Gladney is happy to announce a new adoption choice through Ethiopia. Gladney received accreditation from the Ethiopia government in December 2005. Infants, toddlers, and older children are available for adoption through this program. Families will make one short trip to escort their child home to the United States.
Once your dossier has been authenticated by the U.S. State Department, it will sent to our in-country facilitator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This process takes about one week. Our in-country facilitator will then have your dossier translated and re-authenticated and submit your dossier to the Ethiopian Embassy. The Ministry of Women's Affairs (MOWA) reviews the paperwork and gives their approval for a referral. This process usually takes 2-4 weeks after the dossier is submitted to MOWA.
Along with the child referral, you will receive their social and medical history as well as photographs. Once you have accepted the referral, you will send recent photographs of your family to your child. You will also make travel plans.
When you travel to Ethiopia, you will have the opportunity to visit and bond with your child. The paperwork to finalize the adoption will then be processed and will take approximately one week to complete.
After the finalization paperwork has been approved, you will receive your child's U.S. visa and you may return home with your child.
Adoption Criteria
- For an infant adoption, parents must be 25-50 years old to adopt.
- Parents over 50 years old can adopt an older child, sibling group or special needs.
- Single women may adopt.
- One parent must be a U.S. citizen.
- One or both parents may choose to travel.
- Married couples must be married for at least two years.
- Parents must be in good health.
- Ability to show sufficient income to parent a child.
You will be required to complete a foreign dossier. The Gladney Center for Adoption will assist you with this process.
Country and Culture
Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world. The country's Rift Valley is known as the "cradle of civilization." Fossils of the oldest human skeleton, "Lucy," were found here in 1974. Ethiopia is unique in Africa, in that it was never under colonial rule, other than an occupation by Italy during WWII. Ethiopia is split religiously, with official statistics of 35% to 40% Ethiopian Orthodox primarily in the north, and 45% to 50% Muslim, primarily in the South. It shares borders with Kenya (to the south), Somalia (east), Djibouti (northeast), Eritrea (north) and Sudan (west).
For more information, call 1-800-INT-ADOP and request an International Information Packet, or you may request it online.
