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CCAI’s brand-new Mexico program is excited to welcome families seeking to adopt relative children and/or children with medical and/or emotional special needs.
Complete a Medical Conditions Checklist together with your Application to help CCAI know more about your adoption expectations!
CCAI opened its Mexico adoption program in 2026 and is excited to expand our services to children residing in our nearest neighbor nation. Like most intercountry adoption programs today, Mexico places older children, children with medical special needs, and/or sibling groups. CCAI is also honored to serve qualified US citizen families seeking a relative/kinship adoption from Mexico.
CCAI’s parent preparation resources give families the tools they need to successfully welcome a special child into their hearts and home. We stand ready to serve you – please contact us today to discuss adopting a child from Mexico!
Child Age Range: Usually 7-17 years
Sibling Groups: Yes
Marriage Length: Minimum of 3 or 5 years, depending on state
Singles: Yes, men or women
In-Country travel: Up to four trips (US/Mexican dual citizens may travel fewer times)
Most adoption cases from Mexico to the US are kinship adoptions; i.e. the child is already related to the adoptive family. In such cases, the adoptive child must NOT yet have reached their 16th birthday, and there must be sufficient evidence presented to the Mexican National and State Departments for Family Development (DIF), as well as the US government, as to why the child cannot be cared for in Mexico by the biological parents or other relatives (physically, financially, or emotionally).
While less common, non-relative children available for intercountry adoption from Mexico often come from complicated backgrounds. They may have moderate to significant medical needs that the birth family was unable to support, and/or they may have a history of poverty, abuse, neglect, or other trauma.
Children in need of adoption in Mexico are often at least seven years old. Younger children tend to have more complex medical situations (such as neurological conditions, epilepsy, developmental delay, hydrocephalus, ADD/ADHD, Down syndrome, etc.), while older children (10 and up) may be physically healthy but are likely to need emotional/mental health support due to their challenging histories.
Sibling groups are also available.
Applicants should be at least 25 years of age and at least 15 years older than the adoptive child. Flexibility surrounding qualifications is often possible in relative adoption cases.
Couples must have been married a minimum of 3 or 5 years (depending on the child’s Mexican State of origin).
Applicants must be in good physical and mental health and have no history (as a perpetrator) of domestic violence, sexual abuse/offenses, or child abuse.
Application
5 working days
Home Study and Dossier Completion
Approx. 6-7 Months
Mexican Adoption Authority Approval
Approx. 2-3 Months
Child Match
Variable; Approx. 2 months – 48+months
Travel to Mexico
Up to four trips at variable timelines; US/Mexican dual citizens may travel fewer times
Post Adoption Services and Adoption Validation
Mexico requires 6 reports, every 6 months for three years. All reports must be completed by the home study agency.
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.
Up to four trips are required (US/Mexican dual citizens may travel fewer times):
Absolutely no hidden charges, no last minute surprises!
CCAI is proud to be a 501(c)(3) non-profit, charitable adoption agency. We strive to keep adoption affordable so more children will have the blessing of a loving and permanent family.
We are financially accountable to you as the American public and as an adoptive family. Our solemn promise is absolute integrity with no hidden charges or last-minute surprises.
Please view our clear and comprehensive list of the fees and expenses below, based on your place of residence, necessary to complete your Mexico adoption:
Colorado
Florida, Georgia, Texas, Wyoming
All Other States
Families adopting from Mexico must work with a licensed home study agency in their state 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.
Mexico requires 12 hours of parent training for all families. Parent training is included in CCAI’s program fees. Visit our parent training website to view our Hague-compliant, program-compliant, in-person course offerings.
Information from the Centers for Disease Control for those traveling to Mexico.
Information on known health risks via the World Health Organization’s Country Profile for Mexico.
In some ways, yes! The required steps for the process are identical whether or not a child was hosted; however, having a child identified before a dossier is submitted will shave some time off the overall process since the adoptive family won’t have to wait on a list for a blind referral.
While the adoption process is the same, applicants of Colombian heritage (with current documentation) are eligible to adopt children 0-15 years of age with no known medical conditions. Depending on their openness, they may also be given priority on any wait list for children of their preferred characteristics.
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 Council for Adoption (NCFA) offers a Medical Special Needs Video Series designed to offer basic yet important information about specific medical, developmental, sensory, and other conditions.
The National Organization for Rare Diseases can also be a wonderful resource!
Christina Nagel first joined CCAI in 2001 as a Receptionist and went on to serve across a wide range of roles, including Applications, Dossier, Immigration, Training, and Travel, as well as at JCC. After stepping away for several years to pursue full-time ministry and raise her three children, she rejoined the staff in 2025. Christina and her husband Dave are honored to be part of CCAI’s mission and are deeply grateful for the profound impact CCAI has had on their own family. Christina is passionate about building families through adoption, and as long as families continue to say yes, she remains wholeheartedly committed to serving children and families alike.
Joined CCAI: Originally 2001– 2008, rejoined 2025
Bucket List Item: To travel to the Greek Islands
Contact Information
christina@ccaifamily.org
(303) 850-9998 ext. 201
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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 |