Dear China Families,
I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving Holiday with their family and friends.
As most of you know by now, I assumed responsibility for the China program on
November 1st, 2009, though I am still getting up to speed on protocols and
procedures. Bear with me. Most of you probably read my China update for the
Welcome House newsletter for October, but I realize that I did not also post to
the Yahoo group this month. Sorry about that!! Posting to the China yahoo
group fell through the cracks during the transition of responsibilities. But I
will be posting to this group regularly going forward. We will try to get
program update information to the families in process in our China program
first.
We have lots of good news to share with everyone.
First, CCAA has made some progress on matching. We just heard today that
families with dossiers registered on or before March 31st, 2006 have now been
matched with children, that is three business days worth of dossiers, which is
progress. Our next WH group to be matched had their dossiers registered on April
19th, 2006. Hang in there, you are getting closer, slowly but surely. Also
CCAA has reviewed dossiers submitted up through 2/29/2008. There has been
substantial progress in the number of dossiers that CCAA has reviewed.
We also had 3 placements of children from China in November. On November 5th,
2009, all three little girls touched down in the United States, and became US
citizens. Congratulations to Laurie and Paul and big sis,Hanna; Janis and Bill
and big sis,Ella; and Elliot and Lynda who are first timers. All three girls
are doing great. That brings the total number of placements for the WH China
program this calendar year to 13. We also have four more families who will
leave for China to meet their children very shortly. All four families received
confirmation of their adoption from CCAA, and we are just waiting for travel
approvals to arrive for three of the families before we can finalize their
travel arrangements. Three of the four families have accepted a referral of a
waiting child, and one family has a parent of Chinese heritage who are eligible
for an expedited referral.
The waiting child program continues to be a bright spot for Welcome House. In
fact waiting children account for the majority of children placed from China in
2009. WH received eight designated waiting child referrals just for our agency
in August, and six designated waiting child referrals for our agency in
September. 2 of the 8 August referrals and 3 of the 6 September referrals have
been matched with WH families. We also got clarifying information on a number
of the waiting children, that was favorable. Li asked a number of follow up
questions and got additional helpful medical information and even got an
additional medical test performed. We are running out of time to match children
from the August group, so please let me know if you are interested in receiving
more information. If you thing you might be interested in adopting a waiting
child, please contact Becki Buck at bbuck@.... Becki has been doing
a terrific job coordinating the waiting child program for WH.
Also we are instituting a waiting child of the month program to highlight some
of the children referred to us that are patiently waiting for a family. Our
waiting child for this month is a very sweet eleven year old girl who we are
calling Annie, who actually resides in the orphanage in Zhenjiang. This is the
province where Pearl S. Buck was born and a number of WH families sponsor
children from this orphanage so we feel a particular obligation to find a home
for Annie. I have posted a flyer which Becki Buck created to the files section
of this group, which details Annie's special needs. She has received all
required corrective surgeries in China and functions normally.
Also, the shared list of waiting children was just released the last week of
November. These are the waiting children that are released to all agencies
simultaneously. There were many healthy older children and a lot of boys on
the shared list this month. There were also children with more involved special
needs on the list. Please let me know if you are interested in the Waiting
Child program and I can put you in touch with Becki.
Don't hesitate to contact me with any questions and concerns. I am looking
forward to getting to know all of you better over the coming months. My work
e-mail address is adurie@... and my phone number is (215) 249-0100
ext. 119.
Amy
Friday, December 4, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
LOOKS LIKE WE ARE FINALLY IN THE REVIEW ROOM!
Reviewed through:
February 29, 2008
Placed through:
March 28, 2006
February 29, 2008
Placed through:
March 28, 2006
Monday, October 5, 2009
China Program Update October 2009
Looks like we wait until after my birthday for some more news...........
Hi everyone,
I hope that you are well and are enjoying the fall! Congratulations to
Bill & Janis, Elliot & Lynda, and Paul & Laurie - they have received
final approval to adopt their children, all waiting children. They'll
be coming home soon!!
More waiting child referrals received!
In September we were excited to receive referrals for 6 more waiting
children. These are children that have been referred only to Welcome
House and for whom we are now working to find families. Information
about these children has been uploaded into the China program yahoo
group. If you are unable to access this but would like to learn more
about the children, please email Becki Buck at bbuck@pearlsbuck.org.
Announcement from U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou
At the end of September the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou announced that
families must have a CIS approval that matches the child that they have
been referred before they will be issued a visa appointment. In other
words, you must be approved by USCIS for a child of the same age,
gender, and health status as the child you are adopting before you can
travel to China to complete the adoption of your child. If you have
questions about whether or how this will affect your family's adoption,
please contact Heather Carter-Tryon at hcartertryon@pearlsbuck.org or
215-249-0100 ext. 136.
Current Status of Referrals and Dossier Reviews
As of today dossiers that were registered on or before October 31, 2007
have been reviewed and families with dossiers registered on or before
March 24, 2006 have been matched with children. Referrals were not sent
out from CCAA in September, most likely due to the travel schedule of
some CCAA officials and the National Day holiday (October 1 - 8). We
look forward to learning about the referrals that will be sent out in
October!
If you have any questions about the China program, please don't hesitate
to contact me or your Adoption Coordinator. I can be reached at
hcartertryon@pearlsbuck.org or 215-249-0100 ext. 136.
Take care,
Heather
Hi everyone,
I hope that you are well and are enjoying the fall! Congratulations to
Bill & Janis, Elliot & Lynda, and Paul & Laurie - they have received
final approval to adopt their children, all waiting children. They'll
be coming home soon!!
More waiting child referrals received!
In September we were excited to receive referrals for 6 more waiting
children. These are children that have been referred only to Welcome
House and for whom we are now working to find families. Information
about these children has been uploaded into the China program yahoo
group. If you are unable to access this but would like to learn more
about the children, please email Becki Buck at bbuck@pearlsbuck.org.
Announcement from U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou
At the end of September the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou announced that
families must have a CIS approval that matches the child that they have
been referred before they will be issued a visa appointment. In other
words, you must be approved by USCIS for a child of the same age,
gender, and health status as the child you are adopting before you can
travel to China to complete the adoption of your child. If you have
questions about whether or how this will affect your family's adoption,
please contact Heather Carter-Tryon at hcartertryon@pearlsbuck.org or
215-249-0100 ext. 136.
Current Status of Referrals and Dossier Reviews
As of today dossiers that were registered on or before October 31, 2007
have been reviewed and families with dossiers registered on or before
March 24, 2006 have been matched with children. Referrals were not sent
out from CCAA in September, most likely due to the travel schedule of
some CCAA officials and the National Day holiday (October 1 - 8). We
look forward to learning about the referrals that will be sent out in
October!
If you have any questions about the China program, please don't hesitate
to contact me or your Adoption Coordinator. I can be reached at
hcartertryon@pearlsbuck.org or 215-249-0100 ext. 136.
Take care,
Heather
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
SEPTEMBER CHINA PROGRAM UPDATE
Hi everyone,
I hope that you are well!
Congratulations!
Congratulations to Rob and Laurie - they've received their final travel
approval to adopt their daughter! She will be coming home shortly!
Exciting news from the waiting child program!
We have two pieces of good news from the waiting child program this
month. First, we are very pleased to have hired Rebecca "Becki" Buck as
our Waiting Child Matching Coordinator. Becki has over 10 years of
experience matching children and families from the U.S. foster care
system. We're very excited that she's lending her expertise with
children with special needs to the China program! Second, we were very
excited to receive referrals of 8 waiting children in August. These are
designated referrals, which means that the children were referred only
to Welcome House. Two of the children have been matched and we are
seeking families for 6 others. Becki is putting together write-ups
about each of the children right now. I'll forward them around in a
separate email as soon as they're ready. Stay tuned!
U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou slightly changes visa process for children
At the end of August we received notification from the U.S. Consulate in
Guangzhou regarding a slight modification in the visa issuance process
for children. In the past, families' paperwork was submitted to the
Consulate one day and then the families went to the Consulate the
following day for the oath-taking ceremony and to pick up the visas.
Beginning on October 1, 2009 the process will include one extra day.
Families' paperwork will be submitted the first day, families will go to
the Consulate the second day for the oath-taking ceremony, and then on
the afternoon of the third day the guides will pick up the children's
visas. This will mean that families will need to stay in Guangzhou for
one extra day.
Important notice for families finalizing or refinalizing their adoption
in Bucks County
In August we heard from the Orphans Court of Bucks County that they now
want to see a home study update that is less than one year old at the
time of the adoption hearing. Because so many families have been having
home study updates completed in order to maintain CIS approval, this
change may not affect every family. However, once your child is home
and you notify us of your intention to (re)finalize your adoption in
Bucks County, we will check your records to determine whether you will
need another home study update. (Please note: It is not required that
you (re)finalize your adoption in Bucks County. You may do so either in
your county/state of residence or in Bucks County.)
CCAA's website updated
I apologize that I am late sharing this information with you this month;
the website was updated while I was out of the office. CCAA's website
has been updated to reflect that families whose dossiers were registered
on or before October 31, 2007 have been reviewed. Congratulations to
our 10/9/07 dossier group - their dossiers have now been approved!
Also, families whose dossiers have been registered on or before March
24, 2006 have received referrals.
International Day
Don't forget that this Sunday from 12 noon to 5 p.m. is PSBI's annual
International Day celebration. There will be international performers
(many of them are new this year!), food from around the world (including
the U.S.), face painting, moon bounce, rides, crafts for the children,
bingo, a seeing eye dog training demonstration and lots more. The cost
is $20 per carload. For more information go to
www.pearlsbuck.org/internationalday.
As always, if you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me
or your Adoption Coordinator.
Take care,
Heather
I hope that you are well!
Congratulations!
Congratulations to Rob and Laurie - they've received their final travel
approval to adopt their daughter! She will be coming home shortly!
Exciting news from the waiting child program!
We have two pieces of good news from the waiting child program this
month. First, we are very pleased to have hired Rebecca "Becki" Buck as
our Waiting Child Matching Coordinator. Becki has over 10 years of
experience matching children and families from the U.S. foster care
system. We're very excited that she's lending her expertise with
children with special needs to the China program! Second, we were very
excited to receive referrals of 8 waiting children in August. These are
designated referrals, which means that the children were referred only
to Welcome House. Two of the children have been matched and we are
seeking families for 6 others. Becki is putting together write-ups
about each of the children right now. I'll forward them around in a
separate email as soon as they're ready. Stay tuned!
U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou slightly changes visa process for children
At the end of August we received notification from the U.S. Consulate in
Guangzhou regarding a slight modification in the visa issuance process
for children. In the past, families' paperwork was submitted to the
Consulate one day and then the families went to the Consulate the
following day for the oath-taking ceremony and to pick up the visas.
Beginning on October 1, 2009 the process will include one extra day.
Families' paperwork will be submitted the first day, families will go to
the Consulate the second day for the oath-taking ceremony, and then on
the afternoon of the third day the guides will pick up the children's
visas. This will mean that families will need to stay in Guangzhou for
one extra day.
Important notice for families finalizing or refinalizing their adoption
in Bucks County
In August we heard from the Orphans Court of Bucks County that they now
want to see a home study update that is less than one year old at the
time of the adoption hearing. Because so many families have been having
home study updates completed in order to maintain CIS approval, this
change may not affect every family. However, once your child is home
and you notify us of your intention to (re)finalize your adoption in
Bucks County, we will check your records to determine whether you will
need another home study update. (Please note: It is not required that
you (re)finalize your adoption in Bucks County. You may do so either in
your county/state of residence or in Bucks County.)
CCAA's website updated
I apologize that I am late sharing this information with you this month;
the website was updated while I was out of the office. CCAA's website
has been updated to reflect that families whose dossiers were registered
on or before October 31, 2007 have been reviewed. Congratulations to
our 10/9/07 dossier group - their dossiers have now been approved!
Also, families whose dossiers have been registered on or before March
24, 2006 have received referrals.
International Day
Don't forget that this Sunday from 12 noon to 5 p.m. is PSBI's annual
International Day celebration. There will be international performers
(many of them are new this year!), food from around the world (including
the U.S.), face painting, moon bounce, rides, crafts for the children,
bingo, a seeing eye dog training demonstration and lots more. The cost
is $20 per carload. For more information go to
www.pearlsbuck.org/internationalday.
As always, if you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me
or your Adoption Coordinator.
Take care,
Heather
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
China Program Update - August 2009
As so we wait some more............
Hi everyone,
I hope you are having a good summer! I have a feeling that this update
will be a long one so please bear with me.
Congratulations!
Congratulations are in order for Bryan & Chris, Tom & Robin, and Jerome
& Carol - they leave tomorrow for China to meet their daughters!
Congratulations, too, to Dan & Elizabeth, who will be meeting their son
later this month!
JCICS online petition regarding the new TB testing requirements - Build
Families, not Barriers
Yesterday we received the following message from the Joint Council on
International Children's Services regarding the new tuberculosis testing
protocols:
"As you may be aware, Joint Council has been working with Dr. Dana
Johnson and other stakeholders including Quad A, NCFA, and EACH as well
as Congressional Offices, on the issue of the CDC TB protocols.
Together we have actively advocated with the United States Dept of
Homeland Security, the U.S. Dept of State Office of Children's Issues
and the Center for Disease Controls and Prevention on the new TB
protocols. However, at this time no positive change has been made by
the CDC.
"As each day passes, more and more children and families are affected by
this issue. Joint Council is currently aware of three families who have
been affected by the new protocols. In an attempt to gain support and
advocacy on this issue in boarder terms, Joint Council has launched a
petition requesting that the CDC change its protocols and more
appropriately protect the health of America. The petition can be found
at http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/build-families-not-barriers.html.
We encourage you to sign the petition
and distribute it widely. Through online social networking, the
petition
has gained over 1,600 signatures in only a few days.
"Additionally, Joint Council will soon publish a Summary Report, which
details the TB protocols impact on children and families. We expect to
publish this report by week's end. Upon your receipt of the Summary
Report, please take a moment to review the information and distribute
widely.
"Joint Council will continue to publish updates as we work to resolve
the CDC TB protocols."
Since the implementation of these new requirements on July 1, the
majority of children tested have had a positive skin test and a negative
chest x-ray, therefore not delaying their return home. However, at
least one of the first families to experience a positive chest x-ray and
the subsequent testing requirements is now in China. They are not able
to stay in China during the child's testing and treatment and, as such,
are having to make other plans for her care until she can receive a
visa. (Please note - This is not a Welcome House family.) I encourage
you to read and sign the JCICS petition regarding the new TB testing
protocols. If so inclined, I also encourage you to contact your
Senators and Representatives regarding this issue. As soon as the JCICS
Summary Report is available, we will forward it to you. While we
understand the need to be cautious about multi-drug resistant
tuberculosis, we also believe that there has to be a better way to
implement this testing so that children are not delayed from coming home
to their forever families and that a handful of families are not put in
the difficult position of having to chose between staying in China for
an extended period of time or returning home without their child and
traveling back later.
Welcome House now wiring fees to China in advance of travel
In response to the increase in the orphanage donation (from $3,000 USD
to 35,000 RMB) on January 1, 2009, we have now set up a system in which
you can wire your orphanage donation, visa fee, and a portion of your
in-country package price to China in advance of your travel. Later this
month families waiting to receive their child will receive a letter
regarding this change. However, here is a quick summary of what this
change will look like... at the time of referral families currently pay
the Welcome House Overseas Fee ($5,300) and the Post-Placement Fee
($1,200) or the Post-Placement Review Fee ($600). In addition to this,
we will be asking that families give Welcome House the following fees:
* Orphanage donation (as mandated by CCAA) - 35,000 RMB or
approximately $5,2000
* Your child's visa fee - $400
* Wire transfer fee - $60 ($30 to send it from the US and $30 to
receive it in China)
* Partial in-country travel package - $1,500 per person
traveling (The in-country travel package covers your hotels, air and
ground transportation within China, sightseeing, tour guides, and
breakfasts. The final amount of the package depends on when you are
traveling, the size of your travel group, where you are going, and how
many people are traveling with you. Any balance above the $1,500 per
person will be paid in traveler's checks or cash to the tour guide in
China.)
It is very important to note that these ARE NOT NEW FEES! These are
fees that families previously paid in cash in China but that will now be
paid to Welcome House and wired to China in advance of your travel.
This is designed to reduce the amount of cash & traveler's checks that
you have to carry when you go to China. For the a full and recently
updated summary of the fees and costs in the adoption process you can go
to:
*
http://www.psbi.org/site/DocServer/China_In_Area__Fee_Schedule.pdf?docID
=462 - For families within our home study service area
*
http://www.psbi.org/site/DocServer/China_Out_of_Area_Fee_Schedule.pdf?do
cID=481 - For families outside our home study service area
Wait times
I have received several questions recently about the wait times, since
we haven't discussed it in a program update in a while, I thought it
would be good to include some information this month. The short answer
is that we still expect that the wait will be at least 3 years and are
hopeful that it will not go over 4 years. However, we have no statement
from CCAA about that so we can't guarantee that this is the case. Here
is some more detailed information:
* The China Center of Adoption Affairs has not given us a verbal
or written prediction regarding the length of time that families will
wait for a referral. This is not because they are being obstinate or
unkind; this is because they are truly not able to make that prediction.
To do so they would need information about the number of referrals that
they will receive in the future, among other things. These numbers are
very difficult to gather. Although it may not feel like it from our end
at times, I can tell you that the staff of the China Center of Adoption
Affairs are, by and large, good people with a heart for vulnerable
children. They also understand well the pain that the long wait is
causing for waiting families.
* I did an informal check this morning of the websites of 52
other agencies that are approved by CCAA to place children from China.
The highest number of agencies (17) indicated that they expected the
wait to be between 36 and 42 months but there was a wide range, as you
can see below. However, nearly every agency indicated that it is very
hard to predict the wait time and that it could change over time. Here
are the results of what I found (I expect that some of the lower time
frames listed indicate agencies that need to update their websites, not
current predictions):
o Time frame not listed - 12 agencies (typically encouraged families
to contact them for up-to-date information)
o 12 - 18 months - 2 agencies
o 18 - 24 months - 3 agencies
o 24 - 30 months - 10 agencies
o 30 - 36 months - 5 agencies
o 36 - 42 months - 17 agencies
o 42 - 48 months - 2 agencies
o 3 - 5 years - 1 agency
* I understand that there are some websites, listservs, and
forums that are predicting wait times of 5 - 10 years. In some cases
this is based on a statistical extrapolation of CCAA's progress over the
last year or two. Personally, I tend to think of these scenarios as the
worst case scenario. I believe that the likely scenario is not as dire.
While I understand the attraction to the statistical extrapolation
format, I think that it oversimplifies the discussion somewhat. It does
not take into account things like the number of families switching to
the waiting child program, the number of families switching to other
countries or withdrawing from China, and the changes in the numbers of
dossiers submitted due to the eligibility criteria changes in May, 2007
and the increasing time frames.
* The referrals sent between July, 2008 and July, 2009 cover the
dossier dates of 1/21/06 through 3/22/06. However, this reflects nearly
4,000 non-special needs children. The CCAA is still working through a
large backlog of dossiers that were registered in 2006.
* There is a possibility that, in light of the increased
orphanage donation, orphanages may begin submitting more children's
files to the CCAA. In the past, some orphanages complained that the
$3,000 USD orphanage donation was not sufficient to cover the staff time
and expenses of gathering information and preparing the children's files
for referral.
* There are changes within China's culture and society that can
affect the international adoption process and the number of children
waiting for families. This includes things like a decrease in
abandonment correlating with the families' improved financial situation,
an increased willingness or ability to pay the fees for an "over quota"
birth, a decrease in the social stigma of adoption among the younger
generation leading to an increase in domestic adoption, and - in some
areas - changes in the administration of the one child policy (see
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-07/24/content_8466365.htm,
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/world/asia/25shanghai.html, and
http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-07-30-voa12.cfm for more
information).
* The last group of families to receive referrals (dossiers
registered on 3/21/06 and 3/22/06) waited 40 months (3 years, 4 months)
to see their child's face.
I know that this wait can be both frustrating and painful, especially
for families whose dossiers were registered at a time when the expected
wait time was 12 - 18 months. Predicting the wait time is a complicated
process that takes into account a number of different variables. I also
know that it can be frustrating to not get a specific prediction from
us, your agency. Because there are so many rumors floating around, we
really feel strongly that we only pass along information that we have
verified or information that we believe to be true and accurate. You
depend on us to give you accurate information and that is what we try to
do. I am sorry, though, that we're not able to give more specific
predictions; I know that can be very difficult.
Staff at Welcome House for the weeks of August 10th and 17th
Next week I will be leaving for a two week trip to our offices in
Vietnam and the Philippines. This Friday is my last day in the office
and I will be back in the office beginning on August 25th. For the week
of August 10th, my supervisor, Leonette Boiarski, will be covering my
responsibilities with the China program. She can be reached at
215-249-0100 ext. 137 or lboiarski@pearlsbuck.org. During this week she
will also be covering for my co-worker. She will be working hard to
respond to everyone's needs and inquiries but if it takes her a bit
longer than usual to respond to you, please be patient - she won't
forget about you! During the week of August 17th, my co-worker, Amy
Durie will be covering my responsibilities with the China program. She
can be reached at 215-249-0100 ext. 119 or adurie@pearlsbuck.org.
This has been a looooong email. If you have questions after you read
it, please don't hesitate to contact me or to post your questions to the
China Program Yahoo group. It's very possible that, if you're wondering
about it, someone else is too!
Take care,
Heather
Heather Carter-Tryon, MSW, LSW
Program Manager
(Coordinator for China, Nepal, Philippines, Vietnam, SWAN, and
Post-Permanency programs)
Pearl S. Buck International
Welcome House Adoption Program
Phone: (215) 249-0100 ext. 136
Fax: (215)249-9657
Hi everyone,
I hope you are having a good summer! I have a feeling that this update
will be a long one so please bear with me.
Congratulations!
Congratulations are in order for Bryan & Chris, Tom & Robin, and Jerome
& Carol - they leave tomorrow for China to meet their daughters!
Congratulations, too, to Dan & Elizabeth, who will be meeting their son
later this month!
JCICS online petition regarding the new TB testing requirements - Build
Families, not Barriers
Yesterday we received the following message from the Joint Council on
International Children's Services regarding the new tuberculosis testing
protocols:
"As you may be aware, Joint Council has been working with Dr. Dana
Johnson and other stakeholders including Quad A, NCFA, and EACH as well
as Congressional Offices, on the issue of the CDC TB protocols.
Together we have actively advocated with the United States Dept of
Homeland Security, the U.S. Dept of State Office of Children's Issues
and the Center for Disease Controls and Prevention on the new TB
protocols. However, at this time no positive change has been made by
the CDC.
"As each day passes, more and more children and families are affected by
this issue. Joint Council is currently aware of three families who have
been affected by the new protocols. In an attempt to gain support and
advocacy on this issue in boarder terms, Joint Council has launched a
petition requesting that the CDC change its protocols and more
appropriately protect the health of America. The petition can be found
at http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/build-families-not-barriers.html.
We encourage you to sign the petition
and distribute it widely. Through online social networking, the
petition
has gained over 1,600 signatures in only a few days.
"Additionally, Joint Council will soon publish a Summary Report, which
details the TB protocols impact on children and families. We expect to
publish this report by week's end. Upon your receipt of the Summary
Report, please take a moment to review the information and distribute
widely.
"Joint Council will continue to publish updates as we work to resolve
the CDC TB protocols."
Since the implementation of these new requirements on July 1, the
majority of children tested have had a positive skin test and a negative
chest x-ray, therefore not delaying their return home. However, at
least one of the first families to experience a positive chest x-ray and
the subsequent testing requirements is now in China. They are not able
to stay in China during the child's testing and treatment and, as such,
are having to make other plans for her care until she can receive a
visa. (Please note - This is not a Welcome House family.) I encourage
you to read and sign the JCICS petition regarding the new TB testing
protocols. If so inclined, I also encourage you to contact your
Senators and Representatives regarding this issue. As soon as the JCICS
Summary Report is available, we will forward it to you. While we
understand the need to be cautious about multi-drug resistant
tuberculosis, we also believe that there has to be a better way to
implement this testing so that children are not delayed from coming home
to their forever families and that a handful of families are not put in
the difficult position of having to chose between staying in China for
an extended period of time or returning home without their child and
traveling back later.
Welcome House now wiring fees to China in advance of travel
In response to the increase in the orphanage donation (from $3,000 USD
to 35,000 RMB) on January 1, 2009, we have now set up a system in which
you can wire your orphanage donation, visa fee, and a portion of your
in-country package price to China in advance of your travel. Later this
month families waiting to receive their child will receive a letter
regarding this change. However, here is a quick summary of what this
change will look like... at the time of referral families currently pay
the Welcome House Overseas Fee ($5,300) and the Post-Placement Fee
($1,200) or the Post-Placement Review Fee ($600). In addition to this,
we will be asking that families give Welcome House the following fees:
* Orphanage donation (as mandated by CCAA) - 35,000 RMB or
approximately $5,2000
* Your child's visa fee - $400
* Wire transfer fee - $60 ($30 to send it from the US and $30 to
receive it in China)
* Partial in-country travel package - $1,500 per person
traveling (The in-country travel package covers your hotels, air and
ground transportation within China, sightseeing, tour guides, and
breakfasts. The final amount of the package depends on when you are
traveling, the size of your travel group, where you are going, and how
many people are traveling with you. Any balance above the $1,500 per
person will be paid in traveler's checks or cash to the tour guide in
China.)
It is very important to note that these ARE NOT NEW FEES! These are
fees that families previously paid in cash in China but that will now be
paid to Welcome House and wired to China in advance of your travel.
This is designed to reduce the amount of cash & traveler's checks that
you have to carry when you go to China. For the a full and recently
updated summary of the fees and costs in the adoption process you can go
to:
*
http://www.psbi.org/site/DocServer/China_In_Area__Fee_Schedule.pdf?docID
=462 - For families within our home study service area
*
http://www.psbi.org/site/DocServer/China_Out_of_Area_Fee_Schedule.pdf?do
cID=481 - For families outside our home study service area
Wait times
I have received several questions recently about the wait times, since
we haven't discussed it in a program update in a while, I thought it
would be good to include some information this month. The short answer
is that we still expect that the wait will be at least 3 years and are
hopeful that it will not go over 4 years. However, we have no statement
from CCAA about that so we can't guarantee that this is the case. Here
is some more detailed information:
* The China Center of Adoption Affairs has not given us a verbal
or written prediction regarding the length of time that families will
wait for a referral. This is not because they are being obstinate or
unkind; this is because they are truly not able to make that prediction.
To do so they would need information about the number of referrals that
they will receive in the future, among other things. These numbers are
very difficult to gather. Although it may not feel like it from our end
at times, I can tell you that the staff of the China Center of Adoption
Affairs are, by and large, good people with a heart for vulnerable
children. They also understand well the pain that the long wait is
causing for waiting families.
* I did an informal check this morning of the websites of 52
other agencies that are approved by CCAA to place children from China.
The highest number of agencies (17) indicated that they expected the
wait to be between 36 and 42 months but there was a wide range, as you
can see below. However, nearly every agency indicated that it is very
hard to predict the wait time and that it could change over time. Here
are the results of what I found (I expect that some of the lower time
frames listed indicate agencies that need to update their websites, not
current predictions):
o Time frame not listed - 12 agencies (typically encouraged families
to contact them for up-to-date information)
o 12 - 18 months - 2 agencies
o 18 - 24 months - 3 agencies
o 24 - 30 months - 10 agencies
o 30 - 36 months - 5 agencies
o 36 - 42 months - 17 agencies
o 42 - 48 months - 2 agencies
o 3 - 5 years - 1 agency
* I understand that there are some websites, listservs, and
forums that are predicting wait times of 5 - 10 years. In some cases
this is based on a statistical extrapolation of CCAA's progress over the
last year or two. Personally, I tend to think of these scenarios as the
worst case scenario. I believe that the likely scenario is not as dire.
While I understand the attraction to the statistical extrapolation
format, I think that it oversimplifies the discussion somewhat. It does
not take into account things like the number of families switching to
the waiting child program, the number of families switching to other
countries or withdrawing from China, and the changes in the numbers of
dossiers submitted due to the eligibility criteria changes in May, 2007
and the increasing time frames.
* The referrals sent between July, 2008 and July, 2009 cover the
dossier dates of 1/21/06 through 3/22/06. However, this reflects nearly
4,000 non-special needs children. The CCAA is still working through a
large backlog of dossiers that were registered in 2006.
* There is a possibility that, in light of the increased
orphanage donation, orphanages may begin submitting more children's
files to the CCAA. In the past, some orphanages complained that the
$3,000 USD orphanage donation was not sufficient to cover the staff time
and expenses of gathering information and preparing the children's files
for referral.
* There are changes within China's culture and society that can
affect the international adoption process and the number of children
waiting for families. This includes things like a decrease in
abandonment correlating with the families' improved financial situation,
an increased willingness or ability to pay the fees for an "over quota"
birth, a decrease in the social stigma of adoption among the younger
generation leading to an increase in domestic adoption, and - in some
areas - changes in the administration of the one child policy (see
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-07/24/content_8466365.htm,
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/world/asia/25shanghai.html, and
http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-07-30-voa12.cfm for more
information).
* The last group of families to receive referrals (dossiers
registered on 3/21/06 and 3/22/06) waited 40 months (3 years, 4 months)
to see their child's face.
I know that this wait can be both frustrating and painful, especially
for families whose dossiers were registered at a time when the expected
wait time was 12 - 18 months. Predicting the wait time is a complicated
process that takes into account a number of different variables. I also
know that it can be frustrating to not get a specific prediction from
us, your agency. Because there are so many rumors floating around, we
really feel strongly that we only pass along information that we have
verified or information that we believe to be true and accurate. You
depend on us to give you accurate information and that is what we try to
do. I am sorry, though, that we're not able to give more specific
predictions; I know that can be very difficult.
Staff at Welcome House for the weeks of August 10th and 17th
Next week I will be leaving for a two week trip to our offices in
Vietnam and the Philippines. This Friday is my last day in the office
and I will be back in the office beginning on August 25th. For the week
of August 10th, my supervisor, Leonette Boiarski, will be covering my
responsibilities with the China program. She can be reached at
215-249-0100 ext. 137 or lboiarski@pearlsbuck.org. During this week she
will also be covering for my co-worker. She will be working hard to
respond to everyone's needs and inquiries but if it takes her a bit
longer than usual to respond to you, please be patient - she won't
forget about you! During the week of August 17th, my co-worker, Amy
Durie will be covering my responsibilities with the China program. She
can be reached at 215-249-0100 ext. 119 or adurie@pearlsbuck.org.
This has been a looooong email. If you have questions after you read
it, please don't hesitate to contact me or to post your questions to the
China Program Yahoo group. It's very possible that, if you're wondering
about it, someone else is too!
Take care,
Heather
Heather Carter-Tryon, MSW, LSW
Program Manager
(Coordinator for China, Nepal, Philippines, Vietnam, SWAN, and
Post-Permanency programs)
Pearl S. Buck International
Welcome House Adoption Program
Phone: (215) 249-0100 ext. 136
Fax: (215)249-9657
Thursday, July 9, 2009
China Program Update - July 2009
Hi everyone,
I hope you're having a good summer! Good news - we get to start with
some congratulations this month! Congratulations to Jose & Kristi and
Eric & Robin - their dossiers were sent to China this month!
US Consulate Changes Procedures Regarding Home Study Addendums
When a family is matched with a child who is older our younger than
initially requested or who has special needs not mentioned in the
initial home study, a home study addendum is required. In the past, the
U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou allowed families to submit that addendum in
person at the time of their visa appointment. (The visa appointment
happens in the last third of the trip to China.) However, they have
made a change to their procedures; you can find the announcement here -
http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/information_regarding_home_study
_addendums.html. In short, rather than submitting the addendum to the
Consulate in Guangzhou, families will have to submit it to their local
CIS office in the US. The local CIS office will then make any changes
to your approval and forward the new approval to the National Visa
Center, which will then send it to the Consulate in Guangzhou.
What does this mean for you? - First, in addition to monitoring the
expiration of your CIS approval, Welcome House will be monitoring the
match between your approval and the child that you are referred. If an
addendum needs to be completed, Welcome House will either complete it or
ask you to work with your home study agency to do so. Second, in your
addendum you may be approved for a wider age range or range of health
issues than initially requested. For example, if you initially
requested a child 0 to 12 months old, your addendum may approve you for
a child who is 0 to 18 months or 0 to 24 months. This is to ensure that
your approval will cover the child you are referred, even if they are
slightly older or younger than initially requested.
If you have any questions about these new procedures or the status of
your approval, please don't hesitate to contact me or your Adoption
Coordinator.
Visit from Chinese Students Postponed
In light of the recent outbreak of 2009-H1N1 (aka "swine flu") the
Chinese officials responsible for the students participating in the
August student visit have decided to postpone the trip until early 2010.
Stay tuned to this newsletter for news of their rescheduled trip.
Update on Implementation of Tuberculosis Testing for Children Being
Adopted from China
As we mentioned in the June program update, the US Consulate in
Guangzhou has implemented a program of testing children ages 2 - 14
years for tuberculosis at the time of the visa appointment. The testing
began on July 1st and appears to be going smoothly so far. We've been
hearing from other agencies that a majority of the children have
positive skin tests (perhaps as many as 90%) but that most, if not all,
of them have negative chest x-rays. As far as we can tell, thus far no
families have not had their return home delayed due to the new testing
protocols.
Update on the Status of the Waiting Child Program
As was mentioned in the April program update we are relaunching the
waiting child program in stages. At present, we have one "Stage 1"
family who is still awaiting a referral. We are in the process of
hiring a Matching Coordinator, who will coordinate the matching of all
future families. Due to the time necessary in recruiting and training
this person, it may be several months before he or she is fully on
board. We currently have 8 families who have submitted China Waiting
Child Conditions forms and are able to consider children on the shared
list. If you have questions about the waiting child program or would
like to receive a Waiting Child Conditions form, please contact Heather
Carter-Tryon at hcartertryon@pearlsbuck.org or 215-249-0100 ext. 136.
As always, if you have any questions about this information, please
don't hesitate to contact me or your Adoption Coordinator.
Take care,
Heather
Heather Carter-Tryon, MSW, LSW
Program Manager
(Coordinator for China, Nepal, Philippines, Vietnam, SWAN, and
Post-Permanency programs)
Pearl S. Buck International
Welcome House Adoption Program
Phone: (215) 249-0100 ext. 136
Fax: (215)249-9657
www.pearlsbuck.org
I hope you're having a good summer! Good news - we get to start with
some congratulations this month! Congratulations to Jose & Kristi and
Eric & Robin - their dossiers were sent to China this month!
US Consulate Changes Procedures Regarding Home Study Addendums
When a family is matched with a child who is older our younger than
initially requested or who has special needs not mentioned in the
initial home study, a home study addendum is required. In the past, the
U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou allowed families to submit that addendum in
person at the time of their visa appointment. (The visa appointment
happens in the last third of the trip to China.) However, they have
made a change to their procedures; you can find the announcement here -
http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/information_regarding_home_study
_addendums.html. In short, rather than submitting the addendum to the
Consulate in Guangzhou, families will have to submit it to their local
CIS office in the US. The local CIS office will then make any changes
to your approval and forward the new approval to the National Visa
Center, which will then send it to the Consulate in Guangzhou.
What does this mean for you? - First, in addition to monitoring the
expiration of your CIS approval, Welcome House will be monitoring the
match between your approval and the child that you are referred. If an
addendum needs to be completed, Welcome House will either complete it or
ask you to work with your home study agency to do so. Second, in your
addendum you may be approved for a wider age range or range of health
issues than initially requested. For example, if you initially
requested a child 0 to 12 months old, your addendum may approve you for
a child who is 0 to 18 months or 0 to 24 months. This is to ensure that
your approval will cover the child you are referred, even if they are
slightly older or younger than initially requested.
If you have any questions about these new procedures or the status of
your approval, please don't hesitate to contact me or your Adoption
Coordinator.
Visit from Chinese Students Postponed
In light of the recent outbreak of 2009-H1N1 (aka "swine flu") the
Chinese officials responsible for the students participating in the
August student visit have decided to postpone the trip until early 2010.
Stay tuned to this newsletter for news of their rescheduled trip.
Update on Implementation of Tuberculosis Testing for Children Being
Adopted from China
As we mentioned in the June program update, the US Consulate in
Guangzhou has implemented a program of testing children ages 2 - 14
years for tuberculosis at the time of the visa appointment. The testing
began on July 1st and appears to be going smoothly so far. We've been
hearing from other agencies that a majority of the children have
positive skin tests (perhaps as many as 90%) but that most, if not all,
of them have negative chest x-rays. As far as we can tell, thus far no
families have not had their return home delayed due to the new testing
protocols.
Update on the Status of the Waiting Child Program
As was mentioned in the April program update we are relaunching the
waiting child program in stages. At present, we have one "Stage 1"
family who is still awaiting a referral. We are in the process of
hiring a Matching Coordinator, who will coordinate the matching of all
future families. Due to the time necessary in recruiting and training
this person, it may be several months before he or she is fully on
board. We currently have 8 families who have submitted China Waiting
Child Conditions forms and are able to consider children on the shared
list. If you have questions about the waiting child program or would
like to receive a Waiting Child Conditions form, please contact Heather
Carter-Tryon at hcartertryon@pearlsbuck.org or 215-249-0100 ext. 136.
As always, if you have any questions about this information, please
don't hesitate to contact me or your Adoption Coordinator.
Take care,
Heather
Heather Carter-Tryon, MSW, LSW
Program Manager
(Coordinator for China, Nepal, Philippines, Vietnam, SWAN, and
Post-Permanency programs)
Pearl S. Buck International
Welcome House Adoption Program
Phone: (215) 249-0100 ext. 136
Fax: (215)249-9657
www.pearlsbuck.org
Friday, June 19, 2009
China Program Update June 2009
Hi everyone,
I hope that you all are well! I'm sorry this month's update is a little
later than expected. We've been working on gathering information about
the new tuberculosis protocols (see below for more) before sending out
the update. But first, congratulations to Gary & Suzanne, Jason &
Michelle, and Jonathan & Amy - their dossiers were sent to China at the
end of May!
CCAA's website updated
Yesterday, the CCAA updated their website to reflect the fact that
families whose dossiers were registered on or before June 30, 2007 have
been reviewed. There was not a change to the match date; this remains
at March 14, 2006.
New protocols regarding testing for Tuberculosis
On Friday, May 29th, we received the following email from the U.S.
Consulate in Guangzhou:
Dear adoption providers,
Starting July 1, 2009, new screening and treatment requirements for
tuberculosis will become effective for Chinese immigrants, including
adopted children. For medical exams on or after this date, panel
physicians will be required to follow the 2007 Technical Instructions
for Tuberculosis Screening and Treatment issued by the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control (CDC). Children between the ages of two and fourteen
on the day of the medical exam will be required to have a tuberculin
skin test. The test results must be read 48 to 72 hours after the test
is administered. If the results are positive, a chest x-ray must be
performed. Based upon the results of the chest x-ray, a physical exam,
and the child's medical history, the panel physician will determine the
appropriate classification, if any, of tuberculosis. Further testing
and treatment, prior to immigration, may be required. For further
information on the new requirements, please contact the CDC. Please
keep these new requirements in mind when scheduling visa appointments
with the U.S. Consulate.
One of the trends that we have been seeing in immigration recently is
the tightening of restrictions around tuberculosis. We have experience
with the testing that the Consulate is going to be requiring through
some of our other adoption programs. Basically, Embassies and
Consulates are hesitant to issue visas to any immigrant, including a
newly adopted child, who has active, infectious cases of tuberculosis.
In order to screen children, the Consulate in Guangzhou will be
following the CDC protocols beginning on July 1st. These protocols call
for doing a skin test on children over 2, as well as any children under
2 who have symptoms of TB. If the skin test comes back positive, there
are a series of subsequent steps that must be taken in order to
determine whether the child has an active TB infection. It is important
to note that a positive skin test does not always mean that children
have an active TB infection. It can also mean that they have received
the TB vaccine or that they have had TB in the past but that it has been
fully resolved. For more detailed information about the steps in this
process, you can find the CDC's actual instructions on how to complete
TB testing here - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/panel_2007.htm. In
addition, there is a good FAQ document on the CDC's website that
explains their requirements here -
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/pdf/civil_surgeons_faq.pdf.
These new protocols went into effect in March for children being adopted
from Ethiopia. The U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa posted some information
about the protocols and you can find it here -
http://ethiopia.usembassy.gov/tb_testing.html. While some of it
pertains primarily to Ethiopian adoptions, I thought it might be
interesting for you to review.
Agencies and advocacy organizations such as the Joint Council on
International Children's Services are working together to clarify the
impact that these new protocols may have on children and families. As
more information becomes available, I will post it to the China program
Yahoo group and include it in future updates.
H1N1 Flu
Like many of you we are closely watching the developments with regard to
H1N1 ("swine") flu. At this point, we have some families waiting to
travel and it does not appear that their travel will be delayed. The
CCAA is still issuing travel approvals and referrals. In addition, most
provinces have not instituted any additional regulations or safeguards
with regard to swine flu. There are a few exceptions to this (i.e.
Shanghai is requiring that families be in China for 7 days before coming
into contact with the children) but most provinces have not instituted
anything. What we ARE seeing is frequent temperature-taking, especially
at the airports. Each passenger is tested coming off the plane and
those with abnormally high temperatures or those who have been on the
plane with someone with a suspected or confirmed case of swine flu are
being quarantined for a time. We will continue to monitor the situation
and share information as it becomes available.
I hope that you all are well! I'm sorry this month's update is a little
later than expected. We've been working on gathering information about
the new tuberculosis protocols (see below for more) before sending out
the update. But first, congratulations to Gary & Suzanne, Jason &
Michelle, and Jonathan & Amy - their dossiers were sent to China at the
end of May!
CCAA's website updated
Yesterday, the CCAA updated their website to reflect the fact that
families whose dossiers were registered on or before June 30, 2007 have
been reviewed. There was not a change to the match date; this remains
at March 14, 2006.
New protocols regarding testing for Tuberculosis
On Friday, May 29th, we received the following email from the U.S.
Consulate in Guangzhou:
Dear adoption providers,
Starting July 1, 2009, new screening and treatment requirements for
tuberculosis will become effective for Chinese immigrants, including
adopted children. For medical exams on or after this date, panel
physicians will be required to follow the 2007 Technical Instructions
for Tuberculosis Screening and Treatment issued by the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control (CDC). Children between the ages of two and fourteen
on the day of the medical exam will be required to have a tuberculin
skin test. The test results must be read 48 to 72 hours after the test
is administered. If the results are positive, a chest x-ray must be
performed. Based upon the results of the chest x-ray, a physical exam,
and the child's medical history, the panel physician will determine the
appropriate classification, if any, of tuberculosis. Further testing
and treatment, prior to immigration, may be required. For further
information on the new requirements, please contact the CDC. Please
keep these new requirements in mind when scheduling visa appointments
with the U.S. Consulate.
One of the trends that we have been seeing in immigration recently is
the tightening of restrictions around tuberculosis. We have experience
with the testing that the Consulate is going to be requiring through
some of our other adoption programs. Basically, Embassies and
Consulates are hesitant to issue visas to any immigrant, including a
newly adopted child, who has active, infectious cases of tuberculosis.
In order to screen children, the Consulate in Guangzhou will be
following the CDC protocols beginning on July 1st. These protocols call
for doing a skin test on children over 2, as well as any children under
2 who have symptoms of TB. If the skin test comes back positive, there
are a series of subsequent steps that must be taken in order to
determine whether the child has an active TB infection. It is important
to note that a positive skin test does not always mean that children
have an active TB infection. It can also mean that they have received
the TB vaccine or that they have had TB in the past but that it has been
fully resolved. For more detailed information about the steps in this
process, you can find the CDC's actual instructions on how to complete
TB testing here - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/panel_2007.htm. In
addition, there is a good FAQ document on the CDC's website that
explains their requirements here -
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/pdf/civil_surgeons_faq.pdf.
These new protocols went into effect in March for children being adopted
from Ethiopia. The U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa posted some information
about the protocols and you can find it here -
http://ethiopia.usembassy.gov/tb_testing.html. While some of it
pertains primarily to Ethiopian adoptions, I thought it might be
interesting for you to review.
Agencies and advocacy organizations such as the Joint Council on
International Children's Services are working together to clarify the
impact that these new protocols may have on children and families. As
more information becomes available, I will post it to the China program
Yahoo group and include it in future updates.
H1N1 Flu
Like many of you we are closely watching the developments with regard to
H1N1 ("swine") flu. At this point, we have some families waiting to
travel and it does not appear that their travel will be delayed. The
CCAA is still issuing travel approvals and referrals. In addition, most
provinces have not instituted any additional regulations or safeguards
with regard to swine flu. There are a few exceptions to this (i.e.
Shanghai is requiring that families be in China for 7 days before coming
into contact with the children) but most provinces have not instituted
anything. What we ARE seeing is frequent temperature-taking, especially
at the airports. Each passenger is tested coming off the plane and
those with abnormally high temperatures or those who have been on the
plane with someone with a suspected or confirmed case of swine flu are
being quarantined for a time. We will continue to monitor the situation
and share information as it becomes available.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
China Program Update - May 2009
Hi everyone,
Greetings from soggy Perkasie, PA!
SAVE THE DATE! China Birth Culture Event (aka picnic) - June 28, 2009
This year's China Birth Culture Event (aka picnic) will be held on the
grounds of Pearl S. Buck International on Sunday, June 28th from 1 - 3
p.m. The Chinese Cultural Association of Greater Philadelphia will be
demonstrating dancing, Chinese instruments, and maybe even an yo-yo
demonstration! Chef Joseph Poon will be giving a vegetable carving
demonstration. For more information or to register for the event,
please go to
http://www.psbi.org/site/PageServer?pagename=WH_Birth_Culture_Awareness_
Events_2008. Also, this event is open to everyone whether they have
adopted through Welcome House or not (or whether their child is home or
not!). If you know someone who might be interested in attending or
you are part of a chapter of Families with Children from China in your
area, please feel free to pass this information along!
Waiting children
The waiting child program is off to a roaring start! In April we
received 5 designated referrals (aka referrals of children that are only
available to Welcome House), as well as access to the shared list (aka
the list of children waiting for families that is accessible by multiple
agencies). Of the 5 designated referrals we received, 3 of the children
have been matched with families and 2 are under consideration by
families. We are currently working at matching 2 families with children
from the shared list.
You probably saw in last month's email update that we are relaunching
the waiting child program in stages. However, please don't hesitate to
submit your waiting child conditions form now! We will use these forms
as guides when we receive designated referrals. I have attached a
revised version of the Waiting Child Conditions form to this message.
(If you have already submitted a form, it is not necessary to complete
the revised form.)
Statistics
Sometimes it can feel like you're the only person going through the
adoption process. Whether it's the long wait or the ongoing paperwork,
it can start to feel a little lonely. I thought you might like to see
how many Welcome House families are currently in the same boat as you.
Here are some statistics about Welcome House's China program:
* 57 families have dossiers registered and are waiting for
referrals
o 22 families submitted their dossiers in 2006
o 21 families submitted their dossiers in 2007
o 14 families submitted their dossiers in 2008
* 5 families are currently working on completing their home
study and/or dossier
* 3 families are matched with waiting children and are awaiting
CCAA's final approval of the match
* Families live in 10 different states - Pennsylvania, Delaware,
Colorado, New Jersey, Ohio, North Carolina, Connecticut, Washington,
Florida, and Virginia.
Please note, I will be out of the office for vacation beginning on
Friday, May 8th. I will be returning to the office on Monday, May 18th.
If you have an urgent concern that needs attention while I am away,
please contact the Welcome House office at 215-249-0100.
As always, please don't hesitate to contact me or your social worker
with any questions you may have.
Thanks!
Heather Carter-Tryon, MSW, LSW
Program Manager
(Coordinator for China, Nepal, Philippines, Vietnam, SWAN, and
Post-Permanency programs)
Pearl S. Buck International
Welcome House Adoption Program
Phone: (215) 249-0100 ext. 136
Fax: (215)249-9657
www.pearlsbuck.org
Greetings from soggy Perkasie, PA!
SAVE THE DATE! China Birth Culture Event (aka picnic) - June 28, 2009
This year's China Birth Culture Event (aka picnic) will be held on the
grounds of Pearl S. Buck International on Sunday, June 28th from 1 - 3
p.m. The Chinese Cultural Association of Greater Philadelphia will be
demonstrating dancing, Chinese instruments, and maybe even an yo-yo
demonstration! Chef Joseph Poon will be giving a vegetable carving
demonstration. For more information or to register for the event,
please go to
http://www.psbi.org/site/PageServer?pagename=WH_Birth_Culture_Awareness_
Events_2008. Also, this event is open to everyone whether they have
adopted through Welcome House or not (or whether their child is home or
not!). If you know someone who might be interested in attending or
you are part of a chapter of Families with Children from China in your
area, please feel free to pass this information along!
Waiting children
The waiting child program is off to a roaring start! In April we
received 5 designated referrals (aka referrals of children that are only
available to Welcome House), as well as access to the shared list (aka
the list of children waiting for families that is accessible by multiple
agencies). Of the 5 designated referrals we received, 3 of the children
have been matched with families and 2 are under consideration by
families. We are currently working at matching 2 families with children
from the shared list.
You probably saw in last month's email update that we are relaunching
the waiting child program in stages. However, please don't hesitate to
submit your waiting child conditions form now! We will use these forms
as guides when we receive designated referrals. I have attached a
revised version of the Waiting Child Conditions form to this message.
(If you have already submitted a form, it is not necessary to complete
the revised form.)
Statistics
Sometimes it can feel like you're the only person going through the
adoption process. Whether it's the long wait or the ongoing paperwork,
it can start to feel a little lonely. I thought you might like to see
how many Welcome House families are currently in the same boat as you.
Here are some statistics about Welcome House's China program:
* 57 families have dossiers registered and are waiting for
referrals
o 22 families submitted their dossiers in 2006
o 21 families submitted their dossiers in 2007
o 14 families submitted their dossiers in 2008
* 5 families are currently working on completing their home
study and/or dossier
* 3 families are matched with waiting children and are awaiting
CCAA's final approval of the match
* Families live in 10 different states - Pennsylvania, Delaware,
Colorado, New Jersey, Ohio, North Carolina, Connecticut, Washington,
Florida, and Virginia.
Please note, I will be out of the office for vacation beginning on
Friday, May 8th. I will be returning to the office on Monday, May 18th.
If you have an urgent concern that needs attention while I am away,
please contact the Welcome House office at 215-249-0100.
As always, please don't hesitate to contact me or your social worker
with any questions you may have.
Thanks!
Heather Carter-Tryon, MSW, LSW
Program Manager
(Coordinator for China, Nepal, Philippines, Vietnam, SWAN, and
Post-Permanency programs)
Pearl S. Buck International
Welcome House Adoption Program
Phone: (215) 249-0100 ext. 136
Fax: (215)249-9657
www.pearlsbuck.org
Friday, April 10, 2009
China Program Update April 2009
Hi everyone,
I'm happy to announce that we are well into relaunching our waiting
child program! The new system is very different than the previous
system where we received paper files for the children and that these
files were available only to Welcome House. Pages 1 and 2 of the
attached document explain more about the new system.
Because this is such a new process, we will be relaunching the waiting
child program in two stages:
* Stage 1 - Six families that previously expressed interest in
the waiting child program have been selected. Initially, I will be
working on matching these 6 families. Working with a smaller group of
families will give us the opportunity to get the feel of the new system.
These six families will be notified by email later today that they are
part of Stage 1.
* Stage 2 - We are working toward hiring a staff person to be
the Matching Coordinator for the waiting child program. The Matching
Coordinator's responsibilities will focus solely on matching families
with waiting children. (Since the shared lists are released in the
middle of the night our time the person we're going to hire is going to
have to be a night owl!) Once that person is hired, we will open the
waiting child program up to all interested families.
Many of the children available for matching on the shared list have
requirements for when the family's dossier must be submitted. For
example, some children listed can only be matched with families whose
dossiers are already in China. In other instances, CCAA has required
that the prospective adoptive family's dossier must be submitted within
3 months of locking the file. Because of this, families may enter the
waiting child program when they have a home study that has been approved
by Welcome House and they have submitted a waiting child conditions form
(attached). Please complete this form carefully, thoughtfully, and
thoroughly. Remember that this is the guide we will use to identify a
child that might be a good match for your family. If you are unfamiliar
with one of the conditions listed on the form, I recommend that you
consult with a pediatrician to learn more about the condition and
whether you might be able to parent a child with that condition.
Completed waiting child conditions forms and photos can be sent to my
attention by:
* Mail - 520 Dublin Road, Perkasie, PA 18944
* Email - hcartertryon@pearlsbuck.org
* I cannot accept the forms and photos by fax because the photos
will not come through with sufficient clarity.
When you are admitted to the waiting child program you will be sent an
invitation to join the Welcome House China Waiting Child Yahoo group.
On this group we will post information about the children awaiting
families on the shared list. If you see a child whose file you would
like to review, you would then email me (or the future Matching
Coordinator) and I will share the child's file with you.
So what should you do now if you are interested in adopting a waiting
child? The most important thing is to submit a completed waiting child
conditions form. If you are one of the six families in Stage 1 I will
begin actively trying to match you and will send you an invitation to
the China Waiting Child Yahoo group. If you are not one of the six
families in Stage 1, I will send you an invitation to the Yahoo group.
If you see a child posted on the list that you would like to learn more
about, you would let me know and I will send his/her file to you.
However, I will not be actively trying to match you; that will happen
once the Matching Coordinator has been hired.
Thank you for your patience as we are getting the new waiting child
system up to speed. If you have any questions about the waiting child
program, please don't hesitate to contact me or to post your question to
the China program Yahoo group.
Thanks!
Heather
P.S. Our offices will be closed tomorrow for the Good Friday holiday
and I will be out of the office on Monday. I will be back in the office
on Tuesday.
Heather Carter-Tryon, MSW, LSW
I'm happy to announce that we are well into relaunching our waiting
child program! The new system is very different than the previous
system where we received paper files for the children and that these
files were available only to Welcome House. Pages 1 and 2 of the
attached document explain more about the new system.
Because this is such a new process, we will be relaunching the waiting
child program in two stages:
* Stage 1 - Six families that previously expressed interest in
the waiting child program have been selected. Initially, I will be
working on matching these 6 families. Working with a smaller group of
families will give us the opportunity to get the feel of the new system.
These six families will be notified by email later today that they are
part of Stage 1.
* Stage 2 - We are working toward hiring a staff person to be
the Matching Coordinator for the waiting child program. The Matching
Coordinator's responsibilities will focus solely on matching families
with waiting children. (Since the shared lists are released in the
middle of the night our time the person we're going to hire is going to
have to be a night owl!) Once that person is hired, we will open the
waiting child program up to all interested families.
Many of the children available for matching on the shared list have
requirements for when the family's dossier must be submitted. For
example, some children listed can only be matched with families whose
dossiers are already in China. In other instances, CCAA has required
that the prospective adoptive family's dossier must be submitted within
3 months of locking the file. Because of this, families may enter the
waiting child program when they have a home study that has been approved
by Welcome House and they have submitted a waiting child conditions form
(attached). Please complete this form carefully, thoughtfully, and
thoroughly. Remember that this is the guide we will use to identify a
child that might be a good match for your family. If you are unfamiliar
with one of the conditions listed on the form, I recommend that you
consult with a pediatrician to learn more about the condition and
whether you might be able to parent a child with that condition.
Completed waiting child conditions forms and photos can be sent to my
attention by:
* Mail - 520 Dublin Road, Perkasie, PA 18944
* Email - hcartertryon@pearlsbuck.org
* I cannot accept the forms and photos by fax because the photos
will not come through with sufficient clarity.
When you are admitted to the waiting child program you will be sent an
invitation to join the Welcome House China Waiting Child Yahoo group.
On this group we will post information about the children awaiting
families on the shared list. If you see a child whose file you would
like to review, you would then email me (or the future Matching
Coordinator) and I will share the child's file with you.
So what should you do now if you are interested in adopting a waiting
child? The most important thing is to submit a completed waiting child
conditions form. If you are one of the six families in Stage 1 I will
begin actively trying to match you and will send you an invitation to
the China Waiting Child Yahoo group. If you are not one of the six
families in Stage 1, I will send you an invitation to the Yahoo group.
If you see a child posted on the list that you would like to learn more
about, you would let me know and I will send his/her file to you.
However, I will not be actively trying to match you; that will happen
once the Matching Coordinator has been hired.
Thank you for your patience as we are getting the new waiting child
system up to speed. If you have any questions about the waiting child
program, please don't hesitate to contact me or to post your question to
the China program Yahoo group.
Thanks!
Heather
P.S. Our offices will be closed tomorrow for the Good Friday holiday
and I will be out of the office on Monday. I will be back in the office
on Tuesday.
Heather Carter-Tryon, MSW, LSW
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
FEBRUARY 2009 CHINA PROGRAM UPDATE
I hope this note finds you well! Here is the China program update for February…
Mrs. Li’s visit to the U.S.
We are delighted that Mrs. Li, our liaison in China, will be coming to the U.S. in March! She will be participating in family gatherings with current and past Welcome House families, as well as information meeting for families considering adoption. I sent an email around earlier today with specific information about the family gatherings. If you didn’t get it, let me know and I’d be glad to forward it to you. These family gatherings are open to both families that have already adopted and those that are waiting to adopt. Even if you have just started your application you’re welcome to come meet Li! It’s always nice to have a sense of who will be greeting you when you get off the plane in Beijing!
Contact and support from Welcome House during the wait
I’ve received several questions from families recently about why they haven’t gotten a phone call from their Adoption Coordinator in a while and thought it might be good to mention it here. Your Adoption Coordinator is your primary contact from the time your application is opened to when your home study is completed and then again from the time you get your referral through the post-placement visits. In that time between your home study being completed and receiving a referral, the staff here at the office in Perkasie will be your primary contact for information and updates. The monthly email updates and the “Welcome News” newsletter are two ways to get information out to you. However, I know that with the long wait it’s sometimes nice to hear a live voice on the phone. If you’re ever feeling like you’d like to talk with someone about what’s going on with the China program, to ask questions, or just to talk with a real, live person, please don’t hesitate to call us at 215-249-0100 or 1-800-220-2825. I can be reached at extension 136. If I’m not available, leave me a message and I’ll give you a call back as quickly as I can. However, if you’d rather talk with someone right away you can also push “0” and ask the receptionist to transfer you to any Welcome House staff that may be available.
Timeframes
I’ve also been hearing from families recently who are wondering if there is any more specific information about the time frame between dossier registration and referral. As was mentioned in the November program update, the CCAA is indicating that it’s too difficult to predict a waiting time for families applying now. Based on other conversations our CEO, Janet Mintzer, had during her trip in October, we remain optimistic that the wait will not go up to 4 years and that we will start to see a decline in wait times now that the Olympics are over. We’re hoping that we’ll start seeing this decline in wait times in summer, 2009, although it’s difficult to say for sure. At this point we’re expecting that the wait for a referral will be at least 3 years. We continue to talk with other agencies and with the CCAA about the length of the wait. If more information becomes available, we’ll definitely share it in a program update. If you have any questions about this, please don’t hesitate to contact your Adoption Coordinator or Welcome House.
Update on Waiting Children
We have been told that there will be good news coming soon regarding the waiting child program. As soon as we get word from CCAA we’ll be sure to send out an update. Stay tuned!
“The Good Earth” manuscript to be displayed for the first time in over 40 years!
In June, 2007 Pearl Buck’s manuscript for “The Good Earth” was found after having been missing for over 40 years. Starting on March 3rd and going through November 15th the manuscript will be on display at the Pearl S. Buck House as part of the current House exhibit, “The Art and Sculpture of Green Hills Farm.” “The Good Earth” is the book that earned Pearl S. Buck the Pulitzer Prize for literature. Our website, www.pearlsbuck.org, has more information about the display and tour times.
As always, if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact your Adoption Coordinator or me.
Sincerely,
Heather
Mrs. Li’s visit to the U.S.
We are delighted that Mrs. Li, our liaison in China, will be coming to the U.S. in March! She will be participating in family gatherings with current and past Welcome House families, as well as information meeting for families considering adoption. I sent an email around earlier today with specific information about the family gatherings. If you didn’t get it, let me know and I’d be glad to forward it to you. These family gatherings are open to both families that have already adopted and those that are waiting to adopt. Even if you have just started your application you’re welcome to come meet Li! It’s always nice to have a sense of who will be greeting you when you get off the plane in Beijing!
Contact and support from Welcome House during the wait
I’ve received several questions from families recently about why they haven’t gotten a phone call from their Adoption Coordinator in a while and thought it might be good to mention it here. Your Adoption Coordinator is your primary contact from the time your application is opened to when your home study is completed and then again from the time you get your referral through the post-placement visits. In that time between your home study being completed and receiving a referral, the staff here at the office in Perkasie will be your primary contact for information and updates. The monthly email updates and the “Welcome News” newsletter are two ways to get information out to you. However, I know that with the long wait it’s sometimes nice to hear a live voice on the phone. If you’re ever feeling like you’d like to talk with someone about what’s going on with the China program, to ask questions, or just to talk with a real, live person, please don’t hesitate to call us at 215-249-0100 or 1-800-220-2825. I can be reached at extension 136. If I’m not available, leave me a message and I’ll give you a call back as quickly as I can. However, if you’d rather talk with someone right away you can also push “0” and ask the receptionist to transfer you to any Welcome House staff that may be available.
Timeframes
I’ve also been hearing from families recently who are wondering if there is any more specific information about the time frame between dossier registration and referral. As was mentioned in the November program update, the CCAA is indicating that it’s too difficult to predict a waiting time for families applying now. Based on other conversations our CEO, Janet Mintzer, had during her trip in October, we remain optimistic that the wait will not go up to 4 years and that we will start to see a decline in wait times now that the Olympics are over. We’re hoping that we’ll start seeing this decline in wait times in summer, 2009, although it’s difficult to say for sure. At this point we’re expecting that the wait for a referral will be at least 3 years. We continue to talk with other agencies and with the CCAA about the length of the wait. If more information becomes available, we’ll definitely share it in a program update. If you have any questions about this, please don’t hesitate to contact your Adoption Coordinator or Welcome House.
Update on Waiting Children
We have been told that there will be good news coming soon regarding the waiting child program. As soon as we get word from CCAA we’ll be sure to send out an update. Stay tuned!
“The Good Earth” manuscript to be displayed for the first time in over 40 years!
In June, 2007 Pearl Buck’s manuscript for “The Good Earth” was found after having been missing for over 40 years. Starting on March 3rd and going through November 15th the manuscript will be on display at the Pearl S. Buck House as part of the current House exhibit, “The Art and Sculpture of Green Hills Farm.” “The Good Earth” is the book that earned Pearl S. Buck the Pulitzer Prize for literature. Our website, www.pearlsbuck.org, has more information about the display and tour times.
As always, if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact your Adoption Coordinator or me.
Sincerely,
Heather
YOU MIGHT BE ADOPTING FROM CHINA IF........
- you know that I-600 & I-171 aren't highways
- you've been expecting a baby for nearly 3 years
- you understand that it's 2006 in some parts of the world
- you know that "waiting for China" has nothing to do with Dillards or dishes
- your homestudy is followed by a number (i.e. #3 or #4)
- you never know how many days next month will have
- you know that babies come in batches
- you've been fingerprinted three times, but never committed a crime
- you automatically assume everyone who is expecting is having a girl
- you own new clothing in many sizes for all 4 seasons (because you don't know when or how big)
- you look twice when you see a lady bug
- you're more interested in what will happen in March 2006 than in March 2009
- you know people who understand when you talk about 2 day months & 5 day months
- your due date hasn't changed by days, but by years
- you know who the Rumor Queen is ... AND ... you don't know who she is
- you know that forecast doesn't have anything to do with the weather
- you've waited so long, they re-checked your fingerprints to see if they changed
- when you speak of "that time of month" you're talking about CCAA updates & referrals
- You love someone you've never met with all your heart!
Friday, January 9, 2009
AGENCY UPDATE - JANUARY 2009
On December 10th I sent an email around to all Welcome House China program families talking about CCAA possibly giving us permission to transfer some WH families interested in adopting waiting children to another agency. Later in December Welcome House approached CCAA to withdraw our application for the waiting child program based on the results of our CEO’s visit to CCAA in October. However, at that time members of the waiting child program committee discouraged us from withdrawing our application because of all the work we’ve done thus far to be admitted. In addition, they indicated that there are currently approximately 30 agencies waiting for admission to the waiting child program and that PSBI is toward the top of this list. They encouraged us to wait and see the outcome of that meeting. We presume that this meeting will occur in March after the Spring Festival (aka Chinese New Year) holiday. In light of CCAA's most recent directive, we will not be transferring families just yet and are awaiting their decision as per their instruction.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this decision, please contact Leonette Boiarski, Welcome House® and Opportunity House Director, at lboiarsk@pearlsbuck.org or 215-249-0100 ext. 137.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this decision, please contact Leonette Boiarski, Welcome House® and Opportunity House Director, at lboiarsk@pearlsbuck.org or 215-249-0100 ext. 137.
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