Adopting Waiting Children from Vietnam

At Children’s Hope about 30% of the children we place each year are waiting children or children with special needs. The government of Vietnam does not have a formal waiting children program, but does refer us children that are harder to place or children with special needs.

If a family is interested in adopting a waiting child or a child with special needs, the first think they should do is discuss this with their social worker. During the home study process the families social worker can discuss with the family what to expect when adopting a child with special needs. A family must be approved by their social worker to adopt a child with special needs before choosing a waiting child.

Once a family goes on the waiting list for Vietnam, they let us know what age and special needs they are open to. Then when we receive referrals of waiting children, we offer them to families based on what special needs they are open to. If there are no families on the list open to a particular special need that a child has, then we post the child on our waiting children page for Vietnam.

A family must have an approved I-171H approval form in order to choose a waiting child. That way a dossier can be put together right away in order to bring the child home as quickly as possible. If you have any questions about our waiting children program please feel free to contact Nicky Losse, the Director of the Vietnam program; Nicky.Losse@ChildrensHope.net