Waiting Children FAQ

What kind of special needs do these children typically have? How often does America World receive waiting children referrals? What are the requirements for families adopting a waiting child? What is the wait time for a referral through the Waiting Children Program? What is the Waiting Children Program? Can we request a healthy child, and still have an application on file for the Waiting Children Program? What are the resources available to my family, should we consider a waiting child adoption?   What kind of medical 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 medical needs commonly seen are cleft lip and palate, congenital heart disease, vision or hearing impairments, club foot/feet, extra digits on hands or feet, Hepatitis B positive, limb deformity, developmental delays, spina bifida, or a repaired medical condition. The medical needs can range from minor to more severe, and are typically a physical condition that may or may not need surgery. Some of the children may have already had surgery, but require follow up care. Some are older children who are healthy.   How often does America World receive waiting children referrals? The CCAA refers a large group of shared referrals to agencies once a month. These shared referrals are available for many agencies all over the world to view and try and place into families. America World staff works diligently during evenings and weekends during this time to help place these children into families. The CCAA reserves the right to occasionally give agency specific referrals. Agency specific referrals are only accessed by one agency who tries to place the children with their families. Families should call America World and speak to a China Program Coordinator to discuss the referral program options.   What are the requirements for families adopting a waiting child? Although the adoptive requirements for the Waiting Children Program are generally the same as the requirements for parents adopting through the China Program, there are a few differences. Families who are ages 30 - 55 at the time of dossier submission are eligible for the program. Families with 5 children in the home can also adopt through the Waiting Children Program. On occasion, the CCAA will make exceptions in the requirements for a family desiring to pursue the adoption of a specific waiting child who has been available for adoption for a certain period of time. Families can contact a China Family Coordinator to find out more about these specific children.   What is the wait time for a referral through the Waiting Children Program? The wait for a Waiting Children Program referral is dependent upon the specific gender, age, and medical needs a family has requested on their Waiting Children Program application and the types of referrals arriving with each group. For some families, there is no referral wait time as they are matched with a referral immediately upon starting the adoption process or shortly after they begin the paper-chasing process. For current wait times, please call or email one of our China program staff. Every month we match 5-30 families with their referrals, so the wait time is always changing. Currently there are hundreds of children waiting for their families. There are boys and girls ages 6 months- 13 years old with a variety of medical needs or a healthy older child. Families with an approved America World and Waiting Children Program application on file can be matched with a referral.   What is the Waiting Children Program? The Waiting Children (WC) Program is a compilation of the families in the China adoption process who are interested in being contacted about waiting children referrals. Families can join the program at any point of their China adoption process, whether paper chasing or in the dossier waiting stage. Families can apply to the WC program by completing an application indicating the age, gender and types of medical needs they are open to considering. A family can be matched directly with a referral that meets their referral requests. The application is emailed to the family by their Family Coordinator.   Can we request a healthy child, and still have an application on file for the Waiting Children Program? Yes. Many of the families that decide to adopt a child from the Waiting Children Program actually request a healthy child in the dossier. Families who are not matched with or who do not choose to move forward with a waiting child referral will continue through the healthy track with the CCAA.   How do we speak to families who have adopted through this program? You can view testimonies, adoption stories, and photos that families have submitted on our America World adoption blog. The blog also contains annoucements, general program information, and agency information. Additionally, there are many previous America World (AWAA) families who have volunteered to be references for those considering adopting a waiting child through AWAA. Their contact information is found on the references webpage. There are also associates in most states who can help connect a family to others who are in their local area.