In order to better help children find forever families, The China Center for Children’s Welfare and Adoption (CCCWA) is updating their eligibility requirements for prospective adoptive parents. There have been several positive changes in eligibility requirements, particularly affecting prospective adoptive parents who are either single or over the age of 50.
Read below for a summary of the new eligibility requirements.
SINGLE APPLICANTS
- Are now eligible to adopt either a non-special focus child (a child with minor special needs) or a special focus child (a child with more significant needs)
- May submit a dossier to China prior to being matched with a child
- There must be no more than 45 years difference between the age of the parent and the age of the child
- There may be no more than 2 children at home, and the youngest should be older than 5 years old
- Cannot adopt if there are already 3 children in their home under the age of 18
APPLICANTS OVER AGE 50
- Are now eligible to adopt either a non-special focus child or a special focus child
- May submit a dossier to China prior to being matched with a child
- There must be no more than 50 years difference between the age of the younger parent and the age of the child
FAMILIES WITH MEDICAL CONDITIONS
To be eligible for an adoption from China, families must be free of medical conditions that affect their life expectancy or parenting ability. According to the CCCWA, the following conditions will make a family ineligible:
Intellectual disability, positive for HIV or other contagious infectious disease, blindness, poor vision in both eyes, non-function or dysfunction of limbs, incomplete or deformed limbs, severe facial deformity, and Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or greater, or any diseases that require long-term treatment and affect parenting ability
Mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, mania, anxiety, phobia, depression, obsession, etc. except in the case of a couple, if the disorder is minor and well controlled with medication. Please note: further documentation or testing may be required.
Diseases that require long-term treatment, or affect parenting ability. According to the CCCWA, the following conditions fall into this category: malignant tumors, lupus, nephrosis, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, an organ transplant within the last ten years, etc.
Parents with severe hearing loss/deafness or loss of language function may adopt a child with the same condition. In an adoption by a couple, if one parent is completely healthy and the other parent has one of these conditions, the family will be eligible to adopt.
Families who have a medical condition that may make them ineligible are encouraged to contact pdavis@ccdiobr.org or call (225) 336-8708 for more information. CCCWA allows exceptions in certain circumstances.
FAMILIES WITH DIFFICULTY MEETING CHINA’S INCOME OR NET WORTH REQUIREMENTS
The CCCWA requires that families have a minimum income of $30,000 plus $10,000 per child living in the home (including the prospective adoptee). Minimum net worth for couples is $80,000. Minimum net worth for singles is $100,000. However, if a family lives in an area where the local cost of living is lower and they have above average income for their area, an exception to these income requirements may be made.
FAMILIES WITH A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND
The following crimes on a background check will make a family ineligible for an adoption from China: history of domestic violence, sex abuse, or abuse/abandonment of children; drug use or a history of alcohol abuse less than ten years old. If the parents have 3 or fewer minor criminal records more than ten years ago or 5 or fewer traffic violations with no severe outcomes, they may be eligible to adopt from China.
NEW POST PLACEMENT REQUIREMENTS
(these only affect families who receive travel approval after 1/1/2015)
- Post placement reports: The CCCWA will require post placement reports to be completed at 6 months and 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years for families with a Notice of Action to China for Adoption that is issued after January 1, 2015. The first three reports (6 month, 1 year, and 2 years) must be completed by a social worker. However, the remaining reports (3 years, 4 years, and 5 years) can now be completed by adoptive families
- Forms: The CCCWA will no longer require the medical form, teacher evaluations, or report cards to be submitted with the post placement reports. The Special Needs Feedback form is also no longer required to be completed for the one-year report
- Photo requirements: The CCCWA will now be accepting digital photos.Hard copy, glossy photos will no longer need to be submitted with the post placement reports.
Please contact our office if you have any questions. Phone (225)336-8708 or email pdavis@ccdiobr.org
