Older Child Adoption

The CCAA was inundated with applications in 2001. This may have been a result of the changes in Russia, which slowed adoptions considerably during 2000. As a result of the large increase the CCAA issued certain restrictions for 2002. It limited the number of applications per U.S. adoption agency to the average of an agency’s Chinese adoptions during the 3-year period of 19982000. This quota system has been suspended for 2003, but if a backlog develops do not be surprised to find it reinstated. The CCAA also began to strictly enforce its post-placement reporting requirement of two reports within a year of the child’s adoption. This is a reasonable request.

In a negative development, the CCAA now only allows agencies to make 8% of their placements to single moms (single dads are not allowed). This figure was increased from 5% in 2002. However, it is in sharp contrast to the estimated 30% of previous placements that went to single parents. Because of this restriction, agencies have placed most singles on a long waiting list. One of the questions to ask agencies is about the length of their singles list. This is one of the few occasions where if you are single, going with a large agency might be an advantage.

The CCAA has also begun to enforce age guidelines. Parents between 30-45 years of age have first priority for infants. Parents between 45-50 may adopt infants if they are available, but more likely will be matched with a toddler. 55 is likely not to qualify. Multiple divorces are also frowned upon by the CCAA. If you have had three or more divorces, then you are likely not to qualnot allowed to adopt. Hague intercountry adoption rules. These do not affect you as much as your agency. These provisions will eventually cause the cost of an adoption to increase by only allowing large agencies to adopt from China. They also require that American agencies become licensed by some U.S. governmental agency. As of yet, the State Department is still working out its regulations including licensure. It is unfortunate that China is beginning to implement the Hague. It will be even more unfortunate when the U.S. does.