Ethiopia

Ethiopia Placement Program

Adoption Requirements
Single women ages 26-45 and married couples may apply.  Couples must be married at least 3 years and the maximum age is 45 years for the younger spouse-no more than 100 years total for the combined ages of both spouses (for example, if the younger spouse is 45, the older spouse cannot be older than 55).  Previous divorce is acceptable.  Infertility is not required.  There is also no limit on the number of children already in your home.

We seek applicants with an active Christian faith.  A reference from your Pastor/Priest will be required in the application process.

Because the initial time to bond with your child is so important, we require that at least one parent stay home to take care of the child for a minimum of 60 days beginning when your child joins your family.  Spouses may alternate time off to cover the 60 days.

Click here for program details

How does the Ethiopia program work?
Once you have completed both application packets for Love Basket, and received an approved Home Study in your state of residence, you are eligible to receive the referral of a specific child.  You will also pursue getting USCIS approval at this time, and we will work with you to prepare your foreign court dossier.

When a child is available for you to consider, you will receive photos, a health summary, lab test results, and any social/medical history that is available for the child.  We strongly recommend that you review this information with a medical professional  (preferably one familiar with children adopted internationally) to help you evaluate the information you have received.  The length of your wait for child referral may average 1-6 months. 

When you have accepted a referral, and your dossier has been received in Ethiopia, the average processing time is approximately 2-3 months.  Once the adoption is completed in the foreign court, the court documents have been processed, and they arrive in the US, it will take another 2-6 weeks for USCIS processing to be completed, in situations in which the child is being escorted to the USA.  If the parent(s) plan to travel to bring their child home, they may begin making travel arrangements at this time.  Expect to spend 3-4 days in Addis Ababa While obtaining your child's visa and resting for the trip home.

How old are most of the children adopted from Ethiopia?
Children may be as young as 1 month of age at the time of referral to you, depending on the child's legal situation.  However, the average age at the time of referral will most likely be 6 months of age (unless your request is for an older child).

What can we specify about our prospective adoptive child?
You can tell us the age range and sex of the child you wish to adopt.  You can tell us whether or not you would accept a sibling group.  You can also specify special needs you will accept (if any).  Keep in mind that the broader the age range you will accept, or if you are comfortable adopting either a boy or girl, the quicker the referral of a child may be. 

Post Placement Requirements
The Ethiopian Government requires post placement reports be submitted 3 times during the first year after the child arrives home, and then yearly until the child turns 18 years-old. 

Because the children adopted from Ethiopia are not usually seen in person by the adoptive parents prior to overseas court processing, it will be necessary for the child to be re-adopted in the child's state of residence in order to establish the child's US Citizenship and obtain a US birth certificate.                                                                  

Thanks for considering Love Basket, Inc. If you have any questions regarding our programs, please feel free to call our office, or you can email us at the address below. We pray God's direction for you as you seek the child(ren) He has for you.

Contact person: Laurie Bollinger LaurieB@LoveBasket.org
 

Love Basket Inc. 10306 Business 21 Hillsboro, MO 63050
Phone 636.797.4100 Fax 636.789.4978 Info@LoveBasket.org

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