Adopting from China

by Shoshanna Grey | More from this Blogger

Country Basics China is the largest country in Asia - it is only slightly smaller than the United States. The climate is very diverse, ranging from tropical to the south and subarctic temperatures to the north. The population of China is well over 1.3 Billion.

What Are The Children Like? The children are beautiful with olive skin and beautiful almond-shaped eyes. There are children of all ages waiting for homes. There are a number of infants and toddlers and so often the older children are overlooked. Most of the children are girls, but there are also many boys who need families.

Why Are The Children Available for Adoption? China has instituted a one-child policy in an attempt to keep the population down. There are fines for those who have more than one child and many families simply cannot pay them. Mostly girls are relinquished because the Chinese culture depends on sons to take care of parents in their old age. It is important for people to realize that girls are not unwanted in China. The decision to relinquish their child is very difficult for Chinese parents and many report that they have never forgotten their children.

How Long Does the Process Take? The time frame from application to bringing a child home is currently 18 - 20 months. The wait for older children or those with special needs is often shorter.

What is the Cost? Adoptive families report that an adoption from China usually costs between $20,000 and $25,000.

What Issues Should I be Aware Of? More recently, the wait for the referral of a healthy infant has been 12-18 months.

How Can I Learn More?

The World Factbook - China

Adoption.com China Forums

China Adoption Information Page

Learn more about Shoshanna Grey

Shoshanna Grey has worked as an occupational social worker, teacher, child care provider, customer service reqpresentative, college recruiter and several other positions over the years.

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