Buckner has supported the Bright Hope ministry in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia since 2000 and assumed the organization in 2007. In doing so, Buckner has expanded its Ethiopia programs to include international adoption and the support of a babies home.
Children available for adoption in our Ethiopia program:
• Single children and sibling groups
• Children ages 4 months to 3 years old at the time of referral
• Older children ages 3 to 9 years old
• Some children with special needs
A recent UNICEF report states that more than 4.5 million of Ethiopia’s children are orphaned due to poverty and illness. This means that more than one child in 10 is an orphan. Additionally, the maternal mortality rate for pregnant women is very high – one in fourteen women will die in childbirth.
- Inquiry Phase
- Pre-Application and questionnaire approval
- Workshop
- Formal Application
- Education
- Home study
- USCIS approval
- Adoption Seminar
- Dossier completion
- Dossier is sent to Ethiopia
- Dossier is legalized and translated
- Referral is presented to parents
- Children’s dossier and parents dossier is submitted into court under MOWA for adoption approval
- Child’s birth certificate is revised to reflect adoptive parent’s name
- A Passport is acquired for child
- Family’s approval, child’s birth certificate and passport is re-submitted to Embassy for visa appointment
- Visa appointment is issued
- Family travels to country
- Travel to orphanage
- Meets child
- Participate in cultural activities
- Embassy medicals
- Goes to Embassy interview
- Acquires Visa
- Post-placement services
Age
Couples and single applicants must be at least 25 years of age. The difference in the child’s age and that of the parents should be no more than 40 years.
Marital Status
Married couples are preferred, but single female applicants will be considered. Couples must have been married a minimum of two years.
Children in Family
When considering adding single children or a sibling group to a family, it is Buckner policy that there be no more than six total children under the age of 18 living in the home after the adoption is complete. Larger families will be reviewed on a case by case basis after their home study is complete.
Faith
In recognizing the need for a child to be nurtured in a loving Christian home, applicants must be Christians and active members of a church in their community.
• Both parents must travel.
• There is one trip required to Ethiopia that lasts approximately one to two weeks in which the family travels to pick up the child.
• The adoption is finalized in a court hearing before the family travels.
• Buckner Adoption staff in Ethiopia will arrange all in-country logistics.
• Parents will have the opportunity to visit the orphanage where their children lived and meet his/her caregivers and friends.
• Parents will learn about child’s culture and country.
Fee Sheet (.pdf - .doc)
The follow up reports, as well as pictures, are required for Ethiopia at:
- Three months after placement
- Six months after placement
- One year after placement
- Yearly reports until the child’s 18th birthday
Monthly medical and progress reports are required for Buckner during the first six months of post adoption support. The following is the required number of face to face contacts Buckner will make with families during the six months, depending on the needs of the child and/or family:
- Infants to 2 years: two visits
- Children 2 years to 15 years: monthly visits for the first six months
