Over the years, it has been a joy and privilege for America World Adoption to help
find families for children considered hard to place, through our Waiting Children
programs. Waiting children are orphans who have been identified as ready and
available to be placed in loving homes due to an assortment of reasons. These reasons
might include the fact that they are considered an older child, or are that they are
diagnosed with a medical or developmental condition.
China Waiting Children Program
In China, there are waiting children between the ages of 6 months and thirteen years old, hundreds
of whom have their paperwork ready and they are currently waiting for their forever families.
There are boys and girls who are healthy older children or children of all ages who have a medical
or special need. Commonly seen special needs include: cleft lip/ palate, heart defect, hand or foot
deformity, spine conditions, Hepatitis B positive, and hearing or vision impairments. Families can
receive referrals immediately upon entering the program and in some cases can adopt two unrelated
children with one adoption process.
Eastern Europe Waiting Children Program
In Eastern Europe there are waiting children between the ages of 14 months to 15 years.
Many of these children have been prepared for international adoption and are simply waiting their
forever family. Similar to the China program, there are both boys and girls who are healthy older
children or children of all ages who have medical and/or specials needs. Families can review
referrals immediately upon entering the program.
Ethiopia Waiting Children Program
In Ethiopia, the Waiting Children include older children (older than five) with no special need,
children part of a sibling group, children who are HIV positive, children with a hearing or
vision impairment, or developmental delays. As you begin the process of building your family
through adoption, we encourage you to consider adopting a waiting child.
