Host a Child from Colombia

Who are the children in the program?

Children in this program are in the child protection system in Colombia and eligible for adoption. The central authority in Colombia has determined the hosting program will be a positive opportunity for them. The children who are selected have expressed an interest in being adopted and are willing participants in the hosting program. Many of them have been advocated for by placing agencies previously without a family coming forward to adopt them. The program is an effort to provide special advocacy to those who need it most. Typically, children are between the ages of 10 and 15, and they may be part of a sibling group.

These children currently live with either a foster family or in group care in different regions of Colombia. They understand this program to be an opportunity to spend time with an American family and meet other families who may be considering adopting from Colombia. Host families are under no obligation to adopt the children they host… but many do!

View the photolisting of children currently available for hosting and adoption through our Colombia hosting program!

When will the hosting program take place?

Kidsave offers two opportunities to host a child from Colombia annually. There is a three-week Winter Miracles program for prospective adoptive parents to host a child each December, and a five-week Summer Miracles program for both prospective adoptive parents and advocates, which takes place in July and August. Learn more about Kidsave and request more information here!

Is my family eligible?

The Colombia hosting program is open to families who are considering older child adoption or who are interested in advocating for older children who need families. Eligibility for hosting is similar to Colombia adoption eligibility. Families must have a background check and 10 hours of educational training, complete a psychosocial assessment, and be in adequate mental and physical health. Single women, men and all married couples may apply. Ongoing medical and psychological conditions, medications and significant medical histories will require a letter from a physician.

Is there a cost?

The fee to host a child through Holt’s programs with Kidsave is $3,250, which covers a portion of the international hosting program overhead costs. There are additional expenses incurred during the hosting period to care for the host child and accommodate the chaperone’s visit, as well as the service fees described below. There are also costs to apply to Holt, obtain background checks and receive parent training, which will count towards adoption requirements.

In addition to the hosting fee, families are required to complete a psychosocial study (an abridged homestudy). Psychosocial studies completed by Holt cost $750. Families who decide to adopt through Holt after completing the psychosocial study will receive a 10% discount on their homestudy fee and will receive guidance on fundraising and various adoption grants. Those who are in the process of adopting through Holt and are completing a homestudy will not be billed for a psychosocial study. A full breakdown of Kidsave’s fees, as well as grant opportunities, can be found on kidsave.org.

What happens if a family wants to adopt the child they host?

Host families may submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) to adopt the child they hosted. If accepted by Colombia, they are given a timeframe within which to complete their remaining adoption paperwork. For families who wait to begin the homestudy until after hosting, there is typically an additional 10-12 months of paperwork before the adoption can be completed in Colombia. Families with an approved homestudy at the time of submitting the LOI can complete the remainder of the process in as quickly as six months. This route requires higher upfront costs but shortens the amount of time the child has to wait to be adopted. Families who have completed the full homestudy assessment prior to hosting receive parent education, support and preparation that is invaluable to the hosting experience. They also will be in a better position to apply for grants and fundraise for the latter part of the adoption costs once hosting concludes.

For more information about adopting from Colombia via hosting, please contact [email protected].