Happy 3rd Birthday, Nash!
Happy belated birthday to this sweet boy who turned 3 years old this week! We are so hopeful that soon he will find a family of his own so he can be home on time for his next birthday. If you’re interested in reviewing Nash’s file or learning how you can be matched with him, contact GWCA’s China matching specialists or visit the Waiting Child photo listing today!
Nash is an adorable little boy from China that just turned 3 years old. He is described as a sweet little boy that adores his caregivers and gets along great with his peers!
Nash has long, thin fingers and toes, but this doesn’t seem to really affect him that much! He can speak in simple sentences such as, walk by himself, and his fine motor skills are on par with his peers. Nash is able to tear paper, use his thumbs, etc. Nash is on the shyer side, but is definitely an active two year old. He loves playing with toys and dancing to music!
If you would like to see other photos and videos of this little guy, contact GWCA today!
Resources:
– Visit the Waiting Child photo listing to request Nash’s file
– Contact a China adoption specialist
– Learn more about China adoption
I Found My Family!
We are thrilled to announce that one of the families in our China adoption program has begun submitting their paperwork to bring this beautiful girl home FOREVER! We are so excited for her and her new family, and we can’t wait to see them come home!
Despite the fact that this little lady is just 3 years old, her file was considered Special Focus, meaning her family was able to review her information prior to logging their dossier in. All of the kiddos that are on our photo listing are in need of loving Forever Families, and you can be matched with them right away! If your family is interested in learning more about any of the Waiting Children in our China adoption program, contact one of our China matching specialists or visit our photo listing today!
Visit the Waiting Child Photo Listing to learn about kids in need of Forever Families!
Contact our China Matching Specialists to learn how you can start your adoption journey!
Resources:
– Contact an adoption specialist
– Visit the Waiting Child photo listing
– Learn more about China adoption
8 New Kids Added This Week!
Sadie is a sweet little girl from China that just turned 3 years old. Sadie has CHD (ASD) but it doesn’t need to be treated at this time. She also had a mass removed from her abdominal area back in 2014 that was said to be a neuroblastoma (differentiated, improved). Sadie appears to not have had any issues with developing new neuroblastoma’s since that time and seems to have generally normal health at this time.
Sadie is described as being a clever & lovely girl and she is very popular with the caregivers and other children in the orphanage. Sadie knows all of the names of the caregivers and other children she knows in the orphanage. She can walk stably on her own and go up and down stairs successfully. She can use spoons to feed herself and she has a very good appetite. It sounds like Sadie is potty trained. Sadie can follow simple instructions and knows how to keep her area tidy by putting her dirty clothes in the hamper or putting her dishes away at meal times. Sadie is very smart and she is able to learn new information quickly. Sadie can speak 3-5 word sentences, she asks “how” and “what” questions and she understands how to express her needs using her words. Sadie enjoys listening to music, singling and playing with other children.
Click Here to Watch one of Sadie’s NEW Videos!
Levi is a precious baby boy that is almost one and a half years old. Levi can walk by himself now and is very curious. He has good fine motor skills and is learning how to pick up very little objects with his forefinger and thumb. If he drops something on the ground he will go look for it and pick it back up.
Levi is babbling and starting to imitate words. He likes to listen to music and play with toys like balls and building blocks. Levi gets along well with others and is close with his caretakers. Levi likes to get hugs from his caregivers.
Levi has been diagnosed with Thalassemia type A which is the less significant form of Thalassemia. Levi has never needed to have a blood transfusion because of how well he is doing.
Click Here to Watch one of Levi’s NEW Videos!
You can watch more NEW videos of Levi when you request to review his file! 
Wyatt is an amazing 9-year old boy in need of a forever home! Wyatt’s appears to have some issues related to his kidneys, and his file also indicates that he may have a mild form of spina bifida. He does not appear to have any issues in regards to his mobility or overall development! Wyatt is a bright kiddo who loves to perform and imitate songs and dances he learns on TV! He is a great help to his teachers and caregivers and loves to help care for the small kiddos in his orphanage. His caregivers love him very much and hope that he can find a home soon. Please reach out to Great Wall to learn more!
Henry is a sweet little boy that is 3 and a half years old. Henry has a post-operative heart condition (VSD) and he appears to be doing well! One of Henry’s eyelids is a little droopy, but he can see clearly out of both eyes and has normal vision.
Henry can walk and can go up and down stairs by himself. He can follow simple instructions as given by his caretakers. He knows how to express his needs, such as when he wants to eat. His care takers say that he is a very curious little boy. Henry likes to dance and color!
Click Here to Watch one of Henry’s Videos!
Meet Isabel! Isabel is a precious 6-year old girl in need of a family to call her own. Isabel has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, with secondary epilepsy as part of her overall diagnosis. She also appears to have cerebral dysplasia and hexadactyly of the left foot . Isabel also appears to have started puberty early, although it is unclear from her file if doctors know the reason at this time. Great Wall has reached out to Isabel’s orphanage and is hoping to learn more about her needs and personality! Isabel takes classes on Monday through Friday, and she appears to be very close with her teachers and caregivers. She imitates adults well and is an active and happy kiddo. She loves to watch cartoons and play with toys with the other kiddos! Isabel is a sweet girl who would thrive with the consistent care of a forever family. Please reach out to Great Wall to learn more!
Oliver is an amazing 12-year old boy in need of a forever home! Oliver has atresia of his right ear, as well as a condition called torticollis in which his head and neck tilt slightly to one side. He is an extremely smart kiddo who is doing great in school! He loves to play with toy guns and cars, and in particular likes to take them apart and re-assemble them. He is a bright and creative boy who loves to challenge himself!
In 2007 he was sent to live with a foster family, and he has thrived under their care. His foster family says that his arrival has brought them much joy and happiness! He has incredible self-care ability and does not appear to have any mobility delays whatsoever. He says hello to his teachers in English and loves to sing with the other children in his class. He loves to tell his foster parents what happened in class that day and appears to be very communicative overall. Sometimes strangers will have trouble understanding what he is saying, but his teachers, caregivers, and friends do not appear to have any issue. He loves to paint and will often paint right after school before beginning his homework. He is an amazing and smart child who would thrive with the love of a forever family. Please reach out to Great Wall to learn more!
**GWCA Staff Member Met Quinn!** Quinn is an adorable little girl from China that is 3 and a half years old! Quinn has Down’s Syndrome and is doing quite well. One of our GWCA staff members met Quinn when she visited China last year and she would be happy to speak with any interested family about Quinn!
Quinn has been described by caregivers as clever, introverted, cute and energetic. Quinn lives in an imitation family on the orphanage grounds, which is like a foster family, so she is receiving more one-on-one attention than some other children.
Quinn can use her hands to hold small objects, such as sticks, books, spoons, etc. Quinn can pass toys between both of her hands and can use hands to support herself. When Quinn is sitting up the child has good balance and can change her position freely. Quinn can crawl, she can stand up by herself and is learning to walk. Quinn likes to walk around using small chairs and stools to help her balance.
Like many children with Down’s Syndrome, Quinn’s language abilities are delayed compared to other children her age without Down’s Syndrome. However, Quinn can say words like “ma ma,” “ba ba,” and she imitates what adults and children around her are saying.
Quinn enjoys listening to music, looking at picture books and dancing. Quinn can color on paper and play with puzzles. Quinn is clearly a very curious little girl and always seems to want to figure out how things work.
Click Here to Watch one of Quinn’s NEWEST Videos!
There are several more videos of Quinn, so if you would like to watch them you can just request to review her full file today!
David is a sweet little boy from China that is 6 and a half years old. David is deaf so he some developmental delays compared with his hearing peers. David lives in a rural area of China, so his ability to learn sign language currently is very limited, so he isn’t really able to communicate well with others. One of our GWCA staff members met David when she visited China earlier this year and she would be happy to speak with any interested family about David.
Even though David can’t communicate all of his thoughts and feelings with others, David has a good attitude and a happy nature. David is shy but he does get along well with others. David’s caretakers say that he has good self-care abilities like being able to go to the bathroom by himself and putting on his clothes by himself. David does not currently go to school, but when he is older they hope they will able to get him some schooling to learn sign language. What David really needs though is the love and care of a Forever Family and the educational resources to thrive as a deaf individual. David will most likely never receive what he needs to grow up and become an independent person without being adopted by a family in the United States.
Click Here to Watch David’s NEW Video!
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Forever Family Found
Hooray! This #ForeverFamilyFriday we’re DELIGHTED to announce that a family has begun submitting their paperwork to bring this sweet girl home forever!
GWCA received this beautiful little girl’s file from one of our Orphanage Partnerships and were able to find a family that was ready to move forward with her right away. We are so happy that she is now one step closer to her Forever Family, and we are eager to continue following her journey home. Congratulations to her and her new family from all of us at GWCA and CAN!
China Waiting Child Adoption
Our China adoption program allows families to be matched with Special Focus children at any point in the process, making the adoption journey as a whole relatively quick! We receive new children’s files each week, both from our orphanage partnerships and from the Shared List, which provides our families with the opportunity to review multiple files until they find a child that they feel would be a good fit. Contact our China matching specialists or visit our photo listing to learn more about the kids that we’re currently advocating for!
Resources:
– Contact GWCA’s Adoption Specialists
– Learn more about GWCA’s Orphanage Partnerships
– Visit GWCA’s Waiting Child Photo Listing
– Learn more about adopting from China
Meet Nathan!
Nathan is a sweet 4 and a half year old boy from China who is currently living with a foster family on the grounds of the orphanage. He gets along very well with his foster parents and siblings, however, since he is only living with them temporarily, he is in need of a loving and permanent family.
Nathan’s caretakers describe him as being extroverted, active and happy. He loves to play outside with other children, and jump on the trampoline. Compared to other children his same age, Nathan’s mental development is normal. He can follow instructions, walk and run by himself, and communicate well with those around him.
Nathan has post-operative CHD and post-operative cystostomy. He has normal bowel movements and urination, however, he does have a urine bag. Nathan has scoliosis, but it appears to be a more minor form based on the updated, recent videos of Nathan. It also appears that he recently broke his leg, but that doesn’t seem to be related to his special need. Based on an update we received, he is receiving rehabilitation to get his leg strength back.
We are very excited about helping Nathan find his Forever Family! Please reach out to the GWCA China Home Finding Team at info@gwca.org or visit our Waiting Child photo listing to find out more about Nathan and request his file!
Resources:
– Visit the Waiting Child Photo Listing
– Contact a China Adoption Specialist
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The Shift in China Adoption
There has been a shift in the world of China adoption, and it is impacting both new adoptive families and families that are already in process with all agencies throughout the China adoption community.
In recent months, several changes have taken place within the Chinese government, including the appointment of a new Prime Minister of Civil Affairs in the beginning of 2017. Although he is not directly involved with the China Center of Children’s Welfare and Adoption (CCCWA), part of his role is to oversee the adoption authority and international adoption as a whole.
Historically, CCCWA has been flexible in regards to many adoptive families’ eligibility concerns, however, with these recent changes they have started enforcing the already existing eligibility requirements. The eligibility requirements have not been changed in any way. Families that fall within the eligibility requirements should not be concerned about their adoption process. New families beginning the process must meet every aspect of eligibility in order to be considered for the program. Our International Adoption Counselors are happy to speak with all inquiring families to review eligibility.
Because of the changes within the Chinese government, Orphan Hosting is still waiting to be approved. We hope to be able to facilitate a session before the end of 2017, but it will be at the discretion of the Chinese government as to whether or not the Hosting program can continue. Moving forward, it is our agency’s role to try to provide as much education as possible about the many benefits of the Hosting program. GWCA will be providing updates to families as they are received!
If you are considering beginning your China adoption journey, don’t let this shift deter you from reaching out to our adoption specialists. China adoption has earned it’s reputation as one of the most dependable programs over the course of many years, and that aspect of the program certainly hasn’t changed. Our adoption specialists are here to help you fully understand China’s current eligibility requirements so that you can evaluate your family’s situation and determine whether this is the program for you. Please consult with your GWCA caseworker or reach out to our main line at 512-323-9595 if you would like to learn more about eligibility for the China program!
China Adoption Resources:
– Contact an Adoption Specialist
– Review China’s Current Eligibility Requirements
– Learn more about China Adoption
– Visit GWCA’s China Waiting Child Photo Listing
8 New Kids Added This Week!
Rachel is a precious little girl from China who is about to turn 2 years old. Rachel has thalassemia beta, a repaired cleft lip and an unrepaired cleft palate. Rachel can walk on her own, eat by herself and can follow simple instructions like throwing a piece of trash away. She can say some simple words, but her speech will most likely be delayed due to her cleft palate. Rachel can wave “bye bye” and blow kisses. Rachel gets along well with other children and she is close with her caretakers.
Meet Aaron! Aaron is an amazing 10-year old kiddo in need of a loving home to call his own. Aaron is completely healthy and is doing great in regards to his overall development. He participated in summer hosting through GWCA, meaning that he was in the United States with a host family for a full month! Because of his time here we have fantastic information on his personality and overall health. Aaron had a wonderful time with his host family and loves the United States. He learned some English during his time here and was able to confidently express his needs to his host family. He loved helping his host family around the house but doing household chores, watering plants, and feeding their pets. Aaron played very well with other kiddos and loved sharing his toys and games! His host family describes him as energetic, smart, playful, and affectionate.
If you’d like to learn more about Aaron, please reach out to Great Wall!
Nora is an incredible kiddo that was hosted with GWCA in Summer of 2016. Here is more about Nora from her host family:
“Nora is an amazing little girl. She was born in 2006 with Down Syndrome and a CHD. The heart condition was repaired at some point in time when she was younger, though her file does not state exactly when. She was hosted in the US in the summer of 2016 by a family who would love to talk with anyone interested in knowing more about this precious child. Nora is very independent and cognitively very able. She was able to confidently take care of all her needs. She has extremely long hair that she did not like to have to brush, but was willing to have it braided to have it out of her way! She talked very clearly in Chinese and was able to communicate her needs to her host family. She ate well and was very healthy. She adored the younger children in the family and wanted to help in caring for them! She enjoyed having jobs to do with the other children in the home. She liked to play outside and go on trips but she also loved to look at picture books and draw in notebooks. She also loves animals!
She was examined by a pediatrician, dentist, and ophthalmologist while in the US. The pediatrician said she was very healthy and well taken care of. She also said Nora’s heart sounded very healthy. Nora does not need glasses but does have a few cavities that will need some treatment once she is adopted. Nora would do very well in a family – she loves being with people, especially children. She adored her host dad in particular but also loved to snuggle with her host mom and their children. She is very bright and curious. She wants to learn and explore. She is a treasure just waiting to be claimed.”
Please reach out to Great Wall to learn more about this amazing kiddo!
This sweet little guy’s name is Shawn! Shawn is a darling 3-year old boy in need of a home to call his own. He arrive to the orphanage with a condition called plagiocephalia, meaning his skull was malformed. Shawn’s language development is slightly delayed, but he is learning some simple words by participating in early education activities! He is able to understand adult’s instructions and speak a few simple sentences. He’s a sweet kiddo who loves to listen to music and play with his caretakers!
If you’d like to learn more about Shawn, please contact our GWCA China Matching Team by calling #512-323-9595 or by e-mailing us at info@gwca.org.
Meet Jean! Jean is a sweet 8-year old kiddo in need of a forever family. Jean is a lively, active kiddo who gets along great with other students, teachers, and caregivers. Jean is a Jean has differences of sex development, meaning that she has both male and female genitalia. She has XY chromosomes and bilateral testes, but a difference of sex development advocate we work closely with believes that Jean may identify as a girl based on the information presented in the medical file. She appears to be mostly female in her genital region, indicating that this may be her preferred gender identity.
Jean takes initiative in greeting new people and is not shy in front of strangers. She loves to play toys and games with other kiddos! Her file indicates that she was incontinent at the time her file was prepared in 2016, and Great Wall is working hard to learn more recent information. She is able to change her diapers by herself and does a great job taking a bath, brushing her teeth, and taking her clothes on and off. She is able to control her defecation without the need of diapers.
Overall she is a bright, happy kiddo who would thrive with the love of a forever family. Please reach out to Great Wall to learn more!
Nathan is a sweet little boy from China that is 4 and a half years old. Nathan lives with a foster family within the grounds of the orphanage and gets along well with his foster parents and foster siblings. Compared to children of his same age, his mental development is normal. Nathan is described by his caregivers as being extroverted, active and happy.
Nathan can walk by himself, go up and down stairs, run and jump very well. He loves to jump on the trampoline. He also has good fine motor skills and can pick up small objects. He can communicate and interact normally with adults and children. His favorite activity is to play outside with other children. He can follow the instructions of his caregivers very well.
Nathan has post-operative CHD and post-operative cystostomy. He has normal bowel movements and urination. He does have a urine bag. Is has not been potty trained yet so he is still wearing a diaper. He does have scoliosis, but it appears to be a more minor form based on the updated, recent videos of Nathan.
Nathan appears to have broken his leg recently, but that doesn’t seem to be related to his special need, we think that is just something that happened separately. He is getting rehabilitation to get his leg strength back.
We are very excited about helping Nathan find his Forever Family! Please reach out to the GWCA China Home Finding Team to find out more about Nathan and to review his file!
Meet Freddie! Freddie is an adorable 3-year old boy with Down Syndrome and a congenital heart defect. He is an active and happy little guy who loves to play with his peers and caregivers. He is described by his nannies as being curious, loving, and affectionate! He can walk without assistance and can eat, drink, and go to the bathroom independently. He is also very responsive when his name is called and cooperative when his caregivers give him instructions. His is a happy, sweet little guy who would thrive with a forever family to call his own. Please reach out to Great Wall to learn more!
Check out my video!
This amazing kiddo’s name is Ben! Ben is a sweet 10-year old boy in need of a forever home. Ben was hosted in the United States through GWCA’s hosting program for a month in summer of 2016! He had an amazing time while being hosted and bonded extremely well with his host family. He was born with very mild clubbed feet, but he has not needed any physical therapy or surgery to walk and run without assistance. He also had some seizures when he was younger, but he has not had one since 2008. He is very sociable and loves to say hello and thank you in English. He is on target developmentally and is a bright, intelligent kiddo. He is very active and outgoing and loves playing with other children! He loved playing with his host siblings and would make a fantastic brother. He is a sweet, charismatic kiddo who would thrive with the love of a forever family! Please reach out to Great Wall to learn more!
Adoption Tax Credit
For many families, the cost associated with adopting a child or sibling group can be very discouraging. Even for families with the best of intentions and the purest of hearts, a lack of finances can mean the difference between providing a orphan with a loving home and turning a reluctant cheek to the overwhelming need. The Adoption Tax Credit has done so much to bridge this gap, and for that we are forever grateful!
With Tax Day quickly approaching and the issue of tax reform up for discussion, the Adoption Tax Credit Working Group has launched a “Thank You” campaign to remind members of Congress about the importance of the Adoption Tax Credit and the change it has brought to countless families. Click the link below to add your voice to their campaign to help get their message across!
“Did the Adoption Tax Credit help you build your family? Use our form to send a thank you letter to your Members of Congress for supporting the ATC!: https://secure2.convio.net/res/site/Advocacy…“
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Matching – We’re Here to Help!
Did you know? In China’s Waiting Child adoption program, families can be matched with a child at any point in the process. That means you can start submitting your paperwork for a specific child as soon as you’re ready to begin your journey!
Does this mean that you should wait to get started until you’ve found your child? Not necessarily! While there are many children listed on agency’s photo listings and advocacy sites, the reality is that we receive children’s files in a variety of ways, and many children will be matched prior to being listed publicly!
Whether your family is waiting to be matched with an LID child once your dossier is logged in or you’re looking for a specific age range or need, speaking with an adoption specialist and getting started may be the quickest way to find your child.
Once you’ve started your adoption journey and discussed what you’re open to with a China adoption specialist, we’ll keep you in mind every time we receive new files from an Orphanage Partnership or when requesting files from China’s Shared List. Since our Orphanage Partnerships send us files that they’ve just finished preparing, you may receive a file that has never been reviewed by a family before. That’s how the beautiful girl pictured in this post found her family!
Are you ready to speak to an adoption specialist about finding your child? Contact GWCA today!
Resources
– Speak to a China Adoption Specialist
– Visit the Waiting Child Photo Listing
– Learn more about the China adoption process!
5 New Kids on the Block
Christina is an awesome little girl from China that is 7 and a half years old! Christina has cerebral palsy that appears to be pretty mild and only seems to affect her lower limbs. Christina can walk just fine by herself and can play just like any other child. She has good fine motor skills and her upper body and limbs work normally.
Christina’s cognitive abilities are at the same level as the other children in the orphanage. Her language is delayed and she can only speaks in short sentences. Christina does understand what other people are saying to her and she can follow directions when they are given by her caretakers.
Christina is very sympathetic to other children and when they are upset she will go to comfort them and try to help them calm down. Christina does get along well with other children and likes to play games with them. Christina is very outgoing with people she is familiar with, but she gets quite shy around strangers.
Enzo is a sweet little boy from China who is 4 and a half years old. Enzo is described by his caretakers as being energetic, active and having a ready smile! Enzo has congenital glaucoma of both eyes and esotropia of the right ey
e, so his vision is impaired. He had an operation in 2016 that did help his vision somewhat.
Because of his inability to see clearly, as it with many children with vision issues, Enzo is delayed in his language abilities. He can make sounds like “yiyi yaya” and can hum along to songs he knows. Enzo does know how to walk on his own, though he is sometimes nervous about walking too far because of his limited eyesight.
Enzo needs help to do certain tasks like using a spoon to eat or going to the toilet. Enzo did not always like to play with other children because of his inability to see clearly, but since being in the orphanage’s pre-school program, he has improved significantly in his abilities and desire to play with other children and he is now happy to play with other children. Enzo loves being cuddled by his caretakers and he has built stable emotional attachment with his teachers and caregivers. Enzo likes listening to music and playing games.
Maya is a precious little girl from China that just turned 8 years old. Maya is friendly and helpful and she gets
along well with other children and adults. She likes to help take care of the younger children in the orphanage.
Maya has great self-care abilities such as wiping her hands, eating on her own, drinking water from a cup, going to the toilet by herself, taking on and off her own clothes, including her pants, socks and shoes, etc.
Maya has cerebral palsy but through long-term rehabilitation training, she has made a ton of progress! She can now walk with the help of a walker, she can go up and down stairs by herself by just holding onto the railing. Maya can grasp toys and other items, she can stack blocks and she can draw shapes on paper.
Maya knows how to count numbers 1-100, she knows common colors and can match and classify shapes. Maya likes to sing songs and enjoys being around other people.
**AGING OUT** Rebecca is a lovely young girl from China that has just recently turned turned 13 years old. If Rebecca is not adopted before she turns 14, she will age out of the China Adoption System and will never get the chance to have a family.
Rebecca is missing her left eye and has corneal leukoplakia in her right eye, so her vision is almost completely gone. She goes to a special school for children who are blind. Her cognitive abilities and language abilieis are normal and she is doing very well in school.
Rebecca likes to sing and will often perform at different celebratory events at her school and at the orphanage. Rebecca gets only well with her peers and with her caregivers. Her teachers describe her as being obedient, sensible and polite. Rebecca is a very outgoing and active girl and has a ready smile, but she does get a little shy around strangers.
**MATCHED** Gina is a sweet little girl from China that is almost 3 and a half years old. Gina has Thalassemia A but she seems to be doing well developmentally, physically and cognitively in all other respects. Gina can speak simple words and short sentences and call follow the directions of her caretakers. Gina can walk and go up and down stairs independently. Gina likes listening to music and looking at picture books. If you would like to learn more about Gina, you can contact the China Home Finding Team at Great Wall today!
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Ready to get started?
