Many families who were in the adoption process from Haiti when the Earthquake hit are breathing a sigh of relief this morning. The good news comes from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano, in coordination with the U.S. Department of State (DOS), who announced yesterday a humanitarian parole policy allowing orphaned children from Haiti to enter the United States temporarily on an individual basis to ensure that they receive the care they needas part of the U.S. government's ongoing support of international recovery efforts after last week's earthquake.

What does this really mean?
Basically, the US government is recognizing that many children were legally adopted and just waiting on visas to enter the USA. And in other cases, they are recognizing that other confirmed orphans were assigned to families and were at least half way through the adoption process, meaning that all paperwork on the adoptive family's part was complete and the adoptive family had visited the child in Haiti . In these cases (two categories specifically outlined below), the DOS is allowing these identified children to enter the US and be united with their families. If you are one of the families of these children, please visit the DOS website immediately.

What about all of the other orphans in Haiti , without adoptive families?
All areas of the government recognize that the US and other countries are facing a unique and nearly-overwhelming situation with the suffering of Haitians after the earthquake.

A spokesman for the DOS gave this comment, "Given the severity of the disaster in Haiti , we understand that there are additional children that have been orphaned and/or separated from relatives and may also be in varying stages of the adoption process. DHS and the U.S. Department of State continue to evaluate additional eligibility criteria and will provide additional information as soon as it is available."

Categories of Orphans qualifying for Humanitarian Parole

Category 1
Children who have been legally confirmed as orphans eligible for intercountry adoption by the Government of Haiti, were in the process of being adopted by Americans prior to Jan. 12, 2010 and meet the below criteria.

Required Criteria
Evidence of availability for adoption, which MUST include at least one of the following:

* Full and final Haitian adoption decree
* Government of Haiti Custody grant to prospective adoptive parents for emigration and adoption
* Secondary evidence in lieu of the above.

Evidence of suitability for adoption, which MUST include at least one of the following:
* Notice of Approval of Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition
* Current FBI Fingerprints and background security check clearances
* Physical custody in Haiti plus a security background check

Category 2
Children who have been identified by an adoption service provider or facilitator as eligible for intercountry adoption, were matched to prospective American adoptive parents prior to Jan. 12, 2010 and meet the below criteria.

Required Criteria
Significant evidence of a relationship between the prospective adoptive parents and the child AND of the parents' intention to complete the adoption, which could include the following:
* Proof of travel by the prospective adoptive parents to Haiti to visit the child
* Photos of the child and prospective adoptive parents together
* An Adoption Service Provider "Acceptance of Referral" letter signed by the prospective adoptive parents
* Documentary evidence that the prospective adoptive parents initiated the adoption process prior to Jan. 12, 2010 with intent to adopt the child (filed Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition, and/or Form I-600, Petition to Classify an Orphan as an Immediate Relative, completed a home study, located an ASP to work with in Haiti, etc.)

Evidence of the child's availability for adoption, which could the following:
* IBESR (Haitian Adoption Authority) approval
* Documentation of legal relinquishment or award of custody to the Haitian orphanage
* Secondary evidence in lieu of the above

Evidence of suitability for adoption, which MUST include at least one of the following:
* Notice of Approval of Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition; OR
* Current FBI Fingerprints and background security check clearances

If you are a family considering adoption at this time, please be aware that the children we are writing about in this article are orphans who were already in the process of being adopted. International adoption is a process involving background checks, investigations into the orphan-status of a child, and much paperwork. Even if the US brings in children from Haiti who have no waiting families, the opportunity to adopt or foster these children will be given to families with a homestudy (approval to adopt). Please research adoption and begin the homestudy process by contacting an adoption agency and learning more.