Spence-Chapin began its adoption program in Colombia in 1994 in order to find permanent, loving families for infants, toddlers, pre-school and school-age children in need of adoption.
For many children, international adoption is the only possible route to a permanent family. Spence-Chapin offers two pathways to pursue adoption from Colombia: our Colombia Adoption Program, which is open to families of all backgrounds, and our Colombia Heritage Adoption Program which is open to families of Colombian descent.
Colombia is a Hague Convention Country. Spence-Chapin’s foreign supervised provider in Colombia is Carmen Elena Támara García.
View our events calendar to register for an upcoming free Colombia Adoption Webinar!
Interested in a different country? We also have international adoption programs in South Africa, Jamaica and the Eastern Caribbean. If you would like to adopt from a country other than the three we currently work with, we can do your international home study to get your process started!
There are thousands of children with special characteristics in Colombia waiting for a permanent family to love them. In Colombia, there are children of all ages in need of families, as well as sibling groups and children living with identified needs ranging from minor/correctable to lifelong. We work with our partners in Colombia to identify children who are in need of immediate adoption. Families pursuing adoption from Colombia may apply to adopt a pre-identified Waiting Child or to be matched with a child through traditional registration of their dossier in Colombia, based on eligibility and openness around age and medical needs.
Please visit our waiting child page to learn more about waiting children in Colombia.
*There is no wait time to be matched for families pursuing the adoption of a waiting child. Families pursuing the adoption of a waiting child can anticipate the entire process to take 12-18 months. Families seeking to adopt a specific waiting child should be previously home studied or be willing to undergo additional pre-screening before entering the program since dossier submission must occur within 6 months of submitting a letter of intent to adopt a specific waiting child.
Carmen Elena Tamara Garcia has worked with Spence-Chapin families for over a decade. Carmen Elena manages all processes within Colombia for your family and is a vital partner in your adoption process at all phases. Her work on behalf of your family begins even before your dossier is submitted. Carmen Elena holds degrees in both psychology and law, with a focus on family law. She supports adoptive families through the legal process in Colombia and is able to offer emotional support in the journey of new parenthood.
Carmen Elena is always happy to recommend restaurants, playgrounds, attractions, and events to fill your time in Colombia! She splits her time between Bogota and Cartagena.
Spence-Chapin prides itself on transparency of fee disclosures. In any intercountry adoption process, families will incur professional services fees from their primary adoption service provider as well as third-party and travel costs. Spence-Chapin’s professional services fees reflect the work and support dedicated to your family. Spence-Chapin’s professional services fees are paid in installments as your case reaches new milestones.
Local Families** | Non-Local Families*** | |
Spence-Chapin Fees | $16,565, payable in five installments across your adoption process | $14,065, payable in four installments across your adoption process |
Total Estimated Third-Party Fees | $9,575-$18,648 | $13,625-$26,648 |
Estimated Travel Expenses | $6,000-$10,000 | $6,000-$10,000 |
Total Estimated Cost of Adoption before the Federal Adoption Tax Credit* | $32,140-$45,213 | $33,690-$50,713 |
* The Federal Adoption Tax Credit is an income-dependent tax credit for qualified adoption expenses which can be taken as credit when you file taxes for the year of adoption finalization; in 2023 the maximum adoption tax credit is $15,950 per child. Read more here.
**Local families are families who live in New York or New Jersey, and within 100 miles of Spence-Chapin’s Manhattan office, for whom Spence-Chapin is providing home study and post-placement/post-adoption reporting services. See full fee disclosures here for Local Families.
***Non-local families are families who live more than 100 miles from Spence-Chapin’s Manhattan office, or who live outside of New York or New Jersey, who will have their home study and post-placement/post-adoption reporting services completed by an agency licensed in their jurisdiction. See full fee disclosures here for Networking Families.
Local Families** | Non-Local Families*** | |
Spence-Chapin Fees | $18,815, payable in five installments across your adoption process | $16,315, payable in four installments across your adoption process |
Total Estimated Third-Party Fees | $9,575-$18,648 | $13,625-$26,648 |
Estimated Travel Expenses | $6,000-$10,000 | $6,000-$10,000 |
Total Estimated Cost of Adoption before the Federal Adoption Tax Credit* | $34,390-$47,463 | $35,940-$52,963 |
*The Federal Adoption Tax Credit is an income-dependent tax credit for qualified adoption expenses which can be taken as credit when you file taxes for the year of adoption finalization; in 2023 the maximum adoption tax credit is $15,950 per child. Read more here.
**Local families are families who live in New York or New Jersey, and within 100 miles of Spence-Chapin’s Manhattan office, for whom Spence-Chapin is providing home study and post-placement/post-adoption reporting services. See full fee disclosures here for Local Families.
***Non-local families are families who live more than 100 miles from Spence-Chapin’s Manhattan office, or who live outside of New York or New Jersey, who will have their home study and post-placement/post-adoption reporting services completed by an agency licensed in their jurisdiction. See full fee disclosures here for Networking Families.
Spence-Chapin has partnered with the experts at Your Adoption Finance Coach to provide our families with free access to experts, tools and content that can take the worry out of financing your adoption. This service is available at no additional cost to families. Free financial coaching is available to families once an application has been received and approved for one of our adoption programs, including our domestic and international home study services! Please contact us to learn more.
Spence-Chapin’s Colombia Heritage Adoption Program connects families of Colombian descent living throughout the United States with children awaiting adoption in Colombia.
*Families are not permitted to race specify. Families should be open to being matched with a child of either gender.
* There is no wait time to be matched for families pursuing the adoption of a waiting child. Families pursuing the adoption of a waiting child can anticipate the entire process to take 12-18 months. Families seeking to adopt a specific waiting child should be previously home studied or be willing to undergo additional pre-screening before entering the program since dossier submission must occur within 6 months of submitting a letter of intent to adopt a specific waiting child.
Read program updates and stories about Spence-Chapin families adopting from Colombia on our blog.
Visit our waiting child page to learn more about children currently awaiting their forever families.
Explore special needs resources for an adoption from Colombia.
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