Hosting Children Need Forever Families
Some of our host families are eagerly advocating for their precious host children. The children return home to China January 12th and we are hoping that by January 31st adoption paperwork will have begun for all 25 children.
The following kiddos are hoping to find their forever family. If you would like to learn more about them please contact our Matching Team, you can also visit our photolisting for more information. The families are happy to share with you their experience and more videos and photos.
Meet Cody
“Cody is a very happy and affectionate little boy. He loves music, singing and dogs. He has cerebral palsy but he does not let that stop him. Both feet are turned inward which makes walking unsteady at times but the pediatrician thinks he would do very well with surgery to straighten them. When he falls he gets right back up and is as happy getting up as he was falling down! At the park he is determined to do everything all the other kids do. We took Cody to our son’s swim lesson and he started to cry. We were stunned this happy little guy was crying. It turned out that he had never been swimming before and wanted to swim! He has had 2 lessons and just squeals with delight when he’s in the water. He gets along well with children of all ages though falls behind with the rough & tumble kids due to his unsteady gait. He is picking up English quickly. He counts and says the alphabet in English and is able to express his needs. He is not a picky eater and is willing to try most everything. He is independent with feeding and toileting but needs some help with bathing due to safety concerns and is learning to do a better job brushing his teeth. This little lovebug would thrive in a family.” – Cody’s Host Mom
Meet Josiah
Josiah is precious. He just turned 9 years old in December 2014. He LOVES being in a family and truly needs and deserves a Forever Family. Your heart will be warmed by his smile. At the age of 2, he had life-saving heart surgery and has done amazingly well since then. You will be impressed to hear him sing his ABC’s, Christmas songs, count to 29, and wholeheartedly dive into the English language with you and others while smiling the whole time. Also, he can say “today is Friday, yesterday was Thursday, tomorrow will be Saturday.” He is appreciative of the smallest of gifts. Of course, being 9, he exhibits the usual stubbornness, sometimes, by pretending he did not hear what was asked of him, but then he will say, “okay.” His host family in the USA has a small dog, and Josiah walked right up to it as if it had been his pet forever. He expresses love easily. He loves eating pineapple, bananas, rice, chicken, pizza, and will let you know when he is “hungry.” And you will smile, too, when you hear him say “so-o-o g-o-o-d. Thank you, Mommy.” -Josiah’s Host Mom
Meet Jon-Jon
‘Jon Jon Has the sweetest little smile. In his smiles you can see he just wants to be loved. He is 5 years old on paper but developmentally he appears to be more like a 3 year old. He is very smart. He loves to be held and cuddle. He loves riding around town in the stroller and playing with toys that make a lot of noise. He had corrective heart and palate surgery as a baby but is all fixed now. He seems very healthy and would thrive in a family. He has the sweetest little voice. He loves to color, run outside and be held. He really needs a mama that will dote over him and give him lots of love and attention. He wants to know you will keep him safe. Since he is more like a 3 year old emotionally he does have some typical toddler behaviors such as minor tantrums but it is nothing more then I had with my bio son when he was that age. He has one minor special need that doesn’t effect his daily life, Hypospadias.’ -Jon Jon’s Host Mom
Meet Matthew
Matthew is a sweet boy who is very shy when he first meets people. He is smart and has been showing us how he can count in English. He has learned the word ‘hungry’ and we aren’t sure where he is putting all the food. He gets along great with our other children who are both younger and older than Matthew. He is very helpful around the house and we believe he lives in foster care which explains why he functions so well in the household. He noticed we hadn’t put the ketchup away after dinner and he picked it up and put it exactly where it was supposed to go in the refrigerator. He does have a hard time transitioning away from something he likes doing, like Wii Nascar is his favorite! But he will cooperate with very little coaxing. Matthew’s legs are somewhat ‘floppy’ for lack of a better word from his CP but that does not seem to slow him down one bit. My husband does help him in and out of the bathtub just to be on the safe side but he is very independent and does not really like help too much. Matthew is just a great kid that will make a wonderful addition to a family.
Read MoreVisit From the Dongguan Orphanage Director
Today we had the pleasure of hosting Director Lu from the Dongguan Social Welfare Institute and Dr. Huang from the Civil Affairs Office in Dongguan. We are so grateful for our growing relationship with Dongguan and hope to continue working closely with them. We had so much fun meeting with them today. Orphanage partnerships are so crucial to the matching of children and their forever families. We look forward to watching this particular partnership grow.
(Our staff with Director Lu and Dr. Huong)
(Selfie time)
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China Host Kids Are Here!
Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, the 25 children from China made it safely to the U.S. for our Holiday Hosting Program. They are all safe and sound with their host families and we can’t wait to hear stories, see photos and help all of these children find forever families.
Look at some of the photos from our airport arrivals!
CCCWA Releases New Eligibility Updates
The China Center for Children’s Welfare and Adoption released an announcement stating that they will be making some changes regarding family eligbiltiy beginning January 1, 2015. The changes are to ‘better help children in need find suitable families and improve the quality of management and service.’ GWCA is excited for these changes and the impact they will make on our current and future families. We look forward to working closely with the CCCWA in their efforts to help more orphans find their forever families. Below are the main changes made by the CCCWA. (Please note the following information only reflects the new changes, all other requirements have not changed.)
Eligibility Requirement Updates
Single parent families are now eligible to adopt what is considered an ‘LID’ child or a child that is not listed as special focus. are eligible to adopt either a non-special focus child or a special focus child. Single applicants may submit a dossier to China prior to being matched with a child. There must be no more than a 45 year age difference between the age of the parent and the age of the child.
Singles may have no more than 2 children in the home, and the youngest child should be older than 5 years old. Singles cannot adopt if there are already 3 children in their home under the age of 18.
Singles and couples over the age of 50 are now eligible to adopt either a non-special focus(LID) or a special focus child and can submit their dossier to China prior to being matched. There may be no more than a 50 year age difference between the age of the younger parent and the age of the child.
Couples with more than 5 children living in the home are now eligible to adopt either a non special focus(LID) or a special focus child and can submit their dossier to China prior to being matched.
Families must be free of medical conditions that affect their life expectancy or parenting ability to be eligible for an adoption from China. According to the CCCWA, the following conditions could make a family ineligible: intellectual disability, positive for HIV or other contagious infectious disease, schizophrenia, blindness, poor vision in both eyes, non-function or dysfunction of limbs, incomplete or deformed limbs, severe facial deformity, and Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or greater.
Mental disorders, such as mania, anxiety, phobia, depression, obsession, etc. will make a family ineligible for adoption, except in the case of a couple if the disorder is minor and well controlled by medication.
Diseases that require long-term treatment and affect parenting ability will make a family ineligible, except in the case where one parent is completely healthy and the other parent’s condition is well controlled after treatment. According to the CCCWA, the following conditions fall into this category: malignant tumors, lupus, nephrosis, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, an organ transplant within the last ten years, etc.
Parents with severe hearing loss/deafness or loss of language function may adopt a child with the same condition.
In an adoption by a couple, if one parent is completely healthy and the other parent has one of these conditions, the family will be eligible to adopt.
GWCA encourages families that do not meet all of the China requirements to still reach out to our International Adoption Consultants, we can always try for your family and the possibility of exceptions are sometimes available.
The CCCWA requires that families have a minimum income of $30,000 plus $10,000 per child living in the home (including the prospective adoptee). Minimum net worth for couples is $80,000. Minimum net worth for singles is $100,000. However, if a family lives in an area where the local cost of living is lower and they have above average income for their area, an exception to these income requirements may be made.
The following crimes on a background check will make a family ineligible for an adoption from China: history of domestic violence, sex abuse, or abuse/abandonment of children; drug use including opium, morphine, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, etc; and history of alcohol abuse less than ten years old. If the parents have 3 or fewer minor criminal records more than ten years ago or five or fewer traffic violations with no severe outcomes, they may be eligible to adopt from China.
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Happy Forever Family Day Spicy Peanut
Two years ago today, I walked into the Civil Affairs office in Changsha, China, wondering what our first encounter would be like. Would the room be filled with crying children and anxious families? Would I recognize you from your one recent picture I’d been studying? Would you smile at me? Would you be terrified of me?
I had been waiting for this day for well over three years. But it almost happened too fast. I wasn’t ready for the moment.
When we walked into the waiting area, I saw a little girl in a red coat being held by a young woman. Along with two other official looking people, they were the only ones in the room, and Daddy and I were the only couple there. The instant I saw your face, I did indeed recognize you.
I nearly panicked because I didn’t expect you to already be there- you waiting for me. I whipped out my phone like a old west gunslinger and snapped this, my first picture of you.
You seemed very curious. Eyebrows up, eyes wide open, taking in the strange new place. You even started to take my hand as if to inspect me, then promptly attempted to bolt from the room, orphanage director in tow.
You were scared, terrified. And rightly so. We were new and different, and you had no way to understand what was happening. You finally fell asleep in my arms mid-protest. And that began to bond us. You woke up still in my arms and looked right at me. You still looked nervous, but you didn’t cry at all. We took you on a new adventure, where you thoroughly enjoyed every inch of Walmart. Then we went back to the hotel where we started to get to know each other and become a family.
I was, and still am, so amazed by you. Every single day you made huge leaps and strides- learning, growing, struggling and triumphing. Within days you had learned to clap, crawl, wave, sign “thank you,” say “Dada” and recognize your new name- Zoe Xiu. Your deer-in-headlights look was slowly replaced by sweet little smiles and giggles.
Nights were hard. Filled with night terrors and unrest. Days were fun. We explored new places and enjoyed getting to know each other. Your little personality started to emerge. You were a super sweet little girl with flashes of boldness, stubbornness… spiciness. You even began to give us a “spicy face” every time we called you Spicy Peanut.
Two years later, you are still super sweet with just a dash of spicy. We have celebrated two birthdays with you and watched you absolutely beam with excitement each time. You have discovered a love for chocolate, icing and people singing to you.
You have a style all your own. You love to accessorize and have found your inner princess. From dresses with rain boots to pajamas with Tinkerbell shoes, you confidently rock every style you try out.
You are super playful and often breakdown into a fit of unstoppable giggles. We have decided that you have the best laugh in the world.
A lot of times you’re quiet, taking in the world around you. You often sit back and observe while everyone around you is busy doing. You always stop to pick flowers. You notice things we miss… a lot.
Your serving heart abounds. When you know someone needs something, you immediately spring into action! You are big sister extraordinaire, always making sure little brother has his paci, plenty of toys, and a push in his walker to get him where he needs to be. You love to get out your play dishes and set the table while I’m making dinner and pull out our chairs for us to sit. And you are always available for super Zoe snuggles when anyone needs them.
Zoe, we are so blessed to have you as our daughter and sister. You fill our house with joy and our hearts with overflowing love.
Happy Forever Family Day Spicy Peanut.
Back Up Host Family – We Need YOU!
Are you interested in hosting a child from China or Philippines, but not quite ready to take the full plunge into being a full time host family for 4 weeks? If so, consider participating as a Backup Host Family to gain valuable experiences and opportunities with host children who may need to be relocated from their primary host families. These host children may need to be moved on a rare occasion for several possible reasons, but ultimately they need a safe, encouraging environment while they are here.
Here are five great reasons to be a Backup Host Family:
1) All hosting fees for the Host Child placed with your family are already paid in full by the Primary Host Family (excluding potential travel expenses to pick up child and expenses during the child’s stay with your family)
2) All necessary paperwork and action items for you to qualify as a host family will already be accomplished, so if you enjoy your experience, signing up to be a Primary Host Family the next go around will be simple and easy
3) You can always discuss the child’s habits, likes, dislikes, and learn more about the child from the first-hand experience of the Primary Family before you bring the child into your home.
4) You will receive full file disclosure from the country (medical history, personal interviews, etc) on the Host Child staying in your home
5) If you are asked to take over as a Backup Host Family, you will have access to a Program Mentor, Program Coordinator, and Translator to support you full time during the program.
Backup Host Families are needed in cases in which the Host Child can no longer stay with the Primary Host Family. Often, these are through no fault of the child and may simply be due to an unforeseen emergency within the Primary Host Family. There will be a transparent line of communication with Backup Host Families about any issues the child may experiencing that might have cause the need for a move. You can let us know, for any reason, that you will not be able to serve as the Backup Host Family for a particular child after we contact you.
The children from both China and Philippines are accompanied by Chaperones from their orphanages or social workers from the Chinese/Filipino Governments to the United States, and the Chaperone will check in with the child during his or her stay with your family. You are always supported as a backup host family.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact april@childrenofallnations.com or call April at 512-323-9595 x3061.
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Oh Boy! The Joy of Boys!
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Forty percent of our adoptions from China in 2013 were little boys. We have come a long way to bring these little guys home. However most people don’t realize how many boys are actually waiting. There are over 1200 boys waiting to find their forever families. It is not uncommon for the little boys to be overlooked, it is sad to think that just because they are born a boy it is more unlikely that they will find a forever family than if they were a girl. Many of these boys have very minor needs and may be just a little bit older. It’s a common misconception that there are only girls waiting in China but that idea is far from true. Team T-Shirts Now Available
Join our TEAM and contribute to our upcoming host programs. All proceeds acquired from these t-shirts will go toward hosting grants for the Summer 2015 program. These shirts will be worn by all of our hosting kids as they arrive to meet their host families for the 2014 Holiday Program. We ask that all family members and friends that will be meeting these children at the airport purchase a shirt. The shirts are available to order AGAIN for a VERY limited time. Please place your order by November 18th. They are $20, which includes shipping. Send this link to your friends and families and make a difference in a child’s life by joining our TEAM today!
Do you know what TEAM stands for?
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The Best of the China Holiday Hosting Class of 2014
Best Smile: C14-04 This little guy can’t wait to learn English and become a strong swimmer. He has lots of friends and has the biggest kool-aid smile of the bunch.
Limited Time – Hosting Grants – Donate Now
Are you looking to help an orphan but not sure how? There are so many children hoping to visit America for the holidays. All these kids need is a little extra help to get here. Your donation could help bring one of the kids home forever.
Donate here and note which of the following children your donation is for in the ‘in honor of’ field.
https://www.gwca.org/general-donation-form/
Ready, Set, Go!
Ready to get started?
