Haiti Restarts Adoption
   The Canadian Embassy in Port-au-Prince recieved official word that it is now ready for the IBESR to resume it's intercountry adoption program. The adoption process has not changed. However, at the end of March 2010, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Work tabled draft legislation that calls for adoption reform. Parliament has not yet made a ruling. Mission of Tears is now accepting applications for this program.

Landscape and Climate

Haiti is in the West Indies. It occupies the western third of the island formerly known as Hispaniola (La Isla Española). The Dominican Republic takes up the eastern two-thirds. To the north is the Atlantic Ocean; to the south and west is the Caribbean Sea. To the northwest the Windward Passage separates Haiti from Cuba, which is about 96 km away. Haiti controls several islands that lie offshore.


Haiti is a mountainous country. About two-fifths of the total land area is more than 490 metres above sea level. The plains are the most productive agricultural lands and the most heavily populated areas. The seas around Haiti are known for their beautiful coral reefs.

Mountain ranges divide the country into three regions: northern, central and southern. The main mountain system is called the Massif du Nord (with an average elevation of 1200 metres).

Haiti has a generally hot, humid climate. In most areas, temperatures vary little from season to season. Haiti's dry season is from November to January, and the rainy season is from February to May. Rainfall tends to be higher on the mountain slopes and lower on the sheltered leeward slopes and in the valleys. As a result, some areas are subject to droughts from time to time.

Haiti is in the hurricane belt and severe storms occur between June and October. The island has also experienced several earthquakes.

Haiti was once almost entirely covered with forests. Fires, uncontrolled cutting and the conversion of land for agriculture destroyed most of the trees. Now only about 2% of the land is forested. Because of deforestation, a tropical storm in November 1994 caused mudslides that killed 800 Haitians.

Summary Fact Sheet

Official Name:

Republic of Haiti

Capital:

Port-au-Prince

Type of Government:

Republic

Population:

7.5 million

Area:

27,750 sq km

Major Ethnic Groups:

African descent,  (African-French), European descent

Languages:

French, Creole

Religions:

Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, Voodooism

Unit of Currency:

Gourde

National Flag:

Two equal horizontal bands of blue and red with a centred white rectangle bearing the coat of arms: a palm tree flanked by flags and cannons above a scroll bearing the motto: L'union fait la force (Union Makes Strength)

Date of Independence:

January 1, 1804
Country Information

The population of Haiti is almost entirely black due to its historical origin as a slaveholding agricultural colony of France.

The countries powerful and political elite are mainly ethnic minorities comprising of Syrian, Palestinian and Lebanese immigrants from the trading communities.

Haiti has been plagued by political violence for most of its history. Known as the "world’s poorest children in the western hemisphere”, the vulnerability of Haiti’s 1.2 million children rose significantly in the context of conflict and instability. The weakening of State institutions and a non-functioning Parliament hampered policy development or strategic planning for children resulting in negative trends in the health, nutrition and well being of vulnerable children and women. About 60 per cent of rural households and 32 per cent of urban households suffer from chronic food insecurity on a daily basis.
Many children are forced to make their way through life abandoned, malnourished and neglected.  Without the protection of families and communities they find themselves in institutions and are in desperate need of alternative care.
The Mission of T.E.A.R.S. works in close collaboration with licensed orphanages / adoption agencies in Haiti. Once approved by the Ministry of child and family services in Ontario, the overseas stage of the adoption begins. This involves:

• Compiling your dossier for Haiti and Translation of documents
• Seeking a child referral from one of the orphanages in Haiti
• Seeking the consent of the family in conjunction with the agency
  and social worker and obtaining the approval of the Ministry.
• Transfer of the file to Haiti Social Services (IBESR) for approval
• Court process and finalization of adoption
• Obtaining passports and completing immigration procedures
• Travel to the country to escort the child to Canada
 
Haitian adoptions can take up to 18 months or longer. Court appearance is not required by the family; however families are encouraged to travel to the country to being the children in order to gain an insight into the child’s homeland and culture.