Program Updates
CHINA (updated October 2008)
The China program continues to have healthy children joining happy families. The children average in age from 10 months up to 36 months. The referrals are coming from varied provinces. The medical and developmental information given to the adoptive parents at the time of the referral continues to be extensive and reliable. The trip to for those families who are waiting now is still about 6 weeks. The families still fall in love with Gui Lan (New Beginnings’ representative in China) and don’t want to leave her after their two week trip. The most difficult part of the program is THE LONG WAIT. Our last families waiting 27 months from the time their documents were logged in at the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) until their referrals arrived. When you add the time necessary to prepare their dossiers (about 5-6 months) and the time until the family travels (about 2 months) the process takes at least 36 months. There is no concrete estimate for how long the process will be taking at CCAA in the future, but since the U.S. implemented the Hague, time for preparation of your dossier and approval of your I-800A has lengthened by about 2 months. The time between referral and travel may be longer as well.
COLOMBIA (updated October 2008)
The Colombia program is a cooperative program that New Beginnings is doing with Adopolis, Inc. in Washington, D.C. The program seems to be a stable program with children from infants up to toddler available as well as some older children and special needs children. Preference is given to families of Colombian descent. The difficulty for some families with this program is the 4-6 week stay in the country to complete the adoption. This program can take from 15 to 24 months to complete.
Colombia Adoption Information >>
MEXICO (updated October 2008)
The Mexico program is a cooperative program that New Beginnings is doing with Adopolis, Inc. in Washington, D.C. This is a new program placing children from the States within Mexico. More information will be available soon.
VIETNAM (updated September, 2008)
As of September 1, 2008, the Vietnam program has been suspended by the government of Vietnam. Very recent information states that the Vietnamese Government has requested the U.S. Government to begin negotiating on a possible new Memorandum of Agreement. While this is hopeful news, it could take a very long time for these negotiations to be completed if they can come to a mutual agreement. This is very sad news for the children of Vietnam needing families as well as the families in the U.S. willing and able to make those children a part of a loving, nurturing family. As of this time, we will no longer be taking applications for this program. Should the program be re-opened at any time in the future, we will certainly post that immediately.
Vietnam Adoption Information >>
THAILAND (updated October 2008)
The Thai adoption program is one of the longest running programs at New Beginnings. Families who are open to a toddler age child and realize that this program will take up to two years, will be rewarded with a wonderful addition to their family. Families who apply for this program must meet restrictive age requirements set by Thailand.
Thailand Adoption Information >>
RUSSIA (updated October 2008)
New Beginnings continues to work in cooperation with Carolina Adoption Services to help families with a Russian adoption. This type of cooperative relationship enables New Beginnings to work with local couples as their families grow through adoption from Russia.
Russia Adoption Information >>
PERU (updated October 2008)
Peru has always been a small and quiet program offered through New Beginnings. The country does give preference to families with Peruvian descent but it is not exclusive. The children are healthy and well cared for in Peru. The biggest drawback to this program is that the process can take from 15-24 months and the stay in the country ranges from 4-6 weeks to complete the adoption process.
KOREA (updated October 2008)
The Korean adoption program has been the longest established program for New Beginnings. The Republic of Korea has instituted many internal changes to promote domestic adoption within Korea. The incentives offered to Korean families in Korea have been successful and there are fewer children available for international adoption at this time. One of the new policies mandates that all children with an adoption plan must be available for an in-country adoption to a Korean family for five months before the child may be considered for an international placement. This has directly affected the age of the children joining families from 5-7 months to 10-12 months. The children are still cared for by loving foster families while they are in Korea. The health of the children has continued to be good and medical records are comprehensive, but families should know that many of the children will have a history of birth mothers smoking and/or drinking during the pregnancy.
ETHIOPIA (updated September 2008)
New Beginnings is currently offering Ethiopian adoptions in cooperation with Children’s Home Society and Family Services (CHSFS).
Ethiopia Adoption Information >>
OTHER
Please check our Cooperative Relationships for possibilities of other programs through which New Beginnings may help families to adopt internationally.