Taiwan Adoptions
Since 2002, The Adoption Department at Family & Children’s Agency has worked with Cathwel Service in Taipei-Hsien, Taiwan. Cathwel, established in 1949, has counseled unwed mothers and cared for premature, abandoned and special needs children since 1971 and is dedicated to finding suitable families for these children. Birth mothers and their families are usually encouraged to help select an adoptive family; however, sometimes Cathwel will make the match.
While waiting for adoptive homes, children are exceptionally well cared for in foster homes and in Cathwel’s Jonah House, a childcare facility which opened in June 2004.
Program Detail
| Children Available | Sibling groups, healthy children over the age of 6, and waiting children. You may specify age and gender. |
| Cost | Fees are collected as the work is completed. Please call us for detailed information. |
| Parents’ Age | Must be 20 years older than the adopted child and under 40 years of age. Applicants under 30, over 40 years old are considered on a case-by-case basis. A pre-approval from Cathwel may be obtained. |
| Length of Marriage | Couples must be married for at least 5 years (This is negotiable depending on situation.) |
| Divorce | May apply. |
| Single Applicants | Not eligible. |
| Children in the Family | Families with two or more biological children are eligible for adoption of waiting children, older children, or sibling groups. |
| Other Requirements |
Taiwan has strict requirements related to physical health and mental health. Please contact Family & Children’s Agency for a full list of requirements and to be pre-screened. |
| Timeframe |
Variable. Depends on the family’s preferences (age, gender, health condition).
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| Special Program Features |
Family & Children’s Agency bilingual coordinator, Jennifer Yang Kwait, who is Taiwanese, will help you with completing preliminary documents and a photo collage to be presented to the birth mothers. Family & Children’s Agency and Cathwel Service will help you obtain thorough medical information and background on the child as well as arrange all aspects of your adoption and travel, including accommodations, visa appointment and sight-seeing in Taiwan.
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The Process
| Home Study | Connecticut and New York residents should apply for a home study with Family & Children’s Agency. Other adoptive parents need to obtain a home study from a licensed agency in their state. |
| Immigration Forms |
Once the home study is completed, parents need to apply to Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) for permission to bring an orphan into the U.S. This involves obtaining and filing the I-600A form and arranging for a fingerprinting appointment. Family & Children’s Agency staff will work closely with you to prepare all documents (“dossier”) required.
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| Referral |
The time frame to be matched with a child will vary depending on the family preferences (i.e. age, gender, health condition.) Referral from Cathwel Service include medical and social history of the child matched with your family. Once the referral is accepted, the child’s photos and required legal documents will be forwarded to Family & Children’s Agency. Cathwel Service will then proceed with submission of court papers and court proceedings, and arrange for the child’s visa to travel to the U.S. approximately 6 to 8 months after paperwork enters court.
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| Travel to Taiwan |
Families are required to travel to Taiwan (usually a period of 7 business days for their adoption) where they have the opportunity to meet members of the birth family and the caregivers.
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| Follow-Up |
NOTE: Birth mothers may request written contact with the adoptive parent(s) through Cathwel Service and Family & Children’s Agency. Cathwel requests post-placement report with photographs of the child quarterly during the first year following the adoptive placement, and then annually each year thereafter. In some cases, photos and updates may be requested up to 18 years. The adoption is legally recognized in the United States. If one parent of a couple or a single parent has not seen the child in Taiwan, a re-adoption in the United States will be necessary, but it is a simple procedure in most states. Family & Children’s Agency will provide post-adoption support, answer questions and help with the child’s adjustment.
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For More Information
For more information on our Taiwan Adoption program, contact Jennifer Yang-Kwait, LCSW, Coordinator, Taiwan Adoption at (800) 676-4066 or email jyang@fcagency.org.
For General Adoption Questions, contact (203) 855-8765 or email adoption@fcagency.org.
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