a trusted program for families open to a range of identified needs
THE CHINA PROGRAM
China is a Hague country. The Children’s Home China program offers two tracks, Traditional and Waiting Child. Both tracks require openness to children with identified needs that range from minor/correctable to lifelong. We are actively seeking families that are open to needs ranging from moderate to lifelong. Families open to minor/correctable needs will experience a longer wait.
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CHILDREN IN CHINA
Children are generally between the ages of 7 months to 13 years at the time of referral and have been approved for international adoption by China’s central authority, the China Center for Children’s Welfare and Adoption (CCCWA). In both the Traditional and Waiting Child Tracks we see children who have moderate to lifelong needs including: limb differences impacting mobility, spinal conditions with longer term effects, urogenital conditions, facial anomalies, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, inter-gender issues, deaf/hearing impairments, albinism, dwarfism, chronic heart disease and other genetic conditions. We also see children with more than one medical condition—often the combination includes a minor/correctable need along with a more moderate or lifelong condition. Overall we advocate for more boys than girls, and especially need families for children over the age of 8.
Meet Children Waiting in China NowTHE CARE IN CHINA
Children in China are cared for in government-run orphanages and, in some cases, foster care established through an orphanage. Children receive basic medical care, adequate nutrition and education. As numerous studies have demonstrated, institutional care is not conducive to optimal development, therefore children may experience orphanage-related delays.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Like most international adoption programs, China has its own unique eligibility requirements for adoptive parents. All applicants must be at least 30 years old. For heterosexual married couples, there can be no more than 50 years’ difference between the youngest parent and the child. Single women are eligible and cannot have more than 45 years’ difference between themselves and the child. Applicants cannot have serious physical or mental health concerns. Full requirements for singles and married couples can be found here, we encourage all interested applicants to contact us to discuss individual circumstances and eligibility.
Requirements may be flexible for those pursuing an adoption through our Waiting Child Track.
THE PROCESS
The first step for the Traditional Track is to apply and begin the home study process. If you live in MN, Western WI, MD or VA, Children’s Home and LSS can complete your home study. Then, we will guide you to apply for USCIS approval and compile a dossier that we send to CCCWA. If you’ve previously adopted from China, learn more about reusing your dossier here. Our experienced staff will identify a child for whom you may be an appropriate match through our access to CCCWA’s online system, after a dossier login date has been assigned. Wait times vary depending on openness. Families open to moderate or lifelong conditions will experience a shorter wait time to be matched with a child, and are likely to review a referral within three to nine months of their official dossier login date. Families whose openness is limited to only minor/correctable identified needs can expect wait times between 12-24 months from dossier login date. At least one parent must travel to China. There is one trip of approximately two weeks required. Travel occurs approximately 4-6 months after referral acceptance.
Families following the Waiting Child Track will bypass the wait for referral, but are required to complete all other steps in the process.
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