[pgruodis]

Anyone venture to guess how this huge tragedy will affect referrals?
Will it bring things to a halt...while regions regroup?
...could it speed-thing-up to free up resources?
Something completely different?

[KarenInCa]

I just hope that nothing tragic happened to any of the little ones that are still waiting to find their forever families.
I don't think the referrals will speed up based on the earthquake. If anything, things might be put on hold for the next month. I couldn't imagine referrals speeding up to free up resources, I think before that happens they would put referrals on the back burner first.
My mind can't stop thinking about the little ones, and how frightened they must be. I pray their caregivers can manage to subdue their fears.

[Karen in MT]

The loss is huge and tragic. I don't think most of us even want to consider how this might affect our adoptions. I can't even wrap my thoughts around what it must be like there. Very sad.....
-Karen

[hoping44]

While I certainly want to go get my sweet boy as soon as possible our adoption timeline and the devastation from the earthquake are two completely separate issues.

I'm sitting here safe and healthy with no NEEDS whatsoever. I have 4 beautiful children, a husband that loves me, and 1 more precious child in China that, as I stated in the other thread, is most likely safe and unharmed. As much as I do want Max home with us and away from the danger, I am so blessed that I don't think I even have a right to question how the earthquake might affect our adoption.

[amyfk]

Hi,

I am not in the process to adopt from China. I dont know a lot about how the CCAA works, but from what I understand, the earthquake happened in a localized region or province of China(or two provinces maybe). China is a huge country. I would doubt that everything would come to a standstill referral-wise based upon this tragedy. This is just my guess. I dont know for sure.
Amy K, NJ

[pgruodis]

Originally Posted by hoping44

While I certainly want to go get my sweet boy as soon as possible our adoption timeline and the devastation from the earthquake are two completely separate issues.

I'm sitting here safe and healthy with no NEEDS whatsoever. I have 4 beautiful children, a husband that loves me, and 1 more precious child in China that, as I stated in the other thread, is most likely safe and unharmed. As much as I do want Max home with us and away from the danger, I am so blessed that I don't think I even have a right to question how the earthquake might affect our adoption.

They are hardly separate issues ... orphanages might be in regions hit by earthquakes. I don't understand the desire to turn the question into something it is not.
While I'm glad your healthy family is without needs, I don't see what that has to do with my question.

[pgruodis]

Originally Posted by Karen in MT

The loss is huge and tragic. I don't think most of us even want to consider how this might affect our adoptions. I can't even wrap my thoughts around what it must be like there. Very sad.....
-Karen

This is an Adoption Forum

[KarenInCa]

Paul-
I don't think anyone is discounting your question. It's a legitimate question. Im concerned on a personal level too, that possibly something might happen to our daughter's first mother while she is pregnent with her, or that our daughter is somehow affected by the recent devistations. I don't know if our daughter is born yet, but I can certainly understand concern as to how it will trickle down to effect my own family, across the world here in the US, whether if it's longer wait times or trauma caused to our child.
However, I think this earthquake is so prominent, that it's difficult for many to consider anything but sadness and the horrific loss that is happening right now for others.
Your question is a valid question, but I think it's too soon for many of us to consider any portion of it.

[pgruodis]

Originally Posted by KarenInCa

Paul-
I don't think anyone is discounting your question. It's a legitimate question. Im concerned on a personal level too, that possibly something might happen to our daughter's first mother while she is pregnent with her, or that our daughter is somehow affected by the recent devistations. I don't know if our daughter is born yet, but I can certainly understand concern as to how it will trickle down to effect my own family, across the world here in the US, whether if it's longer wait times or trauma caused to our child.
However, I think this earthquake is so prominent, that it's difficult for many to consider anything but sadness and the horrific loss that is happening right now for others.
Your question is a valid question, but I think it's too soon for many of us to consider any portion of it.

Thank you for your response Karen and I can understand what you are saying. That being said, I find the holier-than-thou tone of some responses unnecessary. If someone prefers not to respond....then just don't respond! Additionally, I do not find concern for the tragedy in China and the concern about the adoption mutually exclusive, and take offense to the comments that try to interpret my words as not caring for the great hardship there.
A strong argument could be made that one should be even more concerned for a faster referral in the light of this tragedy....but I won't go into that because it was not in the scope of my original question.
What I was hoping for was some discussion on how China has handled crisis in the past and if it slowed-down or accelerated referrals...if orphanages are funding out of the same pot as that going to disaster relief, and etc.

[SofiasMom]

here's a map of the region and the location of orphanages damaged.

Sichuan China Special Earthquake and Orphanage Location Map for adoptive families

[specialk4b]

I don't think the snow storms of this past January slowed adoption processing. It did have some impact on travel, but I don't think it had any effect on referrals.

The CCAA is referring children from files that were submitted months ago. So it shouldn't change referrals. Again, the tragedy may effect infrastructure and travel in the coming months (or more).

[Katia555]

I am sure many orphans are affected by this. Half the Sky has set op an EARTHQUAKE FUND on their website, making it easy to make a donation to help children in need.....

[jessibird]

ABC news was showing a makeshift maternity ward in the effected areas where there were moms 8 and 9 months pregant and many babies 1-5 months who were orphaned by the disaster! So terrible :-( No child deserves to start out life like those little ones. Not to mention being pregnant, scared and having lost your husband or your whole family. Prayers so many prayers are needed!

[hoping44]

Originally Posted by pgruodis

Thank you for your response Karen and I can understand what you are saying. That being said, I find the holier-than-thou tone of some responses unnecessary. If someone prefers not to respond....then just don't respond! Additionally, I do not find concern for the tragedy in China and the concern about the adoption mutually exclusive, and take offense to the comments that try to interpret my words as not caring for the great hardship there.
A strong argument could be made that one should be even more concerned for a faster referral in the light of this tragedy....but I won't go into that because it was not in the scope of my original question.
What I was hoping for was some discussion on how China has handled crisis in the past and if it slowed-down or accelerated referrals...if orphanages are funding out of the same pot as that going to disaster relief, and etc.

Paul,
Sorry if my response was offensive. I did not mean to suggest that you were not concerned about the tragedy in China. I was simply expressing my own feelings. I do feel very blessed (and almost guilty that my life is so wonderful right now) when I read of all the devastation on China. I certainly don't mean to sound "holier than thou". Everyone has ups and downs and I just happen to be on an up right now.

For a more direct response to your question, I don't think the earthquake will have much, if any, of an effect on referrals. I can obviously see travel approvals for some areas being affected.