So….As many of you are aware there is a new action on part of the American and Haitian governments to expedite the adoption process from Haiti to the US. There are many other countries as well who are part of this effort. For the sake of details and knowledge I can only speak from the viewpoint of the American/Haitian processes underway as of now.

This past week I spent my days in Port au Prince, Haiti assisting in the clearing of visas and transport of children from Haiti to their waiting, adoptive parents in the US. This is one of the most incredible things I have ever had the opportunity to be part of in my life. There are approximately 380,000+ orphans in Haiti. This week I saw countless children go home to be with their new families.

The most common questions I am being asked are this: How can I adopt a baby from Haiti? Also, how can I help provide a temporary home for the Haitian children. Is the process expedited now? And finally, is the cost of this international adoption going to be lower than the average $20-30.000?

So, let me answer as best I can…..

1. Anyone who qualifies for foreign adoption is eligible to adopt a child from Haiti. The problem right now is that many people who have never worked towards adoption or considered it are now doing so. Why? Personally, I believe that tragedy evokes emotions that cause us to consider options that we might never have before. Not that this is all bad, but my first response is that people need to be 100% sure they understand foreign adoption.

If you are interested here are the steps you need to take. First you need to contact a local agency for adoption and begin the process of a Home Study. This process usually takes 90-120 days depending on your social worker. Then you need to secure a great International Adoption Agency. I would highly recommend Holt International in Oregon. That is the agency my wife and I have used to adopt from Ethiopia. They are wonderful. From there, your social worker and agency can fill you in on the time line and the process.

2. To provide a temporary home for the Haitian Children who will be granted Humanitarian Parole, you need to be certified as a Foster Home in your state. This process is much the same as the initial stages of adoption. You will need to contact a local adoption agency and ask them to start a Home Study and begin to qualify you as a Foster Home.

3. The process now, will not be and quicker. In fact, it may very well take longer seeing as the Haitian Government will have a slow recovery ahead. The process now takes an average of 2 years, and that is a good and easy process. More than 75% of Haitian adoptions have difficulties that require more time.

The exception of this rule as of now is those parents who have all but completed their adoption. Those parents process has now been moved to warp speed and they will receive their children soon!!

4. Finally, simple answer to the cost….NO. The price will not be less.

If you are an adoptive parent who has a child referred to you in Haiti, NOW id the time to act. YOU NEED TO ACT QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY. You need to gather your paperwork, get an agency representative and get to Port ua Prince. It is safe now to be there! Get you child’s paperwork together. You primarily need your I-600, your IBERS, your Photo with your child, your adoption decree if available, and a decree form Haiti stating that the child has been abandoned or relinquished. It will take 2-3 days in country. Take your paperwork to the embassy first. See Linda Percy, she is awesome. She has process hundreds if not thousands of kids in the last week. In 1-2 days she will call you back and issue you a visa. Then you will be given the option of a military flight home. The key is this….YOU NEED TO GO YOURSELF. They are going to stop escorts from bringing kids home. If you go I can almost guarantee, you will bring that baby home. But, time is of the essence. It won’t be long before this process is likely to change.

I am hoping to see more and more babies coming home from Haiti! If you have further questions, please email me: adoption@michaelrobison.com