Intercountry Adoption Changes
Dear Families,
As you may already know, each adoption service provider (ASP) is licensed to process adoptions within their state, as well as accredited by the Department of State (DOS) via an approved accrediting entity. An accrediting entity effectively governs compliance with the Hague Convention rules and regulations, under the supervision of DOS. Since the inception of the Hague Convention, the accrediting entity governing compliance has been the Council on Accreditation (COA). Recently, due to conflicts with DOS centering on how ASPs should be overseen, COA has resigned from its role as an accrediting entity. In its stead, a new agency, Intercountry Adoption Accreditation and Maintenance Entity (IAAME), has been approved. The transition of duties is still taking place, but in the meantime new requirements have been announced and we would like to make everyone aware.
Last week, IAAME released its fee schedules for accreditation, monitoring, and oversight, which are applicable to every ASP currently operating. Included in this fee schedule is a “Monitoring & Oversight” fee of $500 per adoptive child that will be assessed on any new adoptive families contracted on or after February 15, 2018. GWCA/CAN (and all other APSs) will be required to report new adoptive families each month, and then pay this fee per family the following month. As this is a fee charged by IAAME (and approved by DOS), this is what we would call a “pass-through fee,” wherein GWCA/CAN is merely a third-party processor. We want to stress this fee is NOT charged by GWCA/CAN, nor does GWCA/CAN have any say in this fee moving forward other than the requirements of reporting and billing. This fee is non-refundable per IAAME.
Beginning February 15, any contracts signed will be assessed this fee. In addition to other fees due with the signing of your contract, you will need to remit payment for one child (or the first child, if intending to adopt multiple children). If you are a family intending to adopt two or more children, please note that you will not be required to pay the additional fees for each child until you accept the referral which will be unique to each family’s case.
We understand that additional fees in an adoption, especially those not expected, can be frustrating. For this reason, we would like to once again stress that this is not the choice GWCA/CAN (or any ASP). GWCA/CAN is following the directions of IAAME, who is operating at the direction of DOS. If you do have any questions, please feel free to contact your application case manager.
Sincerely,
Great Wall China Adoption/Children of All Nations
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11 New Kids on the Block
Meet Nina
Nina is an adorable 1-year-old girl who was born with cleft lip and palate and a heart defect. However, she has received surgery for the heart defect. She’s friendly and loves to play with people and listen to music. Nina is currently babbling and saying phrases like “bye bye!” To learn more about Nina, request her file today!
Meet Noah
Noah is a precious 2-year-old boy who was born with a congenital heart defect, but he has received surgery for it. He’s slightly introverted with strangers but loves to play with other kids and is close with his caretakers. Noah is developing on track and can speak short phrases. To learn more about him, request his file today!
Meet Sydney
Sydney is a sweet 6-year-old girl who is cognitively delayed compared to her peers but doesn’t have other medical needs. Sydney gets along with other kids very well and likes to play games with them. She’s loves to read, listen to music, and participate in musical performances. To learn more about Sydney, request her file today!
Meet Jonathan
Jonathan is an adorable 9-year-old healthy boy who’s doing really well! He’s obedient, honest, and kind. His favorite activities are reading, drawing, singing, skating, and playing games. Jonathan is very social and likes to help care for younger kids. To learn more about him, request his file today!
Meet Stella
Stella is a cheerful 4-year-old girl who was born with cerebral palsy and is delayed compared to her peers. However, she’s fairly self-sufficient. Stella is well-liked by everyone in her orphanage and is always smiling! She loves to watch TV, listen to music, and dance. To learn more about Stella, request her file today!
Meet Corbin
Corbin is an adorable 4-year-old boy who was born with CHD but has had surgery for it. He’s doing very well cognitively and doesn’t appear to be delayed. He’s doing well in kindergarten and likes to sing and paint. He’s active, polite, and enjoys playing with other kids. To learn more about him, request his file today!
Meet Bailey
Bailey is a lovely 6-year-old girl who was born with dislocated hip joints. However, we are requesting updated information about her. Sometimes her caretakers ask her, “Are you close to me?” and Bailey will reply by smiling and pointing at her chest, meaning that they’re close to her heart! To learn more about Bailey, request her file today!
Meet Austin
Austin is a precious 2-year-old boy who was born with finger deformities, but he’s received surgery for them. Austin is outgoing, tolerant, super sweet, and has a positive attitude! He’s very active, and his favorite things to do are dance or play with other kids. To learn more about him, request his file today!
Meet Collin
Collin is a lively 8-year-old boy who has been diagnosed with hypospadias. He’s self-independent and is doing very well in school. Collin is sociable and likes to play on the playground and play sports with his friends. He’s cheerful and always has a big smile on his face when he dances to music. To learn more about him, request his file today!
Meet Shelby
Shelby is an adorable 8-year-old girl who was born with cerebral palsy, but she is receiving rehabilitation services and can complete activities by herself. She’s described as introverted but loves to play with her peers. Her favorite activities are playing catch and playing with dolls. To learn more about Shelby, request her file today!
Meet Ruby
Ruby is a sweet 5-year-old girl who was born with cerebral palsy. However, she’s cognitively on track and is receiving daily rehabilitation. She’s outgoing and gets along great with other kids in the orphanage. She’s always smiling and laughing, and she loves to dance. Ruby has a bubbly personality and would bring joy to your family. To learn more about her, request her file today!
Resources
- Visit the China Waiting Child photo listing
- Contact a China adoption specialist
- Learn more about China adoption
Ben Is GWCA’s New Sponsored Star
Meet our new Sponsored Star for February, Ben! He’s a sweet 11-year-old boy who’s still waiting to find his forever family. We’ve advocated for him previously, and he’s been in our hearts ever since we heard his story. Ben is an amazing and fun-loving kiddo who would make a fantastic son or brother, and we hope that he will be adopted soon.
He was born with very mild clubbed feet, but that hasn’t kept him from being very active and outgoing! He loves playing with other kids and can walk and run on his own. Ben is very sociable, bright, and intelligent. Watch this video of Ben demonstrating his talents!
As our Sponsored Star for February, he has a $2,000 grant available towards his adoption fees! Could you or someone you know be Ben’s forever family? If you’re interested in learning more about Ben, visit our photo listing or contact our matching specialists today!
What is a Sponsored Star?
On the 1st of each month, Great Wall China Adoption will feature one of our Waiting Children as our monthly “Sponsored Star!” That child will be provided a $2,000 grant towards their adoption fees while they are a Sponsored Star, which lasts for two months. Each of the kiddos selected is a Special Focus child, meaning they have not found their Forever Family yet due to their age or the degree of their needs. Together, we can find loving homes for these precious kids!
We encourage any families interested in learning more about our Sponsored Star of the Month to visit our China Waiting Child Photo Listing, or contact our China Matching Specialists to learn how you can be matched today. Check back on the first of each month to meet the newest featured child!
Resources
– Learn more about China adoption
– Visit the Waiting Child Photo Listing
– Contact a China adoption specialist
Lauren Found Her Family!
We are incredibly excited to announce that a family is working to adopt this sweet girl! We are so happy for Lauren and her new family, and we can’t wait to follow her journey home. It’s always heartwarming to see the children we advocate for find their forever families. Congratulations from all of us at GWCA and CAN!
China Adoption – Special Focus
Since this precious girl’s file was considered Special Focus, our China matching specialists were able to advocate for her on our Waiting Child photo listing. Once her family reviewed her file, they were able to submit their paperwork to be matched with her right away rather than having to wait until after their dossier had been submitted. All of the kids whose profiles are currently on our photo listing have the same designation of “Special Focus,” meaning families can be matched with them even if they’re just beginning the adoption process.
If you’re interested in learning how you can be matched with one of our Waiting Children, contact our matching specialists or visit our China adoption photo listing today!
Resources:
– Learn more about China adoption
– Visit the Waiting Child Photo Listing
– Contact a China adoption specialist!
7 New Kids on the Block
Meet Lily
Lily is a sweet 11-year-old girl who was born with cerebral palsy. However, she’s made amazing progress with her language and physical abilities and can complete self-care tasks. Lily is very polite, cheerful, and kindhearted. She loves helping people as much as she can and is a positive kiddo. To learn more about Lily, request her file today!
Meet Daniel
Daniel is a 7-year-old boy who was born with differences in his legs. However, he is able to walk on his own and is cognitively on target for his age. He’s an active and talkative kiddo who likes helping his caretakers. Click here to watch a video of Daniel singing! To learn more about him, request his file today!
Meet Brianna
Brianna is an adorable 4-year-old girl who was born with cerebral palsy and esotropia in her eyes. However, she’s in daily rehabilitation and has greatly improved her strength. She’s also working hard on learning to talk. Brianna loves going to class, and she’s very active there. She enjoys playing with toys, making crafts, and drawing. Brianna can be shy, but she gets along well with all the other kiddos. To learn more about her, request her file today!
Meet Joey
Joey is a darling 3-year-old boy who was born with anal atresia and some differences of sex development. However, he can walk on his own and has great fine motor skills. Joey is extroverted, active, and bright. He is a sweet kiddo who would thrive with the care of a loving family. To learn more about him, request his file today!
Meet Laney
Laney is a precious 3-year-old girl who has Apert syndrome and some limb differences. However, she received reconstructive surgery and has made a fantastic recovery! She’s an active, charming, and lovely girl who’s extremely affectionate. Laney loves to be held and hugged by her caretakers. She’s hitting all of her developmental milestones and is very bright. To learn more about her, request her file today!
Meet Annie
Annie is a cute 3-year-old girl who has cerebral palsy. However, she has good flexibility and is working on walking. She adapts well to new environments and has a healthy attachment to her caretaker. Annie loves to play with toys and listen to music. She gets along well with the other kiddos in the orphanage. To learn more about her, request her file today!
Meet Melanie
Melanie is a precious 4-year-old girl who has cerebral palsy. However, she receives daily rehabilitation and can stand or walk with support. Melanie is a shy, cheerful girl who likes to listen to music and play with toys. She’s also made a healthy attachment to her caretaker. To learn more about her, request her file today!
Resources
- Visit the China Waiting Child photo listing
- Contact a China adoption specialist
- Learn more about China adoption
A Family for Ben
Meet this very special boy, Ben! He’s a sweet 11-year-old kid who is still searching for his forever family. He was hosted previously in the United States in 2016, where he had an amazing time and bonded extremely well with his host family. He loved playing with his host siblings and would make a fantastic brother.
Ben was born with very mild clubbed feet, but that has not stopped him from being active! He hasn’t needed any physical therapy or surgery to walk and run on his own. He’s very sociable and loves to speak words in English. In fact, Ben is a bright and intelligent kiddo who’s doing well in school. Click here to watch a video of Ben showcasing his talents!
Ben is an amazing and fun-loving boy who’s full of life, and we would love to see him find a family that he can call his own. If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about Ben, please contact our Adoption Specialist Alexandra at alexandra@gwca.org or 512-323-9595 ext. 3032.
Resources
- Visit the China Waiting Child photo listing
- Contact a China adoption specialist
- Learn more about China adoption
Gotcha Day Anniversary
Meet Caroline! She’s a sweet girl with an infectious smile, and we’ve enjoyed following her adoption journey from her matching process to her Gotcha Day to her life since she came home.
One year ago, she was united with her forever family. Since then, she’s grown and learned so much, and her parents are incredibly proud of her. Congratulations to sweet Caroline and her family on their first year Gotcha Day Anniversary! We’re excited to see what’s in store for them in the future. Watch the video below for highlights of Caroline from the past year!
5 New Kids on the Block
Meet Tucker
Tucker is a precious 5-year-old boy in need of a forever family! He’s very friendly, smart, and helpful. Tucker was born with a congenital heart defect, but he can walk, run, and use the stairs by himself. He’s developmentally on track and does very well in school. He’s cheerful and loves to play with his friends. To learn more about him, visit our photo listing today!
Meet Shane
Shane is a sweet 10-year-old boy who was born with a congenital heart defect, but he’s received surgery to fix it. Currently, he lives with a foster family, and he gets along very well with them. He’s made great progress developmentally so far, and he would thrive in a loving family environment. For more information about him, visit our photo listing today!
Meet Will
Will is an adorable 5-year-old boy who’s described as quiet and introverted. He has some issues with his sinuses and is delayed compared to his peers, but he’s participated in many activities to assist his motor and cognitive development. GWCA is currently trying to obtain updated information on him. To learn more about Will, request his file today!
Meet Conner
Conner is a precious 4-year-old boy who was born with a congenital heart defect, but he has received surgery for it. Conner used to be shy, but now he’s very outgoing! He loves to play games with other kids. GWCA is working on obtaining updated information about him. To learn more about Conner, request his file today!
Meet Emmett
Emmett is a sweet 7-year-old boy who might have cerebral palsy. However, he can walk independently and complete some self-care tasks. Emmett is cheerful and polite, and he loves playing with other kids. Also, he enjoys drawing and playing with toys. GWCA is currently working to obtain new information on Emmett. To learn more about him, request his file today!
Resources
- Visit the China Waiting Child photo listing
- Contact a China adoption specialist
- Learn more about China adoption
Simon Is GWCA’s New Sponsored Star
Meet our new Sponsored Star for January, Simon! He’s a precious 7-year-old boy who is deaf, but he’s great at understanding facial expressions and can communicate using hand gestures and instructions. Simon is a self-independent and cheerful boy who laughs easily and gets along with others. He loves to dance, play sports and games, and paint in art class. Simon would thrive with the love of a family!
As our Sponsored Star for December, he has a $2,000 grant available towards his adoption fees! If you’re interested in learning more about Simon, visit our photo listing or contact our matching specialists today!
What is a Sponsored Star?
On the 1st of each month, Great Wall China Adoption will feature one of our Waiting Children as our monthly “Sponsored Star!” As our Sponsored Star, that child will be provided a $2,000 grant towards their adoption fees. Each of the kiddos selected is a Special Focus child, meaning they have not found their Forever Family yet due to their age or the degree of their needs. Together, we can find loving homes for these amazing kids!
We encourage any families interested in learning more about our Sponsored Star of the Month to visit our China Waiting Child Photo Listing, or contact our China Matching Specialists to learn how you can be matched today! Check back on the first of each month to meet the newest featured child!
Resources
– Learn more about China adoption
– Visit the Waiting Child Photo Listing
– Contact a China adoption specialist
American Holiday Traditions
It’s the perfect time to enjoy fun winter activities together with your adopted child! They might be new to American winter traditions, so here is a list of 10 ideas to help get you started. Have a blast creating new memories together this season!
1. Cook Traditional Dishes
Make holiday meals from classic family recipes or foods that you ate growing up! You can also cook dishes from your child’s birth culture to celebrate their cultural heritage.
2. Go Ice Skating
Ice skating is a classic winter activity that can be done indoors and outdoors! If you or your child are new to ice skating, you can try taking lessons together.
3. Give Gifts
In America, it’s typical to give gifts to friends and family for the holidays. You can play fun gift games like White Elephant or Secret Santa!
4. Build a Snowman
If it’s snowing in your area, building a snowman is a fun winter tradition! You can decorate your snowman with materials like sticks, vegetables, and more.
5. Have a Snowball Fight
Have a ball battling with each other in a snowball fight using real snowballs or “indoor” snowballs!
6. Drink Hot Chocolate
When it’s cold outside, it’s the perfect time to stay indoors and drink hot chocolate by the fire to stay warm and cozy.
7. Make a Gingerbread House
It’s fun to build a gingerbread house with candy and icing! Be creative with how you assemble and decorate your gingerbread house.
8. Watch Holiday-Themed Shows
Watch a holiday-themed performance like “The Nutcracker” and “A Christmas Carol” or listen to a holiday concert together.
9. Watch Holiday Movies Together
Winter is a great time to watch classic holiday movies like A Christmas Story, It’s a Wonderful Life, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and more.
10. Volunteer Together
To give back this holiday season, volunteer together as a family at a local soup kitchen, food bank, or other organization that helps people in need.
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