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Vietnam
UPDATE! Due to the popularity of this program and the number of applications received in 2007, Lutheran Social Services is temporarily placing the Vietnam program on hold to new applicants. As referrals are accepted and children are placed with currently approved and waiting families, we will again begin accepting a limited number of applications. Please check back with us soon.
Read our Press Release about being officially licensed by the Vietnamese Government as of May 24, 2007.
LSSNE began placing children from Vietnam in 1995, continuing until 2001 when adoption activities were suspended because of governmental restrictions. Our international specialists here and our representatives in Vietnam are excited to be working together towards the re-opening of our program in Vietnam.
LSS Re-Opens Vietnam Adoption Program
In March, 2007, LSS Director of Adoption Services, Kathryn Beary and Lauren Payne, VP of Children's Services, traveled to Vietnam where they met with LSS representatives, orphanage directors, and government officials in Hanoi and Ninh Binh to solidify the reopening of our Vietnam adoption program. LSS is committed to providing relief to the Ninh Binh Social Sponsorial Center (NSSC) in Ninh Binh Province and will assist its orphanage to find permanent homes and families for some of the orphaned children housed there.
Vu Kieu Nga, licensing consultant, and Nguyen Thuy Hoa, representative in charge of the Hanoi office (photo above), arranged a productive and enlightening week of activities geared towards increasing understanding of Vietnamese adoption law and awareness of Vietnamese culture. We extend them a hearty welcome to our team and know that our families will enjoy working with them in completing their adoption journeys.
The Process
The adoption process follows guidelines established by the Vietnamese Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and these guidelines are subject to change. Once a family completes a home study, they prepare the adoption dossier for Vietnam. All documents must be certified and authenticated in the U.S. before they are sent to Vietnam. A child referral is usually made 6-9 months after dossier completion. One trip is required to Vietnam.
Parent Eligibility
Married couples as well as single women and men may apply to adopt. Parent ages and previous marriage requirements are flexible.
The Children
Vietnamese orphans eligible for adoption will be 2 months of age and older. Most referrals will be for infants under 1 year of age who have been cared for in orphanages. Older children and those with special needs, both correctable and chronic, are in urgent need of adoptive families.
Travel
One 2-3 week trip is required by the government of Vietnam. Families will travel in small groups to Vietnam, and will be escorted and assisted throughout the process by our English-speaking coordinators.
More about the Country
Read more about the people, culture, and history of Vietnam at wikipedia.com
Read Stories from families about their Vietnam Adoption experience with LSSNE