Adopt from India

SEEKING FAMILIES OF INDIAN AND NON-INDIAN HERITAGE

THE INDIA PROGRAM

India is a Hague country. Children’s Home’s India program serves families with or without Indian heritage who are open to children with minor/correctable to moderate needs.

CHILDREN IN INDIA

All children matched through the India Program are legally free for adoption as determined by the central authority in India, Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA).  The children enter orphanages, throughout the country either through relinquishment by birth parents or abandonment. Children are generally between the ages of 6 months and 14 years at the time of referral. Applicants must be open to children with identified needs. The needs of children range from minor, mild or correctable, to moderate, more significant or lifelong needs.

THE CARE IN INDIA

Children in India are cared for in orphanages throughout the country, which are licensed by CARA to facilitate domestic and/or international adoption. These licensed Indian adoption agencies (SAA: State Authorized Agency) are required to maintain a government-mandated standard of care. Children receive medical care, nutrition and educational opportunities. As numerous studies have demonstrated, institutional care is not conducive to optimal development, therefore children may experience orphanage-related delays.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Like all international adoption programs, India has its own unique eligibility requirements for adoptive parents. At least one parent must be a U.S. Citizen in order to complete the USCIS process. Applicants must be available to travel to India to complete the in-country process. The required number and duration of trip(s) varies depending on which state within India the child resides. Heterosexual couples married a minimum of two years may adopt from India. Single women and men are allowed to adopt; single men may only adopt boys. Applicants must be between the ages of 25-55; financially capable; physically, mentally and emotionally stable and without any life-threatening conditions. Families cannot have more than three children already in the home. Our India program is not currently open to applicants who are only interested in adopting siblings. CARA determines the minimum age range of children to whom parents need to be open. This is based on the combined age(s) of the adoptive parent(s) at the time of registration with CARA; please be sure to review Age Guidelines below.

Please contact us to discuss your individual eligibility.

THE PROCESS

The first step is to apply and begin the home study. If you live in MN, Western WI, MD or VA, we can complete your home study. If you live elsewhere, you need to find an agency licensed in your state to complete your home study and we will serve as the primary provider/placing agency. We will then guide you to apply for approval from USCIS and compile a dossier that is sent to India, requesting approval from CARA.

After your case is approved by CARA,  our program staff works with you to identify a child for whom you would be an appropriate match. Children are identified via an online portal operated by CARA. Depending on openness to gender and identified needs, we anticipate the wait for referral to be 3-12 months from the time of approval by CARA.

At least one trip to India is required, some states require two trips. Trips can be 2-3 weeks; a minimum of ten days is anticipated per trip. The variance in travel (one or two trips and length of trip(s)) is dependent on the state within India where the child resides as well as the child’s health and age. Travel typically occurs 7-11 months after dossier to India and no-objection certificate (NOC) filing by the Indian adoption agency (SAA).

Written post placement reports, completed by a social worker, are required to be submitted to Children’s Home at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months after placement.