Waiting Children Application


Thank you for your interest in the Waiting Children (WC) Program! Before you begin, please be aware of the following:

Families must have access to a medical professional (doctor) in order to participate in the WC Program:
It is highly advised that you discuss your application with a medical professional prior to submitting it in order to gain an understanding of these needs. Families unable to consult with a physician before submitting their application must verify they will consult one at the time of referral review.

Participating in the WC Program involves a referral matching and review process:
When America World receives WC referral, the WC Program application a key tool in allowing the China Program staff to match your family with a waiting child. The China Program staff is committed to praying for each referral and family participating in the WC Program. We trust that your family will prayerfully consider the gender, age range, and needs you are open to considering.

Once approved into the WC Program, you will have the following responsibilities:
  • Respecting and honoring the confidentiality regulations when reviewing and accepting referral information
  • Checking email regularly and reading all program updates on the America World blog
  • Keeping USCIS Approvals (I-171h/797C) and fingerprints valid through the adoptions process.
  • Contacting health insurance to verify a child with pre-existing needs will be covered
  • Reading the WC Program Guidelines (provided upon application approval)
  • Researching the medical needs to which you have checked “yes” and “maybe” on the WC Program application prior to submitting the application
  • Responding in a timely matter and within appointed deadlines for referral reviews and acceptances
  • Preparing for reviewing and accepting referrals by reading program guidelines, emails and other tips given to families throughout the process.
All three pieces of the application must be received before the application can be processed. Those include:
  • Application
  • WC Program Agreement
  • Electronic Photos
Processing of the WC Program application can take up to 10 business days:
  • The completed application can be mailed or emailed to your Family Coordinator or waitingchildren@awaa.org
  • A Family Coordinator will send you a confirmation e-mail once your application has been approved.
Part I: Applicant Information
Prospective Parent's Names
Name of Family Coordinator
Preferred Email Address
Preferred Contact Numbers
   
Social Worker Name
Social Worker's Email Address
Have your family submitted a dossier or are you still paper chasing?
List the birthdays of all the children (under 18 years) that are currently living in your home.
Part II: Family Information
What doctor's or specialists are available in your community? Note: It is not mandatory to consult specialists during the review and acceptance process. However, each family needs to determine the medical resources they need to care for their child.
What community resources are available in your community?
What are you plans for childcare?
Will your insurance cover pre-existing conditions and will the coverage begin upon placement of the child with you?
Adopting an older child or one with special needs can be challenging and exhausting at times. What steps will you take to ensure you can get help in particularly stressful or tiring times? Please describe your support system.
What research have you done regarding adopting an older child or child with special needs? (This can include talking to other adoptive parents.)
Why do you feel you are ready to parent an older child or child with special needs?
How did you learn about the Waiting Children program?
Part III: Child Information & Medical Conditions Checklist
In this section your family will indicate the gender, age range, and needs you are open to reviewing. Complete this portion of the application according to the following guideline:
  • If "yes" is checked, your family will be strongly considered as a possible match.
  • If "maybe" is checked, your family will be considered on a case by case basis.
  • If left blank your family will not be considered.
Gender Request
Male
Female
Age Range Request
Please keep the following points in mind when choosing the age range you are open to reviewing:
  • The youngest referrals possible through China’s adoption program are 6 months of age, though this is very rare. All families who check yes to 1-2 year age range will be considered for younger referrals as well.
  • Healthy children ages 6-13 are referred through the WC program. While it is possible for a healthy child to be 6-9 years of age, this is very rare. Most healthy children are 10-13 years of age.
  • The terms "artificial twinning" and "breaking birth order" should be discussed with your social worker to understand if these are options or applicable to your family.
1-2
2-3
3-4
4-5
5-6
6-7
7-8
8-9
9-10
10-11
11-12
12-13
13-14
Artificial Twinning (if applicable)
Breaking Birth Order (if applicable)
Healthy Older Child; Specify age range between 10-13 years
Special Needs Requests
Ear, Eye, Facial and Head Conditions
Cleft lip**
Cleft Palate
Repaired cleft lip & repaired palate
Repaired cleft lip & unrepaired palate
Ear Deformity (Microtia & Artesia)
Partial hearing loss**
Total hearing loss
Vision Impairment- both eyes
Vision Impairment- one eye
Loss of sight in one eye
Loss of sight in both eyes
Repaired ear, eye or head condition
Other ear, eye, facial or head condition
Bones, Muscle and Joint Conditions
Cerebral Palsy
Bone dislocation or fracture**
Physical deformity of appendages (toes/fingers)
Missing appendages (toes/fingers)
Physical deformity of hands
Missing hand(s)
Club feet
Physical deformity of feet
Missing feet
Missing Limb(s)–arm
Missing Limb(s)-leg
Hernia (repaired or unrepaired)**
Scoliosis
Spina Bifida
Repaired spina bifida
Repaired bone/muscle or joint condition
Other Spine Deformity
Other bone/muscle or joint condition
Skin Conditions
Hemangioma**
Burns or scars
Albinism
Other skin condition
Other Conditions
Seizures
Hydrocephalus
Developmental delay-mental
Developmental delay-growth
Developmental delay- motor
Other neurological condition
Gastrointestinal disorders
Repaired Gastrointestinal condition
Other gastrointestinal condition
Other growth/hormone condition
Reproductive Conditions
Genital malformation
Imperforated or fistula of anus
Hypospadias
Hermaphrodism
Repaired reproductive condition
Other reproductive condition
Heart/Blood Conditions
Congenital Heart Defect
Repaired Heart Defect
Hepatitis B Active
Hepatitis B Carrier
Anemia**
Other Blood Related condition
Other Heart condition
**Children with these conditions will most often have an additional special need. It is not typical for children to be diagnosed with one of these conditions alone.
Part IV: Special Instructions
This section is optional and is for families who wish to clarify their thoughts behind the types of special needs they are considering. For instance:
  • There are different types or levels of severity for some needs. For example, congenital heart disease can be classified as a VSD, ASD, etc. When doing your research you can specify which conditions you are open to considering.
  • If there are any additional types of special needs that your family would like to consider that were not listed on the application.
Special Notes on Age
Special Notes on Needs
Part V: Statement of Strong Preference for Shared Referrals
For families who have consulted with a medical profession and feel educated and prepared to move forward with the adoption of a child with a certain type or category of special needs, please indicate that here:

Families that do not wish to pursue this option can move on to part V1 of the application and will follow the normal review process as outlined in the WC guidelines.
Statement of Strong Preference
I/We permit America World to lock a child’s file should he/she have a need listed in our Statement of Strong Preference section prior to contacting our family. I/We understand this requires me/us to be able to move forward with acceptance process in less than 48 hours, due to the time constraints of the locking process.
Mother's Initials:     Father's Initials:
I/We agree to submit the pictures noted below with our application. I/We understand my/our application will not be processed until all pieces, including the photos, have been received.
Mother's Initials:     Father's Initials:
I/We agree to do our best to be accessible by phone at one of the (above listed) contact numbers when shared referral groups arrive. I/We agree to check the blog for referral announcements, and understand America World cannot predict the exact days referrals will arrive.
Mother's Initials:     Father's Initials:
Part VI: Photos
Families are encouraged to submit these photos with their application, however only families who signed the above statements are required to submit these photos with the application. For all other families these photos are needed at time of accepting referral. Photos can be emailed to your Family Coordinator or waitingchildren@awaa.org.

Electronic photos are needed as part of the acceptance paperwork. This includes:
  • Family photo – one photo with all members of your family living in the home
  • Passport photos – one passport photo of each prospective parent (passport photos of other adults or children in the home are not needed). These photos can NOT be scans of your actual passport.
Part VII: Waiting Children Program Application Agreement
I/We agree to fulfill the 8 responsibilities outlined in this application including but not limited to: keeping USCIS approvals current, consulting medical professionals when reviewing a referral and reading the details of the process in the WC Guidelines Program Packet.
Mother's Initials:     Father's Initials:
I/We agree and understand that a special needs adoption is pending on my/our ability to obtain an approved home study for a special needs child, as well as gaining approval from the CCAA.
Mother's Initials:     Father's Initials:
I/We understand that by signing the Rehabilitation and Nurture Plan, receiving an approved home study, and/or receiving a Pre-Approval does not grant official approval from the CCAA regarding a specific special needs child. Official approval is obtained once the Referral Acceptance and Travel Approvals are received as well as the adoption is finalized in China.
Mother's Initials:     Father's Initials:
I/We recognize that by signing this application I/we are not required to adopt a waiting child. Signing this application does not guarantee I/we will receive a referral for a waiting child.
Mother's Initials:     Father's Initials:
I/We have read and completed this application for America World to the best of my/our ability. All information given is true and complete.
Mother's Initials:     Father's Initials:
I/We agree to read through the WC Program Guidelines Packet which we will receive upon our application approval.
Mother's Initials:     Father's Initials:

I/We have an America World social worker. I/We understand our WC program application will be reviewed by our social worker before being approved.
Mother's Initials:     Father's Initials:
OR

I/We have a social worker through another home study agency. I/We promise to fax or scan a copy of our WC program application to that social worker and understand that America World will copy my/ our social worker on the application approval email.
Mother's Initials:     Father's Initials:

For families who signed the statement of strong preference: I/We have discussed our WC Program application with a medical professional.
Name of Doctor:
Date of Conversation:
Mode of Conversation:
Mother's Initials:     Father's Initials:
OR

For families who have not signed the statement of strong preference: I/We have not discussed our WC Program application with a medical professional but have done initial research on the special needs we have listed above. Additionally, I/we know I/we must consult a medical professional when reviewing a referral and I/we agree to do so at that time.
Mother's Initials:     Father's Initials:
I/We are aware I/we have the right to update my/our application requests or temporarily suspend my/our application at any time during my/our participation in the program. I/We agree to notify my/our Family Coordinator if there are family circumstances that have occurred where I/we feel I/we are not able to review referrals for a certain period of time. I/We understand a temporary suspension is optional, can be any length of time, and has no affect on our application once I/we re-enter the program.
Mother's Initials:     Father's Initials:
I/We understand if I/we suspend from my/our adoption process or decide to pursue a concurrent family building option, I/we will be temporarily suspended from the Waiting Children Program.
Mother's Initials:     Father's Initials:
I/We understand this program involves a referral review process and understand I/we have the right to accept or decline a referral. Declining a referral has no bearing on future matching or referral opportunities for my/our family.
Mother's Initials:     Father's Initials:
Mother Signature and Date
  
Father Signature and Date
  
BEFORE SUBMITTING THE COMPLETED APPLICATION, FAMILIES ARE REQUESTED TO PRINT A COPY FOR THEIR RECORDS.






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