China Program & Waiting Child Newsletter

CHINA PROGRAM OVERVIEW

China's adoption program is formalized and, prior to COVID-19, stable. The China adoption program is a great choice for families who are open to children with special needs and to a wide range of ages.  Previously, Agape Adoptions is able to match families within 12 months. Therefore, we strongly encourage families interested in adopting from China to submit their documentation in advance and be “paperwork ready.” All adoptions from China are completed in accordance with the Hague Convention on intercountry adoption. More information can be found here.

The China Center for Children’s Welfare and Adoption (CCCWA) is the adoption authority for all international adoptions and international adoption agencies operating within China. Accredited agencies in the United States, like Agape Adoptions, work directly with the CCCWA to help your family complete an adoption from China. Families can be matched with a Non Special Focus (NSF) child, typically a younger child with minor special needs, or a Special Focus (SF) child, typically an older child or a child of any age with moderate special needs.

Agape Adoptions/AAO is not accepting applications for families interested in a Non-Special Needs (healthy) child only.

In 2017, the Chinese Center for Children's Welfare and Adoption revised its eligibility requirements for prospective adoptive parents. Detailed information about these requirements can be fond here. Below provides a brief overview. However, interested families should review the detailed requirements before reaching out.  We are happy to answer any questions you may have about these requirements.  

Citizenship:

One adoptive parent must be a US citizen.

Age

Prospective adoptive parents (PAP) need to be over the age of 30. The age difference between the PAP and the adoptee should be not more than 50 years. If married, the age difference should be counted based on the age of the younger party.

Marriage Status

Married couples and single female applicants may adopt from China. China does not permit same sex couples to adopt. China has additional requirements regarding length of marriage and divorce, please carefully read the detailed guidelines.

Criminal History

No record of criminal penalties, have good moral characters, honorable behaviors and abide by laws and regulations. More details can be found in the guidelines.

Health Conditions

China has very specific requirements regarding mental and physical health of adoptive parents, see the eligibility guidelines.

Income

Stable occupation and income. Family net worth of $80,000 USD, and single parent net worth  of $100,000 USD. The per-capita annual income of a family including the prospective adoptee should reach $10,000USD. More details can be found here.

Children in Home

The adoption of orphans, disable children, or abandoned infants and children whose parents cannot be ascertained or found,

are not subject to the requirement that the adopter should be childless. PAP's should have enough time and energy to take care of the minors in the house including the prospective adoptee. If married, the number of minors living in the house should be not more than 5; in single parent adoptions the 

number of minors in the house should be not more than two. The youngest child in the house should reach 3 years old.

Other

China has a number of other requirements for prospective adoptive parents, please carefully review the eligibility requirements.

Children range in age from one year to age 13 at time of referral; the majority of children are two or older and we are seeing an increasing number of children over the age of four. Children must be adopted prior to turning 14 years old in China when they become ineligible for international adoption by Chinese regulation.

There are many young boys waiting for families in China, as well as girls.

Many children available for adoption have identified medical or developmental special needs. Some of these needs may be considered minor in the US; while other conditions may be more significant and even encompass multiple diagnoses. When adopting a child with special needs, Agape Adoptions strongly encourages families to research the medical needs they are open to, as well as consult with their family physician and/or an international adoption clinic for more information about the particular health issues their child may have.

The wait time to bring a child home from China varies as it depends on the paperwork process.

• Complete adoption application for preliminary approval by Agape Adoptions.
• Complete adoption home study report (on average this takes 3-4 months)
• Complete dossier documents. The dossier is then sent to China for official submission with the CCCWA, China’s adoption authority.

Matching

Once your family has submitted your application and have been accepted into our China program, we will work together to match your family with a child. In most cases, we will look at matching your family once you have a home study completed. However, if you identify a child on a waiting child list and your home study is not yet completed, we can work with you in this manner too. Some children can be matched with families immediately. Others, generally young children with the most minor needs, can only be matched with families who have completed their dossier and have it logged in with the CCCWA. In most cases, we are able to match families within 12 months of home study completion.

 Most families travel to China within five to eight months of their paperwork being completed (home study completed, dossier submitted and are matched locked in with a child). 

More details about the Process are available in our PROGRAM OVERVIEW.

In general, families spend 10 - 12 days in country with at least one parent traveling. The parent that travels must be a US citizen. Agape Adoptions works closely with travel guides who assist families while in China.

Post-Adoption Requirements
Agape Adoptions will guide you through the post placement phase of your adoption after you return home with your child. Families are required to complete six (6) post placement reports: at 6 and 12 months, and at 2, 3, 4 and 5 years after placement. The first three reports are completed by your home study agency; the last three reports are completed as self-reports. All reports are submitted through Agape Adoptions. We will advise you throughout the reporting process. Each report is intended to communicate to the CCCWA and Agape Adoptions how the family is adjusting to the adoption.

The fees paid for international adoption cover services involving numerous professionals, governmental bodies, and logistical arrangements in both the United States and your child's country of origin. 

The amount you should budget varies by the country from which you are adopting. Agape Adoptions can provide a detailed fee schedule via email.

Families working with Agape Adoptions will be able to utilize the services of Your Adoption Finance Coach to help with funding your adoption.

For more information on financing your adoption, please visit our 

Funding Your Adoption page.