Madison Adoption Associates is thrilled to announce that as of March 2019, we are accredited to do adoption placements from
Dominican Republic!

As this is a pilot program for our agency, any families adopting must understand that there are unpredictable time frames and increased uncertainties.  

In Dominican Republic, children ages 2 years to 14 years are available for adoption. Dominican Republic is a stable, albeit very small, Hague adoption program. The children reside in public or private orphanages throughout the country. 

Families may apply to adopt a waiting child (an older child or child with special needs), or a sibling group. There are many beautiful, healthy sibling groups available. They may also submit a dossier requesting to be matched with a child meeting certain criteria. Younger children with minor needs are available to families once they submit their dossier to Dominican Republic.

The country has a beautifully diverse culture and the children are of Hispanic, African, or mixed-race heritage as there is a large Haitian minority in the country. Some children may be of pure African or Haitian ethnicity. The children generally receive excellent medical care, but need a forever family to give them the individual love and attention they deserve. Healthy Dominican Republic infants are available, however preference is given to families of Dominican heritage. 
 
Please note, there is a residency period required to adopt from Dominican Republic. When adopting your child, both prospective adoptive parents must comply simultaneously with the period of cohabitation required by Dominican Law. If adopting a child under 12 years old, cohabitation shall be for at least 60 days. If adopting a child over 12 years of age, cohabitation shall be for at least 30 days. The travel time to complete the adoption process will be about two to three months in country. One parent is able to leave after the cohabitation period. Please note that the travel process times can be unpredictable. 
 
If you are interested in this program, we invite you to contact Sarah Hansen to discuss your individual situation or inquire about current children available for adoption.
Attention Illinois families!

If your family is pursuing adoption, the Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS) in Illinois requires that every adoptive parent receive a minimum of 4 hours of In-Person Prospective Parent Adoption Training. Face-to-face training will be available May 4th 9-1 at our Rochester, IL office.

If your family has the joy of hosting a child this summer, hosting training is also available May 4th 9-3 at our Rochester, IL office.
Our staff just returned home from a week in Bulgaria. It was a busy, productive week of meetings with partner organizations, touring an orphanage and group home, and meeting with the Ministry of Justice (Bulgaria’s Central Authority). We were thrilled to have been immersed in the culture, enjoy the food, and to gain a deeper appreciation for the Bulgarian people and their customs. It was more than apparent, of everyone we met with, their passion and dedication to the children who wait. And we are humbled to be able to stand alongside the Bulgarian people and do all that we can to find families for their beautiful, waiting children.
There are two different tracts for adopting from Bulgaria – submit a Dossier and receive a match directly from MOJ, or identify a waiting child and apply to adopt that specific child. The first tract will allow a family to be matched with a child with less severe needs and/or healthy sibling groups or healthy older children. The second tract typically consists of waiting children with more significant special needs. Either way, there are children waiting who need families!

MAA will be offering a $1000 grant for families submitting a dossier to be matched! Please  visit our website  if you are interested in learning more about this wonderful program, and the beautiful children who wait for you! Or, email Sarah Hansen for more information!
See who came home in April!