Ethiopian Adoptions
(Non-Hague)
Important Announcement - Ethiopia Wait List
Our Ethiopia program has reached full capacity.
Any applications received as of September 1st, 2009 will be held in the order
in which they arrive and will be moved into the program as space becomes available.
Ethiopia is Africa’s second most populous country and is home to more than 82 million people.
An ancient land with roots stretching back thousands of years, Ethiopia is in many ways culturally, linguistically and historically distinct from much of the rest of the continent. It is one of the least developed countries ranked 169 out of 177 countries in the UNDP Human Development Index for 2007/2008. High rates of malnutrition, one of the lowest primary education enrolment rates in the world, increasing HIV/AIDS prevalence are all issues of concern for the Government of Ethiopia and the humanitarian community.
People of Ethiopia are considered to be of Semitic and Hamitic heritage. The population is described as 45% Christian, 40% Muslim, with the remaining represented by traditional religions.
Dossier Preparation: CAFAC prepares all dossiers after the family has gathered the required documentation for the country.
Private foster care: Foster care is provided in Addis Ababa by CAFAC so children reside in a home setting; here they await the adoption process to be completed. Most families are able to travel 8-12 months after they accept their child referral. The children are cared for in a ratio of one caregiver to three children. CAFAC provides a pediatrician who sees the children every second day and is on call for emergencies. There is also a nurse who is at the foster home everyday to care for the children.
Adoption Supports: Canadian families who are home with their Ethiopian children are available for new families to contact in most provinces. Support Groups are active in many Canadian provinces. For information about a support group in your province please visit our website www.cafac.ca CAFAC Agency has Canada-wide semi-annual events for families. Many provinces also have active adoptive parent support groups who get together often throughout the year, organized by group leaders.
Parent requirements: Applications are welcomed from married couples with or without children. Couples must be married 2 years or be able to show they have lived together for at least 2 years prior to a recent marriage. Single women may apply on a case by case basis. Applications from parents who already have 5 children (adopted or biological) will not be accepted. Applicants must be a minimum of 25 years of age. Applicants must be able to prove financial ability to provide for a child.
Parent age requirements:
1. Applicants who are under 43 years of age may be proposed a child(ren) as young as possible (infant) or 0-4 years of age at the time of referral.
2. Applicants who are 44-50 years of age, even if only one is over 44, may be proposed a child(ren) 4-10 years of age at the time of referral.
3. Applicants who are 51-55 years of age, even if only one is over 51, may be proposed a child(ren) 5 years of age or older at the time of referral.
4. Applicants over 55 years of age will not be accepted.
Maximum age difference between the prospective adoptive parent and the child is 40 years. Exceptions are sometimes made to the age factor if a family is willing to consider sibling groups, older children, or those with special needs.
Children: All children are of East African Heritage and are racially Black. Children range in ages from a few weeks old to 10 years old. All are tested for HIV, Hep B, TB and VD. Siblings are available and sometimes twins. Sibling groups range in age from 1 year to 10 years old. Children are relinquished into the child welfare system in Ethiopia at all ages. All children relinquished for adoption in Ethiopia are done so through the Ministry of Women’s Affairs. Child proposals come with as much information as is known about the child, medical examination results, laboratory findings, and photos.
Waiting Time: Timelines fluctuate with circumstances within the country and children that are reqlinquished for adoption. The trend appears to be longer for wait times.
Travel: Ethiopian and CDN immigration processing has been consistent for the last 10 years, so it is predictable in what documentation is required, but not always predictable as to time frame. The adoptive famly must travel to the country to attend court; the adoption is finalized at that time. Adoptive families will travel again when the Immigration visa is issued, resulting in two trips to the country. The visa issuance is key to when families can travel and Canadians are informed by Immigration that they must not travel until a visa is issed. The agency provides guidance for travel preparation. We have our own guides who will make themselves available to you during your stay. They are well trained in working with individuals or groups and facilitating your trip from beginning to end. Travel to the country by the family is strongly recommended, and is 7 to 14 days in length.
Fees: Couples report that the complete cost for the adoption process (inclusive of Canadian Agency fees, country program fees for foster care and adoption related fees for court and administration fees) ranges from $30,000-$40,000 CAD depending on the exchange rate, price of plane tickets, and number of children adopted.
Immigration: Canadian High Commission in Nairobi, Kenya.