Our agency, Villa Hope, recently sent us an update. Below are their programs. They are outstanding.

Here is contact info:

Villa Hope
6 Office Park Circle
Suite 218
Birmingham, AL 35223 (you don't have to live in AL)
205-870-7359

www.villahope.org

CHINA - in desperate need for more families! wait for referral down to 6 months by Oct. 2004. Travel in country 10-14 days.

EQUADOR - always in need of families, esp. for young boys. wait for referral 2-4 months. 8 children legally free, just waiting for family. 30 more children and infants will be legally free in the next 6 months. Travel in country is 5-6 weeks or two trips.

PERU - looking for families open to a young child, but not necessarily an infant. Most are older toddler or young school age. Travel in country is 3 weeks.

GUATEMALA - recently re-opened. Relatively quick, but be aware of a potential slow down at any time. wait for infant usually 2-3 months. Travel in country is 3 days and escort is available.

In partnership with WorldChild:

RUSSIA - typical wait for referral 3-6 months depending on gender preference. Travel in country usually required 2 trips of a combined 3 weeks.

KAZAKHATAN - referrals in 2-3 months. Travel in country about 6 weeks.

Again, they are an AWESOME agency!

How much are the adoption fees? I would love to adopt, but it is so expensive.:(

LOL! I just answered this on the market board!

It is expensive, but we finance so many things in our lives. Cars, homes, etc.

Children appreciate in value, as opposed to cars or dishwashers, etc. ;)

You can get a loan - home equity or other type.

I always think about it like this: If you had to have an emergency c-section, it would be about the same cost. Somehow, you would find a way to pay it, even if you had no insurance.

It makes me really sad that money is the reason that some great parents don't get to experience adoption, kwim??

There is also that $10,000 tax credit that President Clinton signed into law, which helps.

Thank-you Denise

We are paper chasing for a baby boy in Guatemala :0)


Kimberlee

Shoshoni

It depends on the country and the agency. Sometimes there are also reduced fees for some children.

Kimberlee

thank you for this info. dh and i were talking about adoption just the other day (since i will be getting the hysterectomy later this year and we do want more children).

Does one need to be a home-owner to adopt?

Amina - We were approved for our adoption while renting a home.

Denise - thanks for posting this!

Kimberlee - how exciting! What led you to choose Guatemala?

Originally posted by Adria
Amina - We were approved for our adoption while renting a home.

Denise - thanks for posting this!

Kimberlee - how exciting! What led you to choose Guatemala?

Thanks, Adria! I wasn't sure.

What about single mom's? Is it harder to adopt?

Is it about 20K to adopt?