Azerbaijan Adoption Program
As of April 26, 2011, Illien Adoptions International, Inc. has received approval from the government of Azerbaijan under the Hague Adoption Convention. Our agency is verifiably the first, and so far, only, US adoption agency accredited in Azerbaijan under the Hague. We are pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications!
The Children Eligible for Adoption and the Parents Who May Adopt
The Azerbaijan program is available to parents who are open to considering a child with minor special needs. Some of these special needs are quite manageable from our cultural standpoint. The wait may be longer if you are seeking to adopt a young child under three, while families who are open to adopting a child over age three, a sibling group, or a child with special needs will generally experience a shorter wait time as this population reflects the majority of children available for adoption in Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan does not yet have requirements or laws stipulating the age of prospective adoptive parents and, therefore, considers these issues on a case by case basis; however, the first guideline for age requirements will come from the family’s state of residence. Illien will review each application and determine the parents’ eligibility for the program with our in-country representatives.
A Hague home study is required in order to adopt from Azerbaijan. If you live in Georgia, we would be happy to help with your home study!
Why Azerbaijani Chilren Are in Need of Adoptive Placement
The root causes of abandonment and orphanhood in Azerbaijan are poverty and unemployment. While many orphans are cared for by extended family, according to UNICEF, there may be as many as 17,000 children living in institutions. Children with special needs are often abandoned at birth due to the stigma their families will face. Unmarried women also struggle with stigma if they have children; many women choose abortion to avoid this. According to USAID (2006), the abortion rate is 3.2 per woman age 15-44 and information about family planning is limited. Additionally, there are estimated to be one million refugees in Azerbaijan, the majority of whom are internally displaced persons due to conflict. These factors, among others, interact to create a context in which for a large sector of the population, it is difficult to be a parent and to provide for children.
How To Learn More About or Begin the Adoption Process for Azerbaijan
First, if you are interested in learning more about our Azerbaijan Program and our agency, go to our website's "How To Get Started" inquiry page. This is a form that helps us respond to your questions more efficiently, and there is no cost or obligation. Please fill it out completely, click on SUBMIT, and our staff will respond soon after.
It is very important with any international adoption program that we make sure that you qualify for this program and that you understand how the country’s adoption process works. We always enjoy speaking with our prospective adoptive parents. We also encourage you to follow up your inquiry by calling (404) 815-1599 in order to speak about Azerbaijan program details with Illien's staff.
