China Adoption Program
Map of China
Chinese Holiday
Schedule 2008
Letter from
our Director regarding the status of adoption in China as of December 2007
General information
Through the China Adoption Program, HOPE for Children has placed
hundreds of Chinese orphans with caring families across the United States. The China adoption program continues to grow
and remains our largest program.
The China Program Fee will be reduced by $600* for families who have
previously completed an adoption from China through any agency.
*Fee reduction is subject to change without notice. Formal applications
must be received at an AAI or HFC office between September 1, 2008 and
November 30, 2008. Fee reduction is applied upon acceptance of referral.
This fee reduction does not apply to the China Waiting Child Program. Fee
reduction applies only to families adopting children age thirty-six months
and older from China.
Please contact Aisha Cooper,
Aisha@hopeforchildren.org, with questions about the China program.
Children in need of homes
China is a nation possessing a long and fascinating history, and the
China adoption program is one of the most stable and reliable. From 1983
to 2003, U.S. citizens adopted 40,496 children from China. In 2006, U.S.
citizens adopted approximately 6,493 children from China. Medical
experts have found that the overall health of Chinese orphans is
exceptional. Due to the strong traditional culture of China, there
have been a limited number of adoption concerns related to drug or
alcohol abuse. And, due to the placement of children at a relatively
young age, bonding and attachment disorder issues are less common.
Most of the children in China placed for adoption are girls who have
been orphaned or abandoned. The children are generally healthy and
extensive current health records are usually available. The ages range
from 6 months to 12 years, although most of the children we have placed
have been between 1 and 3 years old. Some boys and twins are
occasionally available, although it is rare. The orphanages make every
effort to present children who most resemble the age and description
requested by the couples. However, as with every international adoption,
the exact characteristics requested may not always be available.
Research has shown that children adopted from China, whether in foster
care or from orphanages, have adjusted very well to their new families.
HOPE for Children, is
approved by the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) to place children for
adoption. Further, HOPE for Children is also authorized to place
children with special needs from China. The special needs may range from
cleft lip and palate to missing or extra digits to severe handicaps.
Many of the conditions these children have can be corrected with simple
surgery, medical treatment, or therapy.
Find out more about HOPE for
Children's China program.
Adoptive parent requirements
All adoptions are facilitated in The People's Republic of China through the non-profit organization, China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA). China requires prospective parents
to be married and both spouses must be at least 30 years of age and no
older than 50 to adopt. Parents may be 55 to adopt from the
Waiting Child Program.
Please
click here to review
the current regulations for adoptive parents wishing to adopt from
China.
Travel information
 The
Chinese government requires that at least one of the adoptive parents
travel to China to adopt their child. HOPE for Children recommends that both parents travel together, but it is not required. Parents stay in China for approximately 10 - 12 days during which time they will complete the necessary paperwork to bring their child back to the United States. HOPE for Children prefers that several parents travel together to a particular orphanage to help obtain group discounts on travel, as well as provide a support group during the adoption process in China. From the time the parents enter China, HOPE for Children has a bi-lingual representative to guide them through the entire process. As available, HOPE for Children provides western accommodations during your stay in China.
Process to adopt from China
Free/No Obligation Orientation: If you have an interest in learning about our adoption programs at HOPE for Children and want to get all your specific questions answered, the best way to do that is to
attend an informational meeting or contact Aisha Cooper,
Aisha@hopeforchildren.org,with questions.
A. Formal Adoption Application
To get started you will need to
request an information packet
and submit a preliminary application to HOPE for Children, Inc. Then you
will meet with a consultant for an International Adoption Awareness
meeting, before completing your International Program Application
(formal application). When we receive your International Program
Application, application fee of $300, and your first program fee, we
will send you the Dossier Preparation Packet. The Dossier Preparation
Packet contains detailed instructions for obtaining U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services (USCIS) approval, initiating your Home Study and
preparing your dossier. Your adoption dossier is a set of paperwork
about your family. It includes your home study report, information about
your health, background, occupation, financial status, and home. HOPE
for Children will furnish you with a complete list of documents along
with the directions to complete them. Your dossier will not be complete
until your home study is written and all necessary documents have been
submitted to the USCIS and approved. Your adoption consultant will be
available to help you through the entire process.
B. Home Study
(Georgia Residents): Once you've received your Dossier Preparation Packet, a HOPE for Children representative will contact you to schedule a home study. The home study consists of
four (4) meetings. At least one visit must take place in your home.
Home Study (Non-Georgia Residents): Non-Georgia residents will need to schedule a home study to be completed by
Hague accredited agency in your state.
Click here to access a list of
adoption agencies by state, which includes home study agencies and
accreditation status. Once the completed home study is received by HOPE for Children, a home study supplement may be conducted by HOPE for Children. Your
adoption consultant can help you locate a reputable agency to conduct your home study.
C. Letter of Approval
When your home study has been successfully completed and all the documents required have been received, you will receive a letter of approval from HOPE for Children.
D. Child Match
After your dossier is completed and sent to China, the next step is receiving a referral of a child. Upon acceptance of the referral, plans will be made to arrange your trip to China to pick up your child.
- Time Frame: Currently it is taking approximately 36+ months from the time your dossier (adoption application to the Chinese government) is sent to China until receiving a referral of a child from China
(this applies to non-special needs adoptions only; special needs
adoptions are considerably faster,
click here for more
information).
- Finalizing Your Adoption: If both parents see the child in China
before he or she is adopted, the child's adoption will be full and final
in China, however, we strongly recommend re-adoption or domestication
once you return to the U.S. This will give you a U.S. birth
certificate for your child. HOPE for Children will also send you final instructions for post placement reports and visits and a suggested list of attorneys who can help you re-adopt your child in the U.S.
Costs
The total cost for an adoption from China depends on your state of residency, travel costs, escort costs, and professional fees. For a complete fee schedule as well as adoption process information, please complete the
Online Request Form.
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