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Spence-Chapin began its South Africa Adoption Program in 2013 to find permanent loving families for toddlers and young children with identified special needs. We are one of only two U.S. organizations accredited to do adoptions in South Africa and we are proud to work with Johannesburg Child Welfare, a social services organization that has been supporting vulnerable children and families in Johannesburg since 1909.
South Africa is a Hague Convention Country, and the central authority in South Africa that is responsible for all intercountry adoption matters is the Department of Social Development.
View our events calendar to register for an upcoming free South Africa Adoption Webinar!
Interested in a different country? We also have international adoption programs in Colombia and Bulgaria. 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!
*Families are not permitted to race specify and should be open to being matched with a child of either gender.
Age: Up to 48. Applicants over 48 should consult with Spence-Chapin.
Marital Status: South Africa encourages applications from single persons, married and unmarried couples, heterosexual and LGBTQ parents living throughout the United States.
Family Composition: Families with 5 or more children will not be eligible to adopt. South Africa also requires that families adopt within birth order.
Medical: Identified medical conditions, including mental health diagnosis, will be considered on a case by case basis by the country’s Central Authority, the Department of Social Development.
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.
Read stories about Spence-Chapin families adopting from South Africa on our blog.
Spence-Chapin’s South Africa Granny Program pairs children living in children’s homes in Johannesburg to caregivers from the local community that provide one-on-one care and attention to these children, improving their skills and helping them thrive.
Explore special needs resources for an adoption from South Africa
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