International Adoption Programs

Catholic Charities has direct relationships with child placement agencies in the following countries:

View the International Adoptions Fee Schedule

Korea

Holt Children’s Services, Seoul, Korea

Children	Infant boys and girls 15 - 21 months old
Where cared for	Foster homes
Average wait from approved homestudy to arrival	15 - 18 months (depending on gender requested) (effective 8/11) - subject to change
Eligibility, as per Korean government regulations	Age 25–43 for boys Age 25-42 for girls Only couples with one son may request a girl; (exceptions for Korean-American couples) Maximum Body Mass Index of 35

Philippines

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Quezon City, Philippines

Children	Older infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers, school-aged children, some siblings groups
Where cared for	Orphanages (95%) Foster homes (5%)
Average wait from approved homestudy to arrival	24-36 months – (effective 8/11 - subject to change)
Eligibility, as per Philippine government regulations	Married couples married 3 years or longer Single women for children aged 8 and older Minimum age 25 – The younger parent should be no more than 45 years older than the child to be adopted Affinity with some Christian denomination preferred. Maximum Body Mass Index of 35. Those on medication for mental health issues are not eligible to apply. No history of cancer, or current chronic health conditions such as diabetes, autoimmune conditions, MS, etc.

You can find more information about adopting a relative child from the Philippines here.

Catholic Charities works with other United States agencies to place children from the following countries:

China

China’s Child of Promise

Children	Older infants and toddler girls and boys with very minor medical special needs.
Where cared for	Orphanages and/or foster homes
Average wait from approved homestudy to arrival	9-12 months (effective 8/11) - subject to change
Eligibility, as per Chinese government regulations	Married couples, at least 3-year marriage; at least 30 years old, up to age 49 and 9 months. No history of mental health disgnoses, arrests, or DUI/DWI within 10 years. Maximum Body Mass Index of 40. Single women accepted for children with moderate special needs.

Russia

Children	Older infants, toddlers, school-aged children.
Where cared for	Orphanages
Average wait from approved homestudy to arrival	18-24 months - subject to change
Eligibility, as per Russian government regulations	Married couples and singles, 25 - 49 years old, at least a 2 year marriage. No history of mental health disgnoses or arrests. Single women accepted.

Ethiopia

Children	Toddlers and school aged children
Where cared for	Orphanages
Average wait from approved homestudy to arrival	18 - 24 months
Eligibility, as per Ethiopian government requirements	Married couples and singles, 25 - 50 years old.

Other Agencies or Foreign Sources

Catholic Charities also works cooperatively with other adoption agencies/sources that place children from a variety of countries. For more information about any of these sources, please call our office. We also work with families who have located their own legitimate source in any country that permits international adoption. Catholic Charities’ international sources in Korea and the Philippines will not accept homestudies from other agencies and prefer that Catholic Charities conduct the homestudy directly. Please call us with any questions about this requirement.