Bulgaria is International Adoption Success Story

25
Jun

adopting from bulgariaMLJ Adoptions’ Bulgaria program is an excellent option for families desiring to adopt a single child, a sibling group, or children with special needs. Bulgaria is a Hague Convention Country which introduces a level of stability and predictability into the international adoption process. In 2014, 18 children came home to MLJ Adoptions’ families. We are thankful to see steady growth in the Bulgaria program continuing in 2015. Since January, MLJ Adoptions has received 11 referrals for 7 families, adopting from Bulgaria. Last week we were able to issue referrals to four of those families!

Twins, female & male, age 22 months – 7 month wait
Biological Siblings, female age 4, male age 1 – 13 month wait
Biological Siblings, male age 7, female age 5, male age 4 – 6 month wait
Female Child, 2 years – 34 month wait
Male Child, 2 years – 18 month wait
Female Child, 1.5 years – 15 month wait
Female Child, 13 years – 2 month wait (waiting child)

These wait times are calculated beginning when the family’s dossier is submitted to the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) in Bulgaria. Referrals in Bulgaria are issued by the Ministry of Justice, the central authority within the government. The MOJ processes families’ dossiers and profiles of children who are in need of a forever home in order to make a match. The MOJ is evaluating the characteristics of a child that a family is open to and the children in need of families in order to make a match in the best interest of the child.

The process of matching children with families, and issuing referrals, is heavily dependent on the characteristics that a family is open to accepting in a child or children. We have been able to work with our partner agency in Bulgaria to better understand characteristics and needs common for children born in Bulgaria. Openness to some of these minor or correctable needs, including asthma, allergies, digestion programs, low birth weight, large moles, correctable vision problems, cleft lip and palate and anemia may make the referral wait shorter for families.

Families usually wait between 12 and 24 months from when their dossier is submitted to the Ministry of Justice until they receive a referral. There is great need for families to adopt sibling groups of 3 or more children, children over the age of 8 and children with special needs. Families who are interested in adopting one of these groups will likely have a shorter timeline to referral.

If you are interested in more information about our Bulgaria program, including a more comprehensive referral timeline breakdown, please contact us.

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 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.