Haitian adoptions why the long wait? Who benefits?

[Dream Girl]

I saw a feature yesterday about adopting Haitian orphans. The adoption service they interviewed was based somewhere in the US (orth Carolina, I think). Their requirements for adoptive parents were so stringent, it's a wonder any child could ever be adopted. Married 10 years, (Single women were permitted if over 35 years old), no other children living in the household; So basically, they were restricting adoption to long term childless couples. I understand that some agencies also have religious requirements, that the adoptive parents must not only be Christian, but a certain brand of Christian. I just saw a feature about a couple who had been waiting for years for their adoption of 4 Haitian orphans to go through. I also learned that there are over 100,000 Haitian orphans, undoubtedly many more now as a result of the earthquake. Yet people are having to wait for years for their kids. Who benefits from this? Obviously not the adoptive parents and not the kids who are languishing without parents to call their own. I understand that potential families must be evaluated carefully and that there are concerns about safeguarding kids against human trafficking and other abusive situations. But seems to me if someone is interested in trafficking, there must be much easier ways than adopting a child. There are also some orphans who are taken in and used as virtual slaves by wealthy households. Makes no sense to me.

[Dream Girl]

1. kick

[BunkerHill24]

2. I hope these adoptions are fettered and legitimate

I've heard horror stories about kids offered adoption from Africa but were given organ profiteers from Russia. Of course I have no reason to believe this the case in Haiti.

[Dappleganger]

3. No other children in the home?

That's bullshit! If we had space I'd take a sibling pair in a heartbeat.

[Go2Peace]

4. Worldwide adoption is a mess. There is HUGE money in it

The entire "industry" and governments have made a HUGE mistake, it should be illegal to make any money at all in this endeavor. Instead, huge "non-profit" businesses have sprouted up that are really fronts for lucrative living.

The average cost to adopt is now $30-40,000. This is happening even in our own country.

What happens is that some countries react to all of the corruption in the industry by making it all but impossible to adopt. Though I will guarantee, if you pay the right person, you can still adopt children in haiti. Money is the name of the game.

[Tindalos]

5. Canada just relaxed immigration rules for Haiti

Canada relaxes immigration rules for Haitians affected by quake

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — As evacuees returned to Canada from Haiti on Saturday, the federal government relaxed this country’s immigration rules to make it easier for Canadians to sponsor family members living in the earthquake-torn nation.

At a news conference in Ottawa, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said Canada will give “priority” to Haitians who want to come to this country, if they can show that they were “severely affected” by the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck the Caribbean island Tuesday.

The new rules will also apply to Canadian families who want to adopt Haitian children, in hopes of speeding up the process, said Kenney.


http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Canada+relaxes+immigration+rules+Haitians+affected+quake/2450570/story.html


Hopefully that will help cut through some of the red tape of immigration and adoptions.


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