Adoption Program
China
Overview
China has been offering its adoption program consistently since 1992. The program is recognized by a majority in the adoption community as one of the premier adoption programs in the history of international adoptions. The Chinese government and its adoption branch, The China Center for Adoption Affairs (CCAA) are continuously improving the program, while seeking to improve the lives of those children destined to remain in China. China requires all agencies directly placing children from China to be nonprofit and state licensed. HIC is one of the adoption agencies in the United States that has a direct relationship with the CCAA.
HIC was one of the first American adoption agencies to bring orphaned children home from China, when that country opened its doors to international adoption in 1992. Since then we at HIC have united over 400 Chinese children with American parents.
History of Adoption
In 1972, in order to control the population problem in China, the Family Planning Commission of China implemented the One-Child Policy, which limits each family in an urban area to one child and those living in a rural area to two. Additionally, China has a historical and social emphasis on the importance of having a male child because a son is responsible for taking care of his parents as they age. This is even more pragmatic in rural areas, where a male child may be helpful in terms of the family’s livelihood. Though China is working to change this belief system, many families still favor a male child. Because of the value placed on male children and the implementation of the One-Child Policy, many Chinese girls are surrendered and in need of loving homes.
