Bulgaria offers adoption opportunities through the Gladney Center for Adoption. Gladney collaborates with accredited organizations in Bulgaria to facilitate adoptions for children aged 18 months to 14 years. These children may have special medical needs, be older, or are part of a sibling group. These adoptions take place via the Traditional Program or the Waiting Child Program.
The Traditional Program allows the family to submit a dossier, outlining the child parameters that the family is approved for; after review, the family receives a referral that matches the criteria outlined in the dossier. In the Waiting Child Program, the family may submit commitment paperwork for a specific child on a Waiting Child list. If approved, the family will be invited to submit a dossier for that specific child. After which, they compile and submit a dossier and await dossier approval and the formal referral.
Streamlining Adoption for Waiting Children with Down Syndrome
In Bulgaria, many children with Down syndrome are in need of a forever family through adoption. Waiting children are those who meet the eligibility criteria for adoption but have yet to be matched with a forever family. These children, often with specific medical or developmental needs, are listed with adoption agencies as they wait for a loving home. While this process serves its purpose, it has inherent limitations, especially concerning children with Down syndrome. In the realm of adoption, particularly for waiting children with special needs like Down syndrome, the journey to finding a forever family can have challenges and delays. At the Gladney Center for Adoption, a collaboration with an NGO partner in Bulgaria has sparked a shift in this approach. Instead of waiting for families to be matched with children, a bold alternative was suggested: encouraging families to submit their dossiers specifically requesting referrals for children with Down syndrome.
Benefits of Direct Referral
The direct referral approach offers significant advantages, particularly for children with Down syndrome. Families who proactively submit their dossiers experience expedited timelines; this significantly reduces the time spent in institutional care for these children. By bypassing the waiting child list, families can bring their child home sooner. Referrals can be received between one and four months after dossier submission.
Encouraging families to submit dossiers is an overall attempt at helping these children receive the help they need sooner. It ensures that children with Down syndrome have timely access to:
- Essential medical care
- Physical and speech therapy
- Nurturing family environments
Addressing Concerns and Challenges
Opting for direct referral for a child with Down syndrome in Bulgaria may require families to take a leap of faith, as they commit to the adoption process without a specific child in mind.
Hopeful adoptive parents aged 25 and older are eligible to adopt without any specific criteria of marriage length, family size, finances, or health. The youngest parent can be no more than 50 years older than the intended adopted child.
Those interested in making a difference in the lives of waiting children with Down syndrome are encouraged to reach out to Lindsay.Hatcher@gladney.org to learn more.
