Lifeline is thrilled to announce its newest program in Colombia! The resolution of accreditation has been received, and we are now officially working with ICBF in Colombia. We look forward to providing International Adoptions Services in Colombia. Colombia currently has over 11,000 children waiting for adoption, and Lifeline has what we believe to be the best on-the-ground team to assist in the adoption process and advocate for our families.
Families adopting from Colombia have the opportunity to adopt children with special characteristics. Children with special characteristics include: 1) older children, at least age 8 years old or older, 2) sibling groups, and 3) children of all ages that have one or more medical or special needs.
The Colombian adoption process takes an estimated time of 18 to 24 months. This is from the time your application is approved through the time of travel. Please remember that this is an estimated time.
Colombia requires that those seeking to adopt be between the ages of 25 and up and requires that married applicants are married for a minimum of three years. Single women may also adopt from Colombia.
When a family travels, the expected stay, in-country, is approximately 4-7 weeks. Both parents must be willing and able to stay the entire time if necessary, but one parent may return to the states during the process after the first few weeks if approved. The length of in-country stay will depend on the originating city of the child.
Colombia is an excellent program to consider as it is a “Hague-certified” program; there is high quality orphanage care; they provide detailed medical and developmental information on available children; children who wait receive counseling and advocacy services; there is a well established government child welfare agency that oversees the “transition” process; and children are able to reside with the adoptive parents throughout the family’s stay in-country.
The country of Colombia has many children in need of loving, permanent homes.
If God calls you to embark on this journey, it would be our joy to partner with you!
For more information, please contact Beth Stanley at beth.stanley@lifelinechild.org.
