Adopting From China - Family & Children's Agency (FCA)

Adopting from China

The Adoption Center at FCA developed a program with China in 1995. We are accredited with the China Center for Adoption Affairs (CCAA) in Beijing.

Over 1.7 million children enter China's orphanages yearly as the result of the country's rigorous "one-child" policy. In 2004, 7,044 Chinese children were placed with families in the U.S. Because the male child carries on the family name and cares for his parents in their old age, nearly all of the Chinese children available for adoption are females.

FCA has conducted a longitudinal study of the children adopted through this program. It indicates, for the most part, these children are resilient and continue to thrive.

FCA has a dedicated group of families who have adopted from China. Check out their Web site at: http://www.fcachinaparents.org/

Program Detail

Children Available	Primarily little girls, although some boys are now available. Infants are generally between 9 and 12 months old. Toddlers and older children are also available. (We have also placed several boys and sets of twins!)
Cost	Fees are collected as the work is completed during the various stages of your adoption. Please call us for detailed information.
Parents' Age	30 to 49 years old. For special needs, 30 to 54 years of age.
Length of Marriage	Couples must be married at least two years.
Divorce	If either applicant has previous marriages, length of current marriage has to be five years. China will accept only two previous marriages
Single Applicants	China no longer allows adoption by single parents although they may consider on a case by case basis the placement if a child is deemed special needs.
Children in the Family	Up to five children aged between one and 18 in the home. Special needs exempt from this requirement
Timeframe	Currently, referrals are received approximately 36 months after documents are sent to CCAA, but this can vary
Travel Requirements	One trip to China is required. Your trip will typically be scheduled six to eight weeks after your referral acceptance is sent to China. One or both parents may travel. All travel is with a group of FCA parents who will be accompanied in China by a very experienced facilitator
Special Features of FCA's Program	Experienced, bilingual, professional staff provide translation and personal advocacy on your behalf with CCAA and the orphanage. FCA staff will work closely with you to prepare all documents ("dossier") required by the China Center for Adoption Affairs. Our staff will verify, translate, assemble and submit your dossier to CCAA. We monitor the progress of your dossier and advocate for you throughout the process. This is usually about a three-month process. Pre-travel seminars and "Baby Chinese" language classes prepare you for your trip and teach you important words and phrases. Other adoptive parents can provide mentoring for new parents throughout the process. Our e-list for waiting and post-adoptive parents keeps parents connected and updated. FCA's China Adoptive Parents Committee is very active in providing cultural and fund raising events. An annual Spring Picnic provides a way to stay connected to waiting parents and adoptive families.

The Process

Homestudy	Connecticut and New York residents should apply for a homestudy with FCA. We can help couples in other states to identify a home study agency in their area.
Immigration Forms	Once the home study is completed, parents need to apply to the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) for permission to bring an orphan into the U.S. This involves obtaining and filing the I-600 A form and arranging for a fingerprinting appointment.
Referral	After the dossier is completed and submitted, CCAA will review and process it. They will send photos and a health report on the child selected for you in approximately 16 months.While you await your referral, FCA will:Connect you with the people with whom you'll be traveling to China Plan special events, such as picnics and Chinese culture events Provide informative talks on choosing a pediatrician, parenting children who have been in orphanages, and strategies for surviving the wait FCA staff will support you and keep you informed while you wait for your referral. Upon receiving your referral, FCA will:Translate all medical information and recommend that you share this information with a pediatrician specializing in international adoption Obtain, if necessary, updated medical and developmental information about the child referred to you
Travel to Follow-Up	When you return home, we'll provide post-adoption support, information about obtaining your child's social security card, and birth certificate. Your child is automatically a U.S. citizen upon arrival in the United States if both parents traveled for the adoption. CCAA requires 3 post placement visits following your return from China. We remain in close contact with our China families and see each other through frequent reunions and Agency-sponsored events.

Special Needs: The Waiting Children Program
FCA has been approved by CCAA to place children from China with a wide range of physical and developmental conditions, as well as healthy children over the age of five. Special needs referrals have included children with cleft lip, cleft palate, missing digits, heart conditions and club foot. Both boys and girls are available. Consultation with your social worker and pediatrician can assist you in determining appropriate placements.

All the children on the previous list of special needs children waiting to be adopted have now found homes! For more information, contact Lynn Hudler at 203.299.1532, ext. 301 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Special Features of this Program:
• You will be actively involved in selecting the child you wish to adopt
• The timeframe to referral and travel may be shortened
• Fees may be adjusted by FCA and CCAA
• Financial assistance may also be available through FCA's Adoption Foundation and through our affiliation with the China Cares Foundation (see link below)

For more information about FCA's China program, contact Lynn Hudler at 203.299.1532, ext. 301 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Check out these links to find out more about adopting from China.
China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA): http://www.china-ccaa.org/
Families with Children from China: http://www.fwcc.org/
Our Chinese Daughters Foundation: http://www.ocdf.org/
The China Cares Foundation: http://www.chinacare.org/