Your Guide: Catherine Criolla
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International adoptions from Peru are legal and regulated and there is a community of families with Peruvian born children living in the U.S. They have gatherings in the U.S., family trips back to Peru, and other activities. Adopting a child from Peru is not a simple process, and it is useful to do a considerable amount of research before embarking on this (or any) kind of international adoption.
A good place to begin is with organizations of adoptive parents and families (there are several, with considerable web presence). Also, start doing research on health issues at the Oakland Children’s Hospital International Adoption Clinic. They provide everything from pre-travel consultations through ongoing care — even if you are nowhere near northern California they are an invaluable resource.
If you are deciding to adopt a child from Peru, the first thing you must find is a reputable agency approved by the Peruvian government. The list of these (pdf) is available at the U.S. Embassy Website. You should evaluate these agencies carefully before selecting one. Be aware that if you are working with another agency from the U.S. they will need to go through one of these agencies.
You should also read the U.S. State Department documents about adopting from Peru. These provide all the rules from the U.S. side.
Over years of watching friends and acquaintances go through the process of adopting a child from Peru here are my observations:
Web Resources for families with children adopted from Peru
PeruAdopt listserve — a yahoo group for families with adoptive children born in Peru (pre-and post-adoption)
PeruToddlerstoTeens listerve — a yahoo group for families with adoptive children born in Peru (post-adoption)
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