Waiting Child Program

The Families In order to be considered for the Waiting Child Program, families must meet the qualifications as set by the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) and the US government. These requirements are listed on the "Qualifications" page of CCAI’s Information Packet for the traditional adoption program. (Request one here!) The CCAA has been known to offer some measure of extra flexibility on a case-by-case basis in the areas of parents' ages (CCAI is typically able to consider families up to age 54) and number of children in the home (more than four minor children). If one of these situations applies to your family, please contact CCAI's Waiting Child Program to discuss your specific situation. The CCAA does not offer extra flexibility in any other area of qualifications for families adopting through the Waiting Child Program. Most families who accept a Waiting Child have some previous parenting experience, whether through birth children or adoption, and many have some level of experience with special needs.  This experience is helpful, though not required. Families first complete and submit the Waiting Child Parent Information Sheet (or Application for Adoption) and Medical Conditions Checklist. You can be connected with a child at any time before, during, or after your dossier is completed. If you do not have an application on file with CCAI, your Application for Adoption must be submitted at the time you accept a Waiting Child. Although families are welcome at any stage of the adoption process, the ideal time to consider the Waiting Child Program is while you are compiling your adoption dossier.  This allows your family the opportunity to discuss the program with your social worker during the home study process. The information provided in your application or Waiting Child Parent Information Sheet will be used to qualify you for the Waiting Child Program. The CCAA-issued permission to submit a dossier  is also based on the information provided in a family’s dossier and home study approval or from the Waiting Child Parent Information Sheet, so the consistency of the documents is crucial to a successful Waiting Child adoption.