Waiting Children in India

In India, children of all ages with minor to significant developmental, physical or medical special needs, and sibling groups are in need of families. The children were placed under care in institutions due to the loss of birth parents, birth parent relinquishment, or abandonment. They were deemed to be legally free for adoption by the Indian adoption authorities.

Non-Resident Indian (NRI) and Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) heritage families may request to be matched with a child with no known medical needs, but they must be prepared for mild/correctable issues, delays, and unpredictable wait times. Non-heritage families must be open to a child with known special needs, a child over the age of 8, or a sibling group of three or more children.

Adopting from India

Hopeful adoptive parents looking to adopt a child from India are urgently needed, especially those open to adopting children with special needs, older children, or sibling groups. Adoptive parents must meet India’s criteria for adoption to be considered for a match. If you’re unsure about your eligibility, please complete our Prospective Adoptive Parent form. You’ll be contacted by one of our adoption specialists who can help determine the right fit for your family and answer your questions. Gladney’s India Team is here to guide you through every step of the process.

Step 1: Check your program eligibility by submitting the Prospective Adoptive Parent Form | New Window
Step 2: Ready to move forward? Complete the Placement Application to officially begin | New Window

Hopeful adoptive parents are required to complete a home study, an India dossier, and complete pre-adoptive training as assigned by Gladney.

India Adoption Program

On November 29, 2024, the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), the central adoption authority in India, granted authorization for Gladney to facilitate intercountry adoptions from India. India and the United States are parties to the Hague Adoption Convention, and children from India must meet the requirements of the Hague Convention in order to be eligible for intercountry adoption. Acting in its role as an Authorized Foreign Adoption Agency in India, Gladney is entrusted to recruit and submit prospective parents’ adoption application dossiers to CARA for review and acceptance and to match children in need with their forever families. Gladney is honored to have the privilege to partner in this important endeavor with India.