Ethiopia

SINCE 2006, SPENCE-CHAPIN HAS HAD A PARTNERSHIP with Children's Home Society and Family Services (CHSFS) to help place children from Ethiopia with families in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area. Ethiopia is one of the oldest and largest countries in Africa, with a rich history that dates back thousands of years. Ethiopia has established a strong presence in international diplomacy, being one of the original members of the U.N. and the founder of the African Union. Ethiopia is also one of Africa's poorest countries, its people having suffered from prolonged periods of drought, famine, and war. The AIDS epidemic accounts for a large percentage of adult deaths, leaving thousands of children orphaned.

Program Criteria

Couples married for at least one year.
No more than a 50 year difference in age between the youngest parent and the child, with both parents being over 25 and under 56-years-old at the time of application.
Applicants should be in a good physical health without diagnosis of chronic medical condition(s) that would impact the parenting of a child. Heath conditions are screened on a case-by-case basis.
Applicants should be in good mental health with a stable history for at least 2 years after a diagnosis. Mental heath conditions are screened on an individual basis.
Arrest and any criminal history will be considered individually.

Children in Need of Homes

Infants, toddlers, school-aged children, and sibling groups of both genders are in need of homes. Families must be open to a child up to 36 months old at referral with the youngest children arriving home at least 5 months and older. Children of all ages with varying degrees of special needs are also in need of homes. While awaiting international placement, children reside in a group care center managed by CHSFS.

Timing and Travel: From Application to Homecoming

Timing: The current wait for a referral after your dossier is sent to CHSFS varies depending on the age of the child requested. Families hoping for a child up to 24 months at referral should expect a wait time of 16-24 months; the wait for families requesting children over 24 months is approximately 3-15 months.
Referral: At the time of referral, you will receive photographs and a medical and developmental report on the child who has been matched with your family.
Travel: After you have accepted your referral, you will travel to Ethiopia within approximately 3 to 6 months. During this wait time, the Ethiopian government is reviewing your dossier along with your child's paperwork and granting the adoption through the courts. The trip is typically 1 week in Addis Ababa. You will stay at the CHSFS Guesthouse with other adoptive families or in a local hotel and will be guided by CHSFS's overseas staff though all aspects of your adoption. For families where there is a documented hardship, an option to have the child escorted to the U.S. may be available.
Post-Adoption: Upon returning home, your child will be an automatic citizen of the U.S., though you will need to refinalize your adoption in your state of residence. The Ethiopian government requires reports at 3 and 6 months after finalization. Both reports must be written by the social worker based on an office visit with your family. One year and on-going annual reports need to be sent by you until your child's 18th birthday. On-going support through the Adoption Resource Center is available throughout the lifetime of your family and is free for one year following the adoption.

Partnering Agency

Spence-Chapin partners with Children's Home Society and Family Services (CHSFS), an adoption agency that has programs and staff in Ethiopia. Spence-Chapin provides you with adoption education and support, home study assessment and preparation, and post adoption services. All families who have their home studies completed by Spence-Chapin complete required training on general adoption issues, child development, and attachment.

Families Outside of the NY/NJ Metro Area

As Ethiopia is not one of Spence-Chapin's direct programs, we are unable to provide this program to families outside of the New York/New Jersey metropolitan service area at this time. We invite you to explore one of our other networking programs. To learn more about networking and see a list of Spence-Chapin Network Agencies, click on the link or contact our International Inquiry Coordinator at 212-400-8150.

Humanitarian Aid to Ethiopia

Spence-Chapin has a commitment to the children in Ethiopia who may not find permanent homes through adoption. Spence-Chapin has worked with an Ethiopian NGO to support its work in protecting young girls at risk of exploitation, as well as to care for children with medical needs. 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 Ethiopia it is $10,200.

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.

410 East 92nd Street, New York, NY 10128 212.369.0300