Haiti                 

Haiti is a wonderful country from which to adopt.  Because of its close proximity to the United States, traveling to meet your child is quick and more convenient than many other countries.  With its reasonable fees, this is a good option for families wanting to adopt more than one child.   Still, fewer than 300 children were adopted from Haiti in 2005, largely due to people not knowing about these precious children who are waiting for loving families.

Children Available for International Adoption

• Newborn to 16 years old. 
• Sibling groups, twins and unrelated children can be adopted at the same time. 
• Most of the children have lost their families due to extreme poverty, but they have been well cared for in loving orphanages. 

Adoptive Parents               

• Married couples and single, heterosexual women can adopt from Haiti.
• Couples should be married for at least 5 years.
• There is no upper age limit, as long as the parents are physically able to raise the child to adulthood.
• At least one parent should be 30 years or older. 
• In special situations, single mothers at least 27 years old will be accepted.
• Haitian law requires that adoptive parents are a minimum of 18 years older than the adoptive child.
• Number of children already in the home varies depending on specific circumstances.  Generally, a family may have up to four children.  Please contact us for more specific information.
• Previously divorced individuals may adopt.
• All prospective adoptive families that are U.S. citizens must first meet the eligibility requirements of the U.S.C.I.S.
• In some cases, Adopt a Miracle can assist families living in other countries with their adoption in Haiti

Adoption Process in Haiti

Parents generally receive a referral within 30 days of submitting the translated dossier to our Haiti Program Director.  Once the parents accept the referral, it takes approximately 12 months to complete the adoption process.  Parents receive monthly photos and any significant medical information about their child.  Adoptive families may travel to Haiti during the waiting period to visit with their child and experience the welcoming and rich environment and culture of Haiti.   The families may stay at a comfortable and reasonably priced inn located near the orphanage. 

Adopt a Miracle will assist adoptive parents throughout the entire adoption process in Haiti, including document gathering, assignment, travel, and accommodations while in Haiti.  You can feel confidant that you will be well taken care of while in Haiti by very knowledgeable and friendly English-speaking staff.

The Country and Culture of Haiti

The Republic of Haiti covers 10,700 square miles (about the size of Maryland) and occupies the western third of the Caribbean Island of Hispaniola, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Much of the country is mountainous and many areas are uninhabitable due to rough terrain. Haiti’s road system is very primitive and has very few paved highways.  The average temperature in Haiti ranges from the mid 70’s to the mid 90’s year round, although it can feel cooler in the mountains.

The name Haiti actually means “mountainous land” in the language of the Arawak and Taíno, the indigenous groups who were the first inhabitants of the island.  Haiti was settled by the Spanish, but was soon taken over by the French.  Over the following decades, the French brought hundreds of thousands of people from Africa to work as slaves in the sugar cane fields.  Haiti quickly became the sugar cane producer of the world.  In 1804, a great slave revolt led to an end of this abusive colonial system, and Haiti became the first black-led republic of the world.  Haiti was the second country in the Western Hemisphere, after the United States, to become an independent nation.

The capital of Haiti is Port-au-Prince.  There are approximately 7,500,000 citizens living in Haiti.  It is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere with 75% of the population living below poverty level (as determined by World Bank).  Unemployment is about 60%, and the literacy rate is about 55%.  One in five children will die before their 5th birthday from malnutrition or disease. 

The official languages in Haiti are French and Creole. The vast majority of the population speaks only Creole.  The French language is still associated with the rich and higher classes of people, while Creole is stereotypically associated with the poor and lower class people.

Almost all Haitians are descendents of the approximately half a million enslaved West Africans. The population is 95% black, with the remaining 5% consisting mostly of mulattos, traditionally the elite ruling class. Whites—mostly British, American, and French—make up a very small minority.

Haiti's uniqueness is reflected in the originality of its paintings, music, and literature. Artists and musicians, drawing from the rich folk life and vitality of the people, have created internationally-recognized works and sounds. Haitian paintings of the "naive" or "primitive" school have long been recognized around the world; works by more famous artists have been exhibited in galleries and museums in the United States and France. Handicrafts such as wood carvings and tapestries also employ this primitive style. Haitian music, like Haiti itself, is an original blend, containing elements of African drum rhythms and European dance music.

The expressiveness of the Haitian people is evident in their rich oral tradition, which includes storytelling, proverbs, riddles, songs and games. Storytelling in Haiti is a performance art. The storyteller uses a different voice for each character in the story, and may sing songs as part of the narrative.

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