Department of State Notice

Adoption Alert

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Office of Children’s Issues

Government of Ethiopia Plans Major Slow-Down in Adoption Processing

March 9, 2011

Citing the need to work on quality and focus on more important strategic issues, the Government of Ethiopia’s Ministry of Women, Children, and Youth Affairs (MOWCYA) has indicated it will reduce to a maximum of five the number of adoption cases it processes per day, effective March 10, 2011. Under Ethiopian adoption procedures, MOWCYA approves every match between prospective adoptive parents and an Ethiopian child before that case can be forwarded for a court hearing. The U.S. Embassy is working with Ethiopian government officials and adoption agencies to learn more about this change in procedures. We will continue to share information as it becomes available.

Given MOWCYA's current caseload, the U.S. Embassy anticipates that this change could result in an overall decline in case processing of some 90 percent. If this change is implemented as proposed, we expect, that parents who have begun the process of adopting from Ethiopia but have not yet been matched with a child could experience significant delays. It is not clear if this change in procedures would have any significant impact on cases in which MOWCYA has already approved matches.

Prospective adoptive parents should remain in close contact with their adoption service provider to obtain updates on individual cases.

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February 15, 2011

Revocation of License: Better Futures Adoption Services

The U.S. Embassy was informed by Better Future Adoption Services’ (BFAS) Addis Ababa office on February 4, 2011, that the Charities and Societies Agency revoked its license to operate in Ethiopia on December 9, 2010, because of alleged misuse of its license. BFAS further stated to the U.S. Embassy that it has initiated a legal appeal of the decision with the Government of Ethiopia. The Government of Ethiopia has not provided information for families in process with BFAS on how this revocation will affect their cases.

The U.S. Embassy strongly recommends that prospective adoptive parents who have entered into an agreement with Better Future Adoption Services, or who are planning to adopt through Better Future Adoption Services, seek the advice of a legal professional.