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Located just two hours south of Miami, the Caribbean nation of the Dominican Republic is a popular tourist destination, yet is also home to many vulnerable children living in orphanages or group homes. CCAI is honored to serve these children through our Dominican Republic Adoption Program.
Complete a Medical Conditions Checklist together with your Application to help CCAI know more about your adoption expectations!
With Host Orphans Worldwide, CCAI seeks adoption-minded host families to host tweens and teens. Often, this may be the last chance for a child to find a family before they age out of the Dominican child welfare system.
Hosting is an excellent opportunity to get to know a child before adoption, and many forever families are created through hosting programs!
The Dominican Republic has a diverse and colorful culture. Most Dominicans are of multiracial descent, including Indigenous and Black ancestries, and the nation’s official language is Spanish.
Child Age Range: 5-18 years
Sibling Groups: Yes
Marriage Couples: Heterosexual couples legally married for at least 5 years
In-Country Stay: 4-6 months
Both applicants must be between 30 and 60 years of age and at least 15 years older than the adoptive child.
Heterosexual couples must be legally married at least 5 years.
Applicants’ income must meet the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) requirements as specified in Form I-864P for 125% of the current Poverty Guideline: https://www.uscis.gov/i-864p
Applicants must be in good physical and mental health.
Applicants must have no history (as a perpetrator) of domestic violence, sexual abuse/offenses, or child abuse.
Within 5 Business Days
Approximately 6-7 Months
12-36 Months
Travel approximately 4 months after referral, stay 4-6 months
6 post adoption reports at 6 months, 12 months, 2 years, 3 years, 4 years and 5 years following placement
Successful completion of 12+ parent training hours which meets the requirements of the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption and CCAI. All Parent Training is covered in CCAI fees.
One trip is required with a duration of 4-6 months, an incredible opportunity for families with a flexible schedule to “cocoon” with their new child and enjoy a quieter pace away from hectic American schedules. Consider the possibility of remote working, virtual school or homeschooling for children in the home (or even enrollment in an American school in the Dominican Republic!); it IS possible!
Absolutely no hidden charges, no last minute surprises!
Please select your state below for a clear and comprehensive list of the fees and expenses necessary to complete your Dominican Republic adoption:
Colorado
Florida, Georgia, Texas, Wyoming
All Other States
Love without Boundaries has a comprehensive, informative, and educational guide for families considering adopting a child with medical/functional needs.
Adopting a Child with
Functional Needs
The National Organization for Rare Diseases can also be a wonderful resource!
Child matches/referrals are made by Consejo Nacional para la Niñez y la Adolescencia (CONANI), the Dominican Republic’s Central Authority, based on review and approval of a family’s dossier. Where prospective adoptive families are already aware of a particular child or sibling group they wish to adopt, such as in the case of hosting, and presuming the child’s availability for intercountry adoption, such cases will still follow typical dossier and referral procedures, although the referral timeline may proceed more quickly.
Families adopting from the Dominican Republic must work with a non-profit and accredited home study agency to complete their home study report. If you are living in CO, FL, GA, TX, or WY, CCAI will be your home study provider. For all other states, please visit the link below to find a home study provider in your area.
CCAI requires 12+ hours of training time which meets the requirements of the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption.
Information from the Centers for Disease Control for those traveling to the Dominican Republic.
Information on known health risks via the World Health Organization’s Country Profile for the Dominican Republic.
GiGi Pleet joined CCAI in 2014 as our China Applications Specialist. She rejoined the team in 2022 after taking a few years off to spend time with her family. GiGi and her husband have adopted three beautiful daughters from China who are the joy and purpose of their lives. GiGi is passionate about adoption and furthering CCAI’s mission to find loving parents and permanent homes for as many children as possible and to continue reaching out to children left behind. When she is not working, you can find her spending time with her girls in the beautiful mountains of Colorado or on an adventure to a new, faraway place.
Joined CCAI: Originally 2014 – 2020, rejoined 2022
Bucket List Item: To see all Seven Wonders of the World
Contact Information
gigi@ccaifamily.org
(303) 850-9998 ext. 300
Emily was adopted through CCAI in 2002! Having always admired the ways that the organization continued to support families even after adoption, she began working at The Park last year because she wanted to be more involved in the adoption community and according to her, “It’s been a blast so far!”
Emily is majoring in environmental science at MSU Denver and hopes to help mitigate the causes and effects of climate change. In her free time, she like to practice guitar, play video games, watch movies, and spend time with her friends and family.
Bucket List: Visit every province in China!
Contact Information
emily@theparkcommunity.org
(303) 221-6688 ext. 170
Ivy has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Production Design for Film and Theater with a minor in Studio Art. She had the opportunity to study abroad in London, England and Florence, Italy. After graduating, while visiting an orphanage in Kathmandu, Nepal she had a moment of realization and knew she wanted to work in the adoption community. After some prior experience in post-adoption and nonprofit management, she came to The Park and is really enjoying focusing on and being involved with offering lifelong support for adoptees and the adoption community.
Ivy was adopted from Kazakhstan at 18-months old and is proud of her adoptee identity and her adoptive family. She is passionate about sharing the stories of the amazing people in the adoption community and helping adoptees celebrate their identities. Her lifelong best friend was adopted from China through CCAI.
In her free time, she enjoys making art (she is working on a series of sculptural paintings of poached animal species), trying new food, catching up with friends, reading, and being with family. She loves to travel whenever possible.
Joined CCAI: 2023
Top Bucket List Items:
Contact Information
ivy@theparkcommunity.org
(303) 221-6688 ext. 205
| Expense | Amount | Pmt Method | Pay To | Due |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | $250 | Check/ACH Withdrawal | CCAI | Application submission |
| Child Abuse Record Search | $35/Family | Check | CO Dept of Human Service | Application submission |
| IAAME Monitoring & Oversight Fee | $500 | Check/ACH Withdrawal | CCAI (Sent to IAAME) | After App Approval |
| First Program Fee (Includes Home Study) | $5,700 | Check/ACH Withdrawal | CCAI | After App Approval |
| CBI/FBI Fingerprint Search | $39.50 per person | Money Order | Colorado Bureau of Investigation | After App Approval |
| USCIS Filing & Fingerprinting | $775 plus $85/adult | Check/Money Order | US Dept. of Homeland Security | Upon I-800A submission |
| Dossier Preparation | Approx. $450-$900 | Check/Money Order | Secretary of State(s), Chinese Consulate(s) | As preparing Dossier |
| Second Program Fee | $5,050 | Check/ACH Withdrawal | CCAI | Dossier Submission |
| CCCWA Fee | $1,270 | Check/ACH Withdrawal | CCCWA via CCAI | Dossier Submission |
| Third Program Fee | $5,500 | Check/ACH Withdrawal | CCAI | Prior to receiving child match acceptance letter |
| CCCWA Post Adoption Translation Fee | $300 | Check/ACH Withdrawal | CCCWA via CCAI | Prior to receiving child match acceptance letter |
| Court Validation Deposit | $200 | Check | CCAI | Prior to receiving child match acceptance letter |
| Post Adoption Deposit (Refundable) | $450 | Check/ACH Withdrawal | CCAI | Prior to receiving child match acceptance letter |
| Visa to enter China | $140 (plus courier fee) | Check/Credit Card | Chinese Consulate via a courier/travel agency | Approximately one month before travel to China |
| US Domestic & International Airfare | $1,000 – $2,000 per traveler (adopted child over 2 requires full ticket) | Credit Card | A travel agency/airline of your choice | Approximately 7-10 days prior to China departure |
| In China Travel & Accommodations | Approx. $4,000-$4,400 for two adults | ACH Withdrawal | CCAI (wired to China) | Approximately 7-10 days prior to China departure |
| Adoption Registration and Notarization | $800 – $1,000 | Cash | Local government in China | In China |
| Orphanage Donation | (Voluntary) | Cash or Wire | Orphanage | In China |
| Child’s Passport | $100-$150 | Cash | Local passport agency | In China |
| Food | $700 – $800 per couple | Cash/Credit Card | Hotel(s), restaurant(s) | In China |
| Child Physical & Photo | $130-$150 | Cash | Clinic | In Guangzhou, China |
| Child U.S. Entry Visa | $325 | Cash or Check | U.S. Consulate | In China |
| Court Validation Fee | $167 | Check | County Court | After U.S. Return |
| Child’s Colorado Birth Certificate | $37.75 | Check | Colorado Vital Statistics Office | After U.S. Return |
| Lutheran Family Services | $250 | Check | Lutheran Family Services via CCAI | When Home Study is approved by CCAI |
