Spence-Chapin’s Colombia Heritage Adoption Program connects families of Colombian descent across the United States with children in need of adoption in Colombia. Es a beautiful, unique opportunity for families who would like to share this cultural connection with their future child.
Heritage Program
Spence-Chapin’s Colombia Heritage Program is designed for families of Colombian descent living across the United States who wish to adopt from Colombia. The Colombian child welfare system prioritizes the placement of children into Colombian families, including Colombian-American familias. When a child is declared in need of adoption, Colombian families (including Colombian-American families) are the first considered option. Therefore, children referred to colombiano Heritage families have profiles with less complex special needs than children traditionally referred through intercountry adoption programs. To explore our Heritage Program or other adoption pathways in Colombia, we invite you to join an upcoming webinar.
Niños que necesitan adopción
Gender: Boys anorted girls are equally represented in the Colombian child welfare systemetro. Therefore, the right-fit family for adoption from Colombia is one that is open to a child of either sex; this ensures that children have equal access to adoption irrespective of their sex.
Raza/Etnia: Colombia is a beautifully diverse country. Children represent a wide-range of racial and ethnic backgrounds with disproportionate representation of Afro-Colombian children in the protection and adoption systems. Families should be prepared to parent a child of any race or ethnic background.
Siglos: Familias must minimally be open to the adoption of a child ages 0 through 5 years old at the time of referral.
Características especiales: While families in the Colombia Heritage program are eligible to adopt children without severe special medical needs, we still expect that all children eligible for adoption will have experienced some of the following common characteristics which might impact individual children differently.
- Historial de abuso o negligencia: Es común que los niños en Colombia ingresen a protección por haber experimentado abuso o negligencia que puede incluir abuso físico, abuso emocional, abuso sexual y negligencia física o emocional.
- Birth family background: In Colombia, typically birth family is known, therefore we commonly know that children have experienced in-utero substance exposure and are at risk of heritable mental health conditions
- Retrasos en el desarrollo global
- Behavioral & learning disorders which in protective care are often managed with medication
You will have an opportunity to further evaluate the specific needs and abilities of the child referred to your family.
Elegibilidad de padres adoptivos
Applicants applying to this program must have a Colombian Cedula, colombiano passport and colombiano certificado de nacimiento; if you’re eligible for these documents but don’t have them, we can assist you in obtaining them. For married applicants, only one applicant must have colombiano nationality.
Edad: Families 25-50 years must be open to a minimum specified age range of 0-5 years old at the time of referral, or a sibling group of two, 0-6 years old. Families 51-54 years old are eligible to adopt one child ages 6-9 years old at the time of referral, or a sibling group of two where the oldest child is 7-9 years old. For Heritage families – Colombia requires that there es no more than a 45-year age gap between the age of the child and the age of the eldest prospective adoptive parent.
Marital Status: Colombia encourages applications from single men, single women, married couples, heterosexual and LGBTQ+ parents living throughout the United States.
Citizenship: Single applicants must hold U.S. citizenship. For married applicants, only one applicant must hold U.S. ciudadanía and the spouse must have lawful status in the U.S.
Medical: Identified medical conditions, including mental health diagnosis, will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the country’s Central Authority, Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar.
Tiempo de espera y viaje
Predicted wait time to be matched with a child: Approximately 12-24 months after approval of the dossier*. Please note that in all international adoption programs, wait times are estimates and can change.
Travel: In order to complete the adoption process, families will be required to make one trip to Colombia of approximately 4-6 weeks in length. Couples must both travel to country and be present for finalization in court. You’ll be accompanied by a bilingual companion to all appointments and will have support from Spence-Chapin’s staff and our in-country partner throughout your full time in Colombia.
Honorarios
Spence-Chapin se enorgullece de la transparencia en la divulgación de tarifas. En cualquier proceso de adopción internacional, las familias incurrirán en honorarios por servicios profesionales de sus primario adopción proveedor de servicio así como gastos de terceros y de viaje. Los honorarios de los servicios profesionales de Spence-Chapin reflejan el trabajo y el apoyo dedicado a su familia. Los honorarios de los servicios profesionales de Spence-Chapin se pagan a plazos a medida que su caso alcanza nuevos hitos.
Familias locales** | Familias no locales*** | |
Spence-Chapin Professional Services Fees | $13,865 | $14,365 |
Home Study Fees | $2,500 (home study) | $2,050-$5,000 |
Post-Adoption Supervision Fees | $550/visit | $2,500-$2,875 |
Total Estimated Third-Party & Immigration Fees | $9,875-$19,805 | $9,875-$19,805 |
Gastos de viaje estimados | $6,000-$10,000 | $6,000-$10,000 |
Total Estimated Cost of Adoption Before the Federal Adoption Tax Credit* | $34,990-$50,920 | $34,790-$52,045 |
* 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 2024 the maximum adoption tax credit is $16,810 per child. Read more aquí.
**Las familias locales son familias que viven en Nueva York o Nueva Jersey, y dentro de un radio de 100 millas de la oficina de Spence-Chapin en Manhattan, para quienes Spence-Chapin brinda estudios del hogar y servicios de informes posteriores a la colocación/adopción. Ver divulgaciones completas de tarifas aquí para familias locales.
***Las familias no locales son familias que viven a más de 100 millas de la oficina de Spence-Chapin en Manhattan, o que viven fuera de Nueva York o Nueva Jersey, a quienes se les completarán los servicios de estudio del hogar y de informes posteriores a la colocación/adopción. por una agencia autorizada en su jurisdicción. Ver divulgaciones completas de tarifas aquí para familias en red.
We offer resources to help you finance your adoption. We partner with the experts at Su asesor financiero de adopción 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. Please Contáctenos aprender más.
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Upcoming Colombia Adoption Events
Ene
14
19:00 – 20:00
Colombia Host-to-Adopt Program Info Session
Ene
15
06:30pm – 08:30pm
Next-Gen Queer Families: Pathways & Community for Today’s LGBTQ+ Families
Ene
28
17:00 – 18:00
Introducción a la Adopción desde Colombia
Feb
19
13:00 – 14:00
Introducción a la Adopción desde Colombia
Feb
25
18:00 – 19:30
Adoption Information Night – Latin American Programs
Mar
25
17:00 – 18:00
Introducción a la Adopción desde Colombia
All Families Program
Host-To-Adopt
niños esperando
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