But What About the Haitian Orphans?
By Elizabeth Ehlen, 1/21/10
Every time there is a natural disaster adoption agencies get lots of calls from prospective adoptive parents wanting to know how they can adopt an orphan from the tragedy. Most recently it has been the earthquake in Haiti that has been the source of numerous emails and phone calls to our office. While on the surface it seems like an obvious situation – natural disaster = orphaned children= children available for adoption – however it is not nearly as simple as it seems. In the case of Haiti, there were existing programs for adoption of Haitian orphans prior to the earthquake, and the wait time was about 18 months to 2 years. The earthquake has only complicated that process, as the government buildings that were housing and processing the documents required to get the children ready for transport to their adoptive families out of the country were leveled, so now they have to find copies in the US as proof that the adoptions were on track. All of the news reports about children from Haiti being transported to the US give the false impression that there are loads of orphans on their way over just waiting for their forever homes. In reality, most of these orphans were already in the adoption process and had families identified, or are here for medical care only and just need sponsors or foster homes until they recover and can go home. They are trying to move the orphans who were already in the process of being adopted out of the orphanages to make room for the children who were orphaned by the quake, but that does not necessarily mean it will be a quick and easy process. While I’m sure that agencies that already had Haiti programs will do their best to streamline the process, to some extent, as with every international adoption process, you are at the mercy of the country sending the children. Obviously when a natural disaster hits most processes, government or otherwise, grind to halt while survivors are sought and the attempt is made to reunite families before declaring children orphans. Our thoughts are with the families who were already in the waiting process for their child from Haiti, and who have been waiting for news that their child is safe. If you are interested in finding out more about adopting from Haiti, seek out an agency who already has an established Haiti program and learn about the requirements and the challenges of parenting a child who has been through the trauma of a natural disaster.
