Adoption Programs
LIBERIAN UPDATE
We are happy to report that some of our existing adoption cases have been released to for completion. We are also being told that the rest of our cases should follow shortly thereafter and that, Lord willing, the new adoption regulations should be in place after the first of the year.
Angels’ Haven Outreach, Liberia, is accredited by the Liberian government to provide adoption services on behalf of its orphans and represents clients on behalf of Angels' Haven Outreach in the United States.
Liberia is a very poor, war torn, country off the West Coast of Africa. As is typical during times of civil unrest, children are often left orphaned or abandoned while the country lacks the financial means to care for them. As a result, many, many beautiful Liberian children are in great need of loving adoptive families.
This country is truly a mix of African-American culture. It was founded in 1816 and is the only country in Africa colonized by America. English is the official language; they have a similar flag, constitution, and national anthem as the United States. At the same time, they also have 16 local tribes with their own unique customs and dialects.
The situation in the African countries is always fluid which makes a time frame difficult to predict. In a normal situation (assuming there are no unusual issues) the process can take anywhere from 4 to 8 months to complete, once the dossier is submitted.
The requirements for the adoptive families are fairly relaxed, with flexibility in age of the adoptive parents, family size and financial resources. Children of all ages are in need of families, and while infants are sometimes available, families should be open to accepting a child closer to two years of age.
The adoptions are finalized abroad, via proxy, so the children may be escorted. While this means families are not required to travel, it also means the adoptions are final without parents seeing the child prior to the adoption taking place, so the child will need to be re-adopted once they come home. Families entering into the Liberian program must agree to provide post placement reports. These reports are required annually until the child is 18 years of age.
Most often the children live in a family type setting; with older children caring for younger children (this creates a healthier atmosphere for lessening the risk of bonding issues). Still, the conditions are beyond poor, with no electricity or running water. The children are culturally deprived; they have no access to a television and often have never been in an automobile. They also have a very limited diet of rice, cornmeal and soup. The children are tested for HIV and Hepatitis B. Still, families should anticipate that the children are likely to be malnourished, and have lice, scabies, worms and/or parasites.
The countryside of Rwanda is beautifully covered by grasslands and small farms extending over rolling hills, with areas of rugged mountains that extend southeast from a chain of volcanoes in the northwest.
 Rwanda is a small country, slightly smaller than the state of Massachusetts. It is located near the center of Africa and is separated from the Democratic Republic of the Congo by Lake Kivu and the Ruzizi River valley to the west; it is bounded on the north by Uganda, to the east by Tanzania, and to the south by Burundi.
The majority of Rwandans speak Kinyarwanda, one of the country's three official languages, and in market towns many people speak Swahili. Educated Rwandans speak French and English. In 2008 the Rwandan government announced that English would become the primary language of instruction in schools, replacing French as the primary language of instruction.
Most Rwandans are Christian, with significant changes since the genocide. A 2006 study reported that 56.5 percent of the population were Catholic, 37.1 percent Protestant, 4.6 percent Muslim, and 0.1 percent practiced traditional indigenous beliefs.
According to the estimates published by UNICEF, nearly one million children in Rwanda are orphans. The most common reason is due to poverty.
Angels’ Haven Outreach is pleased to have the opportunity to begin placing children from Rwanda. We are looking for families with adventurous spirits who are willing to be pioneers for this new program.
Angels' Haven will coordinate and assist with all aspects of the adoption however; Rwanda is unique in that, once the perspective adoptive parents documents are submitted by our attorney to the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, the government will work directly with the adoptive family.
Many beautiful children are in need of permanent adoptive placement: boys and girls ranging in age from infants (just a few months of age) to fifteen years old. There are healthy children needing families as well as some children with special needs. All children are tested for HIV, Hepatitis B.
It takes approximately 4 to 6 months after your completed dossier arrives in Rwanda to receive a referral and 5 to 8 months for the adoption to be completed
Adoptive parents must be at least 25 years old and not more than 50 years (although a judge can choose to waive requirement on a case by case basis). Prospective parents need to have been married for at least 5 years with no more than one previous divorce. Single females are also considered. Same sex couples may not currently adopt in Rwanda.
Rwanda resources...
Official Website of the Republic of Rwanda
Rwanda (Wikipedia)
Rwanda (Infoplease)
Rwanda (US Dept of State)
Rwanda (Lonely Planet)
Rwanda (CIA World Factbook)
A child waits...
The children of Ghana are beautiful with bright faces. They are kind, respectful and very playful despite their hardships. The majority of the children are orphans. According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), one million of the 48.3 million orphans south of the Sahara desert, live in Ghana; one quarter of whom have lost their parents to AIDS.
The children range from infant to sixteen years of age. Most of them are healthy although there are some with medical needs. Sibling groups are also available. We ask that families be open to a child up to the age of 2 years.
Who can adopt...
- Adopting parents must be at least 25 years old and 21 years older than the adoptive child.
- Married couples
- Single women can adopt
- Single males may adopt only a male child
How to adopt...
The paper process to adopt from Ghana is similar to most foreign adoption procedures.
- A family needs an approved Inter-country home study from a qualified adoption agency
- Papers with USCIS (US Immigration) must be filed
- Documents verifying birth, marriage, employment, criminal clearance, medical, and psychological evaluations, and letters of reference are some of the documents needed to assemble a dossier
In-country process...
It will take about 10 to 12 months after your completed dossier arrives in Ghana for the adoption process to be made final in Ghana.
 Travel to Ghana...
The adoptions are completed abroad, via proxy therefore when traveling it is only to obtain the child’s American visa and is typically completed in about 9 to 10 days. Escorting is an option.
About the country...
Ghana is in West Africa, bordering on the Gulf of Guinea with a population of 22 million people. Ghana is known as the "gold coast", due to its natural resources of gold and diamonds. The country is mainly agricultural with a tropical climate. English is the primary dialect, with over 50 other languages and dialects.
Ghana resources...
Ghana (Wikipedia)
Ghana (Infoplease)
Ghana (US Dept of State)
Ghana (Lonely Planet)
Ghana (CIA World Factbook)
Networking Programs
  
Angels' Haven Outreach is also able to offer additional international programs as a networking and referral agent for Adoption Associates, Inc. Angels' Haven Outreach will assist you with the home study, USCIS paperwork, and your dossier. Once these are completed, you will then be in touch with one of the international consultants through Adoption Associates, Inc., who will work directly with you on the placement of your child. Angels' Haven Outreach will also provide you with post adoption support and reports.
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