Chinadopt:
Adopting
Children From China
-being a collection of personal opinions and information collected by Edward Hume, MD, shrink and adoptive father (Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China, June 6, 1995) Updated 2006-12-24
Chinadopt*---Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)for parents adopting from China,or who have adopted from China - - from people who have been there and done that.
For those who are curious:
This
is NOT an agency home page.
There
is NO MONEYinvolved
in this website.
There are no advertisements for
services here!
The purpose of this website is to help answer questions about adopting children from China.
From October 1983 to September 2005, Americans adopted 55,446 Chinese children. In fiscal 2005 alone, Americans adopted 7906 Chinese children.
This website is here to answer questions about adopting
children
from China so that others can benefit from the experiences of those
of us who have been to China and adopted children.
Most of the items here are answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) from an e-mail list concerning adopting children from China. The FAQ answers have been contributed by subscribers to the list. Other items are answers or comments that I just liked a lot. (Note--the e-mail list is long gone, but others have sprung up.) Most of the information is relatively old. I leave it up because people still find it helpful. Most importantly, do realize that China has change much in the years since most of this information was put together. The cities, in particular, are getting quite modern. Ask people who have gone to China recently what their experiences were like.
Go Here First!
Families with Children from China is the main organization for families with children from China. The FCC website has a great deal of information that is very useful, as well as hyperlinks to sites with even more information. They have information for Canadians. They have a link to the adoption agency for the Chinese government. They are the main site for adopting from China. Go there first.
Adoption Option, a great overview in the Beijing Scene Online(5/26/97)
Life is Good . . . Why we adopt children. (first posted 1996 or 1997; minor update 2000/09/10)
FAQ Subjects:
Changes in Chinese laws and regulations: New changes as of February 2001. See the Families With Children from China website to keep up with developments
Why adopt a child from China? Included are some of my views on the sorry state of American "family" law, as well as some postings on the effects of malnourishment on Chinese adoptees' later growth and development (the “effects” may surprise you).
What should I do while I'm just thinking about adopting? (updated 2000/07/14) Includes reference to a must-have report.
China Centre of Adoption Affairs. (new 2000/07/14) Get your information directly from the source: the Chinese governmental agency that is in charge of adoptions there.
Vaccinations: Medical information on Hepatitis and Hepatitis Vaccinations (If you are going to do this, do it right now)(Updated 11/1/97). In addition, get tetanus and other routine vaccinations. Most of us will not need vaccinations for typhoid, etc.
Issues in choosing an agency (minor update 2000/07/15)
The Home Study and other perils of the application process.
Adopting an older child. (updated 2000/07/05) Do you really need to adopt an infant?
What should I do while I am waiting? Stuff to do; stuff to read; stuff to watch. Have fun!
Learn to speak Chinese and read and write in Chinese characters. Books and tapes to help.
How do they match children with prospective parents? (new 1999/10/01) We asked Laura Cecere.
What about attachment disorder? (updated 2000/09/10)My thoughts and a comment from an experienced adoptive parent.
The Paper Chase Presented by World Child, these are the document requirements for adoptions from China to the best of their understanding.
FAQ's on Paperwork (new 2000/08/28) Presented by the Forslinds, the document requirements for adoptions from China are presented in a Q&A format.
BE NICE! (new 12/21/97) A note from the INS Officer in Charge at Guangzhou.
Taking along another child. We did it, and it turned out well. Others have left their kids home, for good reasons. Check out the discussion.
Stuff to bring to China when you adopt This priceless collection of pearls of wisdom comes from all of us who have been there (included is a discussion on bathrooms in China).
Our Government. (Updated 4/20/98) Because of some new law, getting your adopted child into the U.S. can be very difficult, as these notes points out. Please consult Families with Children from China for details.
A Medical Story: Things Are Not Always What They Seem (7/1/97)
Note: I have been adding to this website since I first put it up in March 1996, but I haven't been to China since 1995. Those of you who go into the hinterlands, please let me know how China has changed--if at all. Please also let me know if I can post your comments. Thanks--Ed.
Feeding your Chinese adoptee. American vs. Chinese formulas, etc.
Medical Issues when you get home: picking a good pediatrician; special health concerns, etc.
Snappy comebacks to insensitive/rude remarks about your Asian-American child. Mostly nice; that's because we are all nice people. Also, family reactions.
Telling the Adoption Story to your adopted child.
How Much Chinese Culture do we introduce to our adopted children?
Working Through the Issues involved in adopting a child of a different race.
a-parents-china This email list is primarily for information sharing about issues related to adoption in China, before travel to China. The a-parents-china mailing list which has over 3500 subscribers, is for single or married men and women who are either planning to adopt, or have adopted, a child from China.
post-adopt-china The PAC list is primarily for those who have ALREADY adopted a child from China. This email list is for information sharing about issues related to parenting children adopted from China and other post-adoption issues. The post-adopt-china mailing list is for single or married men and women who have adopted a child from China. If you are in the pre-adoption stages you are welcome to join the PAC list but pre-adoption questions should be posted (such as travel issues and agency recommendations) to the a-parents-china list
AOK China Discussion for adoptive parents and those interested in adopting "older" children from China.
Miscellaneous FAQs and Related Websites
Adoption --- the Chinese Words in both Pinyin spelling and Chinese characters.
Naming Your Baby (or Yourself) In Chinese (updated 2001/11/19)
The Children Can't Wait, a wonderful book by Laura Cecere about how adotions in China have evolved to what they are now. Answers many questions about the process. Read my Review.
Related websites (updated 2001/12/11)
Other websites named "Chinadopt"
<>This site is NOT related to China Adoption Services Agency, Inc. They use the domain name chinadopt.org for e-mail. I know nothing at all about that agency, other than the fact that they seem to work out of the state of Washington. They do not have a home page.- - Ed
Comments? Suggestions? Links that don't work? Mail to ehume at the main domain of this website.