Chances by Choice

As HIV/AIDS continues to ravage many countries we are seeing an increase in the number of children orphaned by AIDS. Some of these children end up being HIV+ themselves. In most of their home countries the stigma and lack of medical care available to them condemns them to a short and bleak future.

Chances by Choice is a non-profit foundation started in 2002 by Margaret Fleming, who has been working in the adoption field for years and is an adoptive mother herself. Chances by Choice provides international adoption, education and supportive services for children around the world who are HIV positive with no symptoms of AIDS, or who have sero-converted to HIV negative. All of Chances by Choices services are free of charge.

In 2002, only 200 HIV positive children were born in the U.S., down from 2000 in 2001. Therefore, Chances by Choice (CBC) is focusing on children living in countries where stigma and lack of education and resources have created a massive health crisis. Chances by Choice is recruiting families to adopt HIV positive children, or those who have sero-converted to HIV negative.

To learn about children who are currently waiting for a family click here: http://www.chancesbychoice.org/children.aspx

A common question asked is whether the United States government will allow an HIV+ child into the US. The answer is yes.:

The INS must allow your newly adopted child into the U.S. since he or she will already be your legal child when you leave his/her country of origin. You may be required to sign a statement acknowledging that you have been fully informed of your child's health status and that you have adequate health insurance and resources in place.