Children’s House International will not be accepting new dossiers for India until January 1, 2012

NEWS:

• October 5, 2011 – Notice: Update on CARA’s Temporary Suspension of Acceptance of New Dossiers

  The One – by Devi Anderson

  Standing outside the window looking in
  I see children’s faces light
  Up when they see their future, but what about me?
  I see a family ecstatic to find the one, yet I am left behind.
  But what is this now
  I see a mother looking back at me.
  Then again, could she accept who I am?
  Would she judge me by my skin?
  Would she judge me by my caste?
  Would she have me for who I am – a little girl cast aside and left alone.
  Standing outside the window looking in
  Now I have a mother beside me hugging me for the first time.
  I feel safe.
  I can see my future.
  We are family.
  A poem written by our India International Specialist Lisa Anderson’s daughter which she read in class while Lisa was present-she’s 19 and was adopted when she was 4 in India

  Our India Adoption Program

  Namaste.

  Children’s House International, licensed since 1975, began in India 35 years ago, and has been placing children from all over the world in loving homes ever since. The Central Adoption Resource Authority of India (CARA) recognizes Children’s House as an Enlisted Foreign Adoption Agency to place Indian orphans in adoptive homes. Children’s House is different because we do not network with other adoption agencies or use facilitators. We have a staff headquartered in India, managed by an MSW (Master Social Worker) to assist with your adoption process. Our International Specialist has been leading our India program for the last 12 years and has two beautiful children adopted from India. We travel to India often, keeping in close contact with our India staff and orphanages. This allows us to give you the best service possible. We will also help you make your travel arrangements to India and will assist you in each step of your adoption.

  Adoption Forms and Fees

  For more information including our application, agency retainer agreement and financial agreements and statistical information on: the number of adoption placements per year for the prior 3 calendar years, the number of placements that remain intact, the number of families who apply to adopt each year, and the number of waiting children eligible for adoption, click here.

Adoption Process

Families of Indian Heritage in which one spouse has Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status or is an Indian citizen are eligible to adopt a healthy infant. You may visit this website for information on obtaining OCI status.

http://www.indianembassy.org/newsite/oci.asp

• The United States requires that at least one parent be a US citizen in order to adopt and have your child immigrate to the United States on an IH-3/IR-3 or IH-4/IR-4 visa. Unfortunately, status as a permanent resident does not qualify. Single adoptive mothers must have OCI status.

• Adoptive parents must be between ages 30-55 years old to adopt. To adopt a toddler or younger age child, the combined age of parents must be under 90 years old, with preference for a maximum age of 40 for infant referrals. No parent over the age of 55 is eligible to adopt.

• Single women under age 45 are eligible to adopt from India, but there are a few additional documents required for your dossier.

• Couples should be married for a minimum of 5 years. You can begin the paperwork process after 4 years of marriage.

• Same sex couples are not eligible to adopt as per the CARA Guidelines.

Upon receipt of your application, your case manager will assign a social worker to conduct your home study. If you live in a state other than Washington, Utah or Florida, you will be sent a list of home study agencies with whom we have a professional agreement to select from. During your home study process, you will complete the required adoption education courses, file for USCIS (I-800A) approval, file for your OCI status, and compile your dossier. Once you have received USCIS approval, your dossier will be authenticated and forwarded to India.

India reviews your dossier and accepts you as prospective adoptive parent(s). India then matches you with a child and sends a report on the child’s medical and social history to Children’s House. This is called an Article 16 Report. You have at least two weeks to accept the match. Children’s House encourages you to send the information on the child to an international medical adoption specialist for review. A complete list of resources will be provided to you during your home study process.

You will then file an I-800 with USCIS. USCIS issues provisional approval to you and an Article 5 letter is sent to CARA. The Orphanage and/or attorney submits the complete file to CARA for the NOC. CARA grants the NOC and sends it to the orphanage. Your file is then submitted to Court and the Court will award either a final adoption or Guardianship of the child to you. An email outlining this process in detail will be set to you. Children’s House will oversee each detail of this process.

Embassy Appointment.

When the time comes, you will travel back to India to bring your child home. During this trip, our staff will take you to the US Embassy where you will obtain your child’s visa to enter the United States. Once you are back home, you will complete the required post placement reports and finalize your adoption in your State of residence.

Children Available

• Age 3 months and up at time of referral, depending on age of adoptive parents and availability of children in need

• Toddlers and school age children are available for older parents

• There are many more girls available, even for NRI families. CHI can no longer guarantee the placement of a male child. Please be open to a child of either gender.

Parent Requirements

While your adoption journey may begin today, adoptive parents should understand that adoption is a lifelong commitment. A successful homestudy plays a vital role in helping on your preparation to become adoptive parents. Our trained and caring professionals’ respect your confidentiality was we work together to educate and create an accurate portrait of you as future adoptive parents. The home study is an invaluable first step toward parenthood.

Approved Home Study

An approved home study preferably completed by a COA Hague accredited social worker who will ensure that all of the Chinese requirements for families are met in the home study process. The home study begins with adoptive parent education and a thorough evaluation of your family that will include several background clearances, medical evaluations and financial stability. Your home study is foundation on which USCIS and in country approvals for international adoption are based. They enable adoptive parents to learn, reflect, and prepare for parenting. It involves opening your hearts, minds, and home to a social worker through a series of meetings and gives you the opportunity to ask all the questions you may have as well.

USCIS Immigration Approval

USCIS immigration approval is required for all international adoptions (this includes an FBI fingerprint results). This approval allows your newly adopted child to receive a VISA from the US Embassy and enter the US and become a citizen.

Travel Process

India requires that adoptive parents travel to India to bring your child home. Only one spouse is required to make this trip. Children’s House representatives will be with you each step of the way. The trip lasts approximately one week and we will help you plan each detail. There are different travel requirements for a Hindu (final) adoption and Guardianship. Children’s House will discuss the advantages and qualifications of each so that you can decide which is best for your family.

Waiting Children

Waiting… waiting… waiting… why are these children without families?

They are available for international adoption for many reasons. This is most often due to their birth families inability to parent based on poverty. Poverty worldwide creates the need for international adoption, but it is not the only reason.

Lack of Education is another common factor. In many countries, birth control is not widely offered nor is it taught in the family, community or in school. Birth mothers also can lack education on how to parent a child or have the capability to earn a living wage to support the child. So education can play a large part in children becoming available for international adoption.

Birth Mother’s who become pregnant may be shunned by both her family and her community. Many times this leads to desperate situations that force a birth parent to either abandon or relinquish their child.

Sadly, there are other factors that create orphans that include: war, worldwide famine, drought and in some countries the AIDS epidemic have also created a need for adoptive parents.

Children born with medical needs are also come into care and need loving families. While poverty can stretch a family’s limit, it’s overwhelming when a child has a physical or mental condition. Many times these medical needs are correctable in the US with our medical resources that would never be available in the child’s birth country.

These are the children that need us most. Please consider these children in your adoption journey.

Country Facts

India gives preference to families with Indian heritage.

Non-India families may apply to adopt older and/or special needs children.

The US Department of State has issued the following statistics on adoption from India: