HAITI ADOPTIONS
ACCREDITED ADOPTION AGENCY
OUR INTERNATIONALLY ACCREDITED ADOPTION AGENCY CAN HELP YOU BUILD A WONDERFUL FAMILY!
Thank you for your interest in adopting a child from Haiti. Our internationally accredited adoption agency is committed to serving vulnerable children. There are many children throughout the world who are in need of parents. Economic or social issues have led to conditions in some countries where they cannot provide enough homes for their children. Building Arizona Families is dedicated to helping find adoptive families from across the United States who are ready to offer these children a safe, loving, and permanent family. As a licensed, non-profit, Hague-accredited adoption Haiti agency, we are able to work with families in any state through our Haiti adoption program who meet Haiti adoption requirements.
For more information about Haiti Adoption, please reach out directly to:
Lisa Peterson
623-692-4424
Email
HAITI TRUSTS OUR HAGUE-ACCREDITED ADOPTION AGENCY
Haiti Adoptions, the IBESR (the Central Authority for adoptions in Haiti) has chosen BAF to place children from Haiti into the United States. BAF is a Hague-accredited international adoption agency. We are seeking families who would like to adopt children over the age of six or are open to adopting siblings and meet Haiti adoption requirements. Building Arizona Families can assist in kinship adoptions.
OVERVIEW OF THE HAITIAN ADOPTION PROCESS
The goal and mission of the Haiti adoption program is to place children into loving forever families who meet Haiti adoption requirements. Building Arizona Families meets very rigorous international adoption standards. Our team is very proud of our Hague-accredited adoption certification. We are committed to serving the families and the children of Haiti with excellence. Additionally, BAF continues to provide humanitarian aid and support family reunification in Haiti whenever possible.
REQUIREMENTS
Opposite-sex married couples with at least one parent age 30 and both parents not older than age 48 (5 years of marriage or cohabitation) OR single applicants age 35 to 48
CHILDREN AVAILABLE
Children up to 12 years are available for international Haiti Adoptions. Sibling groups are also available for adoption. Your child will be 12 months older than their age at referral so families need to keep this in mind when thinking about what age range they are considering. Any child found abandoned must wait six months before being deemed eligible to adopt.
TIME FRAME
Due to the Haitian legal intricacies, an adoption from Haiti can take over 36 months to complete.
TRAVEL
Two trips are required when adopting from Haiti. After the Haitian government approves the referral of a child, the adoptive family will travel to Haiti for two weeks for a socialization period. The final trip is a six-day bonding period before you bring your child home. At the end of the six days, the family is permitted to travel to the USA with their child.
Adoptive Parent(s) Requirements
On Thursday, August 29th, 2013, the Haitian Parliament voted to change the adoption law as written in 1974. On November 15th, 2013 the publication of the New Adoption Law for Haiti were in place with updated Haiti adoption requirements. The new law allows families meeting the following criteria to adopt:
- Opposite sex married couples with at least one parent age 30 and both parents not older than age 48.
- Five years of marriage OR five years of cohabitation.
- Families may have any number of biological and adopted children provided they can provide for the
newly adopted child(ren). - The Family must be financially stable and able to provide for more children.
- No one in the household can have any unlawful activity in their background.
- Please note that Haiti will not permit same-sex couples to adopt.
OR
- Single applicants age 35 to 48.
- Single applicants may have any number of biological and adopted children provided they
can provide for the newly adopted child(ren). - The family must be financially stable and able to provide for more children.
- No one in the household can have any unlawful activity in their background.
Children Available
Each accredited US adoption agency is permitted to submit one adoption dossier per month. Dossiers are chosen for submission based on the needs of the children in care. Dossiers for children with special needs may be submitted at any time
Most of the children have no permanent health or developmental concerns, but we need families for children with special needs as well who meet Haiti adoption requirements. The effects of drug or alcohol abuse during pregnancy are very rare. Children are tested for HIV, Hepatitis, TB, and Sickle Cell. Haitian children tend to adapt very well to life with their new families. They tend to have very adaptable personalities and are prepared by the crèche in Haiti to leave to join their forever families.
Time Frame
Due to the Haitian legal intricacies, an adoption from Haiti can take over 36 months to complete.
Travel
After the Haitian government approves the referral of a child for a family meeting Haiti adoption requirements, the adoptive family will travel to Haiti for two weeks for a socialization period. Families can bring siblings along on this visit. All families stay in a very comfortable guest house on the grounds of the crèche.
The final trip is a six-day bonding period before you bring your child home. At the end of the six days, the family is permitted to travel to the USA with their child.
Haiti Adoptions Process
Our Haitian partner will process the adoption in Haiti. BAF will assist you in all aspects of the adoption process.
Dossier
Referral
Post Adoption
Haiti has extensive post-placement requirements for eight years. Following a child’s placement for adoption, four reports must be completed by a licensed adoption agency (typically the same one that conducted the home study) for the first two years and then a parent may file a report directly to BAF for the remaining six years. These are sent to BAF and then to IBESR in Haiti.
Why Choose our internationally accredited adoption agency?
- We service all families in the USA with a high level of service and communication
- We take pride in our commitment to break down barriers and help families succeed
- Experience in Haiti since 2005
- Hands-on connection to Haiti
- Dossier preparation assistance
- Most staff are adoptive parents
- We put families first
- The Haiti government choose a select few U.S. adoption agencies to process Haitian adoptions. Building Arizona Families is proud to be one of those adoption agencies.
- In order to be an internationally accredited adoption agency, we must pass a rigorous certification process. We are proud of our team. Because of our standards of excellence, we have our accreditation renewed annually.
ADOPTION FEE SCHEDULE
Unless specifically provided otherwise, to adopt a child from Haiti through our accredited adoption agency, all fees must be paid before advancing to that phase and are non-refundable once paid. Building Arizona Families cannot guarantee the performance of the local or foreign entities involved in the adoption process as Building Arizona Families has no direct control over either. Fees are subject to change from time to time and Prospective Adoptive Parent(s) will be notified as soon as possible about such changes or upcoming changes to the fee schedule.
BAF= Building Arizona Families
PAP = Prospective Adoptive Parent
| PROGRAM FEES PAID TO BUILDING ARIZONA FAMILIES (Hague Standard 96.40) | PAID TO BAF |
|---|---|
| BAF Agency and International Program Fee due within seven (7) days of application approval into the Haiti program: This fee covers case management & salaries for agency personnel, (Case Managers, International Specialists, Supervising Social Workers, administration and agency staff), document translation, document authentication, and operational costs (supplies, office rent, state licensing, COA accreditation costs & fees, training, utilities, shipping & postage, copiers, insurance, maintenance, publications, professional fees, websites, databases & computer programs, contractors, etc.) & program development 96.40(b)(2) and is non-refundable. IAAME monitoring and oversight: $500 is due to cover monitoring and oversight conducted by IAAME as of 02/15/2018 when a family joins the Haiti program and is non-refundable. $500 is due per child. BAF is required to pay this fee to IAAME, and it is considered a pass-through fee to the accreting entity. This fee may be paid by cashier’s check, money order, wire transfer, or invoiced thru PayPal which will add 3%. | $3,000 |
| BAF Agency and International Program Fee due at dossier submission: This fee covers case management & salaries for agency personnel, IBESR representative fee (Case Managers, International Specialists, Supervising Social Workers, administration and agency staff), operational costs (supplies, office rent, state licensing, COA accreditation costs & fees, training, utilities, shipping & postage, copiers, insurance, maintenance, publications, professional fees, websitesdatabases & computer programs, contractors, etc.), program development, & IBESR legal charges, 96.40(b)(2). If the adoptive family chooses to withdraw from the program prior to Referral, $2,000 per child of the SECOND PAYMENT ($13,000 for one child/$22,500 for two children) will be refunded upon receipt of a notarized program withdrawal letter from the PAP. IAAME monitoring and oversight: a $500 additional fee is due to IAAME for two children if a family is adopting siblings. All fees due to IAAME are non-refundable. This fee may be paid by check, money order, or invoiced thru PayPal which will add 3%. | $13,000 ONE CHILD $22,500 TWO CHILDREN Due at dossier submission |
| HAITI Program Fee due at referral acceptance: This fee covers document translations, authentication and registration in HAITI – IBESR and attorney representation in court, at Embassy and before the Ministry of Justice –relevant fees for passport and birth certificate – fees for State fees for court and documents - 96.40(b)(3). In the event a PAP withdraws from a BAF program for any reason, or said placement is not made for any reason, or in the event a country suspends or stops foreign adoptions, Foreign country program fees received by BAF which have not been paid to the Foreign country less the BAF agency fees will be refunded upon receipt of a notarized program withdrawal letter from the PAP. This fee may be paid by cashier’s check, money order, wire transfer, or invoiced thru PayPal which will add 3%. Costs for additional medical testing, procedures or reports requested by the PAP are not included in the program fees listed and are the responsibility of the PAP. 96.40(b)(4). Haitian law states that siblings shall be adopted together | $9,500 ONE CHILD $12,000 TWO CHILDREN Due at referral acceptance, before bonding trip |
| TOTAL FEES PAID TO/THROUGH BAF | $25,500 ONE CHILD $37,500 TWO CHILDREN |
| ADDITIONAL EXPENSES (ESTIMATED): PAID DIRECTLY TO SERVICE PROVIDER BY FAMILY (Hague Standard 96.40) | FEE ESTIMATE |
| HOME STUDY/PAR EXPENSES: 96.40(b)(1) | |
| Home Study Estimate: Paid to BAF if service is provided by BAF in AZ; cost varies by state | $1,400-$3,000 |
| Post-adoption/Post-placement Report Estimate (requirements and cost varies from state to state) Paid to BAF if service is provided by BAF in AZ; FEE ESTIMATE PER REPORT POST ADOPTION REPORT: a total of 7 reports are due: 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 2 years, 3 years, 4 years, and 5 years. The first four reports are to be filed by an ASP, the final 3 reports may be filed by the family. | $300* |
| Adoption Education Courses (10 hours Hague Required, Additional Education will be required for Special Needs Children or at agencies request) | $200-$300 |
| TRANSLATION/DOCUMENT/DOSSIER EXPENSES: 96.40(b)(5) | |
| I800a (USCIS) Filing fee (per child) | $775* |
| Fingerprint Charge (2 @ $85 each) | $170 |
| Passports (2 @ $135 each) | $270 |
| Document notarization/authentication (cost varies) estimate only | $500 |
| Misc. legal expenses in US (re-adoption, US birth certificate, etc.) varies by state | $500 |
| PRE-TRAVEL EXPENSES: 96.40(c)(2) | |
| Round Trip airfare (2 trips for 2 adults , estimate only, cost varies) | $3,000 |
| Child’s one-way airfare (estimate only, cost varies) | $500* |
| IN-COUNTRY EXPENSES/FEES: 96.40(c)(1) | |
| In-country expenses depend on number of person’s traveling**, length of stay, food and lodging choices. Prices are subject to change, prices are estimates only. Lodging $80/Day for two adults Food $30/Day Transportation (**Two trips are required but only one parent may travel on second trip) | ~$2,800 two adults/20 days/2 trips $50 x 2=$100 |
| Medical for Child’s Visa – estimate only | ~$275* |
| Child’s U.S.A. Visa | $230* |
| Incidentals (amount varies depending on family desires and tastes) | Varies |
Fees not paid when due will result in delay of your adoption process and/or travel.
Upon request, Building Arizona Families will provide you with the number of its adoption placements per year for the prior three years and the number and percentage of those placements that remain intact, are disrupted, or have been dissolved. We can also provide you with the number of parents who apply to adopt on a yearly basis, based on data for the prior three calendar years, and the number of children eligible for adoption and awaiting an adoptive placement referral via Building Arizona Families.
The Intercountry Adoption Accreditation and Approval (IAAME), a national accrediting entity designated by the US Department of State to provide Hague Accreditation and Approval, invites the public to provide comment on intercountry adoption service providers seeking Hague Accreditation, Approval or Renewal. You are invited to provide comments through IAAME’s website at:
Building Arizona Families is a licensed private non-profit and internationally accredited adoption agency.
Building Arizona Families reserves the right to determine that it may not provide services.