Friday, December 13, 2013

Gladney Asia Program 2014 Calendar!

 
 
This year with your help we put together a 2014 calendar! This calendar features beautiful photos of children that have been adopted through Gladney's Asia Program. We wanted to say a special thank you to families that sent in photos. Unfortunately, we could not use all of the photos we received due to size and pixel restraints on the calendar software. We also decided to use "kid-only" photos for all of the months. However, we still wish to use all of the photos we received in future monthly newsletters.
Calendars will be on sale for $12, and all additional donations will help support Superkids Charity. We are so excited about this, and hope that you are too! If you are interested, please download the order form, and mail it back to me at Gladney's New York office. If you have any additional questions regarding the 2014 calendar, please contact wendy.stanley@gladney.org.
Click on this link to download the order form: 2014 Calendar Order Form

Monday, December 02, 2013

Gladney 2014 Chinese New Year Parties- Save the date!


 
 Februrary 8th, 2014 in Fort Worth, Texas
February 9th, 2014 in New York, NY
  
The upcoming year is the Year of the Horse!
 
 
 


Monday, November 25, 2013

Gladney Staff Celebrates Boys

 
"I am in love with my little boy, Toby! As a brand new mom I can't get enough of my baby boy's snuggles, squeaks and funny faces. I am getting to know his sweet personality more and more each day and watching him grow and learn is such a joy. I am already imagining the future with our little guy as he grows up - I hope he loves soccer as much as his daddy! Life has changed so much, but I can't imagine our family without our cuddly, beautiful boy!"     
 -April Uduhiri, Asia Programs Caseworker   
 



 

"One of the most important "boys" in my life is my big brother Jym. Jym is three years older than me and my only older sibling. While he picked on me relentlessly at times growing up (and sometimes still does), I'm pretty grateful that I grew up with a big brother. I knew, and still know, that he would always have my back. I've always felt proud being able to tell people that Jym is my brother. I learned so much from Jym - how to be an individual, how to stand up for myself, and how to be a genuinely good person. I love my sisters too, but there's something special about having a big brother!"
-Mary Chapman, Asia Programs Caseworker

 



 

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Heritage Tours Information

China Heritage Tours- Adoption Paper Required for Travel




Gladney China Heritage Tours specializes in creating customized heritage tours for individual families or groups of families regardless of the agency they used for their adoption. A customized tour allows the traveler to decide on the time they want to travel, where they want to travel and what they want to see and do in each area. Even 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.
 
Whether you are thinking of taking a Heritage Tour within the next year or ten years from now, it is important to know that a number of the documents received during your adoption are required for your return trip. The documents needed to book the in-China travel, visit a Social Welfare Institute and compile a visa application packet include:
  • a current passport, valid for 6 months past the intended return date
  • passports with old visas to China (e.g. from adoption trip)
  • adopted child's Chinese Passport
  • adoption certificate with name change (if name change not shown, a legal document with name change must be included)
  • abandonment certificate
  • birth certificate or certificate of birth data
  • international flight itineraries (for airport pick up and drop off)
IMPORTANT TIP: If you are just returning home from your adoption trip to China, please photocopy these documents and send to Gladney for inclusion in your paper file. Then place the originals in a very safe place such as your bank safe deposit box.
 
If you have any questions about the planning process or the required documents listed above, please visit our website or contact Gongzhan Wu at GongzhanWu@gladney.org or Lydia Macci at chinaheritagetours@gladney.org

Monday, November 18, 2013

Superkids

 
 
30 Boys in 30 Days Campaign
 
Each week Gladney Staff gets together for our Waiting Child Staffing Meeting.  This is probably our most important meeting of the week.  It is at these meetings that we get to step away from our computers and phones and bring our staff together to give our attention to the Waiting Children.  We know we owe it to these kids to give them the attention they deserve without the distractions of other obligations and To-Do lists.  Each meeting comes to life in its own way - with good news about recent matches, stories from our staff about families who have recently arrived home, and brainstorming to find new ways to advocate for some of the children who have not yet been matched with a family. Since November is Adoption Awareness Month - we really wanted to focus hard on helping some of our children find a family.  As our meeting progressed, we all knew what we wanted to do - put our extra efforts and attentions this month toward the many boys who need a family, thus was born our 30 Boys in 30 Days Campaign.
 
In a family these boys can do anything -- learn about volcanoes, trains, go camping, do rainbow loom(!), dress up as a power rangers for Halloween, and, of course, get into their fair share of mischief - as all healthy and happy boys (and girls) do from time to time!
  
During the month of November we will feature a unique child, who happens to be a boy, on our Asia Waiting Child Blog.  Please visit often and send your best wishes and prayers throughout the month to help each little guy find his family.  Many of these boys were seen by our Superkids Team this summer in China -- Stories can be found on the Superkids Blog.
 
Featured Today, Day 5 - Addison
 
 

Friday, November 15, 2013

China Update

 
Recently in China adoption news:
  • CCCWA has matched families with LIDs through November 10th, 2006.
  • CCCWA has issued 7 referrals for Gladney families since August!
  • CCCWA has has issued 4 Travel Approvals for Gladney families in September and October!
 
 
Welcome home to Kenneth and Michelle Tepper who traveled in October to pick up their daughter! 
 
 
 
Yi Ping Na (Melanie) age 3! Now living in Baltimore, MD!

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Boys Rock!

 
 
 
 
Boys Rock all the time- just in different ways at different stages! Of all the themes we could choose this month to celebrate adoption- this is what we have decided to celebrate- Simply, that BOYS ROCK!! Why this theme? Because it is both sad and hard to believe that simply being born a boy, is one of the reasons that a child may become part of a Waiting Child program or be designated as "special needs". So please check www.asiawaitingchild@wordpress.com daily during the month of November, and help us bring these boys to their families!

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Happy Halloween!




 

"There is a child in every one of us who is still a trick-or-treater looking for a brightly-lit front porch."

-Robert Brault
(1938-present)
American author


Monday, October 28, 2013

Waiting Children - Ready to be Adopted Now!

We have some incredible children who are available for immediate adoption by families who have their dossiers logged in with CCCWA.  Families matched with a child from this group, could bring that child home in a matter of months!  Pat Marcus, our volunteer Superkids physical therapist, is advocating for these children and has met some of this group. Please read about them and look at their cute little faces.  Each one special and amazing.  If you have any questions or would like to speak with Pat about the children in this group, Gladney's adoption partnerships, or the Superkids program, she can be reached at patriciamarcuspt@gmail.com.

Barrett is a two year old boy described by caregivers as "extroverted and brave".  He has a repaired cleft lip and unrepaired cleft palate.  He likes to try adventurous things--like kneeling on the jumpy horse.  His caregivers say he loves to play in the water from the tap.  He will turn on the faucet by himself and call other children to play in the water with him.
Ainsley is almost two and loves to wear her hair in ponytails and look pretty. She is affectionate and happy. Ainsley had surgery for Spina Bifida.  She is walking independently and has good motor skills.  She enjoys throwing balls and playing with toys.  She enjoys picture books.  She likes to get snacks before other children in her room and is affectionate with the caregivers.  She will imitate what the older children are doing when they play.  She is good at cleaning up when it’s time to put away the toys.  She has a big personality that fills the room.

Bo turned two in August.  He is described by his caregivers as quiet but playful.  He likes to tease the caregivers and make funny noises with his bottle.  Bo has a congenital heart defect.  He enjoys outside play and can walk with one hand held.  He likes to watch the butterflies flutter by.

Brandon turned three in August.  He is a happy playful boy. He had surgery for a congenital heart defect. He likes to play with his peers and his caregivers.  If you put on music, he will start to dance.  Brandon will sing when he is happy.  He follows the directions of the caregivers and sometimes will lean over and give his friend a kiss on the cheek.
Abby turned three in August.  She is living in foster care.  She has a repaired cleft lip and unrepaired cleft palate.  She is a very pretty girl.  She helps the foster mom with chores at home.  She loves to pose for pictures and is a sweet girl.  Abby is playful and loves to imitate.  She can give you high five. Her favorite toy is a stuffed panda bear. She really likes to ride on the rocking horse too.

Bella turned two in March.  She is described by her caregivers as a " quiet and shy girl".  She has a repaired cleft lip and unrepaired cleft palate.  She is affectionate and seeks praise from her caregiver.  She will run to the caregivers and hug them.  Bella really likes to turn the pages in the picture books.
These children are ready to be matched with their forever family today!  You must have your dossier logged in with CCCWA in order to be matched with any of these children.  For more information about any of these beautiful children, please contact  Pat Marcus at patriciamarcuspt@gmail.com.

Friday, October 11, 2013

CCCWA Visits the US!

Enjoying a delicious lunch!

During the last weekend of September, Gladney's New York office was able to host the CCCWA! The CCCWA travelled all the way from China to the United States for a training trip. This group included Director General Zhang, as well as delegation members from Beijing, Sichuan, Jianxi, Guangdong & Shandong provinces. Their trip included meetings, shopping, dinner, and a luncheon. The luncheon was a great opportunity for the CCCWA to get to see children that were adopted from China with their forever families. The sunny day was filled with love and happiness as Gladney families and friends were brought together.

Special thanks to Christine and Kyle Groff and their daughters, Kylene, Maelani, Giselle and Lilah for hosting the amazing luncheon!

CCCWA picnic1 CCCWA picnic2

I'm Waiting

To love someone that you have yet to meet is an incredible thing.

When you’ve met a child, seen their smile, heard their stories, and watched them play, love comes easy. This summer, Gladney volunteers met many of the children being featured on www.achildtolove.org and the volunteers fell in love. Since then, these advocates have been telling hundreds of stories that help give life to the photos of these waiting children.

But this week on “I’m waiting” we want to highlight the children who don’t have advocates telling adorable anecdotes about them—children who just have one story to tell.

“We need homes.”

Are you willing to come forward with love that matches the very spirit of adoption and chose to love a child you’ve never met? If so, please inquire for more information on Brian, Brandon, Bo, Bella, and Barrett at www.achildtolove.org or contact Lindsay Miller at Lindsay.miller@gladney.org.

***Please note, adoptive families must have a current I-800A Approval in order to be matched with these children.
Brandon
Bella
Bo
Barrett
Brian



 



Wednesday, September 04, 2013

Part 3 – Gladney’s Superkids Trip to China Webinar – Hunan

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Join us for a fun and informational webinar to learn more about Gladney Center’s China Waiting Child program and our humanitarian aid work through Superkids Charity. This summer, the Superkids team spent two weeks in China meeting over 100 amazing children in several orphanages across three provinces! This webinar is the third presentation in a three part series and we will hear from team members about their time spent in Hunan. Please share this invitation with anyone interested in learning more about Gladney’s China Waiting Child Adoption Program and the exciting work that Superkids is doing to improve the quality of life for children in China and across the globe!

Part 3 will be held on Thursday, September 12th at 7pm EST. Register today!

Recordings of Parts 1 and 2 can be viewed on the Attend a Webinar page of our Waiting Child blog.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Part 2 of Our Special Superkids Webinar!

Jiangxi1 Jiangxi2
Join us for a fun and informational webinar to learn more about Gladney Center's China Waiting Child program and our humanitarian aid work through Superkids Charity. This summer, the Superkids team spent two weeks in China meeting over 100 amazing children in several orphanages across three provinces! This webinar is the second presentation in a three part series and we will hear from team members about their time spent in Jiangxi. Please share this invitation with anyone interested in learning more about Gladney's China Waiting Child Adoption Program and the exciting work that Superkids is doing to improve the quality of life for children in China and across the globe!

Part 2 will be held on Thursday, August 22nd at 7pm EST. Register today!

Friday, August 09, 2013

When Your Child First Notices Race


We recently came across an article in Adoptive Families Magazine that we thought would be helpful to share: 'How Do You Make Sure Your Child Feels Good About Herself?'. The article was written by Julia Chin who adopted her daughter as an infant from China. 
 
One day Julia's four-year-old daughter came home from preschool in tears. A classmate had pulled up the corners of his eyes and said, 'Your eyes are like this!'"My daughter was crushed," says Julia.  "Last year, Elizabeth had no clue about race or being different. Now she talks about it all the time."  Julia's experience is not atypical for Caucasian parents who adopt transracially. As parents, we want to do all we can to instill a positive sense of racial identity in our children. To read more here.

Wednesday, August 07, 2013

Gladney Family Support Group in TX

bonner1Heath and Katie Bonner have been married for 17 years and have four children.  They will be leading this week’s Gladney Family Support Group Meeting where the topic will be: SIBLING ADJUSTMENT!
 
Child care will be provided. To RSVP for childcare please call or email Joy Barnes (joy.barnes@gladney.org or 817.922.5993).
 
Thursday, August 8, 2013 from 6:30pm-8:30pm in Mabee Hall, Fort Worth, TX.

Tuesday, August 06, 2013

Superkids Webinar - Have You Registered Yet?

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Have you registered for our special Superkids webinar on Thursday? If not, hurry before all of the spots are reserved! 
 
Join us for a fun and informational webinar to learn more about Gladney Center's China Waiting Child program and our humanitarian aid work through Superkids Charity. This summer, the Superkids team spent two weeks in China meeting over 100 amazing children in several orphanages across three provinces! This webinar is the first presentation in a three part series and we will hear from team members about their time spent in Shanghai. Please share this invitation with anyone interested in learning more about Gladney's China Waiting Child Adoption Program and the exciting work that Superkids is doing to improve the quality of life for children in China and across the globe!

The webinar will be held on Thursday, August 8th at 7pm EST. Be sure to register today!

Friday, August 02, 2013

We have so many great advocated among our families!


As the Superkids Team wraps up their latest trip to China, during which they saw over 100 children waiting for forever families, we thought it would be a wonderful time to bring your attention to the blogs of families who have adopted or are adopting through the Guang Ming Program (Waiting Child). Family blogs can be accessed through Gladney's Website in the China Adoption Blogs section.

Empowered to Connect Conference in Houston- September 13-14, 2013

"Led by Dr. Karyn Purvis (Director of the TCU Institute of Child Development) together with Michael & Amy Monroe (Leaders of Tapestry Adoption & Foster Care Ministry), this conference is ideal for adoptive and foster parents, those considering adoption or foster care and those who are serving and supporting others, including social workers, agency professionals, church staff and ministry leaders, counselors, therapists and others involved in adoption and foster care ministries or services.


Conference sessions will be held from 9am-5pm on both days. Light refreshments will be provided during breaks throughout the event, with “on your own” lunch breaks scheduled from 12-1:30pm. All participants are highly encouraged to attend sessions on both days. Professionals may be eligible to receive continuing education credit for their participation."

-From the Show Hope website

This conference is ideal for adoptive parents and those considering adoption. Click here to learn more.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Is It an Adoption Thing?


 Webinar  - Wednesday, August 7, 2013
7:00 PM Central, Q&A 8:00 PM
Are you struggling to decide if your child's challenging behaviors are adoption related or just kid stuff? Because so many families face that difficult task, Adoption Learning Partners asked an expert to help! Join Dr. Gregory Keck as he helps parents understand the impact of adoption and trauma on child development. Common challenging behaviors, how to manage behaviors, and effective (and ineffective) parenting tools will be discussed. Register here.

Monday, July 29, 2013

What No One Ever Told Me About Special Needs Adoption: Loving Our Perfect Child


  
Adopting several children from China has been a joy-filled, faith-building, abundant adventure. We have four biological children and feel as though we are experienced parents. However, sometimes even experienced parents can find that they are not adequately prepared for some issues.
During November of 2006, we decided that we would pursue a special needs child on a waiting child list. Our agency diligently prepared us for parenting a child with special needs....
Here is a list of items that no social worker ever prepared us for:
1. No one ever told us that when we had our adopted "special needs" daughter evaluated by an occupational therapist, that she would be 6-months ahead of her typically developing two-armed peers in motor development
2. No one ever told me that at age 2, she would figure out how to climb to the top of a bunk bed with her one arm just to admire her brother's trophies on a high shelf.
3. No one ever told me that she would be only 19 pounds but have the desire, tenacity, and strength of a Super Bowl bound football team.
- Tamera Wong - Rainbow Kids

To read the rest of this article and the remainder of this inspiring list, click here.

Friday, July 26, 2013

Special Waiting Child Webinar - Recent Superkids Trip!

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Join us for a fun and informational webinar to learn more about Gladney Center’s China Waiting Child program and our humanitarian aid work through Superkids Charity. This summer, the Superkids team spent two weeks in China meeting over 100 amazing children in several orphanages across three provinces! This webinar is the first presentation in a three part series and we will hear from team members about their time spent in Shanghai. Please share this invitation with anyone interested in learning more about Gladney’s China Waiting Child Adoption Program and the exciting work that Superkids is doing to improve the quality of life for children in China and across the globe!

The webinar will be held on Thursday, August 8th at 7pm EST. Be sure to register today!

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Gladney Cup


The Gladney Cup Golf Tournament is a world-class, PGA style charitable golf related event benefiting The Gladney Center for Adoption. It is held every-other year on one of the most beautiful, prestigious golf courses in the nation. This year's event will take place on Monday, September 23, 2013, on the famed Merion Golf Club East Course in Ardmore, PA.
Click here for more information.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Monkey: Journey to the West



Last night, several Gladney Asia staff attended Chen Shi-Zheng’s Monkey: Journey to the West at New York City’s Lincoln Center. The performance is an adaptation of Journey to the West, one of the four great classics novels of Chinese literature. It was a very exciting and interesting performance which used mixed media, including music, animation, acrobatics and martial arts to tell the compelling story of the Monkey King’s quest for immortality. The music was a blend of Chinese traditional opera and electronic pop, and the use of color, elaborate stage props and acrobatic performances were very reminiscent of shows that can be seen in China. Although the traditional Chinese themes in the show were the highlights, there were moments of humor that seemed to be able to cross cultural boundaries and were enjoyed by all!

Thinking about Adoption? Have you considered a Waiting Child?

  
When my husband and I first started our adoption process, these children were referred to as Special Needs which can be a scary term.

But what if instead we called them "Waiting Children"? Doesn't sound as intimidating, right, and it is the truth as well! Furthermore, what if we thought of "Special Needs" kids as "special", amazing children in "need" of or waiting for a forever family?... 

When our caseworker mentioned reviewing a special needs list, we looked at each and said, "we don't think so", but God had other plans. He began to work in our hearts and brought people into our lives who had adopted children from China on the waiting child list and showed us that He had a completely different plan than we were thinking of for our adopted child. Read more.

Monday, July 22, 2013

Get Involved in your local GFA


The summer fun continues... check out the GFA sponsored events planned for July and August - pool parties, play groups, potlucks and more will be taking place around the country to bring families together to enjoy each other's company and the beautiful weather!
Click here for the GFA Network's Event Calendar to learn what is happening in your area!
 
If you would like to learn more about opportunities to volunteer your time with your local GFA board, please contact the GFA Director of volunteers: Wendy Lee at  wendy.lee@gladney.org. Volunteers can help in a variety of ways. The new GFA season will kick-off in the Fall with a calendar of events specific to each local region. It is a great way to meet other families and make a difference!  


Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Thoughts About Sharing and Connecting

For almost two years now, I have had the privilege to work with the Gladney Asia staff on communications by creating a monthly newsletter and maintaining the program's blogsites. It has been such a pleasure getting to know the staff and experiencing first hand, their passion for adoption! Each month, we have enjoyed working collaboratively to publish adoption related articles and news, helpful resources and most importantly, adoption announcements and photos! 
Gladney and the Gladney Family Association strive to keep families involved and informed, providing a resource for parenting needs from before placement through young adulthood. There is so much wonderful information about adoption, parenting and heritage celebration that it is always exciting selecting the contents for our readers. It is our hope that our outreach and communications serve all Gladney Asia families, from those who are waiting, through those who adopted 15 or more years ago.
  
After publishing this summer newsletter, I will pass along this role to others so that I have more time as our oldest daughter prepares to apply for college! However, as I wrote in the article last month "The Benefits of Staying Connected", I will remain in contact with the Gladney Asia staff, complete some projects we have been planning and continue to assist Gongzhan with the custom China Heritage Tours.
- Lydia Macci

Monday, July 15, 2013

Gladney's Waiting Child website has been re-launched!

A Child to Love is now available to families who are interested in domestic or international adoption. Profile information of children waiting to be adopted can be accessed with varying levels of detail. The levels of access allow Gladney to present relevant child information, but also make sure the child's information is kept secure