Welcome to Happy Families!

Happy Families International Center is a New York State licensed, child placing, Home Study and International Adoption agency. We are:

1. Accredited in the Russian Federation
2. Accredited according to Hague Convention guidelines by the Council on Adoption
3. Proud members of Joint Council On International Children’s Services since 1998
4. Proud members of the National Council On Adoption since 2003

HFIC is committed to families and foreign-born, orphaned and abandoned children in need of loving homes. Our visionary focus and our offering of humanitarian assistance are essential to our work.

The staff of HFIC recognizes that the process of adoption is a personal path that brings a family together. HFIC is sensitive to the individual needs of its applicants and the unique services that each family may require. With this in mind, we offer each applicant our many years of skilled, professional, guidance in a personal and caring manner.

We welcome you to our website and to call or e-mail us for further information. We would be happy to give you the names of families who have gone through our programs!

Families Needed
If you are just beginning the international adoption process or have your Home study or Dossier completed, we can work with you to bring home your waiting child. We have established programs in Russia, Kazakhstan and Guatemala. Please call us or attend a seminar for more information.

Headlines and Events

We are Now Hague Accredited
We have received notification from the Council on Accreditation (COA) that we have been granted accreditation under the new Hague regulations. This is very good news for Happy Families International Center and for our clients because once the US ratifies the Hague treaty, those adopting from other Hague-ratified countries (such as Guatemala) can only do so through an accredited agency. We are very proud to be in the first group of U.S. agencies to receive this designation.

The goal of the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption is to ensure that the best interests of children are considered with each Intercountry adoption and to prevent the abduction, exploitation, sale, or trafficking of children around the world. 68 nations, including China, India, Guatemala, and Peru, have already ratified the treaty, and the US is expected to become a member nation on April 1. Once the US legislation is ratified, all US adoption agencies must be accredited under rigorous guidelines in order to place children from other Hague Convention nations into American families.

In order to receive accreditation, Happy Families International Center had to meet stringent requirements regarding licensing and corporate governance, financial and risk management procedures, ethical practices, professional qualifications and quality control policies.
Additional info about Hague Accreditation and why it is important:

• More about Accreditation
• RainbowKids Article: What Does The Hague Convention Mean To You

Happy Families is Now Accredited in Russia!
This is the permanent accreditation, with no expiration date whatsoever. We are looking to register Happy Families immediately in all of our regions.

10th Annual Russian Children's Folk Festival
Share the success of our 10-year anniversary Gala celebration by reading the New York Times article! click here [ About the Festival ]

Seminars
 
These events will feature our Executive Director Natasha Shaginian-Needham, M.D., along with
Social Workers and Adoption Coordinators, who will provide all the information you will need to begin your journey through international adoption.
 
If you cannot attend a seminar, please contact us to set up a time convenient for you to come into our office and speak with us about how we can help you bring home your waiting child. We also hold monthly seminars in our office in Cold Spring, NY.
 
Call us for free registration or information about our upcoming adoption seminars. Informational Seminars are being held at our office in Cold Spring every Month at 6 PM. There is no charge. Come and talk to our NY office staff and find out about your possibilities with international adoption and why so many families have found that personal touch through Happy Families International Center. Many times, we will have families who have recently returned with their children there as well. It is worth your while to come, meet our staff and possibly some of our adoptive families who would like to share their experiences with HFIC with you. Call (845) 265-9272 or Email us at INFO@HAPPYFAMILIES.ORG for more information. It could change your life and that of a child, forever!: Current Seminar Listings

Traveling Seminars
We hold numerous seminars in the United States throughout the year. Contact us if you would like us to schedule one in your area.

Regional Coordinator Position
If you are interested in becoming a Regional Coordinator for Happy Families International Center, we would like to speak to you. Even if you are simply interested in getting involved in some of the activities we sponsor, give us a call. We would like to find individuals around the country dedicated to making a difference in the lives of children. Through International Adoption, you can help us help children. Call us if you would like to get involved in helping to change the life of a child.