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What kind of special needs do these children typically have?
The children can be male or female and range in age from 6
months-13 years. Some of the special needs we see often are cleft lip & palate,
congenital heart disease, vision or hearing problems, club foot/feet, extra
digits on hands or feet, Hepatitis B positive, lazy eye, limb deformity, or a
heart murmur. These conditions can range from minor to more severe. China does
not allow children with any type of mental disorder to be adopted. Therefore,
the children we see all have some type of physical condition that most of the
time needs a few surgeries, and the child will live a healthy, normal life.
Some of the children may have already had surgery, but still need follow up
care.
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How often does America World receive special needs referrals?
Referrals are usually received every 3-4 months and we
typically receive about 20 referrals at a time.
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What are the requirements for families adopting a special needs
child?
The adoptive parents requirements for a special needs adoption
are basically the same requirements for parents adopting a healthy child. It is
important for the family to be able to state that they have health insurance
that will cover the new child and that the family will provide any medical
treatment the child may need.
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What is the “Interested Families” List?
The Waiting Children Coordinator keeps track of a list called the
“Interested Families List”. The is a list of the names of families interested
in being contacted about special needs children, along with each families’
preference for age, gender, and the special needs they may be open to. The
families on the list are ranked according to various factors, so that when
referrals are received, they can be contacted accordingly. Therefore, it is
imperative that when we receive referrals we have this list ready, since the
CCAA gives us a limited amount of time to find families for these children. It
is not a requirement to have the dossier paperwork completed for families to
add their names to this list.
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Can we request a healthy child, and still have our names on the
Interested Families List?
Yes. Many of the families that decide to adopt a child from
the Waiting Child Program actually request a healthy child in their dossier. If
you do not accept a child from the Waiting Child Program, your dossier will
continue to move through the process, and the CCAA will send you a healthy
referral within the normal waiting time.
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Will my insurance cover my adopted child if they need surgery
or extra medical care?
HIPPA (HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT)
laws state, “Newborns and adopted children are not subject to pre-existing
condition exclusions if they enroll within 30 days of the birth or adoption.”
This means that your adopted child should be covered by your health insurance.
However, we encourage you to check with your insurance company to review the
details of your specific insurance plan.
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How will adopting a child with special needs impact my family?
Consideration should be given to the additional time and care
that is required for a child with special needs during times of surgery and/or
ongoing medical treatment. The support of family and church fellowship can be
quite helpful especially when there are other children in the home.
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