International Adoption

Spence-Chapin’s International Adoption Programs are in South Africa, Colombia, Jamaica and the Eastern Caribbean. Spence-Chapin is a Hague-accredited organization with over 100 years of experience in adoption. We believe that every child deserves a family and have connected more than 4,000 children to their forever families. The Spence-Chapin Way is to guide families through every step of the adoption process and provide them with lifelong support and services.

Interested in adopting from countries other than South Africa and Colombia but still need a home study? Spence-Chapin offers home study services to families living in New York or New Jersey within 100 miles of New York City. Find out more here.

Please visit our WAITING CHILDREN PAGE to learn more about waiting children in South Africa and Colombia.

View our events calendar to register for an upcoming adoption webinar!

International Adoption
Is A Beautiful Way To Grow Your Family

South Africa adoption

colombia adoption

Waiting Children

What are the steps in international adoption?

International adoption infographic (1)

What is Hague-Accreditation?

The Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Convention) is an international agreement to safeguard intercountry adoptions. Concluded on May 29, 1993 in The Hague, the Netherlands, the Convention establishes international standards of practices for intercountry adoptions. The United States signed the Convention in 1994, and the Convention entered into force for the United States on April 1, 2008. Read the full text of the Convention.

Spence-Chapin is a Hague accredited agency which means we facilitate Hague adoptions and provide Hague home study services. In order to receive Hague Accreditation, Spence-Chapin must meet certain international standards. In addition, the two countries where Spence-Chapin has established international adoption programs (South Africa and Colombia) have signed the Hague Convention and are also audited annually to ensure proper adherence to standards.

Spence-Chapin does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, creed, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, military status, genetics, genetic predisposition or carrier status, HIV status, marital or partnership status, familial or caregiver status, or any other legally protected status.

Spence-Chapin respects and adheres to the specific eligibility requirements of the countries where we work. To find out more about each country’s specific eligibility requirements, please visit the specific pages for the South Africa and Colombia programs.

Financial Coaching for your adoption

Spence-Chapin has partnered with the experts at Your Adoption Finance Coach to provide our families with free access to experts, tools and content that can take the worry out of financing your adoption. This service is available at no additional cost to families. Free financial coaching is available to families once an application has been received and approved for one of our adoption programs, including our domestic and international home study services! Please contact us to learn more.

Upcoming International Events

Mar

20

06:00pm – 07:00pm

Introduction to Adoption from South Africa

Our International Team is excited to host this webinar and to share information about adopting from South Africa. Spence-Chapin is proud to have the longest history of any US-based agency of facilitating adoption from South Africa and we work with adoptive families living across the entire United States.

Mar

21

06:00pm – 07:00pm

Introduction to Adoption from Colombia

Join us to learn about our Colombia Adoption Program. Our Colombia Adoption Program is open to singles, married couples, unmarried couples, and welcomes LGBTQ+ parents. In this webinar, we will detail the pathways to adopt from Colombia, including pathways available to individuals without Colombian Heritage as well as pathways available to individuals who hold a Colombian Cedula.

Apr

9

06:00pm – 08:00pm

Adoption Pathways Information Night at Spence-Chapin

Click the link below to learn more about this event

Apr

22

01:00pm – 02:00pm

Introduction to Adoption from South Africa

Our International Team is excited to host this webinar and to share information about adopting from South Africa. Spence-Chapin is proud to have the longest history of any US-based agency of facilitating adoption from South Africa and we work with adoptive families living across the entire United States.

Apr

23

05:00pm – 06:00pm

Financing Your Adoption

Spence-Chapin is thrilled to partner with the experts at Your Adoption Finance Coach to provide our families with free access to experts, tools and content that can take the worry out of financing your adoption.

Apr

24

01:00pm – 02:00pm

Introduction to Adoption from Colombia

Join us to learn about our Colombia Adoption Program. Our Colombia Adoption Program is open to singles, married couples, unmarried couples, and welcomes LGBTQ+ parents. In this webinar, we will detail the pathways to adopt from Colombia, including pathways available to individuals without Colombian Heritage as well as pathways available to individuals who hold a Colombian Cedula.

Additional Resources

Podcast

Our podcast, Adoption Talk by Spence-Chapin, brings you stories and conversations on all topics related to adoption. Check out our episodes that are focused on international adoption today!

Family Stories

Read stories about Spence-Chapin families adopting from South Africa on our blog.

The Granny
Program

Spence-Chapin’s International Granny Program pairs children living in orphanages in Colombia and South Africa to caregivers from the local community who are trained in child development and provide consistent, one-on-one care and attention to each child, improving their skills and helping them thrive.
 

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