We have worked to serve India's children for over 30 years!
In India, poverty and the stigma of unwed motherhood often force young women to abandon their children at birth or to arrive at clinics and ask for early inductions. We are hoping to see a change for many of the birth mothers with birth mother counseling in several of the nurseries with which we work. We are beginning to see some degree of openness in the adoption process in some specific cases and are excited about this new development.
Children in the India Program are usually infant (birth to 24 months) to about five years. There are some older children available for adoption and these children would be cleared through the CHSFS Older Child Committee before referral approval. Families should expect some milestone delays from the children as they may come to nurseries malnourished. Medical histories of the child's birth family are frequently not available. Older child placements will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
There are children of either gender in the nurseries with which we work. Babies are usually referred to OCI card holders and Indian passport holders about six months and up.
Either birth mothers or babies are tested for Hepatitis B and HIV. Babies can be tested for Hepatitis B upon request after they are six months old.
The nursery caregivers provide excellent and consistent care for their infants and toddlers. Care ratio ranges from 1:1 - 1:3 during the child's first six months. Children are cuddled while fed, and caregivers play and interact with them often.
Referral information will consist of a 4-6 page report with small photograph, describing social history and a brief medical history of the child.
For children who are found abandoned, birth dates are estimated.
