Children Available

WHFC is accepting applications for children age 36 months and up only. Sibling groups may also be available for adoption; families should be open to siblings between 0-5 years of age. Waiting children of all ages are available. Both girls and boys are in equal need of adoption. All children will be tested for HIV, Hep B, and VDRL before being matched for adoption. Families will receive basic medical information and some family background information, if available.

Children are generally available for adoption from Ethiopia due to one of the following reasons:

• Abandonment by birthparents or relatives
• Relinquishment by birth relatives caring for the child after the death of their parents
• Relinquishment by a surviving birth parent due to inability to care for the child(ren)
• Relinquishment by birthparents because of extreme poverty, illness, or other reasons

Children waiting for placement may have initially been living with birth family or extended family. Upon being identified as in need of a family, the child is transferred to the care of a privately run orphanage, where s/he will live until s/he is adopted by a family through the court system of Ethiopia. After the adoption is finalized by the courts in Addis Ababa, the child is transferred to the WHFC transitional home, Horizon house, in Addis Ababa, where s/he will meet her/his adoptive familiy.

Waiting Children

There are usually older children or sibling groups available through the Waiting Children program. The majority of these children are healthy, though some may have some minor special needs. Due to government regulations, we are unable to post information about these children on the website. Please contact a member of the Horizon Kids team for more information on this program. Be sure to read about our subsidies available for the adoption of waiting children.