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The American Fertility Association’s Monthly Newsletter

October 30, 2007

Yes, There is a Functioning, Wonderful Intercountry Adoption Program: China
By Diane B. Kunz

The Intercountry (ICA) Adoption outlook this year currently has one very large bright spot: the Chinese Waiting Children Program, which facilitates the adoption of children with special needs designed by the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA).

It’s possible for married couples to bring home a child in 10-12 months, from start to finish, under this program. The Waiting Children Program is, right now, far quicker and more open than the regular Chinese Non-Special Needs program. And with new referrals arriving regularly, the Chinese Waiting Child Program is currently far more dependable than other large ICA programs such as those in Russia or Guatemala. Moreover, the Chinese government has repeatedly and currently signaled its commitment to this program.

These children fall into three categories: Children with no special medical need who are six years old or older, children with minor, correctible special needs such as minor heart issues or cleft lip or palate, and children with chronic needs such as blindness, or missing limbs.

The process for adopting Chinese Waiting Children differs from the regular non-special needs program in several ways. CCAA sends a number of children’s files to selected U.S. adoption agencies two or three times each year. Those agencies open their files to their own clients or other potential adoptive parents who apply with the agencies. Applicants are given dossiers to review, which include the child’s picture, medical information and developmental history.

Some of the records are more extensive than others; CCAA files are not as informative as comparable American medical files would be. Agencies with current lists of Waiting Children include Hawaii International Child, Harrah’s AIM, Alliance for Children, and Heritage Adoption Services.

In addition, CCAA has begun its pilot Xinfu or Happiness program. CCAA has linked two orphanages, Wuxi and Changzhou, with an American agency, Homeland Adoption Services. Homeland has the authority to place all Waiting Children from these two orphanages in an expedited process. According to Homeland staff members, during the agency officials’ trip to China, they met more than 120 children from those orphanages who are eligible for the program.
Potential adoptive parents in the Waiting Children program must each be under 55 (not 50, as the new CCAA rules for NSN adoption require). There can also be more than four children living in the house, also different than non-special needs adoption. Most importantly, potential adoptive parents pre-identify a specific child they wish to adopt, as opposed to the regular China program where CCAA identifies the child.

Once potential adoptive parents review a file and decide to adopt a child, the parents, with the assistance of their agency, file a Letter of Intent (LOI) with CCAA. They then prepare their adoption dossier, including the U.S. documents necessary to obtain an American visa for their child to be, which their agency sends to the CCAA. Currently, within three to four months of the dossier being Logged In at the Beijing office of CCAA, parents receive their Letter of Acceptance. (LOA). Once they sign this document, they should receive Travel Authorization (TA) and travel to pick up their child within six to eight weeks. At least one parent must go to China for a stay of 12-14 days.

It is important for potential adoptive parents who are considering the Waiting Children program to understand the medical and social concerns relating to their potential child. Children older than six who have been in institutionalized care may have developmental or emotional issues. Children who require medical intervention or surgeries need to have parents willing to take on the responsibility and expense involved. For example, children with cleft palate may have speech and hearing issues as well as cleft palate repair concerns.

Of course no one should adopt from the waiting children program simply because it is faster. However, knowledge is power and reviewing medical files with a doctor experienced in international adoption as well as a specialty medical team will give potential adoptive parents the background to make an informed decision before proceeding with an adoption. Parents who do adopt from the Waiting Children program also know that the child they parent would not be a likely candidate for a domestic Chinese adoptive family.

ICA programs can only be assessed as of the time an evaluation is made—in other words the past may not be an indication of what the future holds. But at this time, the Chinese Waiting Children Program is open, active and one that makes dreams come true.

Diane B. Kunz, a lawyer and former professor of international history, is Executive Director of the Center for Adoption Policy, (www.adoptionpolicy.org) a non-profit organization dedicated to breaking down barriers to domestic and international adoption.

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