I’m now a member of the following email discussion lists at Yahoo:
- a-parents-china
- australians-adoptchina
- christianadoptchina
- cnsforqueenslanders
- essential-china
- pre30parentschina
I’ve been discovering the lists over the past month or so. Most are fairly active and I spend around half an hour or more a day reading the messages. Some great sources of information, as well as a useful support network.
I am consumed by this journey we are on! I am constantly thinking about our future child / China / the adoption process. When I’m not listening to related podcasts, I’m practicing my Chinese... or reading adoptive community discussion lists... or reading books... or watching adoption videos on YouTube...or scouring blogs... or learning more about Chinese culture or adoptive parenting. And this is just the beginning!
Aaron has been reading a book called Adopting the Hurt Child, by Heck and Kupecki. Each day he reads a bit more, takes some notes and shares his insight with me. He’s reading it right now and he just said to me, “heck this book is good” and then read a quote from it. This is the quote:
‘The forever aspect of the adopted child alters not only the nuclear family, but changes kinship ties for every generation to come.’
In all his wisdom he then rattled off what this means for him and what it could mean for the child. Powerful stuff.
The DoCS website was updated with this info last week regarding inter-country adoption from China.
Woohoo! -
The China Centre of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) has advised the Australian states and territories that, while the upper age limit is still 55 years, CCAA has a preference for younger parents for the children requiring adoptive families and specifically want to find young parents for children under two years.
Boohoo... -
CCAA has also advised that waiting times for the China program have increased. Once a group of files is sent to China, couples can anticipate waiting approximately 13 months until they are considered for a placement. This waiting time may change, depending on the number of files received from overseas countries.
I was excited to read the following excerpt from a speech by Mike Reynolds, Minister for Child Safety.
“Over the last few weeks, I was very pleased to have had the
opportunity to visit China and Korea.
The purpose of my visits to these countries was to gain a first hand
understanding of how the adoption programs are administered and to
demonstrate our commitment to working together in partnership to
ensure the best outcomes for children who have already been placed
with Queensland families, and those who may be placed with our
prospective adoptive families in the future.
I am pleased to say that both countries adoption authorities hold
the Queensland administering body – the Department of Child Safety –
Intercountry Adoption Unit – and our adoptive families in high
regard.
While in China I met with management and staff of the China Centre
for Adoption Affairs, the central authority for adoption. The centre
is recognised by the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children
and Cooperation in respect of Intercountry Adoption.
I also met with representatives of the China Women's Travel Service
which assists Australian families with the adoption process in China.
The centre is committed to ensuring that their children's best
interests are the paramount consideration in the delivery of
adoption services. This is a requirement under the Hague
Convention, to which China became a party in early 2006.
While visiting the China Centre for Adoption Affairs, I was able to
see first hand their very efficient adoption processes. I was very
impressed by the professionalism of their staff and the way in which
the matching of children to their adoptive family is undertaken.
While I am aware that there has been an increase in applications to
China generally from overseas prospective adoptive families, I am
pleased to inform you that the China Centre for Adoption Affairs
advised that they were interested in receiving more files of
approved prospective adoptive families from Queensland.
This is welcome news, as there is no limit to the number of files
that any one Australian state or territory can send to China.
The department will be taking up this request further in relation to
the number of files sent from Queensland.
While in China, I was also privileged to be invited to visit one of
the orphanages in which children are cared for prior to their
placement with their adoptive families. The facilities were very
well maintained and the children well provided for, including having
access to a resident paediatrician.”
