Adoption Blog

Agency News

Holiday Closings
The America World offices will be closed from December 22, 2007-January 1, 2008, however management staff will check in periodically over the holidays. We do not anticipate receiving referrals for any of our programs during this time period. We wish all of our AW families a blessed Christmas.

Events

An Evening with Steven Curtis Chapman
Steven’s “Live in This Moment” spring tour begins in February! Now is the time to begin planning to attend with a group from your church for a great evening of music and ministry with Steven. Concert dates and locations are now being posted on Steven Curtis Chapman’s website.

"Spirit of Adoption" Seminars
The Public Relations team and Associates are planning for another great seminar season this spring! Watch the America World Events webpage for 2008 seminars to begin posting over the next few weeks, and plan to attend a seminar near you. Be sure to invite those who may be interesting in adoption!

China Program

The CCAA has completed the review of all adoption application documents registered in their office before October 31, 2006.

Fee Increases
As of January 1, 2008, the U.S. State Department will be increasing their authentication fee from $7 to $8 per document. Families authenticating documents through the U.S. State Department or using the courier service in the new year should make a note of this change.

The China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) has decided to slightly increased their dossier service and translation fee due to changes in the exchange rates. Effectively January 1, 2008, the new dossier translation fee will be $975 for families in the healthy process and $575 for families in the special needs process.

China Special Needs Program

There is an urgent need to find homes specifically for 8 children with special needs who will soon turn 14 years old. Specifically, some of these children will turn 14 in January 2008. Under Chinese adoption law, a child must be adopted before his or her 14th birthday. Referral information and pictures for these children are available for review. Families can call 1-888-One-Child or email specialneeds@awaa.org and a Special Needs Coordinator will be happy to provide additional information on these children.

Travel

America World is pleased to welcome home Travel Group 129b. These seven special needs families returned to the United States on December 18th and 19th with the newest members of their families.

Travel Group 129a (LID Group 241 and 6 special needs families) has been in China for one week and met their children on December 17th. America World rejoices with these families as they spend time getting to know their precious children. These 22 families will return home December 28-29.

Travel Group 130 (LID Group 242) received their travel mailings and completed their visa applications this week. America World requests prayer for these eight families as they wait for travel approvals.

El Salvador Program

America World has received its first referral of a 5 year old boy for the El Salvador program. For reasons due to confidentiality we are unable to disclose the reasons but the family referred the child did not accept this referral. America World will continue to work with the Office for Adoptions on this referral as well as for all families waiting to be matched with referrals. America World continues to advocate for this child as well as all of the children in El Salvador. In the new year we will continue to partner with other organizations to assist children in being paper-ready to be eligible for adoption.

Ethiopia Program

Last week America World had successful court appointments to finalize adoptions for four families in the Ethiopia program; there will be another appointment for one family this coming week. America World’s in-country staff representative is working to complete the necessary paperwork in order to for these families to travel to pick-up their adopted children and is also working diligently to secure court appointments for the remaining families with referrals. More news is anticipated in the New Year!

Kazakhstan Program

America World continues to accept applications for the Kazakhstan program.

Russia Program

This week three America World families successfully completed their court appointments, two families accept referrals, and two families from Nizhny and one family from Krasnoyarsk. America World currently has four families in country; with two more families leaving for Russia this weekend. America World would like to ask for prayer during this busy time as families prepare for meeting their children and traveling for their court appointments. America World request prayer specifically for a family finalizing their adoption next week in a particularly difficult region.

America World continues to see movement among the various regions and will keep families informed with any news or progress. America World would like to ask for prayer for the staff in country as they work to provide referrals, travel, and court dates for families.

Ukraine Program

America World received initial reports this week based on a meeting that occurred at the SDA that the previously announced 2008 quota would be abolished in it’s current form. Currently the 2008 quota is broken down by country and by age of children. The quota may be changed to be one total number for 2008, without specification for how many dossiers any one country can submit and for any particular age range. The total number for 2008 may be 1500. America World would stress that this is initial information and subject to change at any time, especially as new leadership is expected within the Ministry of Family, Youth and Sports.
America World would also at this time continue to expect potential difficulties and delays for families seeking to adopt children under 6 years old due to availability. There are currently 125 families reported to be waiting for second appointments, the majority seeking to adopt children under age 4. It is anticipated that these families will be invited back to the SDA for a second appointment between January 14, 2008 and February 29, 2008. This again is initial information.
America World is looking for families who are interested in adopting children with special needs or older children for the Ukraine program.
America World had one family return from Ukraine this week after seven weeks in country to complete the adoption of an older child.