Children at Heart was accredited in Poland in July 2010.  Janice and Mark, the directors of Children at Heart, traveled to Poland in August 2010 to meet with officials at the Adoption Center in Warsaw.  At this time, this program is considered a "pilot program", however in January 2013 we completed our first adoption in Poland!  

   This program consists of the adoption of older children, sibling groups with older and younger children, and special needs infants and toddlers.  They are Caucasian children, mostly light hair and blue eyes.  The children reside in Government, well-run orphanages and foster homes.  This program is open to married couples (the mothers may be up to 40 years older than the child, and the fathers may be up to 45 years older) and single woman (single woman are only allowed to adopt special needs children or a girl about 10 years old).

 
   After the preparation of your home study and dossier  documents, that paperwork is sent to our facilitator for translation and presentation to the Adoption Center in Warsaw.  Information on a child or sibling group who most closely match your description in the home study will be sent to you as a referral.  You will receive medical information and a picture or pictures.  Once you accept the referral, you will travel to Poland for a trip of approximately 7 to 10 days.  Both parents must travel on this first trip if married.  You will make a stop at the Adoption Center in Warsaw, and then travel to the orphanage in the City where your child(ren) is located.  You will visit with your child(ren) for a few days to determine that this is the child(ren) you want to adopt.  You will return home to continue on with your paperwork for your I-800 approval, and once you have received this, you will return to Poland for your adoption trip.  Polish law requires both adoptive parents to be present for at least part of the court procedure.  The bonding period may take from 14 days up to 21 days, depending upon the Judge.  During this bonding time, you will take your child out of the orphanage to be with you during the day and sometimes at night.  There is an appeal period of 14 to 21 days following the court decision. The parents may both stay or both can leave during this appeal time and return for a trip of about 3 to 7 days to visit our Embassy for your child’s visa. It is best if at least one parent remains during this appeal time.  Your child stays with you following court. 

   We are seeking families who are interested in adopting these available orphaned children.  They are all beautiful and in need of your love!

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  For more information on our Poland program, please fill out the information request form on the contact page of our website.

Revised 08/30/10