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April 17, 2014. Join Hugh Jackman in his support of CHIFF (Children in Families First), the pending legislation to support international adoption. Sign the Petition.
April 8, 2014. DOS Invites Adoptive Familes, ASPs and Stakeholders to meet with Representatives from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Officials from the Democratic Republic of the Congo will be visiting the United States from April 16-26 to meet with adoptive families who have successfully adopted from the DRC, adoption service providers and stakeholders to discuss international adoption between the United States and the DRC as well as U.S. social welfare programs for unparented children. DOS says that "The visit is designed to address the Congolese authorities' concerns regarding the welfare of children adopted from the Democratic Republic of Congo by U.S. citizen parents. Addressing these concerns could have a significant impact on Congolese authorities' perspectives on intercountry adoptions to the United States, and on the future of intercountry adoptions from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the United States." The dates, times, locations and attendance confirmation information for these meetings can be found by clicking here. April 7, 2014. Croatia Becomes a Hague Effective Country. The Department of State has announced that the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption became effective in Croatia on April 1, 2014. As DOS views Croatia's procedures as in accordance with the Hague Convention, the United States government will process international adoptions from Croatia. However, DOS points out that "Croatian law generally restricts intercountry adoptions to Croatian prospective adoptive parents. Croatia permits foreigners to adopt a Croatian child only under exceptional circumstances, with prior approval of the Ministry of Social Policy and Youth, and when that placement is particularly beneficial for the child." Also, U.S. adoption service providers are not permitted to work in Croatia because adoptions can only be processed through the Croatian Central Adoption Authority, the Ministry of Social Policy and Youth. Families with specific questions are urged to contact the Office of Children's Issues at 1-888-407-4747 within the United States, or 202-501-4444 from outside the United States or by email at AdoptionUSCA@state.gov. More Information. April 2, 2014. Good News Concerning International Adoption From Haiti. The Department of State has announced that Hague adoptions from Haiti have begun. The Hague Convention entered into force in Haiti yesterday, April 1, 2014. However, DOS cautions that "delays may occur while Haiti's adoption authority, the Institut du Bien-ætre Social et de Recherches (IBESR), implements a Convention-consistent adoption process, including finalizing the schedule of in-country fees." IBESR has authorized selected American ASPs to provide adoption services under the Hague in Haiti but DOS appears to believe that some agencies might lose their accreditation in order that IBESR better "manage their caseload." In process U.S. families will be pleased to know that IBESR has agreed "to process as a transition case, any case in which a Form I-600 or I-600A was filed before April 1, 2014, as long as matching occurs by April 1, 2016 and no I-600A extension is required." Any family with questions should contact DOS at Haitiadoptions@state.gov. More Information.
Center for Adoption Policy (CAP)
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