Adoption Program
China
Profile of Children Available
The average child assignment made through the HIC China Program is as follows:
Age
Most adopting parents request a child as young as possible. China does not assign children younger than 6 months of age. Most children placed through the HIC China program are between the ages of 8 and 14 months at time of placement.
For prospective parents between the ages of 30 and 44, the average ages of the youngest child assignments (referrals) are between 8 and 14 months. Prospective parents 45 years and older have an increased possibility of receiving a child 18 months or older.
Gender
China allows prospective parents to adopt only one child at a time unless the child is a twin, which is rare. Nearly all children assigned are girls. Families wanting to adopt boys or more than 1 child at a time are encouraged to consider other country programs.
Personal Identity
Most children are left without any personal identifying information (birth date and name unknown).
General Health
China is known for having relatively healthy children (by international adoption standards). But even children considered healthy by international standards generally have experienced some malnutrition and/or developmental delay. Children live either in an orphanage or with a foster family in a program run by an orphanage or local social welfare institute, or supported by a private agency.
Relinquishment
Nearly all children in China available for international adoption are relinquished, usually in or near the city or village of their birth. Typically, children are relinquished by their birth parents close to time of birth. These children are carefully left in public places where they are sure to be found, such as outside a police station or hospital. When found, the child is brought to an orphanage or police station where the child is taken into custody and cared for. If the police cannot locate the parents, the child will likely become eligible for international adoption. Because child abandonment is illegal, birth parents are careful not to leave any identifying information with the child.
Social Welfare Institutes
Social Welfare Institutes maintain guardianship of children until they are adopted. Some orphanages have foster care systems, while others provide only institutional care.
More than One Child at a Time
In rare instances twins or siblings are available for assignment. However, the CCAA does not support placing unrelated children at the same time, therefore, adopting more than one child from China usually means going through the China adoption process twice.
Information Available About the Child
Upon assignment of a child, you will receive a package that includes the child’s photo, brief medical report, and a cover letter from the Chinese Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA). Documents will be provided to you in original form (Chinese) with an English translation. Once you accept your child assignment, HIC will express-mail your acceptance letter to the CCAA in China. You will travel approximately 6-8 weeks after your acceptance letter is received.
