Adoption Democratic Republic of Congo Journeys of the Heart/Tumaini

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Program

Quick Facts:

Formerly known as the Belgian Congo or Zaire, the Democratic Repulic of Congo (DRC) is located near the Equator. Seventy plus million people inhabit this large county in which Western Europe could fit. It shares borders with Angola, Zambia, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda , South Sudan, Central African Republic, and the Repbulic of Congo. Rich in resources and with the Congo River running through it, DRC has the potential to become a thriving country able to provide for its citizens. That is not its present reality for millions and civil unrest on the borders, lack of infrastructure and social services, diseases, maternal childbirth deaths, and poverty result in many children becoming orphans.

This is a new program for Journeys of the Heart (JOH). JOH has identified an orphanage in Kinshasa, the capital city, which is well managed, well staffed, and which has taken in several dozen children whose parents are unknown. The orphanage was organized and is managed by an ethical and competent director who was educated and obtained a law degree in Western Europe and who has returned to DRC to help orphans.

The children in this orphanage typically range in age from 0 to 5 years old. The staffing includes a pre-school teacher, a nurse who visits every morning to check on the children’s health, an on-call doctor, and others who assess the children’s development. Occasionally there will be siblings available and on a case by case basis, JOH may consider placing unrelated children at the same time with a family.

Initial information that families will receive includes what social history is known, pictures, medical test results for HIV, Hepatitis B, and VDRL, and descriptions of how the children are relating to caregivers and other children.

While waiting for a child to come home, JOH’s representative in DRC will gather and provide periodic photos and updates.

JOH has also identified a capable attorney to refer families to for legal assistance in adopting a child from DRC. Families adopt children from DRC by proxy meaning that their DRC attorney completes the adoption on their behalf armed with a power of attorney from the family.

Once the adoption is completed the family files the I-600 application and supporting child documents and judgment of adoption in the U.S. which reviews the documents for completeness and then notifies the American Consulate in Kinshasa, DRC. The American Consulate then conducts a field investigation to verify the child’s circumstances and documents. The process at that point will take 3 to 6 months. Once that

process is successfully completed the family travels to DRC for 10 days or so and brings the child home. While in DRC families will be well supported by JOH in-country staff who will provide transportation, translation, and guide services. The language

of government and business in DRC is French.

The total cost with two adults traveling and including agency, home study, immigration, orphanage support, travel and legal expenses is approximately $33,000 to adopt one child.

*Note, some of the program requirements can be waived if deemed “in the best interest of the child” by the DRC government. If you have questions please contact Jessica@journeysoftheheart.net,David@journeysoftheheart.net or Susan@journeysoftheheart.net.

Eligibility criteria for adopting parents as noted on the U.S. Department of State’s website are as follows:

Eligibility -There is no age restriction with respect to adopting parents other than the adopting parent must be at least 15 years older than the child

-Adopting families cannot have more than two children at home

-Couples must have been married five years

-There is no medical ineligibility

-DRC will not accept gay or lesbian single parents or couples

-Single parents may adopt a child of the same gender. The orphanage director believes that some of the criteria may be becoming more flexible to better serve the best interests of children. We can inquire for families who fall outside the criteria listed above

The orpahanage director believes that prior, more restrictive eligibility criteria have become more flexible to better serve the best interests of children

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