Ethiopia Adoption Program
Illien Adoptions
International, Inc. has been licensed by the Ministry of Women’s
Affairs of the Government of Ethiopia since the beginning of 2006 to
find permanent families for abandoned children. Since beginning its
work in Ethiopia, Illien Adoptions has partnered with the Illien
Foundation for Children, Inc. to assist with humanitarian projects to
benefit many poor and destitute children and help address the causes
of abandonment. Illien Adoptions International, Inc.’s office in
Addis Ababa is staffed by Emebet Negussie, an attorney and former
court judge, Tenaye Habtegebreal, a social worker and registered
nurse, and Abebe Gedamu, a valuable member of the office team who has
helped operations run smoothly since the opening of Illien’s
program in 2006. Their experience, energy, passion, and commitment
to the children of Ethiopia are the heart and soul of Illien’s
Ethiopia program.
The Children Eligible for Adoption
in Ethiopia:
Ethiopia is a wonderful
program for families who wish to adopt a child of any age, ranging
from babies under one year old to sibling groups and children with
special needs Families may state their preference for the gender
of the child and for the age range at time of referral. There are
more boys than girls who are eligible for international adoption.
Most families receive a referral within thirty days of the time their
dossier arrives in Ethiopia. Referral information includes
photographs, HIV testing, hepatitis testing, tuberculosis screening,
and a current medical evaluation and social history when available.
The population of Ethiopia is comprised of many ethnic groups and
children eligible for adoption may be of any ethnic origin.
Requirements for Prospective
Adoptive Parents:
Single women and married
couples are eligible to adopt. The government of Ethiopia prefers to
place children with couples who have been married for five years, but
couples married for at least one year are eligible. There is no
upper age limit for prospective adoptive parents, but preferably the
age difference between the child and parent will not exceed 43 years.
Prospective adoptive families are not limited by the amount of
children currently residing in the home.
Why Ethiopian Children Are in Need
of Adoptive Placement:
Ethiopian children are
orphaned for a number of reasons stemming from poverty and lack of
development. The Aids epidemic in Africa decimated the adult
population and left many children orphaned without parents or family
members to care for them. Many families cannot care for or feed
their children; they are abandoned in the hope that they will be
given food and shelter. Many babies are abandoned at birth. Many
children are left at the police station and come into orphanages
where they may find permanent families through adoption.