Celebrating 2014

31
Dec

20141218_172719MLJ Adoptions has had a wonderful year in many ways and it has also been a difficult year for many of our families who had adopted from or are in the process of adopting from the Democratic Republic of Congo. We have much work to do in the coming year to bring children in need to the families that they deserve. As we reflect over 2014 and prepare for 2015, we have much celebrate and be thankful for despite the hardships.

  • We have introduced our Waiting Child Photo Listing allowing us to find more homes for children with special needs and older children. We believe that every child has the fundamental human right to grow up in a loving, permanent home where their physical and emotional needs can be met. Around the world, there are many children waiting and in need of permanent and loving homes who have a special need. A special need is often defined by the child’s birth country and often includes children with known medical needs and older children. The team of MLJ Adoptions fervently believes that all children deserve a family and to increase the chances that these harder to place children find a family, this year, we introduced our Waiting Child Photo Listing. The children featured in our photo listing are waiting for families.
  • We have added a new country program – Burkina Faso! This November, after two years of research, collaboration and travel, MLJ Adoptions opened a new African adoption program in Burkina Faso. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve the children in need of families in Burkina Faso and to partner with the families who want to adopt them. Burkina is a unique country program for families interested in adoption from Africa, as Burkina is one of very few Hague Convention countries in Africa.
  • We have received renewal of our Haitian approval to provide adoption services for children in Haiti. This year has brought significant change in the way that the country of Haiti processes adoptions since they became a Hague Convention country in April of this year. We are excited to have received renewal of our approval to continue processing adoptions from Haiti.
  • We have assisting in bringing over 50 children to loving and permanent families. Adoption is not for the faint of heart. The paperwork and patience that it requires challenges parents as they wait for a child to be joined with their family. This year, 51 children joined their forever families from 5 of our country programs. Children are best able to reach their full potential in families; children belong in families. We rejoice with our families who had children join them this year, and we look forward to another year of family building through adoption.

As 2014 winds down, we are beyond grateful for the families and children we have the privilege of serving. We look forward to continuing to work for and serve children in need of families.

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.