OUR REPORTING ON INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION
Adoption: Ethiopia
U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa documents about adoption,
2000-2013, obtained via Freedom of Information Act
INDEX of Mentions
of U.S. Adoption Agencies,
Orphanages & Associations
In this series: |
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In response to reports of fraud in international adoptions from Ethiopia, the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism submitted Freedom of Information Act requests for all adoption-related documents, correspondence, and other written materials from the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa. On this site we have posted all of these documents for anyone to read: cables, emails, reports, minutes of meetings, all redacted by the U.S. State Department before we received them. The State Department explained that the redactions were to protect personal details about American citizens or the children they were adopting.
On this page you will find an alphabetized index of every U.S. adoption agency and Ethiopian orphanage that we found mentioned in these hundreds of pages. Each item in the bulleted list below the name of the agency or orphanage is a link to the FOIA’ed document posted on our site. We realize that these are raw documents, out of context, and give only partial impressions of what some Embassy staff members were thinking at particular moments. To offer a fuller picture of what was happening, we asked every U.S adoption agency named in these documents whether they would like to submit a response that might clarify, correct, or comment on anything mentioned regarding their agency. Links to their responses are also listed below.
American Adoption Agencies
& Related Organizations
(See also Orphanages)
- Aug. 2003: Ethiopia – American Adoption Agencies – Licensed or Otherwise
- See paragraph 11.
- A New Arrival’s response to this Embassy document.
Adoption Advocates Incorporated
(See note)
- June 2000: Adoptions: African Cradle Loses its License
- See paragraphs 4 and 6.
- Aug. 2003: Ethiopia – American Adoption Agencies – Licensed or Otherwise
- See paragraph 10.
- Adoption Advocates Inc.'s response to these documents.
Adoption Advocates International (AAI)
(See note)
- June 2000: Adoptions: African Cradle Loses License in Ethiopia
- See paragraphs 4 and 6.
- Aug. 2003: The Ethiopian Adoption Process
- See paragraph 2.
- Aug. 2003: Ethiopia – American Adoption Agencies – Licensed or Otherwise
- See paragraph 4.
- Feb. 2008: Joint Council Meeting_4 February 2008
- Listed as attending the meeting.
- May 2010: From AAI Positive Yahoo Forum (members only)
- Editors’ note: We concluded that Adoption Advocates International is the AAI discussed here because that agency was located in Port Angeles, WA (mentioned in paragraph at bottom of page 6) and its founder was Merrily Ripley (mentioned in second paragraph, page 4).
- Nov. 2010: FW: FW: PEAR releases Ethiopia Survey
- Listed here although it is unclear which AAI is referred to (see page one, second bullet).
- In March 2014, two months before implementation of the Universal Accreditation Act, Adoption Advocates International closed its doors.
- No response was received to our requests for comment from this agency or its founder.
Adoption Ark
- Jan. 2010: Ethiopian Adoption Update, January 2010
- See paragraph 9.
- Adoption Ark ceased doing business in 2013. No response was received to our requests for comment.
Adoption Associates International (AAI)
(See note)
- June 2000: Adoptions: African Cradle Loses License in Ethiopia (unclear which AAI is referred to in addition to Adoptions Advocates Incorporated)
- May 2009: Adoptions of Abandoned Children Halted by Ethiopian Court
- See paragraph 2.
- Nov. 2010: FW: FW: PEAR releases Ethiopia Survey
- Listed here although it is unclear which AAI is referred to on page one, second bullet.
- No response was received to our requests for comment.
(See note)
- Feb. 2008: Joint Council Meeting_4 February 2008
- Listed as attending the meeting.
- Oct. 2010: Re: Adoption Avenues terminates contract of its Ethiopia Country Director
- Adoption Avenues’ response to these documents.
- Feb. 2000: Developments on Ethiopian Adoption Scene
- April 2000: Adoptions in Ethiopia: African Cradle Agency's situation worsens
- May 2000: Adoption in Ethiopia: New Agency Gains Ground, African Cradle's Problems Continue
- June 2000: Adoptions: African Cradle Loses License in Ethiopia
- Aug. 2003: Ethiopia – American Adoption Agencies – Licensed or Otherwise
- See paragraph 14.
- African Cradle’s response to these documents.
- May 2009: Adoptions of Abandoned Children Halted by Ethiopian Court
- See paragraph 2.
- No response was received to our requests for comment.
American World Adoption Association (AWAA)
- Dec. 2009: FW: [Redacted] – American World
- Jan. 2010: Ethiopian Adoption Update, January 2010
- See paragraph 5.
- March 2010: Gelgela trip report from Christine D. Parker
- See paragraph 4 and paragraph 6, bullet 5.
- March 2010: FW: AP of child from Gelgela
- Sept. 2010: Notes from meeting with representative of American World Adoption
- April 2011: Unethical recruitment, orphanage closures, and reduced processing provide bleak outlook on Ethiopian adoptions
- See paragraph 11.
- AWAA’s response to these documents.
Americans for African Adoptions, Inc. (AFAA)
- June 2000: Adoptions: African Cradle Loses License in Ethiopia
- See paragraph 6.
- Aug. 2003: The Ethiopian Adoption Process
- See paragraph 2.
- Aug. 2003: Ethiopia – American Adoption Agencies – Licensed or Otherwise
- See paragraph 3.
- Feb. 2008: Joint Council Meeting_4 February 2008
- Listed as attending the meeting.
- July 2009: Letter from Senator Jack Reed to Roxanne Reed, other documents
- Jan. 2010: Ethiopian Adoption Update, January 2010
- See paragraph 7.
- AFAA’s response to these documents.
- Aug. 2003: Ethiopia – American Adoption Agencies – Licensed or Otherwise
- See paragraph 9.
- Angels’ Haven Outreach’s response to this document.
- Aug. 2003: Ethiopia – American Adoption Agencies – Licensed or Otherwise
- See paragraph 8.
- March 2010: Gelgela Trip Report
- See page 1, paragraph 4.
- Jan. 2011: No. 11-163 Diplomatic Note to GOE
- See paragraph 2.
- April 2011: Unethical recruitment, orphanage closures, and reduced processing provide bleak outlook on ethiopian adoptions
- See paragraph 11.
- April 2011: Christian World Adoption Ethiopia Case Statistics
- See last page, second paragraph.
- Bethany Christian Services’s response to these documents.
Better Futures Adoption Services
- June 2009: Letter from US Embassy re: Consular Section needs to see adoption cases BEFORE the interview date and BEFORE the court date, when possible
- Sept. 2009: Concerns about abandonment cases
- See page 3, discussion point 6.
- Oct. 2009: Correspondence regarding Better Futures Cases
- Jan. 2010: Better Futures highlight or abstract as you will: Awful Awful Awful
- January 2010: Ethiopian Adoption Update, January 2010
- See paragraph 5.
- March 2010: Gelgela trip report from Christine D. Parker
- See page 2, bullet point 2.
- Oct. 2010: FW: FW: PEAR releases Ethiopia Survey
- See page 1, bullet point 2.
- January 2011: Children’s House adoption contract cases for MOWCYA
- See paragraph 1.
- Feb. 2011: Letter from Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to US Embassy regarding Better Futures adoption cases
- Better Futures Adoption Services lost its license in Ethiopia and ceased doing business.
- No response was received to our requests for comment.
Celebrate Children International (CCI)
- Feb. 2012: FW: CCI – Blessing the Children Kamashi
- See email subject heading.
- Dec. 2011: Re: questions (possible reference)
- See page 3, reference to the book "Finding Fernanda: One Child, Two Mothers, and a Cross-Border Search for the Truth," in which Sue Hedberg is a central character.
- Reached by phone, CCI Executive Director Sue Hedberg declined to comment.
Children’s Home Society and Family Services (CHSFS)
- Aug. 2003: Ethiopia – American Adoption Agencies – Licensed or Otherwise
- See paragraph 8.
- March 2006: As U.S. adoptions in Ethiopia sharply increase, officers increase outreach to GOE, agencies
- Feb. 2008: Joint Council Meeting_4 February 2008
- Listed as attending the meeting.
- May 2010: From AAI Positive Yahoo Forum
- Children’s Home Society and Family Services’ response to these documents.
Children’s House International
- October 2009: Adoption Contract
- This contract is referred to in the next two documents.
- Dec. 2010: dip note Children's House
- See paragraph 1.
- January 2011: Children’s House adoption contract cases for MOWCYA
- See paragraph 3.
- March 2011: Children’s House International/Kingdom Vision
- See email subject line.
- March 2011: Letter from Council on Accreditation to US Embassy re: Children’s House International Adoption Agency
- See paragraph 3.
- Diplomatic note No. 10-872 to GOE
- Children’s House International’s response to these documents.
Christian World Adoption
- Feb. 2008: Joint Council Meeting_4 February 2008
- Listed as attending the meeting.
- Dec. 2009: Christian World Adoption December 9, 2009
- Jan. 2010: Ethiopian Adoption Update, January 2010
- See paragraph 5.
- Nov. 2010: FW: FW: PEAR releases Ethiopia Survey
- See page 1, bullet point 2.
- April 2011: Christian World Adoption Ethiopia Case Statistics
- Subject line; pages 2 and 3.
- Sept. 2011: FW: cases screened in August
- See paragraph 3.
- Christian World Adoption ceased doing business in 2013.
- No response was received to our requests for comment.
- Feb. 2008: Joint Council Meeting_4 February 2008
- Listed as attending the meeting.
- Dec. 2011: How abandoned children cases are processed and handled in Bahar Dar
- See page 2, paragraph 5.
- Dove Adoptions’ response to these documents.
- Dec. 2011: RE: [Redacted] family's Embassy Process
- See page 3, paragraph 1.
- No response was received to our requests for comment
Families Thru International Adoption (FTIA)
- Feb. 2008: Joint Council Meeting_4 February 2008
- Listed as attending the meeting.
- No response was received to our requests for comment.
- Feb. 2010: Report on Trip to Sidamo
- See page 5, paragraph 4.
- Jan. 2011: RE: Initiative Ethiopia 1-25-11
- March 2011: Hawassa meeting report -- zone admin, Gladney and Initiative Ethiopia
- See page 1, paragraph 2 and last paragraph.
- April 2011: RE: Christian World Adoption Ethiopia Case Statistics
- See page 2, paragraph 1, and page 3, paragraph 2.
- April 2011: Unethical Recruitment, Orphanage Closures, and Reduced Processing Provide Bleak Outlook on Ethiopian Adoptions
- See paragraph 12.
- June 2011: No. 11-979 Diplomatic Note to GOE
- See pages 3, 4, and 5.
- June 2011: RE: Initiative Ethiopia 6-23-11
- See page 1, paragraph 3, and pages 2 and 3.
- July 2011: RE: Our adoption in Ethiopia
- March 2012: Urgent - from a concerned Ethiopia Adoptive Parent
- See page 1, paragraph 1.
- Gladney Center for Adoption’s response to these documents.
- Feb. 2008: Joint Council Meeting_4 February 2008
- Listed as attending the meeting.
- Nov. 2010: RE: possible misconduct/fraud
- See page 1, point 2.
- Nov. 2010: No. 10-1628 Diplomatic Note to GOE
- Feb. 2011: RE: [Redacted] Holt International
- April 2011: This additional document from the adoptive parents in question was submitted by Holt, and is posted here with the family’s permission.
- Holt International’s response to these documents.
- June 2009: FW: Important from Hope
- Sept. 2009: Concerns about abandonment cases
- See page 3, discussion point 6.
- Feb. 2010: FW: Hope Adoption Agency & Mr. Shimeliss Demissie
- March 2010: FW: Final Correspondence from [Redacted]
- March 2010: Meeting with Hope Adoption Agency
- March 2010: RE: Hope Adoption Agency & Mr. Shimeliss Demissie
- Feb. 2011: Hope complaint
- April 2011: RE: Ethiopian Adoption
- April 2011: FW: Ethiopian Adoption
- April 2011: No. 11-XXX Diplomatic Note to GOE (4-21-11)
- June 2011: RE:
- June 2011: No. 11-XXX Diplomatic Note to GOE (6-13-11)
- Feb. 2012: Hope - Faith Children's Home
- Nov. 2013: Msg to Grace A Pruitt at Hope Adoption Agency US Office and Follow-Up Message Sent to Hope Local Office
- No response was received to our requests for comment.
Joint Council (formerly JCICS)
- Feb. 2008: Joint Council Meeting 4 February 2008
- July 2008: Ethiopia decides not to suspend intercountry adoptions. For now.
- July 2008: Joint Council Urges Change, Offers Resources for Capacity Building
- Oct. 2008: Review of Adoption Agencies Quarterly Meetings
- May 2009: Adoptions of Abandoned Children Halted by Ethiopian Court
- Nov. 2013: Notes from Meeting with Amb Hilima Mohamed MFA
- Jan. 2010: Ethiopian Adoption Update, January 2010
- Feb. 2010: No. 10-143 Diplomatic Note to GOE
- March 2010: RE: Hope Adoption Agency & Mr. Shimeliss Demissie
- Jan. 2011: Letter from US Visa Office re: question about returned petitions
- Jan. 2011: Trip Report
- March 2011: Letter re: Christian World Adoption Ethiopia Case Statistics
- Joint Council's response to these documents.
Main Street Adoption
- Jan. 2010: Ethiopian Adoption Update, January 2010
- See paragraphs 7 and 9.
- No response was received to our requests for comment.
Maine Adoption Placement Services International (MAPS)
- Aug. 2003: Ethiopia – American Adoption Agencies – Licensed or Otherwise
- MAPS is now Stepping Stones, whose Director of Marketing and Development, Paul Golding, emailed us on Nov. 10, 2014: "MAPS never had an adoption program in Ethiopia, therefore we have no comment."
PEAR (Parents for Ethical Adoption Reform)
- FW: FW: PEAR releases Ethiopia Survey
- Results of PEAR's Ethiopia Survey (mentioned in this document)
- PEAR has promised a response to this document.
- Aug. 2003: Ethiopia – American Adoption Agencies – Licensed or Otherwise
- No response was received to our requests for comment.
Vermont Children’s Aid Society
- Aug. 2003: Ethiopia – American Adoption Agencies – Licensed or Otherwise
- No response was received to our requests for comment.
- Aug. 2003: The Ethiopian Adoption Process
- Aug. 2003: Ethiopia – American Adoption Agencies – Licensed or Otherwise
- Feb. 2008: Joint Council Meeting_4 February 2008
- May 2010: From AAI Positive Yahoo Forum
- Feb. 2010: Report on Trip to Sidamo
- Nov. 2010: FW: FW: PEAR releases Ethiopia Survey (unclear which AAI is referred to)
- Wide Horizons’ response to these documents.
Yunona USA
- Aug. 2003: Ethiopia – American Adoption Agencies – Licensed or Otherwise
- Yunona USA ceased doing business in 2005.
- No response was received to our requests for comment.
Orphanages
Abebech Gobena Orphanage and School
Adera Orphanage
- Dec. 2009: Report re: visit to Christian World Adoption
- March 2010: Site Visit to the Adera Child and Family Support Association
- July 2010: Adoption Field Investigation in Ethiopia_7-18 to 7-31-10
African Cradle Orphanage
- May 2000: Adoption in Ethiopia: New Agency Gains Ground, African Cradle's Problems Continue
- June 2000: Adoptions: African Cradle Loses License in Ethiopia
AHOPE
Ajuja Children’s Home
- Feb. 2010: Report on Trip to Sidamo
- May 2011: General report on abandoned children in Awassa
Almaz Orphanage
Atetegeb Worku Mtasebia Orphanage
Note: This document refers to the “Orphanage of Haregewoin Teferra.” The Atetegeb Worku Mtasebia Orphanage is the orphanage founded by Haregewoin Teferra.
Bahir Dar Bethetsanat Orphanage
Bahir Dar SOS Enfants Orphanage
Bench Maji Orphanage
- March 2010: Gelgela trip report from Christine D. Parker
Betazata Women’s Association
Please note that we found several similarly spelled organizations but could not determine whether they were the same or different: Betazata Women’s Association, Betaztha, Bethzatha Children’s Home Association, and Bethzatha Orphanage. We have listed each separately.
Betaztha
Please note that we found several similarly spelled organizations but could not determine whether they were the same or different: Betazata Women’s Association, Betaztha, Bethzatha Children’s Home Association, and Bethzatha Orphanage. We have listed each separately.
- March 2010: Meeting with Hope Adoption Agency
Bethel Children’s Home
- March 2010: FW: Final Correspondence from [Redacted]
- March 2010: Meeting with Hope Adoption Agency
- March 2010: RE: Hope Adoption Agency & Mr. Shimeliss Demissie
Bethzatha Children’s Home Association
Please note that we found several similarly spelled organizations but could not determine whether they were the same or different: Betazata Women’s Association, Betaztha, Bethzatha Children’s Home Association, and Bethzatha Orphanage. We have listed each separately.
- Jan. 2010 Report re 2010 visit to Better Futures
- July 2010: Adoption Field Investigation in Ethiopia_7-18 to 7-31-10
Bethzatha Orphanage
Please note that we found several similarly spelled organizations but could not determine whether they were the same or different: Betazata Women’s Association, Betaztha, Bethzatha Children’s Home Association, and Bethzatha Orphanage. We have listed each separately.
- June 2010: Report On The Trip To Hossaena
Better Futures’ Transition Home
- Jan. 2010: Ethiopian Adoption Update, January 2010
- Jan. 2011: Correspondence regarding Better Futures Cases 10-23-09 to 1-27-11
Biftu Orphanage
- April 2010: Report on orphanages in Haromaya
Blessing the Children Orphanage
- April 2011: Report re: Unethical recruitment, orphanage closures, and reduced processing provide bleak outlook on ethiopian adoptions
- Feb. 2012: FW: CCI - Blessing the Children Kamashi
CCA/CCE
- Dec. 2009: Report re: visit to Christian World Adoption
Children Cross Connection
- July 2010: Adoption Field Investigation in Ethiopia_7-18 to 7-31-10
- May 2011: General report on abandoned children in Awassa
DUWAW Orphanage:
Elolam Care for Children
- Jan. 2011: Notice from Elolam Care for Children
Enat Alem Orphanage
- June 2008: Ethiopian Foreign Minister Proposes Temporary Halt to Intercountry Adoptions
- May 2011: General report on abandoned children in Awassa
Enaitlem
- Dec. 2009: Report re: visit to Christian World Adoption
Ethio Vision
Faith Children’s Home
- Feb. 2012: Hope – Faith Children’s Home
Faya Orphanage
Foundation for Children’s Hope
Gelgela Orphanage
- Dec. 2009: Report re: visit to Christian World Adoption
- March 2010: Gelgela trip report from Christine D. Parker
- March 2010: Letter to US Embassy re: Ap of child from Gelgela
- March 2010: Report re: trip to Gelgela Orphanage
Hanna Children’s Home
- Jan. 2010: Report re 2010 visit to Better Futures
Helawi Foundation
Help for Needy Orphanage
- Sept. 2009: Interview with brother who relinquished his sister’s child[redacted]
HIDOTA for Children’s Hope
Holt International’s Orphanage
- Nov. 2010: RE: possible misconduct/fraud
- Nov. 2010:No. 10-1628 Diplomatic Note to GOE
Holy Saviour Orphanage
Human Brotherhood Organization
- Sept. 2004: Reponses to [Redacted]- Senator Leahy Interested
Hunde Orphanage
Infants (SOS)
Initiative Ethiopia
- March 2011: Hawassa meeting--zone admin, Gladney and Initiative Ethiopia
- Jan. 2011: RE: Initiative Ethiopia 1-25-11
- April 2011: Report re: Unethical recruitment, orphanage closures, and reduced processing provide bleak outlook on ethiopian adoptions
- June 2011: No. 11-979 Diplomatic Note to GOE
- June 2011: RE: Initiative Ethiopia 6-23-11
- July 2011: RE: Our adoption in Ethiopia
Joseph Children’s Home
Kebebe Tsehaye Orphanage
- May 2005: Senator Inhofe visits adopted granddaughter's orphanage; renews pledge to re-evaluate USG policies on adoption
- Oct. 2009: Email re: Police colluding with adoption agencies
- Sept. 2010: Notes from meeting with representative of American World Adoption
Kechene Orphanage
Kenbata Orphanage
- March 2010: Gelgela trip report from Christine D. Parker
Kidane Mehret
Kids Care of Missionaries of Charity
Kids Care Orphanage
- July 2010: Adoption Field Investigation in Ethiopia_7-18 to 7-31-10
- May 2014: Letter re: private adoptions
Kingdom Vision
- July 2010: Adoption Field Investigation in Ethiopia_7-18 to 7-31-10
- March 2011: Children’s House International/Kingdom Vision
- April 2011: RE: Our pending adoption
Layla
- March 2006: As U.S. adoptions in Ethiopia sharply increase, officers increase outreach to GOE, agencies
- May 2010: From AAI Positive Yahoo Forum (members only)
Matti Orphanage
Minnesota Children’s Home Orphanage
Moses Children’s Home
Mother Teresa Orphanage
Orphan, Vulnerable People and Old Women’s Association
Saleenat Orphanage
Segeda Orphanage
Selaam Orphanage
Shalom Orphanage
- Nov. 2010: Letter from US Embassy to Fraud Investigator re Report of Sidam Zone
- Jan. 2011: No. 11-163 Diplomatic Note to GOE
- April 2011: Report re: Unethical recruitment, orphanage closures, and reduced processing provide bleak outlook on ethiopian adoptions
- May 2011: General report on abandoned children in Awassa
Shashemene Orphanage
- March 2010: Gelgela trip report from Christine D. Parker
SOS Arba Minch
Special Mission Community Based Development
St. Francis Orphanage/St. Francisco Orphanage
- Nov. 2011: [Redacted] Adoption 11.29.2011
- Dec. 2011: RE: questions
Tikuret for Women and Children
Twarina Wolaj Yatu Yemebeletoch Ena Yelijoch Bet Orphanage
- Dec. 2010: Letter from US Embassy to Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs re Children’s House Case
- Nov. 2011: Adoption Contract concluded on giving Child through adoption
- Jan. 2011: Letter from US Embassy to MOWCYA re: Children’s House adoption contract cases for MOWCYA
- No. 10-872 Diplomatic Note to GOE
Vision Orphanage
World Vision Orphanage
Yengda Hitsanat Merga Derejit Orphanage
- Jan. 2010: Report re 2010 visit to Better Futures
Yeengida Hisranat Merja Birisit Orphanage
- Jan. 2010: Report re 2010 visit to Better Futures
Yezalalem Minch
Yibera Orphanage
NOTE: Please note that there have been several U.S.-based adoption agencies with the same initials and very similar names: Adoption Advocates Incorporated; Adoption Advocates International; Adoption Associates Incorporated; Adoption Associates International; and Adoption Avenues. Three of these are no longer in business; one was not mentioned in these documents. When documents refer to “AAI,” we have contacted all these agencies asking for comment.
This page from the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism website offers documentation of and background about serious irregularities in international adoption.
Images in collage:
Mother & Child and Man Walking © Niall Crotty, SXC.hu
Ethiopian Festival © Carolyne Pehora, Dreamstime.com
© 2008-2014 Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454. All rights reserved.
Last page update: November 21, 2014