Waiting Child Q & A
Families who are considering adoption often have many questions about adopting a waiting child. The following questions and answers will help provide some of the details of a waiting child adoption. For further questions, our Inquiry Coordinators are always happy to talk with you to provide personal assistance and guidance. You can reach them at (800) 214-6719 or via email at info@allgodschildren.org.
What does the term “special needs” mean?
“Special needs” almost always refers to two categories of children. First, there are older children, ranging anywhere from 2 to 13 years of age. Governments view these children as harder to place; therefore, although they are often healthy, these older children are categorized as special needs. Second, there are children with a range of physical differences. These include minor conditions such as birth marks and cleft lip (often corrected), as well as other conditions that are more serious.
What is the timeframe for a Waiting Child adoption?
The average time from contracting with AGCI to bringing your child home through the China special needs program is 12-18 months. These children are waiting for placement; we work to connect them with families as soon as possible. China also processes adoptions of children without known medical conditions, on average these adoptions are taking 6 years.
Does China offer a stable program for adoption?
China has been by far the most stable program since AGCI began conducting adoptions through the country in 1994. The Chinese government is exceptionally organized and clear regarding their requirements and procedures, making the adoption process more efficient and predictable than other countries tend to be. China is a signatory to the Hague Convention which requires that they uphold the highest standards of adoption process and procedure.
Would we have a choice of age and special needs?
When families enter this program we ask them what ages of child and what special needs they are open to. As soon as a family begins working with us we endeavor to connect children who are waiting with families that are open to their special needs, age, and gender. Children with medical special needs ages 12 months to 14 years old are available through the CCCWA on line database. Approximately 75% of these children are boys.
What are China’s requirements for parents?
Parents between the ages of 30 to 55 years old are eligible to adopt a waiting or special focus child. Adoptive parents over the age of 45 should be open to adopting a child age 4 or older. Couples must be married at least two years prior to beginning the adoption process. If either parent has been divorced, China requires at least five years of marriage prior to application, with no more than two divorces per couple being considered. If married, both parents must have a high school diploma or equivalent, and one must have a stable occupation. Applicants must have a body mass index of less than 40.
Does China require any criminal or medical history of the parents?
Yes, applicants can have no history of felonies and no more than two misdemeanors in their lifetime. Applicants with a past or current diagnosis of a life-threatening or communicable disease or other condition that impairs their ability to parent and/or the quality of life of a child are ineligible. Applicants must be mentally healthy with no mental health medications for the past two years. A psychological test is required for all adults in the home over the age of 18.
Is there information available on the child’s health condition?
Families adopting from China will receive the medical information that is listed on the screen. China provides both the original Chinese medicals as well as a translated copy of each child’s information. While China does try to provide as much information as possible on the children it is often times out dated, many times 6-12 months old.
There are over 1,700 waiting children currently listed on China’s databank. To view our complete Photolistings, please login to our Photolisting page.
If you would like further information on any of our waiting children, please contact our Inquiry department at (800) 214-6719 or via email at info@allgodschildren.org. Be sure to include the child’s region and case number in your inquiry. Due to country restrictions, you must enter the username and password provided to you by AGCI to view the complete Waiting Children Photolistings. You may obtain a password by completing a …
