Over 1,800 children have been placed by Los Ninos(Children's) International Adoption Center (LNI). Jean and her husband, Heino were already the parents of three biological sons when they adopted twin daughters in Colombia in 1973. Then as volunteers for eight years for Adoptive Families of America and adoption agencies in Minnesota, they paved the way for thousands of U.S. couples and singles to adopt Colombian children. Through their guidance, research and writing, the Erichsens went on to help find adoptive parents for orphaned and abandoned children worldwide. In 1983, the whole family traveled to Colombia where they met a nine-year-old boy whom they adopted.
The Erichsens have traveled extensively in Latin America, Asia and Europe, in order to develop and maintain new adoption programs. The agency has earned a national and international reputation for their high ethical standards.
The Erichsens current book is How to Adopt Internationally, Mesa House Publishing, 1997. Jean produced a 10 minute training film, How to Adopt and wrote the lyrics for the song, Butterflies. Jean is also the author of Los Nios International Family Cookbook, as well as children's media.
Ms. Erichsen also writes and edits the bi-monthly color magazine, News of Los Ninos. She helps administrate the agency, supervises pre- and post-adoptive studies and handles public relations. The agency or the Erichsens' books have been mentioned in the following publications:
Adopt International
The Child Welfare League of America's Guide to Adoption Agencies,
Are Those Kids Yours,
Successful Adoption,
The Adoption Resource Book,
Counseling for Unplanned Pregnancy and Infertility,
The Infertility Book,
There are Babies to Adopt
The Encyclopedia of Adoption.
Is Adoption for You?
Adoption for Dummies
The Erichsens have been quoted or Los Nios has been mentioned in Cosmopolitan, MS, Newsweek, Time, McCalls, Family Journal, Woman's Day, Woman's World, The World and I, Hispanic Magazine, and Third Coast , Aspire, Parent's Magazine (Spanish edition) and t do (Vietnamese) magazines; the Adoptive Families of America Adoption Information and Resources 1994 list, and the International Concerns Committee for Children 1994 Report on Foreign Adoption. They have been featured or mentioned in The New York Times, Ann Landers Column, The Austin American-Statesman, Christian Science Monitor, The Houston Chronicle, The Houston Post, The Fort Worth Star Telegram, The Dallas Morning News, The Dallas Times Herald, The Times of the Americas, The Daily Texan, Green Bay Press Gazette, El Paso Times, San Antonio Light, World Journal (Chinese) and The Chinese Daily International News newspapers as well as the Cox and Pacific News Service.
Jean Nelson-Erichsen is considered an expert in the field of international adoption and is often interviewed for national television broadcasts by ABC, CBS and NBC, Cable News Network (CNN), Univision and WorldNet (U.S. Information Service). Ms. Erichsen and twins, Tatiana and Rosana, have been speakers at national conferences since 1991: The Appalachian Families for Adoption Conference, The New York State Adoption Conference, The National Council for Adoption Conference The Open Door Society in Massachusetts, Adoptive Families of America and The National Council of Adoptable Children. 1993 Awards: "Everyday Heroes" KTRH radio "Persons of the Week" Spirit of Texas KHOU TV
