Spence-Chapin Services International Adoption: Colombia

Program Requirements and Specifics

At least one prospective parent must be a U.S. citizen to be able to sponsor a child to enter the country.
Applicants must have no criminal record and must be in good mental and physical health and must not be extremely overweight. A psychological study of each parent is required as part of the dossier paperwork.
Married couples should have lived together for at least two years and must be over 25 years of age.
In order to adopt an infant or a child under 3 one member of the couple must be under 38 years of age at the time of dossier submission. Families between 35 and 38 years of age should expect a referral of a child who is 0 to 35 months. Families between 39 and 41 years of age should expect a referral of a child 36-59 months; families between 42 and 44 years old qualify for a child 60-83 months old; and families 45 years of age or older qualify for a child 7 years or older. Families may request the placement of a child older than the minimum age they are eligible to adopt. Applicants need to be 15 years older than the child they are seeking to adopt.
Single men and women may adopt school-age children or children with special needs. Single men will only be considered for the adoption of a boy.
For some programs, applicants must be childless in order to apply.
The current wait for a referral is up to two years and may be longer for infants and toddlers. Applicants who request older children or sibling groups will have a shorter wait. Families of Colombian descent are given priority by the Colombian government and will be expedited.

The Children:

Children available for adoption in Colombia range in age from 6 months to adolescents. The age of the child that adoptive parents can apply to adopt is dependent upon the age of the adoptive parents. Both boys and girls are available. Children are generally healthy; however, families should expect the typical delays and medical risks associated with international adoption, institutionalization and the difficult life histories that the children may have experienced. Children are primarily of Afro-Colombian descent and mixed heritage, and may reflect the full ethnicity that exists in Latin America.

From Referral to Homecoming

Included in referrals from Colombia are a detailed social summary for the birth mother, the child's medical history and lab tests, as well as photographs.

Although one parent may return to the U.S. after the second week, Spence-Chapin requires that both parents travel to Colombia. Parents travel to Colombia shortly after their acceptance of the child referral. The typical trip to Colombia lasts 3-4 weeks and may extend to up to 45 days. One parent may return to the U.S. after the second week.

Humanitarian Aid:

Spence-Chapin helps to support the maternity shelter at Los Chiquitines. The maternity shelter is in a separate building that is a short drive from the orphanage. At this residence, Colombian birth mothers are provided with pre-natal care and counseling as they make plans for their child’s future. The maternity shelter also offers job training for mothers preparing to enter the workforce.

Adoption and Program Options:

Families can choose to work directly with Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar (ICBF) in which children are cared for in ICBF- approved facilities and foster care around the country, or they may work with Los Chiquitines, a small, privately-run children’s home accredited by ICBF in Cali, Colombia. As an alternative, families can participate in the Kidsave Summer Miracles Program. Spence-Chapin is currently accepting applications for all programs.

ICBF:

ICBF (www.icbf.gov.co) oversees all domestic and intercountry adoption in Colombia, and accredits a variety of programs, including public and private children’s homes. ICBF is a well-organized, centralized organization that is committed to finding permanent homes for children. Children placed through ICBF live either in children’s homes or foster care. Children of all ages are available through this option and families must be open to the placement of a child up to 3 years of age.

Los Chiquitines:

Located in the rural outskirts of Cali, Los Chiquitines is a very well-run facility where children receive excellent care. Through Spence-Chapin’s program with Los Chiquitines, we are able to place a small number of infants under 1 year of age as well as older children and sibling groups.

Kidsave:

Spence-Chapin is thrilled to announce their partnership and involvement with the Kidsave Summer Miracles program, a summer hosting program for children from Colombia awaiting adoption. As a global voice for change, Kidsave makes miracles happen for children the world has forgotten. Families can participate in Kidsave by either hosting an older child from Colombia who is ready and awaiting a permanent family in their home for five weeks or participating in social events with the visiting children to determine if any of them might make a wonderful addition to their family. Spence-Chapin is currently accepting applications for host families for the summer of 2009. Children visiting the United States this summer may also be available for adoption. For more information please view the Kidsave website at www.kidsave.org.

Out-of-State Families:

Spence-Chapin welcomes families from other areas of the country to adopt through our international adoption program in Colombia. Families outside our geographic area work with a local agency in addition to Spence-Chapin, allowing them to benefit from our well-established international placement program in Colombia while receiving direct service from a social worker in their area. Spence-Chapin collaborates closely with other high-quality and reputable adoption agencies to help families complete all stages of the adoption process and receive support from both agencies that follow them every step of the way. For more information about networking and a list of Spence-Chapin network agencies, please contact our International Inquiry Coordinator at 212-400-8150.