Why China?
The Advantages:
Stability China is the international destination from which most US parents adopt their children. The China Center for Children’s Welfare and Adoption (CCCWA) has established a structured system that leaves little room for surprises. Paperwork is predictable and manageable. For families adopting a child through the Waiting Child Program, the CCCWA offers expedited service to enable these special children to go home quickly. For families adopting a child with no known medical conditions (also known as “non-special needs” or NSN) through the traditional program, the CCCWA processes their application (dossier) and matches them with a child they desire in a fair, “first-in first-out” manner. It is a well-known fact about China adoption that as long as you are qualified and are willing to wait, you WILL receive your child match and bring home a precious child.
Orphan Care Quality As a result of three decades of economic success, the overall standard of living in China has risen dramatically. This has both directly and indirectly contributed to the continued improvement of orphanages’ ability to care for orphaned and abandoned children. More and more orphanages are also practicing foster care by offering a temporary family environment to children.
Reliable Information The Chinese government and local orphanages highly value their international image and have an effective reporting and processing system to maximize the reliability and accuracy of adoptive children’s information provided to adoptive families. Our nearly 20 years of international adoption experience with China has shown us that China is doing a very commendable job!
Abandonment Because child abandonment is illegal in China, birth parents leave no trace of their identity. At the time of your child match, China will provide you with a thorough physical examination report, background report and developmental report, as well as color pictures of the child matched to you. During your trip to China, you will receive a certificate of abandonment that proves the biological parents have relinquished their parental rights through abandonment. There is no legal avenue for the birth parents to reclaim custody.
Waiting Children More and more children placed from China now are children with identified medical conditions ranging in severity. A qualified and well-prepared adoptive family can be matched in a shorter timeline with a child with special needs through the Waiting Child Program, depending on the specific medical conditions the family is open to. (Please see Waiting Child Program on page 6 for more information.)
Travel Families travel only one time to China, for about 14 to 17 days. There is no need for multiple trips, and there are seldom circumstances that cause families to stay longer than expected. At least one parent must travel to China to finalize the adoption, but CCAI recommends that both parents make the trip. Accommodations, transportation and adoption appointments are all finalized before families arrive in China. While you are in China, you’ll be served 24 hours a day by a highly professional and personal CCAI representative who speaks English, Mandarin, and the local dialect of your child’s region.
Cost China adoption through our agency is widely considered the most affordable adoption program available, and fees and expenses are known well in advance. When working with a reputable agency like CCAI, which has a high standard of financial integrity and professional ethics, families never need to worry about hidden charges or last-minute surprises. For more information, please see “Adoption Expenses by Chronology” in this packet.
The Major Disadvantage:
Wait time to adopt an NSN child The wait time to receive a referral of a child with no known medical conditions (“non-special needs” or NSN) has been increasing significantly over the years and is currently over five years, which will most likely continue to expand. Families desiring to adopt an NSN child must be aware and accepting of the continued wait time expansion.