Ethiopian Adoption Program

Carolina Hope can now assist families adopting from Ethiopia! Our program is conducted in cooperation with an Ethiopian-accredited adoption agency. If you would like print materials about any of Carolina Hope’s adoption programs, you can send us a request using our online form.

We also encourage you to look at this list of items needed by the Ethiopian group home that Carolina Hope works with and consider donating an item or group of items.

Ethiopia Adoption online education

Carolina Hope offers three online courses about Ethiopia adoptions (learn more at these links):

• Introduction to the Ethiopian Adoption Program
• Traveling to Ethiopia & Post-Placement Issues
• Medical & Adjustment Issues in Adopting from Ethiopia

What children are available for adoption?

Children between the ages of 6 months and 15 years old are available. The adoption process in Ethiopia usually takes about 12 months. In general, a child referred at the age of 6 months will be at least 9-12 months old by the time the adoption is complete.

Where do the children reside?

Orphaned children who will be placed for adoption by Carolina Hope reside in an orphanage in Nazreth (officially called Adama) in central Ethiopia. Once you accept the assignment of a child, he or she will be moved to an orphanage in Addis Ababa.

How long does the process take?

Once a child is assigned to you and your dossier is in Ethiopia, it usually takes about 3 to 6 months to receive your child. The entire process usually takes about 12 to 15 months (but longer is possible).

Who is eligible to adopt from Ethiopia?

Both married couples and single women may adopt. [Until 2010, Carolina Hope can not accept any new single applicants because of Ethiopia's quota system.] Prospective adoptive parents aged 25-50 can be considered for infant adoption. All who adopt must be in good health and must also be able to show sufficient income to parent the child. Couples must be married a minimum of two years at the time the dossier is sent to Ethiopia.

How is a child assigned to prospective adoptive parents?

A child is assigned (referred) to you after you have I-171H approval, though not immediately after. At the time of referral, you will receive photos and a medical report for that child. The length of time that an assignment takes will depend on the age and gender of the child that you wish to adopt. The typical wait time for a referral of a child is 6 to 9 months. For a child over age 2 or with special needs, the wait time could be much shorter.

What are the travel requirements?

You are only required to travel to Ethiopia once. When you arrive in Ethiopia, your child will be given to you and will remain with you until you return home. Your stay in Ethiopia will be for approximately 12 days. Our in-country representative speaks excellent English, and he or his staff will help you apply for your child’s new birth certificate, passport, and U.S. Visa. Once you receive all of these items, you are free to travel home with your child.

Are there any post-adoption requirements?

Ethiopia requires three post-placement reports to be completed by a social worker at 3, 6, and 12 months after you return home. In addition, Ethiopia requires annual post-placement reports to be completed by the family until your child is 18 years old.

What are the fees for the Ethiopia adoption program?

The fees and expenses are spelled out in the individual adoption program booklets, which can be requested using our Information Request Form.

Are the children pictured on this page available for adoption?

Carolina Hope’s informational materials use photographs obtained from professional photographers and adoptive families. Apart from children pictured on a photolisting page, no children whose photos appear on this website are available for adoption.

Can I get more information?

Our Ethiopia Adoption Resources page has links to medical information, family groups, books, articles, and more. We also have three online courses focused on various aspects of Ethiopian Adoptions.

If you would like print materials about any of Carolina Hope’s adoption programs, you can send us a request using our online form. We would also be happy for you to call or email with questions. (Our phone number and email address are available at our Contact page.)