Allegheny County-based Haiti Relief Efforts
Allegheny County residents are stepping up in many ways to help the children and adults who are struggling in the aftermath of the earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Information about various ways to make a difference are below.
Fostering and/or adopting children
Many calls are being taken from people interested in providing temporary foster care or an adoptive home to one of the children who arrived in Allegheny County on January 19 from the BRESMA Orphanage in Haiti.
Providing foster care and adoption require long-term preparation. Members of both foster care and adoption households must become certified through hours of trainings. Qualified adults must clear criminal background checks. Foster and adoptive homes also need to pass inspection.
Caring for an orphaned child from Haiti
Additional information about Haitian adoptions or other international adoptions is available through the resources below.
For general information about intercountry adoptions
Child Welfare Information Gateway
English 1-800-394-3366
Español 1-800-394-3366
Online: Request information
For information about adopting a child from Haiti
Office of Children’s Issues
U.S. Department of State
1-888-407-4747
E-mail: AskCI@state.gov
For information about adopting one of the children from Haiti who is now in the United States
AdoptUSKids
English 1-888-200-4005
Español 1-877-236-7831
Request information
Information for adoption agencies that place children from Haiti through a resource list of U.S. Adoption Agencies That Place Children From Abroad
The U.S. Department of State
Information on the adoption of children affected by natural disasters and conflict
Additional information
Adoption
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Request information from haitianadoptions@dhs.gov
Individuals and families interested in providing foster care or adoption to a child from Allegheny County
Persons interested in becoming licensed to provide temporary Foster Care to a child(ren) involved in the child welfare system in Allegheny County may contact one of the child foster care agencies in Allegheny County to begin the process.
Persons interested in preparing to be an adoptive family to a child(ren) in Allegheny County may contact the DHS Office of Children, Youth and Families Adoption Office at 412-473-2300 or the StateWide Adoption Network (SWAN) at 1-800-585-SWAN (7926).
Cash donations
BRESMA Orphanage, Haiti
Persons who would like to donate to the BRESMA Orphanage, Port-au-Prince, Haiti may do so via bresmamission@gmail.com or by contacting Keystone Church of Hazelwood at 412-521-3468.
Anyone interested in donating to benefit the orphans from Haiti, who are living in Allegheny County but under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement, may link to the Holy Family Institute web site for information on how to do so.
The American Red Cross
Brother’s Brother Foundation
Functional Literacy Ministry
Local Haitian-led organization that sponsors literacy and medical programs. The medical center and school are outside Port-au-Prince.
Global Links
Locally based organization that sends surplus medical supplies to Central and South America. Are coordinating local Haiti response efforts for volunteer responders and the Hôpital Albert Schweitzer. Offices in Bloomfield/Garfield. Warehouse in Homewood. Depends on monetary donations to package and ship donated supplies.
Haiti Solidarity Committee
Committee of Americans and Haitians working together to support policies to help Haiti.
Hôpital Albert Schweitzer Haiti
Hospital started by Pittsburghers Larimer and Gwen Mellon 50 years ago. The hospital is not in Port-au-Prince and not damaged by the earthquake, but overwhelmed with serving survivors.
Material donations
Brother’s Brother Foundation
Global Links
Locally based organization that sends surplus medical supplies to Central and South America. Are coordinating local Haiti response efforts for volunteer responders and the Hôpital Albert Schweitzer. Offices in Bloomfield/Garfield. Warehouse in Homewood.
Pittsburgh's Got Sole
Local collection of new and gently worn athletic or running shoes, sandals; work boots and flip flops. Gently worn means shoes that you would still wear. Website has a search to locate the closest collection locations.
Volunteer Opportunities
Brother's Brother Foundation
- Volunteers are needed to assist with packaging donated items. 412-321-3160
Global Links
Locally based organization that sends surplus medical supplies to Central and South America. Global Links is coordinating local Haiti response efforts for volunteer responders and the Hôpital Albert Schweitzer. Offices in Bloomfield/Garfield. Warehouse in Homewood. Depends on volunteers to sort and package medical supplies for shipment.