Colombian Host-to-Adopt Program

Colombia allows select adoptable children, ages 10-15 years of age, (and occasionally younger siblings of older kids) to participate in sponsored vacation trips to the US for the purpose of getting to know a family in the US who will become part of the child's life -- hopefully forever. During this time they live with a "host" family (one considering adopting) and spend several weeks vacationing with and being part of the host family’s daily life in their home in the US or at a resort in Colombia.

The program offers the kids living in institutions or foster homes in Colombia an opportunity for a life-changing experience they may not otherwise enjoy and for them to experience life in a family and how a healthy family functions and feels.  The program gives the home study approved host parents an opportunity to get to know older kids to see if you might want to adopt the child.  If you do choose to adopt the child you may do so faster than those in the traditional Colombian adoption program. It's a great way to get to know a bit about a child prior to making the commitment to adopt. 

Who can be hosted?

Individual children ages 10-15 and sibling groups ages 7-15 are available to travel to the US.  Most kids will be 11-14. The children are usually medically healthy with mild or correctable special needs. More boys than girls are available.

All children have legal adoptable status and are legally free for adoption which from a potential adoption standpoint significantly reduces your chance of risk in not being able to adopt the child you bond with. 

Agency staff, team psychologists and representatives often have an opportunity to interview these children to talk with the child about his/her life, interests and dreams of the future, and we’ve also learned about the child through review of his/her documents and conversation with his/her social worker/psychologist. 

Who may host?

If you are interested in adopting an older child or sibling group from Colombia after hosting the child, then this program is for you! It is imperative that you pre-qualify through your placing agency to ensure that you meet Colombia's requirements for adoption before committing your time, money and emotions to hosting a child that you may or may not qualify to adopt. Our partner agency's program is geared toward possible adoption between the child and host family, which is why they pre-qualify applicants for adoption as well. Here are some basics of the requirements. 

• Single men and women, and couples married or together two or more years. If single, must be at least 25 years old and no older than 59. 
• Prefer there be no more than 59 years age difference between the child and oldest host/adoptive parent.
• Gay and lesbians individuals and married couples may host and adopt in Colombia.
• At least one person in the marriage must be a US Citizen as is required of single applicants as well. The vacation program occurs only in the US or Colombia.
• Additional prospective adoptive parent, income and travel requirements are required to adopt from Colombia. 
• All applicants and adults 18 and older living in the host home will be required to get an FBI clearance, child abuse clearance in your state of residence, speak face-to-face at least once with a social worker, submit letters of reference, be medically and emotionally fit to host and parent a child.
• Anyone using a psychotropic medication (such as for anxiety or anti-depression, etc.) with a history of psychiatric conditions, or with a chronic or debilitating illness should please speak with us first.
• All applicants are required to complete a mini-home study and 10 hours of pre-adoption education and 10 hours of program preparation at their own expense, 
• Host families in the US program must be willing to travel to receive -- and then return the child -- to the US port of entry where the kids will arive to and depart from, and are responsible to pay for their and the child's airfare to/from/to that city, all the child's activities, food, clothing and needs during the hosting program. These expenses are additional to the Program Fee.
• The children may not be taken out of the US during the program or left in the care of anyone other than an approved host parent, and not sent to camps.

Program Dates 2024: 

Please email us information on our partner program for the 2024 hosting to adopt program, to kelly@bbinternationaladoption.com

Benefits of hosting with the intent to adopt:

Aside from being able to spend weeks together getting to know one another before the adoption, another benefit of hosting a child is that ICBF fast-tracks these kids through their adoption so you can expect to complete your adoption faster. It's a great option for people who are uncertain about adopting an older child because it gives them the chance to spend quality time together as a family testing the waters for adoption.