The Adoption Process

Healthy babies and older children as well as children with special needs are available from Ethiopia, China, Thailand, Ghana, and Washington State. Agency requirements are flexible but some countries or programs are restrictive. Please see individual countries for specific guidelines.

The adoption process is complex with many steps for the parents and a great deal of paperwork and processing for the agency. Patience is required as good things come to those who wait! The processing time varies with each country but most families have a child in less than a year, some in only a few months.

To receive an application and an information packet please give us a call. We'd like an opportunity to chat with you and answer any questions you may have. You can also send an email to asking for further information. On the contacts section of this website, you will find a list of specific staff members, their areas of responsibility and their e-mail addresses. You may call the office and ask to be directed to a particular person.

For more information about specific AAI programs, please contact the following people:

Humanitarian projects — susanpd@adoptionadvocates.org

Sponsorship Program — brooke@adoptionadvocates.org

Volunteer opportunities in Ethiopia — brooke@adoptionadvocates.org

Newsletter information — susanpd@adoptionadvocates.org

Family post placement information — michele@adoptionadvocates.org

Post Placement support services (M, W and F only. Ext. #11 if you phone) — gay@adoptionadvocates.org

Financial Information (other than fee schedule) — Kathy@adoptionadvocates.org

General Information about the agency, Our Executive Director — merrily@adoptionadvocates.org

All information collected by Adoption Advocates International will be kept confidential and will not be shared with any other person or entity without permission.