Blog Posts

From the Desk of Lizzie: August 31, 2012

Happy Friday and Happy Labor Day Weekend!

I hope everyone has exciting plans for Labor Day Weekend. I know many of our GWCA/CAN staff will be spending time with family. If you are doing something fun, feel free to share your special moments with us!

This week, I have met with quite a few families, and there are a few key questions I ask as they begin their adoption journey. One question is, “Have you ever considered a child with special needs?” Some families know the answer to this question right away because they have been thinking about adoption for a while. Most families are truly at the beginning of their research, and they wonder what exactly ‘special needs’ means in the adoption world.  Depending on what country you are interested in, special needs can vary…and so can the referral times (typically, special needs programs have shorter referral wait times).

GWCA/CAN has adoption consultants (me!) and case managers that would love to help you determine if a special needs kiddo could be a good fit for your family. We can even go through all the different types of special needs, resources, program specifics, and timelines. If you want start reviewing a medical glossary, you can also do so here.

Happy Labor Day,

Lizzie Kovach
Adoption Consultant

16 days left for placing! 120 boys awaiting a host family!

Are you interested in sharing the Chinese culture with your family? There are some great Chinese students who are eagerly awaiting news to find out where in the US they will be spending the next 10 months. For most, coming to the US has only been a dream until now, and Great Wall China Adoption and Children of All Nations families can help to make the students’ dreams come true.

Here is some information about a few students:

• Yusheng, or Jerry, is happy, optimistic and easy going. He loves to watch movies and dreams of being a movie director. Jerry also loves to sing and has been learning many English songs. He likes traveling, shopping, cooking and photography. Jerry is close with his friends and family and enjoys spending time with them. He believes he will “get along very well with his host family and can have a lot of fun in the coming year together”!

• Chongyang, or Alex, is outgoing, friendly and polite. He is well liked by friends. Alex likes playing soccer and games with his friends. He likes reading, especially history books. Alex spends time playing chess with his grandfather every week and also enjoys cooking. He looks forward to improving his English while staying in the USA. He can’t wait to meet you!

• Hongrui, who’s English name is John, is kind and polite. He says, “I am an outgoing, kind-hearted and polite boy. I can take good care of the people around me. I believe that true heart is the most important element during the interpersonal communication.” He is always curious about many things. He likes Do It Yourself projects and his favorite hobby is making models of anything- figures, electric models, and paper models. He even paints and enjoys drawing. He likes to swim every day in the summer to say healthy and fit. He also has a great interest in physics, science, and engineering.

To learn more about other Chinese students, visit this website.

The host families can be retired couples, newlywed couples, couples with children, single parents, and even those who have never had children. The Center for Cultural Interchange is a non-profit organization that has been open since 1985. The students are fully insured and they will receive a monthly allowance from their natural parents for whatever necessities they may need. All that is required of our host families is understanding, compassion, a spare bed, and an extra plate at the table during dinner time. They are between the ages of 15 to 18 1/2. They are polite, well mannered, and very mature.

Hosting an exchange student can be the experience of a life time! You will get to share your culture with a student and change his life while he changes yours. You can make a friend for life, and you will have special memories with an outstanding young person who wanted to broaden his horizons. The Center for Cultural Interchange will always need host families, but I hope that will you think about the young man who is sitting at home, right now, and hoping you will pick him to become your international son.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. If you would like to learn more about becoming a host family, whether now or in the future, www.cci-exchange.org or call 800.634.4771.

From the Desk of Lizzie: August 29, 2012

Hello GWCA/CAN Families,

This summer, our families sent pictures of their children enjoying summer!  It was so cute to see little ones learning how to swim and run around on the beach!  The families I chat with are just beginning their adoption journey, and I know they enjoyed their summer vacations as well.  As September begins, they want to begin their adoption journey and realize how much of an investment it is.

Adoption is definitely an investment: time, emotion, and money. But well worth every bit of the investment!  Part of my job is to help families find a way to begin this journey, financially. There are many ways families can get financial assistance with their adoption. Have you ever looked into your benefits at work to see what they offer? What about your local bank or place of worship for adoption grants and loans? Here is a link for financial assistance.

If you want to know more about adoption grants possibly available to your family, contact me today.  I am always happy to assist your family.

Sincerely,

Lizzie Kovach
Adoption Consultant

From the Desk of Lizzie: August 27, 2012

Happy Monday Morning!

GWCA/CAN has over 18 adoption programs for families to consider. I am always motivated to continue to grow and develop our programs. Our agency is constantly working to unite our families with these children…finding the perfect match for each family and child.

When a family is just beginning their adoption journey, they usually do not even know all of their adoption options.  Have you ever heard of Moldova? Many of our families have never even considered adopting from Moldova, but there are many kiddos waiting for their forever family. What about the Dominican Republic? Our adoption program in the DR has children of all ages (starting at 10 months old) available, and it has a special travel/bonding process. We even have a Domestic program! Children of All Nations works with Texas birth mothers to form a unique adoption plan and find the perfect family for their child.  Check out all of our programs and countries here.

When I speak with families inquiring about adoption, I get excited to hear about their adoption desires.  It is amazing that they have so many adoption options, and I love getting them started on their journey!  Call me anytime to learn the best program for you!

Sincerely,

Lizzie Kovach
Adoption Consultant

From the Desk of Lizzie: August 20, 2012

Good morning!

School is starting again this week (at least in Texas), and I am thinking about all of our families sending their little ones off to school for the first time. I bet our parents are happy, proud, and maybe a little weepy, but the kiddos are probably ready to meet new friends and play all day!

I am also thinking about our families who are just starting their adoption journey, and many of them are at an exciting stage right now. This month, two CAN families got baby girl referrals from Ethiopia (one is 2 months old and the other is 3 months old). CAN also got referrals in the DRC for two, 3 year old boys! We also have a family in Uganda that accepted their referral for two little girls. I can’t wait for these families come home and celebrate big moments with their children as part of the family. How special!

Sincerely,

Lizzie Kovach
Adoption Consultant

From the Desk of Lizzie: August 17, 2012

It’s Friday! I hope everyone had a wonderful week. Any fun plans for the weekend? CAN has something fun to share, and we know our families will love this news!

Children of All Nations (CAN) is excited to accept applications and continue the adoption process in Haiti. CAN’s work in Haiti has always been successful, and we hope to safely continue uniting families and children. CAN advises all families considering an adoption from Haiti to proceed with caution as we continue to investigate Haiti’s implementation of the Hague Convention and what it might mean for future adoptions from Haiti for U.S. Citizens. Families must be accepting of the risks of pursuing an adoption from Haiti. We further advise families to check the Department of State’s adoption notices for current information on adoption from Haiti. If you have any questions, please contact me at 512.323.9595 x 3091!

We already have many families in our Haiti program and would love you to learn how Haiti could be the perfect adoption option! I can’t wait to begin speaking with families about Haiti again. What a great country for international adoption. Have a nice weekend!

Sincerely,

Lizzie Kovach
Adoption Consultant

From the Desk of Lizzie: August 15, 2012

Happy Wednesday!

The best part about my role at Great Wall China Adoption/Children of All Nations is learning the beginning of each family’s adoption story and helping them start their journey! I really wish I could follow all of them as they continue their adoption. I would love to hear how they feel as they get their referral and prepare for travel. Wait…I can!

GWCA/CAN has started a Family Tree! This is a place where our past and present families can blog all about their adoption journey. Your friends, family, potential adopting families, community members…can all follow your adoption story on Family Tree!

What is really great about Family Tree? When you start your blog, our agency donates $25 to one of our charities in your family’s name! This is such a positive way to stay connected with other families, learn about the adoption process, and become even closer to the GWCA/CAN family!

I hope to read about your family’s adoption journey soon! If you’re a Children of All Nations family, you can sign up for your FREE Family Tree here. If you’re a Great Wall China Adoption Family, you can request yours here!

Sincerely,

Lizzie Kovach
CAN/GWCA Adoption Consultant

From the Desk of Lizzie: August 13, 2012

Happy Monday Families!

I really love talking to all of my families about starting their adoption journey, but I only get to chat with them through phone or email (and occasionally when they pop in our office for a visit–best days)! I decided to start a blog, so I can always keep you informed about the exciting things happening at GWCA/CAN. I hope you all enjoy it!

So, what am I really excited about this week? CAN just launched our brand new Honduras program! I have already answered a ton of families asking for more details on children available (healthy kiddos beginning at 6 months of age, sibling groups, and special needs children). I have also answered families asking about program fees and eligibility. It is a great feeling to begin connecting families and children in Honduras. I can’t wait for our first family to sign up, but I really can’t wait for our first child to come home! One amazing thing about this program: the estimated wait time is only 1-2 years! We hope to unite families very soon.

If you ever want to learn more about Honduras (or any other country), you can also chat with me online…live! Our GWCA/CAN websites have a live chat feature, and it is really easy to connect with me and get your questions answered right away. I’m actually chatting with someone about China right now! 

Some of you may not have my contact information. Feel free to reach out to me anytime:

512-323-9595 x3091 or Elizabeth@childrenofallnations.com

Sincerely,

Lizzie Kovach
CAN/GWCA Adoption Consultant

The Stork has Landed at Great Wall China Adoption: July 2012

Great news today–the stork has landed at Great Wall!

On Monday we received 4 referrals for families whose dossiers were logged in on September 18, 2006. This referral group included 4 girls whose ages ranged from 5 1/2 to 8 1/2 months old. Children in this referral group were from the Jiangxi province. Congratulations to these families! So happy for each of them!

CCI Chinese Hosting Opportunity!

CCI is looking for volunteer families who are willing to open their hearts and homes to these fantastic Chinese students, and make their dream of living in the US come true! The students would attend your local high school and would become a part of your family. Would you like to learn more about hosting a CCI student?