How to Participate
Colombia provides a unique opportunity for select adoptable children, aged 10-15, and siblings 8-15, to participate in sponsored vacation trips to host families in the US. The aim is to foster connections between the children and prospective adoptive families in the US, potentially leading to a lifelong family bond created by adoption. During these trips, children stay with a "host" family—individuals or couples considering adoption—and immerse themselves in the host family’s life while sharing in various holiday activities.
This unique program not only offers children residing in institutions or foster care in the care of the Colombian government welfare system (ICBF) an enriching experience they might otherwise miss but also exposes them to the dynamics of a healthy family life. For host parents it provides an opportunity to assess compatibility with older children and explore the potential for adoption. Should the host family decide to adopt the child they hosted, the child must also consent to the adoption. The vacation abroad approach allows prospective parents and children to familiarize themselves with each other before committing to adoption, facilitating a smoother transition into family life.
If you are hosting with the intent of international adoption, we'd love to help! You can host a child in your home anywhere in the continental U.S. through IAN or our partner, Kidsave. Following hosting, should you wish to adopt your child, IAN is available to provide adoption services for the adoption regardless where you reside in the US.
If you are interested in adopting an older child or sibling group from Colombia after hosting the child, then this program is for you! It is imperative that you pre-qualify through International Adoption Net (IAN) to ensure that you meet Colombia's requirements for adoption before committing your time, money and emotions to hosting a child that you may or may not qualify to adopt. We'd love to speak with you about the program, learn about you and your interest in hosting-to-adopt a Colombian child, and see if the program is a good fit for you. Reach out to a Host Coordinator at any time!
IAN’s program is geared toward adoption between the child and host family, which is why we pre-qualify applicants for adoption prior to hosting. Here are some basics of the requirements.
The vacation program occurs in the US and applicants must currently live in the US.
At least one person in the marriage must be a US Citizen which is also required of single applicants as well.
Host parents should be between the ages of 25-55 years old (at time of referral from Colombia), and some exceptions may be made for someone 59-59 if seeking to adopt an older teen.
Host families must demonstrate the means to support the needs of the child during the 2-4 weeks of hosting, as well demonstrate ability to provide for a child should adoption be the goal.
Anyone using psychotropic medication (such as for anxiety or anti-depression, etc.) with a history of psychiatric conditions, or with a chronic or debilitating illness or criminal history should please speak with us first.
All the children are legally approved for adoption before joining the program. From a potential adoption standpoint this significantly reduces the chance of risk in not being able to adopt the child after bonding during the vacation. If the host parents decide to adopt the child, the child also has the right to decide about being adopted by their host parent/s.
The children are interviewed prior to selection in the program, to learn about his/her life, interests and dreams of the future. This supplements what we will learn about the child through review of his/her documents and conversation with his/her social worker/psychologist. Host families will be provided with information from these interviews and a translated copy of the child’s report containing information about the child, their history, any diagnoses, interests, behaviors and needs.
Individual children ages 10-15, and many sibling groups who meet ICBF criteria, are authorized to participate in the program.
The children are usually medically healthy with mild or correctable other special characteristics such as school delays, history of trauma, mild behavior challenges, ADHD, etc.
Fees Paid to IAN for Hosting
The government of Colombia pays for the child's airfare to the US, and host parents provide the rest of the necessary fees to host a child or children.
IAN's hosting program fee is paid to IAN to support our work in identifying participating children, providing training, education and support services to families, and coordination with ICBF and organizations in Colombia. This includes but is not limited to guidance of families, education, collaboration for the required mini psychosocial reports, and 24/7 support during the duration of the hosting experience.
Regardless of the state in which you reside, IAN is available to provide the Colombian adoption services (at an additional cost) should you want to adopt the child/ren you hosted. If you reside in Colorado we are able to provide the hosting home study to meet Colorado requirements, and the international adoption home study, education and post adoption services.
Should you pursue the adoption of your host child or children, additional adoption services fees to IAN will apply.
Two vacation programs are offered each year; winter hosting is generally over 2-4 weeks in December, and summer program generally in July for 2-4 weeks. If you would like to host a child or siblings in one of the upcoming vacation programs, please reach out. There is a lot to do to prepare for participation as a host family, much of it beginning months before the kids travel to the US, so act now!
Address
5600 Greenwood Plaza Blvd, Suite #250,
Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111
Phone
303-691-0808
Fax
303-703-8250
Email
info@internationaladoptionnet.org
Hours of Operation
Monday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
