RENTON -
They are the littlest victims of the earthquake, now trying to survive the aftermath without parents. The faces of orphans have a lot of Americans reaching out and offering their homes.
"If you have a heart for children or you would like to parent more children you realize you have the room" Mary Ann Curran said. Curran has adopted four children and said it's hard to see how the children of Haiti are suffering.
Haiti has halted international adoptions and several non-profit groups say it's important to make sure the children do not have family members who could take care of them. Even with the program on hold, phones have been ringing off the hook at adoption agencies.
The World Association for Children and Parents say they don't normally facilitate Haitian adoptions but that hasn't stopped many people from calling them. CEO Lillian Thogersen believes it will be about 18 months before any orphans are up for adoption "I would be very surprised if any agency is accepting applications for those children."
International adoption is a long and exhaustive process. It starts with an application and then a home study. During that time; social workers spend months looking at finances, medical records, and personal things like the stability of your marriage. The results go to local, federal and foreign authorities.
Then, would-be parents start the immigration process - which takes another 3-6 months. Once they're matched with a child, most countries require one or both parents to visit the country where the child is from. Sometimes, they have to attend court proceedings in that country.
All of this takes an average of 12-18 months but it's not uncommon for it to take years. The average cost is $15,000-$35,000. Elizabeth Harnett adopted a daughter from China "it's so worth it, in the end, because you have a child and that child has a family."
With adoptions from Haiti on hold, agencies point out there are 143 million children in other parts of the world who need homes. Children like the boy Lillian Thogersen met when she went to an orphanage in China. Thogersen said the boy was very nervous when he met with adoption agency representatives. "I said 'Jen Dou why are you so nervous' and he said you're my last chance for a family, my last chance" Thogersen said.
Thogersen hopes those who can't adopt a child from Haiti will offer their homes to other children. "Hopefully when people are calling about the children in Haiti, they may not adopt one of them, but hopefully Jen Dou will get a home" Thogersen said.
"If you have a heart for children or you would like to parent more children you realize you have the room" Mary Ann Curran said. Curran has adopted four children and said it's hard to see how the children of Haiti are suffering.
Haiti has halted international adoptions and several non-profit groups say it's important to make sure the children do not have family members who could take care of them. Even with the program on hold, phones have been ringing off the hook at adoption agencies.
The World Association for Children and Parents say they don't normally facilitate Haitian adoptions but that hasn't stopped many people from calling them. CEO Lillian Thogersen believes it will be about 18 months before any orphans are up for adoption "I would be very surprised if any agency is accepting applications for those children."
International adoption is a long and exhaustive process. It starts with an application and then a home study. During that time; social workers spend months looking at finances, medical records, and personal things like the stability of your marriage. The results go to local, federal and foreign authorities.
Then, would-be parents start the immigration process - which takes another 3-6 months. Once they're matched with a child, most countries require one or both parents to visit the country where the child is from. Sometimes, they have to attend court proceedings in that country.
All of this takes an average of 12-18 months but it's not uncommon for it to take years. The average cost is $15,000-$35,000. Elizabeth Harnett adopted a daughter from China "it's so worth it, in the end, because you have a child and that child has a family."
With adoptions from Haiti on hold, agencies point out there are 143 million children in other parts of the world who need homes. Children like the boy Lillian Thogersen met when she went to an orphanage in China. Thogersen said the boy was very nervous when he met with adoption agency representatives. "I said 'Jen Dou why are you so nervous' and he said you're my last chance for a family, my last chance" Thogersen said.
Thogersen hopes those who can't adopt a child from Haiti will offer their homes to other children. "Hopefully when people are calling about the children in Haiti, they may not adopt one of them, but hopefully Jen Dou will get a home" Thogersen said.
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