Q:|How do I adopt a child?
A:|Once you have decided to adopt, one of the first steps will be to complete a family profile and optionally select an adoption agency who will guide you through the process. Q:|What is the role of Chances for Children - are you an adoption agency?
A:| We are not an adoption agency. The role of Chances for Children is to provide financial support for CEJ and to raise awareness of the orphan problem in Haiti.
Q:|Can we adopt more than one child at a time? Does it cost less?
A:|Upon approval, you may adopt more than one child at a time. There are several fees that are not duplicated, including the home study fee, your passport and visa fees, and travel and lodging costs. d per child, such as program in-country fees, medical examinations, etc. Q:|Do you have sibling groups?
A:|We do have sibling groups. As much as possible we try to keep sibling groups together.
Q:|How long does it take to adopt a child from Haiti?
A:|The length of a wait for a child from Haiti is usually between 18-24 months from the time the dossier is sent to Haiti. It is difficult to predict the exact length of each stageof the legal process. The length of time necessary for legal processing in Haiti varies due to bureaucratic procedures, changes in laws, political stability, etc. Q:|What are the ages of the children that are cared for at CEJ?
A:|While we do care for children over the age of three, we focus primarily on infants (newborns to 2 year olds) for the following reasons:
They are the most underserved group because they have the highest mortality rate among orphaned children. In additon, many orphanages cannot afford the high costs for formula, diapers, and skilled caregivers And with our high caregiver to child ration we are able to give them the intensive time needed for necessary attachment skills, eliminating cases of attachment disorder. Q:|What is the medical history of the children at the Crèche - and will we have access to this information?
A:|Each child that comes to the Crèche de l’ Enfant Jèsus for adoption is screened for major illnesses through examination by a Haitian Pediatrician and also through lab tests. The children are also given psychological exams that pinpoint any possible developmentally delayed areas that the child may have.
Each child is tested for: HIV, Sickle Cell Anemia, Hepatitis B, VDRL (Syphilis), and is given a Complete Blood Count (CBC). Q:|How much does it cost to adopt?
A:|Fees vary by country program (travel costs, in-country fees, document processing). The average cost to adopt from Haiti is between $15,000 and $24,000. See Fees. Q:|Do we need to travel out of country to pick up our child after all paperwork is processed?
A:|Except for rare occasions, you will need to travel to Haiti to pick up your child. Families should plan on spending five to six days in Haiti for an appropriate transition time. This allows the child to get comfortable with his/her new family in a setting that is familiar to him/her. Q:|What can I expect in terms of development for my adopted child?
A:|Haitian babies are often developmentally delayed when compared with North American babies of the same age. Much of this is cultural and most of the time it is reversed soon after arriving in North America. Many infants are discouraged from standing or crawling by their mothers due to poor living conditions. Most Haitian children crawl between 9 and 12 months and walk between 13 to 17 months. After a baby arrives in their adoptive homes, they start advancing quickly and usually have caught up with their North American playmates within 6 months. Q:|Do you allow independent adoptions or must I choose an adoption agency?
A:|In the majority of cases we will encourage you to work through an adoption agency who can guide you through the steps of the very detailed and sometimes complicated international adoption process. In some situations, such as a previous Haitian adoption, past experience in Haiti, or a completed dossier we will allow families to work with Chances for Children directly. In this role we will simply provide a checklist for you to complete, but due to our small staff we will not be able to provide you with the support and care that is given by our agency partners. Q:|How do I get started if I want to adopt?
A:| Simply contact us by phone 480-513-3373 or email at or complete the Family Profile and send it to us. We will gladly help you get started and since our staff consists of individuals who have also adopted children from Haiti, we can answer many of your first questions. Q:|Is Chances for Children tax exempt?
A:|Yes, we are a 501(c)(3) tax exempt public charity. Q:|How can I donate to Chances for Children
A:|There are many ways to donate. Visit Contribute to learn more. | 
