[Katie63011]

Probably some of you have seen this, you can find the original at CNN.com - Breaking News, U.S., World, Weather, Entertainment & Video News

China says unmarried, obese, over 50 can't adopt
POSTED: 6:02 p.m. EST, December 19, 2006
Story Highlights• Strict new rules imposed on foreign adoptions
• People over 50, those taking antidepressants also shut out
• China was source of almost 8,000 U.S. adoptions in 2005

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BEIJING, China (AP) -- China is imposing new restrictions on foreign adoptions, barring applicants who are unmarried, obese, over 50 or who take antidepressants, according to U.S. adoption agencies.

The restrictions are meant to limit adoptions to "only the most qualified families," said the Web site of one agency, Harrah's Adoption International Mission in Spring, Texas.

The agency said China has pledged to try to make more children available to those who qualify.

The move comes amid a surge in foreign applications to adopt Chinese children. The United States is the No. 1 destination for children adopted abroad, but the number going to Europe and elsewhere is rising.

An employee of the government-run China Center of Adoption Affairs, the agency that oversees foreign adoptions, said it has issued new guidelines but refused to confirm the details released by the American agencies. He wouldn't give his name.

A U.S. Embassy spokesman in Beijing said it was looking into reports of the new regulations. He spoke on condition of anonymity in line with embassy rules.

Americans adopted 7,906 children from China in 2005, raising the total since 1989 to 48,504, according to the Joint Council on International Children's Services in Alexandria, Virginia, an association of adoption agencies and parents' groups.

The group's Web site lists 110 U.S. groups that arrange adoptions from China.

Rules take effect May 1
Under the new rules, only people who have been married for at least two years will be eligible to adopt, according to Harrah's, the New Beginnings Family and Children's Services Inc. of Mineola, New York, and Families Thru International Adoption Inc. of Evansville, Indiana.

Beijing previously allowed adoptions by unmarried foreigners.

The agencies said Chinese officials told them about the rules at a December 8 meeting in Beijing. They take effect May 1.

Among other restrictions, couples must have a body mass index -- a measure of obesity -- of no more than 40 and be age 30-50, with people up to age 55 considered for children with special needs, according to the agencies.

The rules bar parents who take medication for psychiatric conditions including depression and anxiety or have a "severe facial deformity."

The China Center for Adoption Affairs has said it is trying to increase the number of children available by creating a new charity to improve conditions in orphanages and "keep infants and young children alive and well enough to be adopted," Harrah's said.

Many Chinese children adopted abroad are girls who are given up by couples who, bound by rules that limit most urban families to one child, want to try for a son.

Others are left at orphanages or by the roadside by unmarried mothers or poor families.

A sharp increase in foreign applications for adoption has led to a backlog in approvals, with waiting times rising from six months in early 2005 to as much as 15 months now, according to adoption agencies.

Keith Wallace, head of Families Thru International Adoption Inc., said he is advising families the rules go into effect for all applications submitted after May 1, and that those already in the adoption process should be exempt from the new restrictions.

"They still have time" to get their applications in before the May 1 deadline, he said.

Wallace said he has received some questions about the new rules, mainly from those who have already started the process.

"We explain that it's China's right to set restrictions," he said. "You and I might not agree with a particular one, but we will respect it."

Timothy Sutfin, executive director of New Beginnings Family and Children's Services Inc., said his agency was advising applicants that in light of the new rules "if you have a difficulty, maybe Vietnam or some other program would be more beneficial than putting your application forward on a Chinese adoption."
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[DET62]

I had seen something about this on another board. It's tragic. In addition to these ridiculous restrictions, they are completely closing the door to singles who want to adopt!

I have a neighbor and he and his wife have been waiting for a referral for over a year. It's so sad. They are wonderful people and have a beautiful home. I don't even ask them about it any more.

I cannot fathom why they are making it more difficult to adopt, when there are so many children who need a home.

I imagine some families may switch to Russia, but I don't know if that will be a significant impact.

It's just so sad that the thing that should be paramount here - finding good families for the children - seems to be only a secondary consideration.

[pequele]

China isn't making more difficult for Americans to adopt. The reality is that they are making it easier for them to place children with families THEY deem acceptible (remember it is their right to make the rules regardless of what Americans think is right)! They have a HUGE backlog that they want to clear and rumor has it that once that backlog is cleared they will relax the requirements....again rumor. If they limit the numbers qualified to adopt, it makes their job easier to place these children. Currently families are waiting a year and a half on up to 2 years from the time they turn in their dossier to getting a referal! They are trying to decrease this lag time. Personally I think it is good that they are addressing the wait time....is it the right way???? Different story! But it isn't my say as I am not a Chinese governtment official. Is Russia the next choice for these people turned away from China, likely not reading their boards. Most are talking about Vietnam. Oh sure there will probably be an increase to Russia, but reading the posts, I don't think there is going to be a mad rush to Russian programs....but we shall see

[Amysue1112]

WOW, even people with facial deformities...that would have ruled me out. SO so sad...it's like we are back in time when facial deformity=mental retardation or psych problems. Thank God I live in America!

I feel so sad for families that will be turned down, and for the poor children that will be hurt by this.

[calikismet]

Originally Posted by pequele

Is Russia the next choice for these people turned away from China, likely not reading their boards. Most are talking about Vietnam. Oh sure there will probably be an increase to Russia, but reading the posts, I don't think there is going to be a mad rush to Russian programs....but we shall see

I agree 100%. I suspect that Russia will not be a major draw for many of the families affected by these new regs. The reality is that many people choose China because of the low incidence of drug and alcohol use among its citizens, as well as the predictability of the process and the referral program. Given that Russia is unpredictable at best right now, I cannot imagine that many China families will go this direction. I have read and heard that Vietnam, which recently reopened to adoption, will be the likely choice of many of these familes. South Korea may be as well, altho they too have pretty steep restrictions, particularly related to weight and BMI.

[DoreenG]

I too, don't think Russia will see much of an increase.

First Guat, now China...

*sigh*

[angelkisses0102]

I have also seen Taiwan, Africa and Kaz mentioned as alternatives along with Vietnam...with really no one mentioning Russia. Plus, China costs are one of the lowest in all of IA, so the higher expense of some programs, like Russia may play a role as well.

Plus, if you follow the China rumor board...waits for referrals are projecting out well over 2 years...up to 3 years, so China really did need to do something to 'catch-up' the estimated 20,000 to 40,000 families awaiting referrals. But it is so sad for so many who are impacted.

[sakelley]

Originally Posted by DET62

I cannot fathom why they are making it more difficult to adopt, when there are so many children who need a home.

Part of the problem with the backlog is that their are more applicants than there are paper-ready babies. Even though there are many children in China's orphanages, not all orphanages are open to international adoption. It takes time to get these orphanages approved for international adoption. In the meantime, the wait has increased from 6 months to over 15 months in the past year. However, the number of applications hasn't seemed to decrease. Instead of issuing a quota on the number of applications an agency can send in, these new restrictions seem to be China's answer to decrease the number of applicants.

I agree with pequele that most being turned away from China seem to be looking into Vietnam or another Asian country.

[pequele]

Originally Posted by calikismet

South Korea may be as well, altho they too have pretty steep restrictions, particularly related to weight and BMI.

and singles, too I believe.

Amy that article was the first I read that had mentioned straight out facial deformities. Previously I had only seen "physical disabilities". This may have just been an elaboration or someone's interpretation.NowI know Russia has stipulation on the health of APs (medical forms, etc). Now I KNOW from reading things on this board (and reading applications/requierments from Russia) that from what some people post about their histories I many times question how some of the posters have been able to adopt from Russia even (I am talking mental and other medical issues that I thought were not allowed in Russian adoptions)...but they still manageto adopt. So for some of these families wanting to go to China, simply not mentioning things like taking anti-depressants when completing paperwork will get them through....hard to hide the obesity or visible disability factor from the Chinese officals though.

I don't think it is sad for the kids....I think it is sad for the families. Remember these stringent requiements are to bring down the wait times...meaning the kids should be finding forever families sooner rather than later and that IS a good thing.

[Abdulina]

It's just sad in my opinion that people are waiting this long for referrals. There are MANY "waiting" children available in China through every agency. From infants on up. Most have such minor "issues" and usually pretty minor to correct. Do you think any of htese families might consider waiting children? I've also heard there are many exceptions in China for waiting children. One being family size. (no, we are NOT going to China--LOL). I do hope some of these families waiting do consider all the children that are currently available.

I wish everyone the best no matter what aodption path they choose...or what country. Max REALLY wants another child in the family that looks like him. From Russia but both parents were Kaz so he looks Asian. I've always looked at Taiwan from time to time. Good luck to everyone.

I do feel awful for the families waiting in the mess w/ rule changes. With so many kids avaialable in every country, you'd think they'd be more than willing to find them loving homes versus letting them wait out life in an orphanage.

Take care,

[sakelley]

Originally Posted by Abdulina

It's just sad in my opinion that people are waiting this long for referrals. There are MANY "waiting" children available in China through every agency. From infants on up. Most have such minor "issues" and usually pretty minor to correct. Do you think any of htese families might consider waiting children? I've also heard there are many exceptions in China for waiting children. One being family size. (no, we are NOT going to China--LOL). I do hope some of these families waiting do consider all the children that are currently available.

For the "waiting" (or special needs) children, the young girls (under 1) with minor conditions are placed very quickly. Most of the girls that are 2-3 are also placed fairly quickly. The older girls and the boys (no matter what age) tend to take longer to place and in some instances are not placed at all. Many people who adopt from China do so because they want a girl so that is why the boys take longer or are not placed. Unfortunately, not all agencies have a waiting child program so that is just not an option for some people that are already logged in. Also, for the agencies that have a waiting child program, they only get so many files (ours gets about 20-40 and it is a fairly large agency) every 3-4 months. Many people are switching to the waiting child program which has made for intense competition (for a lack of a better word) for the young girls.

As my daughter was a "waiting" child, I am a big advocate for the program.

[mcanvasback]

[quote=angelkisses0102]I have also seen Taiwan, Africa and Kaz mentioned as alternatives along with Vietnam...with really no one mentioning Russia. Plus, China costs are one of the lowest in all of IA, so the higher expense of some programs, like Russia may play a role as well.

I implore everyone to think of Kyrgyzstan, it is a viable program and a great alternative to China, OR Vietnam, OR Kaz! It is not low cost, however, it's about the same as Russia.

[Amysue1112]

pequele..I think the reason so many families can "make it through" Russia even with issues is that they are placed in a region that is not picky about these things.
For example, in our region, the orphanage director took us around to do our medical exams in this tiny little town that had never done them before.
The neurologist looked at me and asked "any facial trauma?" "any surgeries?" I didn't say straight up NO but sort of shrugged and she shrugged back and signed me off. she knew **** well I had facial trauma..HA! But many of these doctors ARE looking out for the best interest of the children are willing to be "flexible" when there are issues that does not limit one from being a good parent. I think that is one, sort of benefit to Russia..or it was until laws started getting tighter.
I was so nervous, but soo relieved that they did not make a big deal of this. I don't really have self-esteem issues but I know that would have broken myheart if we were turned away b/c I looked different.
In China though, from what I have been told, they stick to the rules-so it does not seem it would be as easy to find someone sympathetic and to be a little lenient.

[amyfk]

Hi to the Group.

Right now all we can do is hypothesize about where the folks will adopt who won't be eligible to go to China anymore. Again, my heart goes out to those folks whose hopes and dreams were dashed.
My gut feeling is that there will be a few extra folks who will undertake Russian adoption as a result(probably everybody will head in all different directions), but most folks will probably look into other nations.
I think the thing that folks liked about China was that it was a predictable process with little change(until now). The children on avg. had less issues with health and fetal alcohol issues than in Russia, and I think that folks who chose China were looking for relatively "healthy" children.
I dont think we'll know how things impact Russian adoption until next year when the figures come out concerning how many visas were issued to Russian orphans.

Happy Holidays all,
Amy K, NJ

[Lo-la-la]

Those darn mental-case people!