Adopting a Child from Ethiopia

The children from Ethiopia are beautiful, and their country is surrounded by others such as Yemen and Kenya, on the continent of Africa. Their culture is centuries old, but recently torn by civil war and strife since 1991. Adopting from Ethiopia can be detailed and lengthy, there have been reports of adoption fraud when adopting from Ethiopia. The best way for you to prevent this is to know the facts, and to be prepared for the correct steps in the adoption of an Ethiopian child. Read about the general steps involved in the adoption process for citizens from the US, and what agencies to contact in an Ethiopian adoption.

As with other international adoptions you will have to have an adoption home study completed, and have prepared a dossier for adopting from Ethiopia. There is a slight drawback in trying to adopt from Ethiopia any baby or child, there are a limited number of pre approved adoption agencies from the US. You must work with these agencies to begin the adoption process in adopting from Ethiopia.

• Adoptions Advocates International of Port Angeles, WA
• Americans for African Adoptions, Inc. of Indianapolis, IN
• Children's Home Society and Services of St. Paul, MN
• Christian World Adoption of Charleston, SC
• Dove Adoptions International Inc. of Banks, OR
• Wide Horizons for Children Inc. of Waltham, MA

However, these adoptions agencies are pre approved by the sub cabinet of the Ethiopian government. The Children, Youth, and Family Affairs Department (CYFAD) will work with you diligently to find your special adoptee from Ethiopia. Once your paperwork is submitted, the department will review your application and deny or grant the right for the adoption. If approved, you'll be presented with a child from the department referral service. At this point all further adoption requirements and paperwork, will be handled by one of the pre approved adoption agencies. Because of the strife between political and civil factions in Ethiopia, you'll not be allowed to travel and bring your adopted child out of the country. An escort service for travel will be arranged through your adoption agency.

To send all of your authenticated and certified adoption applications required by the Ethiopian government mail it to:

The Ethiopian Embassy of the United States
3506 International Dr. NW
Washington, D.C. 20008

After the documentation has been approved it will be mailed back to you. You will then need to mail the entire packet back to:

The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs
Children and Youth Affairs Office, Adoption Team
P. O. Box 2056
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia

*Please note this process is much more detailed than described above.*

For up to date information on adopting from Ethiopia consult these websites:

• www.uscis.gov
• www.travel.gov

It can't be stressed enough to use of the pre approved adoption agencies listed above. Many people have been duped when using an adoption facilitator when adopting from Ethiopia. Adoption facilitators are not licensed social workers connected with any adoption agency.
Listed below are some the adoption scams that have been used on perspective adopting individuals.

• Children are adopted that are infected with the AIDS virus (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).
• Children are stolen, and used for the black market. Fraudulent paperwork is often provided.
• Children are already adopted.
• Children that don't exist.

Make sure to go online at www.travel.state.gov which is the website of the US Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs, and read about adoption agencies and facilitators.

To be able to investigate agencies go to the BBB (Better Business Bureau) online at www.bbb.com

If you feel that a facilitator has scammed you, you can report it to the US Embassy in Ethiopia at:

American Embassy
Entoto Rd
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia