China

SPENCE-CHAPIN BEGAN WORKING IN CHINA IN 1992, and has placed more than 600 children since that time. China has a centralized, stable adoption system and Spence-Chapin has been consistently approved to work in China by the China Center for Adoption Affairs (CCAA). Home to more than 1.3 billion people, China makes up one quarter of the world's population. China is a multi-religious country, where Mandarin is the official language. China has an incredibly rich history and many of its historical and cultural sights, such as the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, are open and easily accessible to visitors. Due to China's One Child Policy and the cultural imperative to raise a son in most Chinese families, the majority of children in need of homes in China are girls. Below is an overview of China's requirements and restrictions concerning prospective adoptive parents.

Program Criteria

Married couples between 30 and 50-years-old at the time of dossier submission to China. Applicants up to 55 are eligible to adopt a Waiting Child.
Couples must be married for 2 years or 5 years if previously divorced. No more than two previous marriages are permitted.
No current medical conditions, chronic illnesses, infectious diseases, or severe deformities of applicants. Major surgeries and diseases should be at least 10 years ago. Stable and mild conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and thyroid issues managed with medication may be acceptable. Isolated surgeries that are not part of a larger health concern are generally allowed. Applicants must have a BMI of 40 or less. Medical issues will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
At least 2 years since treatment for mental health issues and/or use of psychotropic medication.
No arrest history within the past 10 years, though very minor issues may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Net worth of at least $80,000 and at least one applicant must have stable employment with an annual household income of $10,000 per family member including child.
No more than 5 children (including adopted child) under the age of 18 may be in the household.
Both applicants should have high school diploma.

Children in Need of Homes

Girls from about 6 months to school age are primarily in need of adoption. The youngest children generally arrive home around their first birthday. In addition, boys and girls of all ages, with varying degrees of special needs are placed through the waiting child program. Most children are cared for in institutional settings, though foster care also exists.

Timing and Travel: From Application to Homecoming

Timing: The current wait for a referral after your dossier is sent to China is approaching three years and is expected to continue to gradually lengthen. At this time, it is not possible to predict how long it will grow. Families of Chinese heritage may be expedited by the CCAA. The wait for a referral is significantly decreased for applicants who adopt a Waiting Child.
Referral: At the time of referral, you will receive a photograph and medical report on the child who has been matched with your family.
Travel: Both members of a couple will travel to China approximately eight weeks after acceptance of referral, typically in groups with other adoptive families. Your child's adoption is finalized in China prior to returning home and the trip is about 10 to 14 days. Families typically travel to Beijing, on to the capital of the Province where their child is living, and then end the trip in Guangzhou. Families are fully escorted throughout the trip by Spence-Chapin's bilingual representatives.
Post Adoption: Upon returning home, your child will be an automatic citizen of the U.S. and you will receive a certificate of citizenship in the mail. CCAA requires reports at approximately 6 and 12 months after finalization. Both reports are written by the social worker based on an office visit with your family. For out-of-state families, the local agency provides these. On-going support through the Adoption Resource Center is available throughout the lifetime of your family and is free for one year.

Families Outside of the NY/NJ Metro Area

Spence-Chapin welcomes families outside of our direct New York/New Jersey metropolitan service area to adopt through our program in China. Spence-Chapin collaborates with other reputable agencies around the U.S. For more information about networking and a list of Spence-Chapin Network Agencies, click on the link or contact our International Inquiry Coordinator at 212-400-8150.

China Waiting Children

Spence-Chapin is approved by CCAA to place Waiting Children and is currently looking for families who are open to children with identified needs or conditions. Many of the children available through this program have minor or correctable issues while others' needs may be more complicated. Spence-Chapin receives referrals of waiting children several times a year. For more information, please visit our Waiting Children page.

Humanitarian Aid to China

Spence-Chapin has a commitment to the children in China who may not find permanent homes through adoption. In 2000, we opened a Granny Program in the Child Welfare Institute of Xi'an's infant room. Rita Taddonio, Director of Spence-Chapin's Adoption Resource Center , has made multiple visits to Xi'an to provide training to the grannies on understanding children's needs and the acquisition of developmental skills. This continues to be a wonderful example of how Spence-Chapin can offer not only financial support, but also our professional expertise to our partners around the world. We are thrilled to have been able to subsequently open two additional Granny Programs in China. We are now running a second program in Xi'an for the toddlers who have aged out of our infant program, as well as a Granny Program at the Ankang Children's Welfare Institute. Spence-Chapin also donates annually to the China Center of Adoption Affairs’ Tomorrow Plan program, which provides surgery for children with special needs who are living in Chinese orphanages. In addition, we have provided many other forms of Humanitarian Aid over the course of our 16 years working in China.

To learn more about our humanitarian aid programs and how you can support them, please view our Helping Children Abroad page.

Cost Guidelines

There are several categories of fees and expenses that adoptive families should anticipate when considering an international adoption. For an explanation of these, please refer to the Understanding Fees and Expenses page. Included in these fees is a separate foreign country program fee which varies. For China it is $8,800.

Celebration for Children Adopted Internationally

Every year the agency hosts parties for Spence-Chapin families formed through international adoption. Families come together to celebrate with traditional food, crafts, and entertainment, which offers children an opportunity to explore their common heritage. For information about this year's celebration, please contact Spence-Chapin's Events Hotline at 212-360-0274.

CCAA website: http://www.china-ccaa.org/frames/index_unlogin_en.jsp

China's

Granny Program

A Granny at the Xi’an orphanage holds a child, providing the warm presence and individual touch that infants and toddlers need in order to thrive.

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