Resources for Adoptive Parents (a very partial guide)

1. Your own adoption agency and home study agency, each of which should have a guide to local resources.

2. Your local school district which can direct you to early intervention (for under 3s) and individualized educational plans for older children.

3. Post Placement Mental Health Resources: http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=10058&cn=11

4. Adoptive Family magazine: Resource guide: http://www.adoptivefamilies.com/

5. Layers of Trauma for Haiti's Orphans: A Webinar featuring Dr. Bruce Perry: http://www.adoptioninstitute.org/media/20100128_webinar_haiti.php.

6. Post-adoption learning: http://www.adoptionarticlesdirectory.com/

7. Holt International Adoption Services: http://www.holtinternational.org/adoptees/.

8. Spence-Chapin Adoption Services: http://www.spence-chapin.org/post-adoption-services/c0_post_adoption_services.php

9. Parents For Ethical Adoption Reform: http://www.pear-now.org/

10. Yahoo groups: there is a Yahoo group for adoptive families from every country. Many adoption agencies have specific Yahoo groups. There are also Yahoo groups for parents of children with special needs.

Haitian Update: February 1, 2010. Haitian Adoption FAQs. Please click on the link below for a very good FAQs compilation on the current status of adoption from Haiti. http://dailynightly.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2010/02/01/2190724.aspx

Haiti Update: 1-20-10. The U.S. embassy in Port au Prince has been issuing visas and humanitarian parole documents to a limited number of children. Ground transportation and traffic conditions are very difficult. Efforts are being made to try to expedite the handover of children who arrive in the United States to their U.S. families.

Humanitarian Parole Requirements for Haitian Children: 1-19-10

DHS and DOS are working together toissue travel documents (either immigrant visas or humanitarian parole authorizations) for children whofall intothe twocategories described below. Once these children are cleared totravel, the U.S. Embassy in Port au Prince will facilitate their evacuation tothe United States sothey may be united with their American adoptive parents.

Under applicable laws, unaccompanied minors entering the country without a parent or legal guardian are subject tospecial procedures regarding their custody and care. DHS coordinates with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement on the cases of these unaccompanied minors.

All cases will be evaluated by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Depending on their circumstances, and information available some children will receive immigrant visas with permanent immigration status and will require nofurther processing. Those whoenter under humanitarian parole status will need tohave their immigration status resolved after arrival.

Eligibility for Humanitarian Parole-Category 1

Children whohave been legally confirmed as orphans eligible for intercountry adoption by the Government of Haiti, were in the process of being adopted by Americans prior toJan. 12, 2010 and meet the below criteria.

Required Criteria

• Evidence of availability for adoption, which MUST include at least one of the following:
  • Full and final Haitian adoption decree
  • Government of Haiti Custody grant toprospective adoptive parents for emigration and adoption
  • Secondary evidence in lieu of the above.
• Evidence of suitability for adoption, which MUST include at least one of the following:
  • Notice of Approval of Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition
  • Current FBI Fingerprints and background security check clearances
  • Physical custody in Haiti plus a security background check

Category 2

Children whohave been identified by an adoption service provider or facilitator as eligible for intercountry adoption, were matched toprospective American adoptive parents prior toJan. 12, 2010 and meet the below criteria.

Required Criteria

• Significant evidence of a relationship between the prospective adoptive parents and the child AND of the parents' intention tocomplete the adoption, which could include the following:
  • Proof of travel by the prospective adoptive parents toHaiti tovisit the child
  • Photos of the child and prospective adoptive parents together
  • An Adoption Service Provider "Acceptance of Referral" letter signed by the prospective adoptive parents
  • Documentary evidence that the prospective adoptive parents initiated the adoption process prior toJan. 12, 2010 with intent toadopt the child (filed Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition, and/or Form I-600, Petition toClassify an Orphan as an Immediate Relative, completed a home study, located an ASP towork with in Haiti, etc.)
• Evidence of the child's availability for adoption, which could the following:
  • IBESR (Haitian Adoption Authority) approval
  • Documentation of legal relinquishment or award of custody tothe Haitian orphanage
  • Secondary evidence in lieu of the above
• Evidence of suitability for adoption, which MUST include at least one of the following:
  • Notice of Approval of Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition; OR
  • Current FBI Fingerprints and background security check clearances

Other Orphaned or Separated Children

Given the severity of the disaster in Haiti, we understand that there are additional children that have been orphaned and/or separated from relatives and may alsobe in varying stages of the adoption process. DHS and the U.S. Department of State continue toevaluate additional eligibility criteria and will provide additional information as soon as it is available.

USCIS encourages U.S. citizens with pending adoption cases in Haiti tosend us detailed information about their cases toHaitianAdoptions@dhs.gov.

Please visit the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov and the U.S. Department of State website at www.adoption.state.gov for more information and updates.