A New Arrival is very pleased to announce the collaborative working relationship with Illien Adoptions International, Inc. for the purposes of international adoption and humanitarian aid in Ethiopia.
ANA and Illien Adoptions International, Inc. ‘s goal is to provide professional, ethical and quality adoption services with a focus on communication and continuous program oversight and evaluation enhanced and supported by dedicated and experienced in-country staff.
Ethiopia is one of the few countries in Africa which is favorable to intercountry adoption. US agencies are licensed under the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MOLSA) which is under the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry of Justice oversees all of the intercountry adoption activity and the process has many built-in safeguards.
The US Embassy coordinates closely with the Ethiopian government to ensure the eligibility of the orphans.
How this collaborative relationship works:
With the implementation of the “Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-Operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption,” the face of international adoption is changing. We are all aware of the increased waiting time for referrals in many countries and, in other countries, challenging internal political issues as they work to embrace the ideology and commitment of the Hague Convention.
But what of the waiting children who are aging in place? How can this be in the best interests of the child? These are questions that are continually asked over and over again by stakeholders dedicated to their mission that every parentless child deserves a loving and caring forever family.
So, we have to step outside the box and look at international adoption with new eyes. Working together for a mutual goal is the key.
Our Ethiopia Program fees are the same, the procedure and the commitment is the same but together we can make a greater impact and together we can make a difference.
Who May Adopt?
According to Ethiopian law, married couples and single women may adopt. Some restrictions apply to single parents.
The minimum length of marriage is one year, but Ethiopia would prefer to place children with couples who have been married at least five years. This is not yet a strict requirement.
There is no upper age limit for prospective adoptive parents; however, common sense guidelines apply in all countries. They prefer no more than 43 years difference between the child and the parent.
There is no limit in the number of children in any adoptive family. ANA prefers to screen each potential adoptive family and advise you accordingly.
Why are Children Available for Adoption?
In general, Ethiopian orphans identified for intercountry adoption have been declared legally abandoned by one or both parents or have lost their parents due to disease, poverty, or other misfortunes. A child which has been abandoned, no matter the age, must be registered for three months by the local governmental authorities while a public search is conducted.
The age range of children available is from infancy to early teens. Sibling groups and special needs children are also available.
Ethiopia is a country of many different ethnic groups and the children may come from any of these. In Ethiopia there are many eligible waiting children of any age.
Prospective Adoptive Parent(s) may state their preference for a boy or girl.
Health of the Children
There is much disease in Ethiopia and many of the children are orphaned because their parents did not have adequate nutrition or medical care.
All children available for adoption have been tested for HIV, Hepatitis B, and venereal disease. The children are provided chest x-rays for TB screening, if suspected. The medical care provided at the orphanage is better than some but there is much that can be done to improve certain areas of care.
Malnutrition is a health concern as well as upper respiratory illnesses.
The children in Ethiopia tend to be very social and interact well with other people.
Time Frame
The first phase of the adoption process for any country is to complete your Home Study and get your approval from CIS.
We assist you to prepare your dossier for Ethiopia while you are completing the Home Study.
We send your dossier to Ethiopia for approval by the Ethiopian government and referrals, in most cases and by history, have been received within a few days to two weeks.
Once you have accepted a child, the processing time to complete the adoption from Ethiopia is usually four to six months, but each and every adoption case is unique and delays can happen for a variety of unpredictable reasons.
In general, the current adoption process in Ethiopia is predictable and follows clear steps but you should always ask the Ethiopia Program Coordinator if there have been any recent changes in the process.
Travel Accommodation Information
Once the adoption is completed in country, you can decide how you want to bring your child home.
By Ethiopian law, families are not required to travel at any time during the adoption process, but ANA strongly urges families to travel at the completion of the adoption to obtain your child’s US visa and to escort your child home. It gives the adoptive family the opportunity to see their child’s country of origin and to start the bonding process with your child while the environment is still familiar.
Your stay in Ethiopia would be approximately one week.
There are guesthouses which you may reserve in advance of arrival (They tend to book quickly)
If you choose not to travel, your child can be escorted to you. During the adoption process you will have the opportunity to make this decision.
Care of the Children in Ethiopia
Illien Adoptions International, Inc. is in the process of finding new space which would house the office staff and would have room for all of the referred and accepted children. At this time the children reside at the Orphanage until the Adoptive Parent(s) arrive.
We ask for help assisting in our on-going humanitarian aid projects in Ethiopia and that you consider ongoing assistance to the orphanage where your child came from.
Donations can be sent after your adoption is completed and are tax deductible to you as the donor. Your travel to Ethiopia to escort your child home will help you to understand the reason for our humanitarian aid and you will be able to see how your donations are used.
Click here for an estimate of fees for adoption services, country fees and third party costs for adopting a child from Ethiopia.
