Waiting Child Program

The Program CCAI is honored to have served nearly seven hundred families who wished to adopt special needs children or healthy older children through the Waiting Child Program. Families first complete and return their Medical Conditions Checklist so that CCAI can notify them upon receiving information on a child matching their interests. Interested families can then examine the profile of a specific child and consider whether that child would be a good match for their family. Parents can petition for a Waiting Child and know throughout the process the face that awaits them at the end of their adoption journey. Below you will find a chart comparing the traditional adoption program and the Waiting Child Program.   Traditional China Adoption Waiting Child Program Qualifications Any family approved by CCAI and recommended by their home study agency to adopt a Chinese child. Any family approved by CCAI and recommended by their home study agency to adopt a special needs or older child from China. Adoption Expenses and Fees Regular CCAI and CCAA fees, home study, USCIS, and travel costs, etc. Regular CCAI, USCIS, and home study fees. CCAA fee is $540 ($280 less). Travel costs may increase if travel with a group cannot be arranged. Paperwork Families complete state, USCIS, and CCAA paperwork (dossier). Families complete state, USCIS, and CCAA paperwork (dossier). If the dossier is in China , a home study addendum may be required. Families also complete a Letter of Intent to Adopt a Special Needs Child for their Waiting Child. Child Match The CCAA evaluates families’ qualifications based on the dossier and matches them with a child. Families return their acceptance letter to the CCAA. Families complete the Letter of Intent to Adopt a Special Needs Child at any time during the process. The CCAA will issue permission to submit a dossier to adopt the specific child requested. Please note that the CCAA has the ultimate authority to approve each family’s petition. Dossier Time Frame Approximately 5 months, depending on the families’ diligence, home study completion, and local USCIS approval. Approximately 5 months, depending on the families’ diligence, home study completion, and local USCIS approval. Dossier in China/Travel Approval Currently, the CCAA is matching families with children once their dossier has been in China for approximately 26 months. Families travel 5-8 weeks after receiving their child match. Currently families are traveling to China about 3-5 months from the time that their dossier and Letter of Intent are received in China. Travel Families travel to China with a group of other families who are adopting children from the same province. The group remains together throughout the adoption trip. CCAI attempts to group Waiting Child families with other families. Families should be prepared to travel without the support of a group, but will always be accompanied by a CCAI representative. Time in China 14-16 days. 14-16 days.