For information
about Hand In Hand's HUG (Hands Uniting the Globe)
Summer Hosting Program for older children from
the Philippines, to take place in July, 2008,
please see the Special Home
Find page.
Our Philippines program was begun in 1974 by MaryLee Fahrenbrink Lane, the founder and Executive Director of Hand In Hand, when she was living in the Philippines. The Philippine government’s Intercountry Adoption Board (ICAB) reviews your dossier and matches available children with approved adoptive families. Hand in Hand works directly with assigned social workers from ICAB to secure and process the children’s documents. Hand In Hand has recently achieved its re-accreditation to work with the Philippines, which will be in effect until February, 2011.
The Philippine government takes their task very seriously in matching the children with you, the family. Following three post placement visits with reports and pictures sent to the Philippines, ICAB will issue their Consent to Adopt so that the adoption can be finalized under United States laws. Hand in Hand has worked cooperatively with the Philippine government in placing over 2000 children in the past 33 years.
Program Director is Vickie Truelove, Administrative Director of Hand In Hand’s Indiana office. |
 |
| |
|
Types of Children Available: |
- 6 months to 15 years old
- More boys than girls; families requesting a child younger than two years old may not specify gender of child desired
- Sibling groups are available
- Healthy children and children with mild to moderate medical conditions
|
Types of Families accepted: |
- Couples must be married at least three years (or married at least one year plus several years of cohabitation)
- There is presently a moratorium for single applicants until all currently approved single applicants are matched.
- Adoptive parents must be 27 to 47 years old (there is some flexibility on the upper age if seeking an older child)
- Adoptive parents over the age of 43 will be matched with a child over the age of two years old
- Parents must be at least 15 years older than the child desired
- The Philippines has a one-year rule, which requires a family to wait one year from the birth or adoption of one child before an adoption application can be filed
- ICAB requires practicing Christian families
- Preference is given to childless or Filipino heritage families
|
Travel Requirements: |
- At least one parent must travel
- Only one trip required
- Minimum stay of seven days (in order to meet child and see orphanage and visit ICAB)
|
Time Frames: |
- Dossier to Match – 12 to 24 months
- Match to Placement – approximately 4 months
|
|
More than 7,100 islands make up the Philippines archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam. The third largest English speaking country in the world (behind the U.S. and the U.K.), the Philippines has a rich history combining Asian, European, and American influences. Ceded by Spain to the U.S. in 1898 following the Spanish-American War, the Philippines attained their independence in 1946 after being occupied by the Japanese in World War II. Today, the population of the Philippines exceeds 76 million people. Filipinos are a freedom-loving people, as evidenced by two recent peaceful, bloodless revolutions against what were perceived as corrupt governmental regimes.
The Philippines is also the only Christian-majority country in southeast Asia. Although the country is primarily Roman Catholic, there are also many Protestant churches. |
 |
The children are of Asian/Malay/Spanish descent, and come from orphanages and foster care throughout the Philippines. The most common reasons for these children becoming available for adoption are social reasons, economic conditions, legal decision, or death of parent(s).
|
|
