interest at the forefront of every decision. To learn more, visit holtinternational.org.
About Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, Inc.
Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan strives to build healthy communities filled with people using their God-given gifts to serve. For more than 100 years, this has been our goal. At LSS we value compassion, co-creation, change and courage, instilling these core values in every community and residential program we offer. We believe in the infinite worth of every individual and because of this, we are committed to the growth and empowerment of others. To learn more about how LSS acts compassionately, serves humbly and leads courageously, visit www.LSSwis.org.
For more information, please email Sydney Hofer at sydney@kanecommgroup.com, or call her at (414)635-7009.
Mina is a creative, talkative and playful 9-year-old. She loves to paint and listen to music, but she also enjoys telling stories!
When she first came into care, Mina was timid and shy. But it wasn’t long until she started feeling comfortable and interacting with her peers. New people tend to make her feel cautious, but once she gets to know someone, she loves to be around them. She can also easily express herself and her feelings.
At school, Mina is one of the top students in her class! She is quick learner, and she always loves to help her peers whenever she can.
Mina has ear deformities, as well as other delays. But Mina’s fine motor skills have developed quickly during her time in care .
The best fit for Mina is a loving, permanent family that has a good understanding of older child adoption, as well as the resources, care and love she’ll need.
Could you or someone you know be the right family for Mina? Please contact Alycia Fahr-Zarlons at alyciaf@holtinternational.org or view her photolisting profile for more information.
Angelina is a smiley and playful 1-year-old! She loves to
laugh with others, and she is very affectionate.
Angelina has Down syndrome as well as previous medical
history with her heart. In May 2018, she had heart surgery for an atrial septal
defect. Overall, Angelina is progressing well in her development.
She loves being around others, and she always enjoys having
someone to play with. Angelina’s favorite toys are the ones that produce sound,
and her favorite game is peek-a-boo!
A loving, permanent family with access to excellent medical
resources would be the best fit for Angelina. They should also be ready to fill
their home with a lot of laughter!
Could you or someone you know be the right family
for Angelina? Please contact Kristen Henry at kristenh@holtinternational.org or
visit her photolisting profile.
If you or someone you know has been considering adoption from
the Philippines, you may have heard some common misconceptions about the
adoption process. Below, we highlight the top 10 myths about adopting a child from
the Philippines, and provide some useful insight as you consider this program!
Myth #1: There isn’t
much information available about children waiting to be adopted from the
Philippines.
Fact: Holt receives very detailed family background,
behavioral, developmental and social information about children waiting to be
adopted from the Philippines.
Today, Ellia is thriving in her mom’s care. In just two years, Ellia
has grown from a shy and quiet 2-year-old to an energetic, outgoing, silly
4-year-old who is secure and so loved. Liz says adopting as a single parent is
“the hardest thing she has ever done on purpose,” but also the greatest gift.
Liz encourages all hopeful parents — whether married or single — to consider adoption.
Like many 13-year-olds, Gregorie loves to play sports, spend time outside and laugh with his friends! He is also sweet, caring and generous to those around him.
