Please note that our Ethiopia program is a network program, which means we can assist only
families residing in Kentucky or Missouri with an Ethiopian adoption.
 All Blessings International proudly partners with
Illien Adoptions, International, a
licensed child placing agency based in Atlanta, Georgia to assist Kentucky and Missouri families in their
pursuit of an adoption from Ethiopia . ABI and Illien Adoptions
have created a cooperative working relationship to provide ethical, professional and quality
service delivery to both children and families.
Ethiopia is one of the few countries in Africa that is favorable to inter-country adoption.
U.S. agencies are licensed by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MOLSA) which
functions directly under the supervision of the Ministry of Justice. The MOJ oversees
all of the inter-country adoption activity and the adoption process has many built-in
safeguards. Illien Adoptions is licensed in Ethiopia. ABI can assist Kentucky and Missouri families
with homestudies and document preparation for an Ethiopian adoption , which will be
processed directly by Illien. Families will enter a contract directly with Illien
for adoption processing. The U.S. Embassy coordinates closely with the Ethiopian
government to ensure the eligibility of each child available for adoption.
Ethiopian law allows families meeting the following criteria to adopt:
- adoptive parents should be no more than 43 years older than the referred child
- minimum five years of marriage are preferred (however exceptions have been made)
- there is no maximum number of children for prospective adoptive families
- single women may adopt
An Ethiopian adoption takes approximately 6 to 9 months to complete once your dossier
has been submitted. A realistic time line from the beginning to the end of the process is
approximately 12 months. This timeline is subject to change.
Children are available from infancy to early teens. Sibling groups and special needs children are also available.
All children are tested for HIV, Hepatitis B, and venereal disease. The children are also tested for TB, if suspected.
They do receive medical care at the orphanage, but malnutrition and upper respiratory illnesses are common among these children.
Currently, Ethiopia is requiring that families travel to attend court prior to adoption processing.
This is requested of both parents; however, exceptions are being made by the Ethiopian courts
on a case by case basis. After the adoption escorts may be permitted, however, we encourage
at least one parent to make the trip to Ethiopia to bring their child home. The
required stay in Ethiopia is approximately one week.
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