December 2016
CHINA AND TAIWAN PROGRAM NEWSLETTER
Happy Holidays to ALL!
~from Gladney Center.... and friends!


The best gifts around any Christmas tree are the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. 
- Burton Hillis
Welcome Home!!

Welcome home, Layla!

China
Program update:

With winter winds bringing chilly temps to all of us here in the U.S - one family will be soon enjoying the relatively balmy weather of Guangzhou!  This family is on their second adoption trip to China to adopt their seven year old son.  Special thanks to our colleague Bill Porter for doing both home studies for this family over the last two years!
 
Since our last newsletter two more families have received their LSC's and three families adopting special focus children have received 'pre-approval' from the CCCWA for their matches.  These families now have 6 months to complete their adoption dossiers.
 
Gongzhan returned home to New York at the end of November  - and held a travel conference call this week for 6 families who will be traveling to China in the first few months of 2017.  These 6 families are adopting children ranging in age from 18 months to 13 years old!  Three of the children are boys and three of the children are girls.  The families hail from West Coast to East Coast:  CA, WI, IN, PA, VA, and NJ).  I hope Santa brings new suitcases to you all!
 
The Gladney Center Asia program office in New York will be open through the holiday season, with staff rotating their holiday time - so we will be able to receive your fedex envelopes and meet the DHL messenger with any documents from China!  We are all looking forward to 2017 and the year of the ROOSTER!  If you have not yet had a chance to join Gladney for its annual Chinese New Year Party - please do consider joining us this year - it is really a special tradition! Click here to register! Which reminds me.....I need to call and book the Lion Dance Troupe today and remind Gongzhan to visit with Jing Fong to secure our tables.   
 
Happy Holidays!
~Wendy


Taiwan
Program Update:    

We continue to be busy in the Taiwan program! This month we received a referral of a 15 month old boy for one of our waiting families! We currently have 8 families matched with children, some of whom we expect be coming home in the first few months of 2017. 

Moses and Matilda are waiting for a family.
Two of our families recently had their court hearings. This is the first major step in the court process for matched families. It's the time for the judge to evaluate the adoption plans and meet all parties involved in the adoption, if he/she chooses. 

We had two families who had court hearings on December 1st, with two different judges. One judge requested that the adoptive parents attend the court hearing, the other didn't. This is a decision that is completely up to each judge's discretion. If a judge requests that an adoptive family attend court, they are expected to attend. The good news is that adoptive families usually get to spend a couple of days with their child before returning home. After the court hearing, the judge usually issues the Civil Ruling within about 3-4 months. The adoption process can then be finalized and the child can come home.  

Remember, we have a private Taiwan advocacy Facebook group where we share about waiting children. Due to Taiwan's strict requirements regarding photos and information that can be shared publicly, the only way to see photos and videos of children online is to be part of the private group. If you'd like to join the Facebook group, please send a direct message to Mary Chapman on Facebook or email her at [email protected] . 
ADOPT ME!
Click an image below to read more about these waiting children from China
 
Click an image below to learn more about these waiting children from Taiwan!

Volunteer Opportunity in New York City
The China and Taiwan team in NYC would like to invite interested volunteers to contact  [email protected] if you are able to volunteer 5-10 hours of your time on a consistent monthly basis.  The volunteer would be assisting with administrative processing of reports one or two days per month.  This is a great opportunity for a young adult age 17+ to acquire basic office skills.  Volunteers with bilingual English / Chinese language skills will navigate this position with a bit more ease - but Chinese language competence is not required.

And speaking of volunteers...a very BIG thank you to Chloe Vasapoli, Lynn Ludlow and Yi Zhang for volunteering at the Gladney NY office!  We appreciate your hard work and enthusiasm! 

Upcoming Events
It's Time for our Annual Chinese New Year Celebration!



Please join the festivities as we celebrate the Year of the Rooster!  We will have a traditional banquet lunch, Chinese entertainment, arts and crafts and a raffle to benefit waiting children.  Click here to RSVP no later than January 11.

Stay Connected
The Gladney Center for Adoption, Asia Program, 850 7th Avenue, Suite 801, New York, NY 10019