About Waiting Children of Asia
The WCA Website
This listing is provided free of charge as a public service to facilitate
the coming together of parents and their children. We have designed the
site to protect the integrity of the children and their country of origin,
while providing an opportunity for children without homes to join a family.
Only children considered hard to place (who are unlikely to find
a home through other channels) are listed.
The Waiting Children of Asia web page focuses on children in Asian countries,
because that is where we adopted our children.
As listowners of the Adoptive Parents of Vietnam mailing list, we discovered
that parents who were interested in adopting older children, sibling groups
and children with special needs and disabilities were finding it difficult
to get information. Meanwhile adoption agencies were finding it difficult
to share information about these children available for adoption. The
Waiting Children of Asia web page was started to bring these parents and
agencies together so that these special children can find homes.
The Children
Most children listed here are 'waiting' for a home because they are older
siblings, boys, or have minor or major special needs. You are encouraged
to find out more information about adoption of older and/or special needs
children through your agency and the various adoption resources listed
in this site. All children adopted internationally should have an immediate
and thorough medical evaluation upon arrival home. See our section on
Adoption Health for additional information
and a listing of international adoption medical clinics.
To protect the privacy of the children and their referring countries,
identification information is limited on the website. However, if you
contact the agencies listed they will be glad to provide more information
on any of these children.
The Agencies
The agencies listed on these pages with waiting children are reputable
agencies in their field. Generally speaking, agencies that make an effort
to identify and place children with special needs provide above average
adoption information and support. You are welcome to join the various
Adoption Mailing Lists and inquire
about experiences that members have had with any of them. You should also
contact the agencies directly and inquire about references.
Cultural Heritage
When you adopt your child from a different country and culture, you are
also blessed with the opportunity to explore and encourage the international
heritage that your children bring into your family. A number of resources
are now available online to help you impart this heritage with pride and
enthusiasm, see our Adoption Book
Reviews, List of Adoption Mailing Lists,
and Shops & Services sections.
Disabilities
and Special Needs
There are a variety of resources for special needs on
the Internet; see our sections on Adoption
Health and on Children's Special
Needs and Disabilities for articles and resources. Parent to parent
support for special needs families can be found through our large
List of Mailing Lists for Children with Disabilities.
Process
for Adoption of Waiting Children
To complete your adoption, you will need a Homestudy, INS approval, and
papers approved by the child's country (a dossier). If you have completed
your paperwork and homestudy, these can usually be updated within a reasonable
period of time, depending upon the requirements of the agency and country.
For example if you have adopted previously, your former homestudy can
be updated, usually for a lower fee and quicker time frame. INS approval
for an international adoption from one country can also be transferred
to another country relatively quickly and easily. Travel, paperwork requirements
and procedures vary significantly among countries and among agencies -
check with the agencies listed for the requirements for the child you
may wish to adopt. For more information see our section on How
to Adopt.
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Adoption of Children with Special
Needs
