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Colombia Hosting Program

Contact a Coordinator

About the Colombia Host-to-Adopt Program

Accepting Applications
Hague Convention Country

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.

Host Family Requirements

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.

Residency

The vacation program occurs in the US and applicants must currently live in the US.  

Citizenship

At least one person in the marriage must be a US Citizen which is also required of single applicants as well.

Age Requirements

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.

Marital Status

  • Colombia accepts married couples and singles, including LGBTQ couples and singles. Married couples should be able to demonstrate two years or more of cohabitation and a solid marital relationship.
  • If single, must be at least 25 years old. Men as well as women may host and adopt from Colombia. Men and women may host and adopt a child of the same gender or opposite gender.

Income

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.

Health

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.

Fees & Other Details

  • IAN requires all applicants and adults 18 and older living in or frequently in the host home to get an FBI clearance, child abuse clearance in your state of residence, speak face-to-face at least once with a social worker, submit letters of reference, be medically and emotionally fit to host, and parent a child.
  • All applicants are required to complete a mini-home study (aka psychosocial evaluation) and 10 hours of pre-adoption education and 10 hours of program preparation at their own expense.
  • Colorado residents will complete a home study necessary to approve them as foster parents, a mini home study to meet ICBF guidelines, and Colorado-specific training prior to hosting children, per Colorado adoption requirements.

    IAN's charges a Hosting Program Coordination Fee which is paid by the host family. The family must also pay their own travel expenses to receive and return the child, the child's US travel expenses, co-share with other host families the travel costs of the Colombian social worker accompanying the kids to the US, and all child activities, meals, and gifts while in the US. The Colombian government also contributes a portion of the expenses for each child.

Who can be hosted?

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.

Age

Individual children ages 10-15, and many sibling groups who meet ICBF criteria, are authorized to participate in the program.

Health

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.

Travel Requirements

  • Host families will travel to receive their host child in a central arrival city along with other host families, then return home with your child or children for the rest of the time. Host parents are responsible to pay for all the child's activities in the US, food, clothing and needs during the hosting program as well as other fees outlined in our agreement.
  • The children may not be taken out of the US during the program or left in the care of anyone other than an approved host parent, ICBF companion, or licensed day camp.

Cost Estimates

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.

Program Dates

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!

Benefits of hosting with the intent to adopt

  • Hosting a Colombian child through the ICBF sponsored program isn't just about spending quality time together—it's about exploring the concept of becoming a family through adoption. By welcoming a child into your home as one of your own, you not only can build a meaningful connection before committing to adoption as well as know the child you'll adopt before meeting them in Colombia.
  • Hosting a child tends to be a bit faster than non-identified adoption, however, to fully capitalize on this opportunity, we strongly encourage host families who are hosting with an eye toward adoption, to complete a full home study before hosting or as soon as possible. It takes 3-4+ months to complete an international home study so start soon. Pre-planning ensures that your adoption process remains efficient, potentially saving you months off the wait time compared to families without a home study.
  • If you've ever felt uncertain about adopting an older child, this program is designed for you. It allows you and the child to test the waters, experiencing family life together and forging bonds before making a permanent commitment. It's not just hosting—it's a pathway to creating a forever family, enriched by the unique experiences and connections forged during this special time.
Chat with our Colombia adoption & hosting program supervisor!
Kelly Carmody has over 15 years of experience managing the Colombian adoption and hosting program, has hosted Colombian kids in her home many times, and adopted twice from Colombia after a positive hosting experiences with her children.
Contact Kelly

Address
5600 Greenwood Plaza Blvd, Suite #250,
Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111

Phone
303-691-0808

Fax
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303-703-8250

Email
info@internationaladoptionnet.org

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