China Waiting Child Program
HOPE for Children is dedicated to finding permanent homes for China’s waiting children. Many of the waiting children have minor/correctable special needs such as an extra digit, a prominent birth mark, or albinism. Some of the waiting children have more moderate special needs such as congenital heart disease, cleft lip and palate, or clubfoot. A smaller group of children have more severe special needs such as blindness and deafness. If it is evident from the beginning that the child has special needs, the China
Center of Adoption Affairs (a.k.a. "CCAA") will refer the child to the Waiting Child Program immediately. A child may also be referred to the Waiting Child Program after the CCAA has tried for two months to place the child without success.
We are currently seeking families for the children sent to us through
the China Waiting Child Program. We prefer to keep a small pool of
families who have completed applications and home studies so that
children can be placed with forever families as quickly as possible. To
learn about these children, or for general information about the
program, please contact Aisha Cooper,
Aisha@hopeforchildren.org.
About the China Waiting Child Program
The wait time depends on the child you select and where you are in the paperwork preparation phase of your China dossier. In general, because the children on this list have already been referred for adoption, the processing time will be shorter than the adoption of a non-waiting child through the China program.
Before you commit to adoption a child from the waiting child program and submit your letter of intent to the CCAA, it is important to have the child’s medical information reviewed by your pediatrician or medical specialist. The HOPE for Children Waiting Child staff is not trained to provide medical advice and are not medical professionals. It is your responsibility to make sure you fully understand the child’s special needs and the care they will need.
To help you we have listed a number of medical resources and doctors in the “Resources” section of this website. We highly recommend that all our families have the referral of the child reviewed by a qualified medical professional. It might also be wise to read books on adoption, and to talk with other families who have experienced adopting a child similar to the one you are considering. Please contact HOPE for Children to request references.
When you express interest in a particular child, the China Waiting Child committee will review your family file along with any other families who are interested in the same child. The committee will decide which family is best for the child. If your family is the only one interested in a specific child, you will still be presented at a selection committee. If your family is selected, your file will be moved the China Waiting Child program and you will continue the adoption process with
an assigned program coordinator.
Click here to
review the CCAA's requirements for prospective adoptive parents of special needs children.
Suggested List of Translators for Referral/Medical Paperwork*
- Caroline Hwang -- website,
www.referraltranslate.com,
or email:
referraltranslate@gmail.com.
- Thomas Wong -- 310-391-2967, or email
myerwong@comcast.net.
*HOPE for Children, Inc. employs none of these people or agencies. This
is just a list of suggested translators; you may choose anyone you wish.
It does not matter what state the translator resides in. Prices
typically range between $100 - $300 for a full written translation of
medical information within a referral.
Health Examinations for Waiting Children
Once you are in process of adopting a child with special needs, we
understand that having a child's picture creates desire and urgency to find
out more and more about that child. Please understand that the CCAA
has very specific guidelines about obtaining additional
information while you are waiting on your Pre-Approval and/or Travel
Approval. HOPE for Children is committed to complying with the CCAA's
guidelines so we can continue helping as many children as possible to find
forever families. Please do not ask us to make exceptions to these
guidelines. These guidelines are in place to protect the children and
their caretakers, and they are as follows:
1. While considering a waiting child, a family may request
additional health information if necessary. The CCAA will consider
such requests so as to make sure you have as much information as possible to
make an adoption decision.
2. A waiting child's medical report is valid for six months.
If you agree to adopt a specific child, you will not receive updated
health information if the child's health status does not change.
3. If a waiting child's health status does change, the
child's orphanage is required to notify the CCAA immediately so the CCAA can
inform HFC, and we will then make sure you receive such updates.
4. HOPE for Children will request updated measurements on each
waiting child shortly before you travel to adopt him or her so you can have
a better idea of clothing and shoe sizes to purchase.
5. Every child has a required physical examination in Guangzhou
before your U.S. Consulate appointment. The main reason the CCAA does
not have the children examined again at the request of adoptive families
while they are waiting is because the child needs to live as normal and
routine a life as possible before their adoption. Additional physical
examinations add undue stress to the child and to his or her caretakers,
since one to two caretakers must take the child to the nearest city hospital
for this.
Resources
1. Hepatitis B:
Click here for September article in Rainbow Kids
2. Cleft lip and palate clinic at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta:
Cleft resource
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