Families Interested in Adopting from Africa Find Options in Haiti

27
Jan

haiti_gop credit neededWe have been in contact with several families over this last month interested in adopting from Haiti, which is wonderful! There is such great need in Haiti and we are in a fortunate position to have openings for new families in our Haiti program. We are finding that families are drawn to the Haiti program for a few reasons. Some of the reasons families are drawn to the Haiti program are that they have seen the need after doing mission work in Haiti. Others have decided to adopt from Haiti after they found that doors were closed to them for adopting from Africa.

MLJ Adoptions has made many connections with families looking to meet the need of providing a family for an orphan specifically from the Democratic Republic of Congo, due to our significant involvement in adoptions from Congo. As adoptions from Congo have been placed on hold for the time being, families previously interested in adopting from Congo with MLJ are now looking to adopt from Haiti or Burkina Faso, depending on which program the family qualifies for. I have had the pleasure and opportunity to speak with many families seeking to provide a loving and permanent home for a child who were initially committed to adopting from Africa. Many of the families have made the decision to adopt from Haiti, even though they were initially interested in Congo,  because they are finding that they are able to meet a similar need by adopting from Haiti.

Adopting from Africa is still a possibility from places like Burkina Faso if families meet the eligibility requirements. However, given the preference for no  children or one child in the home, some families find that Burkina Faso is not a fit for them. The reality that adoption from Africa is currently limited is difficult for families who feel that their hearts were being pulled towards Africa. However, several of these families have found peace with their decision to provide a family for a Haitian orphan. There are many reasons a family feels pulled towards Africa. Some of these reasons include:

  • There are so many children in need
  • The children in need reside in sub-par and sometimes deplorable conditions
  • Children may not get enough to eat and have their basic needs met
  • The realities for children aging out of orphanages in Africa
  • For some families, their vision of their family includes Black children

For families looking to meet these needs that have seen road blocks to adopting from Africa, some have started to look to Haiti as an alternative. We currently have 15 submissions available for families interested in adopting from Haiti.

Please contact us for more information on adopting from Haiti.

Photo Credit: The Global Orphan Project

Nicole Skellenger works as MLJ Adoptions’ Chief Executive Officer and Adoption Attorney. Nicole has spent time in orphanages with children who have nothing and are desperate for affection and has committed herself to using her skills to create better futures for these deserving children.

Nicole Skellenger works as MLJ Adoptions’ Chief Executive Officer and Adoption Attorney. Nicole has spent time in orphanages with children who have nothing and are desperate for affection and has committed herself to using her skills to create better futures for these deserving children.