China Adoption
PLEASE NOTE: CHINA CURRENTLY ON HOLD
Wide Horizons For Children has been serving the needs of orphans in China since 1991. Children with a range of medical needs deserve loving families who can adopt and care for them. Families may specify their preferred medical condition and most families can bring their child home within one year. China is a Hague Convention Country. Foreign Provider is the Central Authority of the People’s Republic of China, named the China Centre for Children’s Welfare and Adoption (CCCWA).
Many children who are available for adoption from China have Down syndrome. Financial subsidies may be available for these adoptions.
China Adoption FAQs
Q: Am I eligible for the China program?
A: To apply to this program, you must meet the following criteria:
MARRIED HETEROSEXUAL COUPLES, Ages 30 or Older:
- ried couples must be a minimum of 30 years old and may adopt a child with no more than a 50-year age difference between the younger parent and the age of the child.
- Couples must be married for a minimum of two years; if there are previous divorces, the current marriage should be a minimum of five years. Time spent living together prior to marriage is applicable toward the length of marriage requirement. No more than two divorces per applicant allowed.
- Couples may have up to five other minor children currently living in the home, with the youngest at least 3 years old.
- Applicants must be in good physical and mental health. The China Centre for Children’s Welfare and Adoption (CCCWA) does have specific restrictions regarding each applicant’s health. There is more flexibility if one parent is healthy and the other has a condition that is well controlled. Please contact Wide Horizons For Children to discuss specific eligibility requirements.
- The CCCWA requires that families have a minimum income of $30,000 plus $10,000 per child living in the home (including the prospective adoptee).
- All applicants should have a clean criminal history. However, some minor infractions may be considered acceptable.
SINGLE HETEROSEXUAL WOMEN, Ages 30 or Older:
- Single women must be a minimum of 30 years old and may adopt a child with no more than a 50-year age difference between the age of the parent and the age of the child. Applicants must be in good physical and mental health.
- Single applicants may have up to two other children currently living in the home, with the youngest at least 3 years old.
- The CCCWA requires that families have a minimum income of $30,000 plus $10,000 per child living in the home (including the prospective adoptee).
- Applicants must be in good physical and mental health. Please contact Wide Horizons For Children to discuss specific eligibility requirements.
- All applicants should have a clean criminal history. However, some infractions may be accepted.
Q: Who sets the eligibility requirements?
A: Eligibility requirements for adoptive parents are determined by adoption officials in the child’s country of birth. In China, all adoptions are overseen by the Central Authority of the government of China, named the China Centre for Children’s Welfare and Adoption (CCCWA).
Q: Who are the children available in China?
A:
- Generally, children deemed eligible for international adoption have been abandoned or relinquished by birth parents due to their inability to parent a child with medical needs.
- Boys and girls of all ages with mild to moderate or even significant medical needs are available. Most children from China are typically 24 months of age and older upon arrival, with many toddlers and young, preschool-aged children available.
- Most children are cared for in government-funded orphanages. Some children are placed in family foster care or specialized small group homes prior to adoption.
Q: How long does it take to adopt from China?
A: This is a fast-moving program for children of all ages. Most families will be matched in under six months of dossier submission. Families open only to adopting a girl may wait considerably longer to be matched.
Adopting a waiting child can be a wonderful option for some families. Most families who request a Waiting Child match have their child home in under one year. Eligibility requirements are generally flexible, and photos and medical information can be reviewed prior to match. Adoption subsidies are often available.
Q: Will I need to travel to China?
A: One two-week trip is required to bring your child home. You will travel five to six months after the referral of your child. Families moving forward with Special Focus Children who are not dossier-ready at the time of match will wait nine to 10 months for travel. For married couples, at least one parent, a U.S. citizen, must travel.
We work with a Beijing-based agency who arranges all travel in China. You can expect excellent support services from an English-speaking guide throughout your trip. Accommodations in China are modern and comfortable.
Q: How much does an adoption from China cost?
A: Financing Your Adoption explains how Wide Horizons For Children structures adoption fees and provides information on funding your adoption.
Download the Adoption Information Guide for specific fee sheets on each Wide Horizons For Children adoption program.
I had so many conversations with my counselor at Wide Horizons For Children at every stage of my adoption process. My program manager was so knowledgeable and reassuring that I was able to go forward with confidence. I simply can’t imagine a better person in whom I could have placed my trust as I made one of the biggest decisions of my life.
Jennifer on Cordelia, Adopted through the Wide Horizons For Children China Program
