January Program News

Recently in China Adoption News

• CCCWA has matched families with LIDs through August 15, 2006! Congratulations to all of the families who have received referrals.
• CCCWA has reviewed dossiers with LID through November 30, 2010.
• CCCWA has issued a Travel Approval for one Gladney family in December!
• One Gladney family travelled to China to complete their adoption in December!

Gladney continues to receive profiles of children through our partnership program with Shanghai Children's Home. Check our Asia Waiting Child blog for more information about children that are available through the Gladney Center for Adoption. Gladney holds monthly webinars which give an overview of the China Guang Ming program and highlight specific children available for adoption. These webinars are held on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 1pm EST. Click here to register.

Chinese New Year 2003

It is time to prepare for Chinese New Year, to say good bye to the year of the Rabbit and pray for luck in the new Year of the Dragon, 4710 which begins on January 23rd. Also known as Chinese Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, this important holiday is celebrated around the globe starting with Chinese New Year's Eve, a day when Chinese families gather from near and far for their annual reunion dinner.

As I pack up the Christmas decorations, I am already looking forward to decorating for Chinese New Year! Over the last fifteen years, we have collected many beautiful and memorable decorations from numerous trips to New York's Chinatown, souvenirs from our adoption trips and China Heritage Tour and gifts from family and friends. Cleaning the house, buying new clothes, getting haircuts and bringing signs of spring into our home are some of the pre-celebration traditions we share with our daughters to help them embrace this special holiday!

Our plans to celebrate this year already include attending the Gladney Family Association New Year party and a get together hosted by one of our travel group families. I am sure we will also see our local Gladney friends for a luncheon at one of our homes, complete with a red velvet cake, or for one of our adventurous treks into Chinatown for a walking tour, a visit to the flower markets or a program at the Museum of Chinese Americans (MOCA)!

When our daughters were in elementary school, they enjoyed telling their classmates how we celebrated the holiday. At first they were nervous, but as time went on, they became more confident and enthused to tell their stories, teach a craft and share fun holiday facts. Of course their friends looked forward to receiving the red envelopes with chocolate coins or other goodies. Now that they are older, they are eager teach younger children some of what they have learned and share their excitement.

There are always so many festivals and parties hosted by local cultural organizations, adoption agencies, libraries and museums to choose from! Hopefully, you will have the opportunity to participate in one or more and enjoy your own family traditions.

The resources to learn about Chinese New Year are extensive, including books about Chinese holidays and traditions, articles on the internet and programs at libraries and museums. For a list of books you may find helpful, as well as a fun word search and coloring pages click here.

-- By Gladney mom with two daughters from China

Reprinted from January Asia Program Newsletter

Special Waiting Child Webinar

Last night Gladney held a special Waiting Child Webinar that highlighted a recent trip to China and Taiwan by Pat Marcus, a pediatric physical therapist, who volunteers with Superkids charity. She visited with many of the waiting children who are designated to Gladney. During the webinar she spoke about her experience meeting the children and gave specific insight on each child.

You can view the webinar here. For more information about our Asia Waiting Child Program, please be in touch with Judy Hayes at judy.hayes@gladney.org.

Gladney Family Association's New Webite

Launched in December, this new, attractively designed website serves the GFA Community with up to date technology and the opportunity to go paperless where ever possible! Once members create a username and password, they have full access to the site. This includes the ability to browse and register for all the exciting GFA events, access to GFA newsletters and a members' only directory, which is updated daily rather than printed once a year! On-line registration and payment for events, as well as new memberships and renewals is simple, quick and secure.

The web address for this user friendly, standalone site is: www.gladneycommunity.com.
It is also accessible by choosing Family Association on the menu bar on Gladney's main website: www.adoptionsbygladney.com .

NOTE: There is still time to sign up for Gladney's Chinese New Year party in New York on January 22, 2012! To register, you can use the link to the Gladney Family Association's (GFA's) new website above.

Gladney’s New York Chinese New Year Celebration is Jan 22, please RSVP

Planning on attending Gladney’s New York Chinese New Year Celebration but have not yet RSVP’d? Please take a moment to do so now by clicking here. Come enjoy a dragon dance, a calligraphy demonstration, traditional Chinese dance and ballet and more! Final arrangements are being made with Jing Fong Restaurant (in Manhattan’s Chinatown) and we want to include YOU!

Special Waiting Child Webinar

Please join us for a special presentation about Gladney's Guang Ming/China Waiting Child program! Special guest Pat Marcus, a pediatric physical therapist who volunteers with Gladney's Superkids charity will talk about her recent trip to Shanghai and the kids that she met during her trip that are available for adoption through Gladney.

Date: Thursday, Jan. 19th

Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm EST

To register for the webinar, please click here. We hope you will be able to join us!

Waiting Child Webinar

Each month Gladney hosts an Asia Waiting Child Webinar. Our next Webinar will be this Wednesday, Jan. 11th at 1pm EST. Be sure to register for the Webinar!

This informative webinar will focus on the process of adopting waiting children from China. The webinar will provide an overview of Gladney’s program as well as share photos of available children. You will get a detailed explanation of the Application and paperwork process involved with adopting internationally. Also, each month we will feature different children, with a variety of ages and special needs, who are available for adoption. At the end of each webinar we offer time for attendees to ask questions and will provide contact information for you to follow up with one of Gladney’s Asia Program Staff.

We hope you will be able to join us for our webinar! Feel free to pass this invitation along to friends and family members that may also be interested.