Haiti


Process

1. PRELIMINARY/ORPHANAGE/FORMAL APPLICATION
All applications must be completed before you can formally begin your Haiti adoption. The preliminary application is available on Bethany’s website. Upon approval, your local Bethany branch will forward you the orphanage application. The formal application is also sent to you by your local Bethany branch once the preliminary application and orphanage application have been approved. Bethany’s Haiti team approves both the preliminary and formal application, while the orphanage in Haiti approves the orphanage application.

2. ADOPTIVE HOME STUDY
The Home Study is completed by a social worker from your local Bethany branch. Four documented meetings are required for submission of a dossier to Haiti.

3. DOSSIER GATHERING/AUTHENTICATION
Several documents must be gathered, notarized, state sealed, and authenticated for your Haiti dossier. More information will be provided to you by your Bethany social worker once you formally enter the program. Once the dossier is submitted, the Haiti team in Grand Rapids, MI, will review your dossier before sending it to Haiti.

4. DOSSIER REVIEWED IN HAITI
Once your dossier has been reviewed, it will be sent by the Haiti team to the orphanage in Haiti, where orphanage staff will also review the dossier.

5. REFERRAL/TRAVEL
Referral and travel times are subject to change during your Haiti adoption. The current time frame is 6 to 12 months for a referral, once your dossier arrives in Haiti. Two trips are required for families adopting from Haiti. The first trip occurs shortly after referral, and travel to pick up your child typically occurs between 12 and 18 months after you receive a referral (for childless couples) or 18-24 months (for families with other children). Families with other children will require a presidential dispensation, a special exemption issued by the president’s office, as Haiti prefers childless couples.

6. POST-PLACEMENT REPORTS
Once you return from Haiti with your new child, your social worker will contact you about setting up a post-placement meeting. Your social worker will conduct three post placement visits within the first year during the following times: arrival, 6 months, and 12 months. After the first year, the orphanage asks families to send annual reports until the child turns 18 years. Photos are to be attached to all reports.

For more information about Bethany's Haiti program, please call 1.877.64.ADOPT, e-mail us at bcsinternational@bethany.org, or fill out our contact form.