Adopting may be easier in Albania

Albania (MNN)–On May 9, 2004, Albania was accepted into the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in respect of Intercountry Adoption. The international recognition guarentees the rights of children during the adoption process.

The new family law in Albania states that the abandonment of children can be done in the court after three months of waiting in the orphanage , if the child is released after the birth from a maternity hospital to the orphanage.

This is predicted to shorten the time before children can be listed for adoption, first domestic then international. Adoption agencies believe some children will be younger at time of placement – hopefully under two years old says Bethany Christian Services.

They still have many more children who are older, part of a sibling group, or have speical needs that are waiting for families.

Bethany has a history of supporting the Albanian friends since the early 1990’s They continue to provide social and medical services in clinics in many areas of the country. They provide pregnancy counseling, medical care, psychological services, child development education, job placement and shepherding home shelters.

Those interested in more information can contact Jan at: 1.877.64.ADOPT.