What is the Waiting Children Program?
The Waiting Children Program is a compilation of the families in the Ethiopia adoption process who are interested in being contacted about waiting children. Families are considered based on the medical need(s), age range, and gender they are open to, as well as where their dossier is in the process. Families do not need to have a completed dossier to apply to join this program.
What kind of medical needs do these children typically have?
A waiting child is a child who is healthy between 8 and 15 years or any child with a serious medical need. A child will never go on the waiting children’s list if there is a family in the program with a request that meets the child’s age, gender, and health. Generally, the children on this list are healthy older children, ages 8-15 years, children with HIV or children with severe medical needs of all ages.
How often does America World receive information for children with medical needs?
There is no lack in the number of children who have a medical need or are older children and need homes. We are in constant communication with Ethiopia about children with these needs.
What are the requirements for families adopting a medical needs child?
The adoptive requirements for a waiting child are generally the same as the requirements for parents adopting through the healthy process. On occasion, for a child that is harder to place, the requirements will be less strict. All families should be able to state that their health insurance will cover the new child, and that the family will provide any medical treatment the child may need.
Will my insurance cover my adopted child if they need surgery or extra medical care?
HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) laws state, "Newborns and adopted children are not subject to pre-existing condition exclusions if they enroll within 30 days of the birth or adoption." This means the adopted child should be covered by a family's health insurance. America World encourages families to check with their insurance provider to ensure details of coverage.
Can we request a healthy child and also adopt a child on the Waiting Children list?
This is considered on a case by case basis. If a family is interested in a child on the waiting list, as well as a healthy referral, the family must continue to wait to receive their healthy referral and then move forward with the waiting child and healthy referral (if the waiting child is still available at this point.)
When may I review a file on the Waiting Children’s List?
In order to review a file, a family must be in the AWAA Ethiopia program and have an approved home study.
How will adopting a waiting child impact my family?
Consideration should be given to the additional time and care that is required for a waiting child during times of surgery and/or ongoing medical treatment. The support of family and church fellowship can be quite helpful, especially when there are other children in the home.
How do we get the password to the Waiting Children’s List?
In order to protect the confidentiality of the children in the program, AWAA keeps the Waiting Children website password protected. Families interested in viewing the Ethiopia Waiting Children's List are encouraged to contact an Ethiopia Family Coordinator.
