The Changes to the Chinese Program

For those of you that are tracking recent developments in the international adoption world, you are likely already aware that the recent changes to the Chinese program will have an impact on many eager to adopt (and from what we have heard will likely boost the popularity of other programs, like Vietnam).

China has been a the most popular choice for Americans that chose to adopt abroad (with around 7,900 babies coming into the United States from China last year). See United States State Department. China has been backlogged with applications for foreign adoptions, and that apparently caused them to reform their current system. From the AP articles out there, among many new restrictions on applicants, China is not going to allow anyone to adopt if that person is unmarried (or married for less than two years), obese (BMI over 40), or taking anti-depressants.

From our research it seems that many of the foreign adoption programs have restrictions on the qualifications of applicants. Every country seems to be a bit different in terms of what they are looking for in adoptive parents. (In addition, adoption agencies can also put their own restrictions on applicants -- like specifying that they be of Christian faith).

One of our single friends recently emailed us concerned about the news from China. There have been many single-parent adoptions from China in the past. We can all see from our daily lives that single parents can be just as "qualified" to parent as married couples. So, it does seem as though it would make more sense to evaluate applications on an individual basis rather than putting these type of blanket rules in place. I think they must be doing this in an effort speed up the process and cut the costs of evaluating so many applications (while, in our opinion, cutting many "qualified" singles out of the process).

However, to any of our single friends out there that think adoption may be an option for you in the future, my research indicates that there are still options both internationally and domestically. Our destination of Vietnam, for example, allows single parent applicants. In addition, I think that different countries and programs have different views on obesity and other health related concerns, so I think that it is just a matter of researching the criteria and finding the right program. (We had to do that as well, because our ages and the length of our marriage did not meet some counties' requirements for applicants.)

Also, whether it makes sense or not, it is my understanding that some countries/programs are less strict about their applicant criteria if applicants are willing to adopt "special needs" children. ("Special Needs" seems to mean a variety of things ranging from older-than-infant or minor physical issues like cleft lip to more serious health problems).

Homestudy at Homeland Security!

I posted too soon yesterday. It turns out that while I was writing about how it was taking too long for the homestudy to be finalized, the homestudy was likely on its way to the CIS.

We got confirmation today that the homestudy was sent to the Department of Homeland Security on the 13th!! Now, we wait for them to assign us a fingerprint date...

It is exciting to be moving forward (although there is still a LONG way to go).

Another bright note, I am almost done with my Christmas shopping!

Impatience...

Okay...I keep waiting to post, because I keep thinking that I will have some news to tell (namely, that our homestudy would be sent to CIS to complete our application to the Department of Homeland Security). However, I have no news.

I wrote an email to our agency today letting them know that it has been a month and half since our last homestudy visit and that although we expect delays we were thinking they would come due to government bureaucracy not agency processes. ARGH! I know they are busy and the holidays are coming, but I really want to keep this moving. Patience has never been one of my virtues.

Anyway... will keep you posted... hopefully, there will be news soon!

Update on the Wait...

We have reviewed a draft of our homestudy (the document that the social worker drafts after visiting our home and interviewing us about our history, family, budget etc.)last week, and we made comments to Beth (our social worker). She then made our changes and resubmitted the draft to her supervisor...so, we are just waiting to hear. Once her supervisor and our agency sign off, they send the homestudy to the CIS. We were hoping that would happen this week, but we will see.

In the meantime, there is plenty to do with holiday shopping, cookie making, Christmas cards etc.

In addition, our agency told us about a great website that has free online adoption classes that can be taken by prospective adoptive parents as well as people who are close to prospective adoptive parents (like their families). It also includes one course that costs money that our agency really recommends. That course is called With Eyes Wide open. It costs $30, but it is an interactive online application that allows you to choose to view adoption through the eyes of different people in different circumstances and demographics. The web site is adoptivelearningpartners.org if anyone is interested.