Bulgaria

SPENCE-CHAPIN BEGAN PLACING CHILDREN FROM BULGARIA IN 1995. New adoption laws in Bulgaria have opened up the process once again. Spence-Chapin's long-time partner is the Milossardie Association, a Bulgarian nongovernmental organization licensed to mediate intercountry adoptions by Bulgaria's central authority for adoption, the Ministry of Justice. Bulgaria is located in Eastern Europe and bordered by the Black Sea. It is a small and very beautiful country with landscapes that range from snow-covered mountains to stretches of coastal shores. It has a rich history dating back to the 7th century, and many of the customs and traditions of its 8 million people can be traced back to ancient times. Bulgaria has shifted from being a former communist outpost to a successful democratic state and member of the European Union. Unfortunately, both social and economic reasons account for children being placed in orphanages.

Program Criteria

Married couples, single woman and single men preferably under 50-years-old at the time of dossier submission to Bulgaria.
Applicants should be in a good physical health without diagnosis of a chronic medical issue that would impact the parenting of a child. Heath conditions are screened on an individual basis.
Applicants should be in good mental health and may not be using any psychotropic medication or have a history of hospitalization. Mental heath conditions are screened on an individual basis.
Applicants should have no recent arrest history, though youthful indiscretion may be acceptable.
Applicants must be financially stable.

Children in Need of Homes

Children of both genders and of all ages are in need of homes, though there are generally more boys than girls. The youngest children are typically at least 18-months-old to 4-years-old, and siblings groups are available as well. Additionally, adopting a child with special needs may be possible. Children are primarily of Roma and Turkish heritage. Children are cared for in institutional settings in Bulgaria.

Timing and Travel: From Application to Homecoming

Timing: After your dossier has been sent to Bulgaria, the wait time for a referral can vary depending on your child request, though it is currently estimated at 1 to 2 years.
Referral: At the time of referral you will receive basic preliminary information about a child, learning more when you travel to Bulgaria on your first trip.
Travel: Within 1 month of accepting a referral, both members of the couple will travel to the child's region to meet the child and spend 5 days bonding. The adoption will be finalized in court by proxy 3 to 4 months later. Soon after, at least one parent will travel back to Bulgaria for about 1 week to bring the child home. During this trip you will travel to Sofia for 2 to 3 days to obtain a visa for your child from the U.S. embassy. When in Bulgaria, you are fully guided through all adoption-related activities by Spence-Chapin's bilingual representatives.
Post-Placement: Upon returning home, your child will be an automatic citizen of the U.S. and you will receive a certificate of citizenship in the mail. The Bulgarian Ministry of Justice requires reports at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after finalization. These reports must be written by the social worker based on an office visit with your family. On-going support through the Spence-Chapin Adoption Resource Center is available throughout the lifetime of your family and is available at no additional cost for one year.

Families Outside of the NY/NJ Metro Area

Spence-Chapin welcomes families outside of our direct New York/New Jersey metropolitan service area to adopt through our program in Bulgaria. Spence-Chapin collaborates with other reputable agencies around the U.S. For more information about networking and a list of Spence-Chapin Network Agencies, click on the link or contact our International Inquiry Coordinator at 212-400-8150.

Humanitarian Aid to Bulgaria

Spence-Chapin initiated and funded the first of our innovative Granny Programs in Bulgaria in 1998. Through this program, children in orphanages who have very limited opportunities for crucial personal attention are provided with a "granny" from the community. This enables them to develop emotional attachments and to bond with a primary caregiver, thereby stimulating growth in many areas. Currently Spence-Chapin is sponsoring two such programs in the cities of Bulgaria, in Varna and Plovdiv. Our success has also inspired other organizations to replicate the program in additional Bulgarian institutions. Spence-Chapin has also provided basic assistance to orphanages in Bulgaria over the years in the form of clothing, bed linens and food.

To learn more about our humanitarian aid programs and how you can support them, please view our Helping Children Abroad page.

Cost Guidelines

There are several categories of fees and expenses that adoptive families should anticipate when considering an international adoption. For an explanation of these, please refer to the Understanding Fees and Expenses page. Included in these fees is a separate foreign country program fee which varies. For Bulgaria it is $10,600.

Celebration for Children Adopted Internationally

Every year the agency hosts parties for Spence-Chapin families formed through international adoption. Families come together to celebrate with traditional food, crafts, and entertainment, which offers children an opportunity to explore their common heritage. For information about this year's celebration, please contact Spence-Chapin's Events Hotline at 212-360-0274.

The First

Granny Program

In 1998, Spence-Chapin established the first granny program at an orphanage in Varna, Bulgaria, designed to provide critical one-on-one attention to the children living there. Their work with the children focuses mainly on speech and language development, enhanced motor and relationship attachment skills.

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