Chances 4 Children – Adopting from Haiti

Because of the tumultuous history in Haiti, adoptions can be difficult but extremely necessary. Children of All Nations works diligently to facilitate adoptions with Haiti and are thrilled to be working with Chances 4 Children to make this happen. In a country like Haiti it can be difficult to establish the right connections to facilitate a successful adoption. Over time Children of All Nations has experienced various interactions while conducting international adoptions and we are so thrilled to finally be connected with an orgnaization like C4C.

In regards to the deterioration of the Haiti economy C4C feels that one of the most hopeful rays of light comes from an orphanage in the small village of Lamerdelle, just east of Port au Prince. They believe that “the answer to Haiti’s orphan epidemic is not just adoptions.” It is their goal to provide education, orphan care and projects that will help improve the community.

C4C believes that creating more opportunities for children to attend school through our tuition sponsorship and building of community schools is paramount. They also provide nutritious meals to the children their schools and provide college tuition assistance to deserving Haitian High School graduates.

As for orphan care they support four non-Adoption Orphanages which house nearly 400 children at any one time. By providing monthly donations of food, clothing, medicine and financial assistance they are able to improve the conditions and the overall care of these orphans. And just to make sure, they make bimonthly visits to these orphanages to ensure child welfare and that the partners are continuously providing enrichment programs for these children.

Beyond the children, Chances partners with local nonprofit groups to not only build schools, but also to create fresh water supplies, provide medical care at a local clinic, and implement vocational training, artisan craft programs and community based agricultural projects which add local employment opportunities.

Since 2006, Chances for Children has been caring for orphaned children and preparing them for their future lives with their new families. They ensure immediate results, because they have partnered with teams in Haiti who have been active in their local communities for years. To date they have had over 100 children adopted into loving homes in Canada and the United States. Children of All Nations is proud to be their partner!

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The Reunion is Back!

Join our T.E.A.M. 2014! T.E.A.M. stands for ‘Tell Everyone Adoption Matters’. We are inviting all of our families to Join our T.E.A.M. June 20th and 21st to celebrate our agency-wide family reunion. This is going to be two days of fun, good food, and LOTS of memory making. This event will help raise money for many of our orphan care projects. We have some outstanding projects that are close to completetion. Click on the following links to learn more or click here to register your family for the reunion.

(Every registration includes a t-shirt, if you are unable to attend the reunion you have the option to purchase a t-shirt in support of our orphan care projects.)

Angel Stitches

Goats and Gardens for Burundi

DRC Clean Water Project

Gifts of Love

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Three is the Magic Number

We currently have beautiful sibling groups made up of three siblings. Many countries will allow sibling groups to split as it is much easier to place one child versus three. The hardship these children have faced so far in their lives is unbelievable, and it’s awful to tear them away from the only family they know. 
Our agency strives to advocate for these kiddos as a family and keep them together. We know it’s not easy adopting one child and introducing them to a new family, so three can definitely be tough on a family’s dynamics and resources. However there are benefits to adopting a sibling group of three.
1. These kiddos have been together through a lot. They have been each other’s support system through whatever situation led them to adoption.
2. These children are part of what’s left of a family system. This allows them to maintain their roles, which is a benefit in identity formation.
3. So many children are forced to be separated from their siblings. Adopting a sibling group of three gives you the chance to make a difference in keeping those kids together. This could make adjusting to their new home much easier if they are all together.
Feel free to reach out to our international adoption consultant
Lacee@childrenofallnations.com to learn how to bring home a sibling group of three.
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Six Reasons to Adopt a Sibling Group

1. Adopting siblings is not double the cost. There are several areas that fees will be double but many that won’t. If you are considering adopting more than one child, it is still a financially reasonable adoption option to consider.

2. You are helping multiple children find a new beginning.

3. The children will feel less alone in the process and can lean on each other for support.

4. Children are able to maintain their “roles” in birth order, which is a benefit in their identity formation.

5. It allows children to see a familiar face and hear their own language, so there is less difficulty for them in the transition process.

6. You give and receive twice, three times, or greater love than when you adopt just one child. More love to go around is always better!

What to Expect

When adopting a sibling group, your family needs to consider the investment that is required. More time is needed to spend with more children, such as playtime, doctor visits, extracurricular activities, etc. There are more resources needed to care for multiple children. Also, the siblings share a strong bond already, so it may take longer to bond with parents or other children in the home. If you have any questions about adopting a sibling group, please  contact our adoption specialists today!
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January DRC Update

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Reflections on the Philippines Winter Hosting Program

The Philippines hosting program was beyond what CAN expected. Our families had fun, the kiddos had an even better time, and we are seeing that many of these children will become official members of a lot of these families very soon.

We wanted to share some of the testimonies we have received from our families. We hope that more families will be encouraged to host kiddos in preparation for adoption. We are looking to develop many more hosting programs in the future and we need wonderful families like these to step up and help out.

“We hosted two boys, 9 and 15. We have four of our own, 7, 5, 2, and 6 months. People thought we were crazy, maybe, but we knew this was something we should do. Over the four short weeks we experienced more joy and happiness than any of you thought was possible. Two quiet, shy, strangers came in December and two of my own boys had to leave in January. This was an amazing, heart wrenching, great, horrible, crazy experience and we would do it again in a heart beat!!! Even my two year old kept saying he was going to go on the airplane too and go live in the Philippines.” -Smith Family

“An NHFC email arrived,but I did not read one until mid-November two days before the due date of application has. I called to be sure all children were spoken for.(Our lives were just too crazy.right?? We are currently residing in two states.) Alexandria, informs me that another family had to back out and if she does not find a back up by 7 pm, it was approximately 11 am at the time, this brother and sister would not get to come to the US for Christmas.

I had only briefly mentioned the program to my husband having thought “now is not the time”.

I called him,with the request of bringing two children into our home for “Christmas Hosting”. This would be a sibling group 14 year old male and an 11 year old female added to the already raging hormones of our 15,14,12, & 9 year old children (The 6 year old is still just loving life!!) this was no small request, then add on the financial commitment!My godly husband, told me to give him 1/2 hour to pray. He called me back, and said “Char, we can do this for these kids. It’s only a few weeks. God, has blessed us financially, and it is not for our lives to improve, but to help improve the lives of others.” (I do not think I have ever loved this man more!!!)I could go on and on; God brought us the two children who fit our family perfectly. We began adoption paperwork before their arrival due to the Holy Spirit prompting. When we met the kids we had immediate confirmation in our hearts and souls. The remarkable thing is all five of our biological children finally found something to agree on,they want these kids to be their siblings. John and Jill seem to feel the same. John said, “We were told by ICAB,we were going to the US to ‘Find a Better Family’ and we did.” Melt your heart!!!
We are asking God for BIG Miracles…He is a BIG GOD. He’s got this covered!!”
– McAfoose Family
“Dan and I feel like this hosting program was a wonderful way to include two children into our family who didn’t already have one. They are very special children and fun to be around. Their smiles would light up a room and their giggles made every one else laugh with them. Even though they were only here for a month, they had already started making connections with us and our family, and everyone included them into our family too. We were so blessed to have the opportunity to get to know them and to enjoy the Christmas holiday with them. This was a highlight for them too. The time went so quickly we wish they could have stayed longer, and we are hoping to see them again someday soon.” – Coll Family
It’s heart warming to hear the wonderful experiences these families had, I can only imagine what the kiddos are telling their friends at the orphanage. It is incredible to think the difference a little child can make, the Haase family said it best, “I was not prepared to fall in love.”
(What a precious moment caught on camera)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Due to various circumstances a few of these children do not have a forever family at this time. If your family is interested in learning more about them please contact Lacee@childrenofallnations.com to view their files.

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Six Reasons to Adopt an Older Child

1. Most of these kids understand what it means to be adopted and have a family, and they want it more than anything in the world.

2. Most of these kiddos are already in school and can be evaluated much more in depth cognitively.

3. Attachment can also be evaluated based on relationships built with caretakers, peers, or foster family.

4. Because the child is older it’s much easier to define their special need (if any) than with an infant.

5. All of the countries that CAN works with have older children available and ready for adoption.

6. You are helping to save a child’s future!

What to Expect
Older children are a wonderful addition to a family. There is typically a longer adjustment process. Keep in mind your older child has had life before this. It’s an abrupt change and requires adjustment to a whole new world. It is important to be patient and seek counseling before, during and after your trip to better understand the phases your child may endure.

Feel free to reach out to our international adoption consultant
Lacee@childrenofallnations.com to learn how to bring your child home now.

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Five Reasons to Adopt From Ukraine

Why Adopt From Ukraine?
1. Once a dossier is registered in country, the process will typically move rapidly. A family could receive an invitation to meet their referred child in just 2-4 months! 
2. Beautiful boys and girls typically ages 9 and up with minor special needs are ready and waiting to be adopted.
3. A family may adopt 2 or more siblings at the same time
4. In country staff is welcoming, experienced and wonderful to work with.
5. You are helping to save a child’s future! Most children in Ukraine that do not get adopted do not find work, and end up involved in crime or prostitution.

What to Expect
The adoption process in Ukraine is probably one of the smoothest out of all the countries, however, the dossier preparation process maybe one of the most difficult. A family adopting from Ukraine must be prepared to meet deadlines, have quick turn around with documents, be patient and understand the country’s strict policies. But once a dossier is registered in Ukraine the process is a breeze!

Feel free to reach out to our international adoption consultant at Lacee@childrenofallnations.com to learn how to bring your child home now.

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Expect the Unexpected

With adoption in particular, things are often not what they seem they should be, whether it’s rules and regulations, eligibility restrictions, understanding what makes a Waiting Child or who, where and why a child is even up for adoption. The most important thing to remember when adopting is having realistic expectations, as you never know exactly how the process will go.

At CAN we strive to provide the most realistic expectations for our families to help them make the best decisions for their family. We try to encourage families to ask as many questions as possible so we can provide them with all the information that we do have, or direct them in the right direction for the best answers. It is very important that we discuss each child specifically so everyone understands the best and worst case scenarios that could occur for a particular child. Our goal is for a family to feel as prepared as possible to be the best family for their child.
We want our families to be confident in much more than just their decision to adopt. We want them confident in the needs of their child, the country they are adopting from and most importantly the agency that is facilitating it all. No matter the country, child or agency, there will be an adjustment when your child comes home. Our agency strives to make families aware of all possible situations, but the best advice we have heard from families is to have no expectations at all, be prepared for anything and everything, and expect the unexpected.
Feel free to contact our international adoption consultant at info@childrenofallnations.com with any questions or concerns about adoption.
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Typhoon Relief

Last month a devastating Typhoon struck the shores of the Philippines taking over 6,000 lives. This was one of the deadliest storms the Philippines had ever seen. Children of All Nations works closely with orphanages in the Philippines, in order to help out we immediately launched a relief program. We decided to start collecting money to help. We collected over $2000 dollars and sent it to the NORFIL Foundation. We just received this email from them.

“NORFIL Foundation is actively helping in the safe relocation of children who were from the Reception and Study Center for Children (RSCC) in Tacloban and children who were orphaned because of the typhoon and were brought to RSCC.  This facility was severely damaged during the typhoon. The financial assistance of kind-hearted people like you helped us cover the expenses that include airfare, land transportation, accommodation and supplies for the children and their social worker escort while in transit, and child-caring supplies such as milk, food and other material assistance prior to their transfer to safer location.  We have also extended assistance by giving them much-needed child-caring supplies.   


Today, we are happy to report to you that we transferred a total of 22 children affected by Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan from the damaged RSCC facility Tacloban to foster homes and child-caring institutions in Cebu and Manila. As an important component of this relocation effort for children, one of our social workers is tasked to visit and check several evacuation centers to know and assess the situation of children who have been orphaned or separated from their families during the height of the devastation.  Because of your help, NORFIL Foundation’s urgent mission to remove the children from the devastation in Tacloban and shield them from further trauma was accomplished.  We will continue to carry on with this mission until the very last child whom we believe needs this lifeline assistance has been taken care of.”

Our agency is so excited to hear the good news. The Philippines has a lot to do in order to recover, however one way you can help now, is choosing to bring home your forever child.

To learn more about adopting from the Philippines you can contact Lacee@childrenofallnations.com.

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