Adoption Grant Tips

Hope was recently adopted through Gladney's Guang Ming Program

Adopting can be very expensive, but there are numerous grants that adoptive parents can apply for. Hope and Austin's families received multiple grants that helped to bring their children home! Click here for some helpful tips suggested from both moms with answers to questions like: "There are many grants out there and available, but where to start?!", "Now that I found possible grants... what next?"

Austin was recently adopted through the Taiwan New Hope Program.

She's Amazing!

Jia Hong was born in China and adopted through Gladney's China program in 1999. She is now a super skier! This winter Jia achieved a fantastic second-place finish in the Vermont State Championships, the regional final for EQS mogul competition. Jia attends school full time at the Killington Mountain School. She began skiing with her family when she was 3 years old. It is evident that Jia not only loves the sport, but that she has become an accomplished competitor! Click here if you would like to read more about Jia in the Killington Mountain School Newsletter.

Recently in China Adoption News

• CCCWA has matched families with LIDs through August 31, 2006! Congratulations to all of the families who have received referrals.
• CCCWA has reviewed dossiers with LIDs through November 30, 2010.
• CCCWA has issued Travel Approvals for 2 Gladney families in March!
• Seven Gladney families travelled to China to complete their adoptions in March!

Congratulations to all 7 families!!!

The Asia Program Staff will be at Gladney’s 125th! Will you be there?

Members of the New York based Asia Program Staff will be attending Gladney’s 125th Celebration next weekend. We would love to hear if you will be attending as well! Please send us an email to let us know at Mary.Chapman@gladney.org.

In addition to attending many of the activities, we will be hosting a table on Saturday, from 10:00a.m. until 3:00p.m. during the Welcome Home Event. Please stop by to say “Hello” and visit!

Heritage Trips Forum at Gladney’s 125th

On Friday, April 27th, from 10 – 11am, there will be a Heritage Trips Forum at Gladney’s Texas campus. Whether you are thinking of taking a Heritage Trip next year or ten years from now, learn what a life changing experience this type of trip can be!

Gongzhan Wu, VP and Managing Director of the Asia Program will discuss China Heritage Tours. Also, among the panel members will be a Gladney dad who traveled to China with his family last summer.

To register for this free forum "Heritage Trips: A Life Changing Experience", click here.

How does the child referral process happen in the New Hope Program?

In the Taiwan program there are several ways that a child can be referred. The actual referral process that you experience will depend on which program you are in. In this newsletter we will explain the process for the New Hope program. For families in the New Hope Program, in most instances, your caseworker will call you with the unexpected and welcome news that that you have been chosen by the child's birthmother! We will then forward you the child's full medical and social profile along with pictures and video. In some cases in the New Hope program, Gladney will be asked to propose prospective couples to be considered by a birthmother. This usually happens when a baby has a health concern or if there is social background information that might warrant additional consideration by adoptive parents. When New Hope asks Gladney to propose families for consideration we will either send out an email to families in the Taiwan program, or specifically call individual families who we think would be interested in reviewing the baby's profile. After families have had a chance to review the baby's full profile information, they will then decide whether they would like to be considered by the birthmother for possible placement. When a decision has been made for the child, we are then able to notify the parents if they have been selected or if another family has been chosen.

In the next newsletter we will highlight how the referral process takes place through the Chung Yi and Cathwel Programs.

Waiting Child Webinar Tomorrow!

Don’t forget to register for tomorrow’s webinar! The webinar will be held at 1pm EST. The webinar will include information about our Waiting Child Program and also will share information about children who are currently available for adoption – including children who were recently designated to Gladney through our partnership with Shanghai Children’s Home.

For more information about our webinars and a list of upcoming webinars, be sure to visit the Attend a Webinar page!

Guang Ming Program

Zuo Zuo and his friends are waiting for a forever family!

Gladney continues to receive profiles of children through our partnership program with Shanghai Children's Home (SCH). Check the photolist page of our Asia Waiting Child blog for photos and summary information of baby girls and boys that are available through the Gladney Center for Adoption.

Learn more about Gladney's partnership with Shanghai Children's Home! Gladney hosted a special webinar earlier this year featuring Pat Marcus, pediatric physical therapist and Superkids volunteer. Pat spoke about her recent trip to SCH and the wonderful kids that she met who are living at the orphanage and in foster care. The recording of this webinar can be accessed here.

Join us for one of Gladney's monthly webinars which give an overview of the China Guang Ming program and talk about children available for adoption. These webinars are held on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 1pm EST. NEXT WEBINAR IS THIS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11! Click here to register.

China Heritage Tours

Not too late for this summer, not too early for next summer

If you are thinking about traveling to China for a heritage tour this summer, it is not too late! Please contact us at chinaheritagetours@gladney.org for the steps required to book your trip up to two months before your departure date. Airfare and current passports are the first priority, followed by Visa applications, copies of documents and your customized travel itinerary.

If you are thinking of traveling next year, it is not too early to start planning. Click here for the Planning Section of our website www.gladneyasia.org.

Gladney Moms and Adoptees Build Lasting Friendships

Whitney and Courtney and their mom Beth Anne met up with Kathryn and Sarah and their mom Stephanie at the Red Egg in the heart of Manhattan's Chinatown for some delicious dim sum on Palm Sunday. Whitney and Kathryn have known each other since they met in China when their parents traveled to adopt them in 2006. Their moms have been good friends ever since and it is wonderful to see the girls growing up!  Sarah is Kathryn's virtual twin and was adopted in 2007, also from China. All three older girls are now first graders!  They were all adopted through Gladney's China program.

Baby Courtney, 17 months on April 1, joined big sister Whitney last August. She was adopted through Gladney's New Hope program in Taiwan. She is doing really well and has the sweetest smile!

Upcoming Waiting Child Webinar

If you haven’t already registered for next week's webinar be sure to ASAP! The webinar will be next Wednesday, April 11th at 1pm EST. The webinar will include information about our Waiting Child Program and also will share information about children who are currently available for adoption – including children who were recently designated to Gladney through our partnership with Shanghai Children’s Home.

For more information about our webinars and a list of upcoming webinars, be sure to visit the Attend a Webinar page!