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Notice: Confirmation of Orphanage Closures in Ethiopia Ethiopian government officials have confirmed that several orphanages in the Southern Nations state are closed due to revocation of their licenses to operate by Ethiopian authorities. These orphanages are: SOS Infants Ethiopia (Arbaminch, … Continue reading →

State Department Adoption Notice regarding the closure of Ethiopian orphanages, July 24, 2011. Continue reading →

.Adoption Notice: Ethiopia Update on adoption case processing by MOWCYA in Ethiopia The U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia has received information from the Ministry of Women, Children and Youth Affairs indicating that processing of cases that received a court summons prior … Continue reading →

04/17/2011 What Does the Future Hold for Ethiopian Orphans? By Meron Tekleberhan Original Source can be found here. Addis Ababa, April 17, 2011 (Ezega.com) – Judging from the large numbers of American and European adoptive parents and their Ethiopian children … Continue reading →

04/06/2011 Can be found in full here.

The Department of State has published a Notice on Ethiopian Adoptions: Significant delays remain likely for cases presented to Ethiopia’s Ministry of Women, Children and Youth Affairs after March 8, 2011. The content of the notice is supported by Joint … Continue reading →

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will facilitate a meeting on Ethiopian adoptions for all stakeholders including adoptive families.  The meeting will take place on April 6, 2011.  The USCIS announcement and invitation is available below or here. It is … Continue reading →

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has published a Q&A on Ethiopian adoptions.  The Q&A is highly valuable to adoptive families and all service providers.  A few of the highlights of the Q&A are; USCIS and Department of State are … Continue reading →

The following announcement was issued by the U.S. Dept of State, Office of Children’s Issues on March 16, 2011.  It can also be found on their website. U.S. Department of State, Office of Children’s Issues, Adoption Division hosted a conference … Continue reading →

Dr. Jane Aronson, Founder and CEO of Worldwide Orphans Foundation and Joint Council Board Member, has issued an “open letter” to former President Bill Clinton where she pressed for stronger diplomatic efforts to reverse the Ethiopian government’s recent decision to … Continue reading →

Various blogs and listservs are reporting that the Ethiopian Ministry of Women, Children and Youth Affairs has announced a revised plan which includes the processing of 20 adoption cases per day.  While Joint Council has also been provided with this … Continue reading →

Author and journalist Andrea Poe published Ethiopia Adoptions May Be In Peril in the Washington Times on Friday, March 11, 2011.  See below or click here for the full text of the article. _________________________________________________________ NEW YORK – Ethiopia is poised … Continue reading →

Following are our notes from the Department of State Office of Children’s Issues conference call regarding Ethiopian adoptions conducted earlier today. These notes do not represent nor are they in any way attributable to the Department of State or US … Continue reading →

Processing Limit It has been confirmed that the new policy of limiting the number of adoption cases processed by the Ethiopian Ministry of Women’s, Children’s and Youth Affairs went into effect today, March 10, 2011 with 5 cases being completed.   … Continue reading →

Associated Press National Writer David Crary published Ethiopia Moves to Sharply Reduce Foreign Adoptions in various media outlets earlier today.  Click here for the full text of the article.

In only 24-hours, over 11,000 concerned individuals have joined our Emergency Campaign for Ethiopian Children by signing our petition. We extend our thanks to all who have supported this initiative by signing the petition, distributing the campaign information and expressing … Continue reading →

The U.S. Dept of State, Office of Children’s Issues had released the following Adoption Alert regarding Ethiopia: ______________________________________________________________________________________ Government of Ethiopia Plans Major Slow-Down in Adoption Processing March 9, 2011 Citing the need to work on quality and focus on … Continue reading →

March 9, 2011 Statement on Children and Family Services in Ethiopia The work of Joint Council on International Children’s Services includes the development and implementation of the highest standards and ethical practices, the support of children living outside of family … Continue reading →

3/8/11 Joint Council recently released a Statement regarding the announcement by the Ethiopian Ministry of Women’s, Children’s and Youth Affairs plan to reduce intercountry adoption by 90%. The Statement can be found on our blog by clicking here. As part … Continue reading →

3/7/11 Statement on Intercountry Adoption in Ethiopia Last week the Ethiopian Ministry of Women’s, Children’s and Youth Affairs announced their intention to reduce intercountry adoptions by 90% beginning March 10, 2011.  The Ministry’s plan for a dramatic reduction is apparently … Continue reading →

02/15/11 It is Joint Council’s understanding that the Ethiopian Government has revoked Better Futures Adoption Services’ registration to operate in Ethiopia, including its ability to perform intercountry adoptions.  A notice from the U.S. Dept of State, Office of Children’s Issues … Continue reading →

2/12/11  Joint Council published a report on children’s services in Ethiopia.  This Summary Report highlights the work of Joint Council Partner Members in providing services including intercountry adoption, to Ethiopian children and families. Click here to read the two-page report. … Continue reading →

January 13, 2011 The U.S. Dept of State, Office of Children’s Issues has issued the following Adoption Alert regarding Ethiopia.  The full text of the alert is below. The U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa announces a change in its adoption … Continue reading →

August 27, 2010 This notice serves as a reminder that as of May 9, 2010, the Ethiopian government requires that adoptive parents must appear at the federal court hearing for their adoptive child in order for the adoption to be … Continue reading →

August 11, 2010 Joint Council to host delegation from Ethiopia As part of the Joint Council International Relations Initiative: Education and Exchange Program, Joint Council is honored to host a 4-member Ethiopian delegation, led by Minister of Federal Affairs, Dr. … Continue reading →

March 6, 2010 The U.S. Dept of State, Office of Children’s Issues has issued a notice regarding adoptions from Ethiopia.

November 23, 2009 Following is an update on Joint Council’s advocacy efforts in Ethiopia including our October trip. As always, our advocacy efforts, including our recent trip, serve to advance every child’s right to a permanent and safe family. Standards … Continue reading →

October 12, 2009 Joint Council’s Director of Programs & Services, Rebecca Harris, and President, Tom DiFilipo, conducted an advocacy trip to Ethiopia from October 2 through October 9, 2009. Meetings were held with officials of the U.S., French, Australian and … Continue reading →

September 28, 2009 Review and Assessment of Intercountry Adoption Practices in Ethiopia Joint Council’s President, Tom DiFilipo, and Director of Programs and Services, Rebecca Harris, will travel to Ethiopia on October 2, 2009 for nine days. Meetings are currently being … Continue reading →

September 21, 2009 The Australian ABC News program Foreign Correspondent, recently broadcast a program entitled Fly Away Children . This program focused on intercountry adoption in Ethiopia and raised serious concerns. On the web page for the story, are responses … Continue reading →

May 29, 2009 The U.S. State Department, Office of Children’s Issues has issued an Adoption Alert regarding Ethiopia.  Joint Council will continue to closely monitor developments in Ethiopia and update our website accordingly.

May 14, 2009 It is Joint Council’s understanding that Ethiopian authorities are investigating alleged actions of five children’s homes in or around Addis Ababa. It is our understanding that this is affecting abandonment cases processed through the courts in Addis. … Continue reading →

November 13, 2008 The Ethiopian Ministry of Women’s Affairs now requires additional documentation for adoption cases in which a living birth parent or parents has/have abandoned their child to an orphanage. The regional social affairs bureau must now authenticate the … Continue reading →

October 23, 2008 Joint Council has released a policy statement on Cultural Sensitivities in Ethiopia in order to formalize our cultural sensitivity policies and to educate PAPs and others on this important issue. We ask that all families currently in-process … Continue reading →

August 11, 2008 During the week of August 4, 2008, Joint Council traveled to Ethiopia to further our ongoing dialogue with the Ethiopian government. During our advocacy trip, we communicated with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, … Continue reading →

July 16, 2008 During the week of July 7, 2008, * Joint Council led a delegation of child welfare organizations to Addis Ababa and presented its Standards of Practice for Adoption Service Providers with Respect to the Federal Democratic Republic … Continue reading →

September 5, 2007 The U.S. Department of States has estimated that the total number of orphan visas for FY-2007 will reach 1,300 – nearly double the FY-2006 level. The U.S. embassy in Addis Adaba is continuing to review cases to … Continue reading →

August 1, 2007 The CDC recently posted a notice regarding a Hepatitis A risk associated with Ethiopian adoptees, in response to several reported cases in children and adults linked to adoptees from Ethiopia.

September 18, 2009 Joint Council is well aware of the grave issues relating to intercountry adoption in Ethiopia. Earlier this week, Joint Council initiated an immediate assessment of any possible violations by Adoption Service Providers. Pending review Joint Council will … Continue reading →