Although this term refers to a person who has been adopted, there are many adopted individuals who do not like to be referred to in this way. The reason is because they consider themselves to be as full a member of their adopted family as a biological child would be, and therefore consider themselves to be a "child," rather than an "adoptee" or an "adopted child."
The legal transfer of the parental rights and responsibilities for the care and supervision of an adopted child; its nurture and education, physical and emotional health, and financial support.
An organization licensed to assist in placing children available for adoption with adoptive parents who are seeking a child. Agencies exist in a wide variety of organizational forms, including non-profit, not-for-profit, for-profit, and government agencies.
This is sometimes referred to as a Certificate of Adoption, and is the official document finalizing the adoption in China. The Adoption Certificate recognizes the adoptive parent/s as the legal parent/s of the adopted child. Parents who re-adopt in their State of residence must present the Adoption Certificate to the court, in order to finalize the re-adoption.
Part of the same legislation that created the Federal Adoption Expense Tax Credit. The Internal Revenue Code has been amended to allow adoptive parents to exclude adoption benefits provided by their employers, from their federal adjusted gross income. These excluded benefit payments can sometimes be in addition to any available Federal Adoption Expense Tax Credit.
Parents who have already adopted, or who are in the process of adopting a child or children.
A simplified and standardized form that is used for the purpose of providing a certification of public documents relating to adoption. This simplified form contains standardized numbered fields of certain common and essential types of information, which allows the data to be understood by all participating countries, regardless of the official language of the issuing country. The completed apostille certifies the authenticity of the signature on the documents, the capacity in which the person signing the documents has acted, and identifies the seal and/or stamp that the document bears. Apostilles are usually used in countries that are in compliance with the provisions of The Hague Convention. However, although China has adopted The Hague Convention, adoption documents for China must be certified by the Secretary of State of the issuing State, and then Authenticated by the Chinese Consulate. At this time, the Chinese Consulate will not authenticate an Apostille.
The formation of significant and stable emotional connections between a child and the significant people in the child’s life. This process begins in early infancy as the child bonds with one or more primary caregivers. The failure to establish these types of important connections before the age of approximately five can result in the child experiencing difficulties with a wide variety of social relationships. This may last for significant periods of time in the child’s life. Severe cases can fit within the definition of a more permanent condition known as Reactive Attachment Disorder. Due to China’s low caregiver to child ratio, and the fact that most Chinese nanny’s become attached to the children in their care, bonding and attachment problems are not typically seen in children adopted from China.
In the context of adoption, this term refers to the process of formally authenticating official government or court documents. All dossier documents required for adoption from China must be Authenticated by the Chinese Consulate that serves the State that issued the document. This procedure authenticates the signature on the documents, the capacity in which the person signing the documents has acted, and the seals and/or stamps required for notarization and certification. Dossier documents for China must be Notarized by a registered notary, Certified by the Secretary of State, and Authenticated by the Chinese Consulate.
This term refers to adoptions that do not conform to State and Federal laws regulating adoption, and which usually involve the payment of large sums of money to an adopted child's birth parents, an adoption attorney, an adoption facilitator, an adoption agency, or another intermediary, in order to avoid provisions of the law. In many cases, all participants in a black market adoption may be subject to criminal prosecution, or the child can be taken away from the adoptive parents and placed for adoption with another set of adoptive parents.
The process that a child experiences in developing lasting emotional ties with it's immediate caregivers. Bonding is seen as the first and most significant developmental achievement for a human being, and is central to the individual’s ability to relate properly to others throughout its lifetime. Due to China’s low caregiver to child ratio, most children adopted from China have developed a strong ability to bond with their adoptive parents. Consequently, bonding and attachment problems are not typically seen in children adopted from China.
In the context of adoption, this term refers to the process of formally authenticating official government or court documents. All dossier documents required for adoption from China must be Certified by the Secretary of State of the State that issued the document. The certification attests to the authenticity of the signature on the documents, the capacity in which the person signing the documents has acted, and affixes the seal and/or stamp that is required for certification. Dossier documents for China must be Notarized by a registered notary, Certified by the Secretary of State, and Authenticated by the Chinese Consulate.
This federal agency operates under the United States Office of Homeland Security. The CIS has the responsibility of overseeing the immigration of all foreign-born individuals into the United States, whether they are adults or children. If a US citizen wants to adopt a child abroad, permission must first be obtained from CIS, for the child to lawfully enter the United States for the purpose of being adopted (Form I-600A.) CIS then requires all adoptive parents to be fingerprinted, and those fingerprints are checked against the FBI fingerprint database for criminal history. Once CIS grants approval to adopt Internationally (Form I-171H), the adopted child can enter the US on a visa issued by the American Consulate in China. According to the Child Citizenship Act of 2000, the adopted child will automatically become a United States citizen upon entry to the US.
The legally required process of keeping personal information secret; the legally and ethically required principle and practice which compels social workers, employees of adoption agencies, court personnel and other professionals not to disclose identifying or other significant information about the parties to an adoption, without legal authority and the written consent of the involved parties.
Refers to adoptions in which the race or ethnicity of the adopted child is noticeably different from that of the adoptive parent/s. Most adoptions from China are conspicuous adoptions because most Americans adopting from China are not of Asian descent.
(pronounced Doss-eee-ay) When used in the context of Chinese adoption, this term refers to a set of appropriately notarized, certified and authenticated legal and identifying documents. These documents are used by the China Center of Adoption Affairs to approve and match adoptive parents with a child that is available for adoption. The dossier contains documents such as Birth Certificates, Marriage License, Financial Record, Medical Reports, Employment Letters, Police Reports, USCIS Form I-171H, Lifestyle Photos, and an adoptive Home Study.
Adoption benefits provided to employees as part of an employer-sponsored benefit program. Usually, these benefits are included in an employment compensation package, similar to group medical, dental and other benefits. Some examples of these benefits are: resource and referral services, direct cash payments to help pay adoption expenses, reimbursement for all or part of the expenses incurred in the process of adopting a child, or provisions for either paid or unpaid "parental" or "family" leave, which may coincide with the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993. Depending on the nature and amount of these benefits, they may be partially or totally tax exempt.
The relatives of an individual, other than immediate family members; both members of the originating family and those related by marriage, such as aunts, uncles, grandparents and cousins.
The point in time when an adopted child becomes a legal member of the adoptive family. For families adopting from China, the adoption finalization is granted by Chinese adoption officials in China.
Forms used to officially request permission from US Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) to classify a child adopted Internationally (who fits the definition of an orphan) as an immediate relative of the adoptive parent/s. This is required to begin the processing and issuance of a visa for the child to enter the US. See also: Citizenship and Immigration Services.
A deep feeling of emotional loss. In the context of Chinese adoption, grief may be experienced by the adopted child at any time and to varying degrees, as well as by individuals who are primary caregivers, such as foster parents and orphanage nannies. Grief can be expected in adopted children in the first few days of adjustment to a new family and surroundings; this is especially true for older children.
A home study is sometimes called an "adoption study," and is a written report containing the findings and recommendation of the adoption social worker. The social worker is required by State, Federal, and Chinese officials to meet with and interview prospective adoptive parents on several occasions. The social worker must also visit the home and investigate the health, medical, criminal, family and living background of the adoptive parents. If other adult individuals are living in the home, they will also be interviewed and investigated by the social worker, and included as part of the home study. The purpose of the home study is to help the State, Federal, and Chinese government officials determine whether the adoptive parents are qualified to adopt a child. This determination is based upon criteria established by State, Federal, and Chinese laws and regulations.
This refers to the short-term or long-term placement of children in institutions, such as hospitals or orphanages. Placement in institutions during early developmental periods, and for long periods of time, is associated with developmental delays. In terms of Chinese adoption, these are usually minor physical delays that sometimes include delayed gross motor abilities, such as sitting up or walking. This is usually due to environmental deprivation (lack of space inside and outside), poor nutrition, and lack of early developmental stimulation (such as bundling the children in layers of clothing.) Most children adopted from China experience only minor delays, which disappear quickly with individual attention, good nutrition, physical stimulation, and social interaction.
Adoption of a child who was born in a country other than where the adoptive parents reside or are citizens. International adoption is subject to the same State and Federal laws that apply to all domestic adoptions, but is also subject to the approval of US Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the laws and regulations of China.
A compact that has been adopted by the legislatures of compact member States, which governs the interstate delivery of and payment for medical services and adoption assistance payments and subsidies for adopted children with special needs.
A pictorial and written representation of the life of a child, which is designed to help the child better understand and make sense of its unique background and history. Although there is no required content for a life book, it might contain information about China, the child’s birthplace and date, and the parents’ adoption journey at home and during the trip to China. The life book is usually created by the adoptive parents.
A feeling of emotional deprivation that is sometimes experienced during an adoption. Adoptive parents who are infertile may feel a loss in their inability to bear a child, and/or an adopted child may feel a sense of loss of its former home and relationships, this is mostly true for older children.
The process of bringing together qualified prospective adoptive parents and children available for adoption. The China Center of Adoption Affairs matches all children adopted from China.
This term refers to certain one-time adoption-related expenses, which may be at least partially reimbursed to families adopting children with special needs. Under State-sponsored adoption assistance programs, there is usually a maximum limit of $2,000, through the provisions of the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980. Allowable expenses for this reimbursement benefit can include such one-time fees as the fee for the preparation of an adoption home study, adoption fees, and other expenses related to the legal adoption of children with special needs.
The birth certificate issued at the birth of a child and before an adoption takes place. Children adopted from China have an Adoption Certificate, which contains relevant information such as the date and place of the adoption and the names of the child and the parents. See also: Adoption Certificate.
This term is used with a very specific definition in the regulations of U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. It is used in reference to the legal status of children born abroad and adopted Internationally by parents who are US citizens. In this context, the term refers to a child in another country who has no living parents, or whose parents have disappeared or have abandoned the child, or a child who has only one living relative who is not able to adequately provide for the care and support of the child. In order for a child to be adopted Internationally by parents who are US citizens, it must fit this definition of being an "orphan."
Institution that houses children who are orphaned, abandoned, or whose parents are unable to care for them. Children adopted from China are housed in orphanages (called Social Welfare Institutes) or with foster parents.
This is a document filed with a State court on behalf of adoptive parents wishing to re-adopt a child in their State of residence. It states the legal basis on which the parents believe they should be able to adopt the child in their State, why the court has jurisdiction to grant the adoption, their reason for re-adopting the child, and the name they want given to the child when the requested adoption becomes final. Although children adopted from China are US citizens upon entry to the US, some parents choose to re-adopt in their State to protect their child's inheritance rights with regard to Social Security benefits, and other State protections. Also see: Re-Adoption.
A written report prepared by an adoption social worker and submitted to the China Center of Adoption Affairs. The social worker visits the home to observe how well the child and the parents are bonding to each other, and how the child is adjusting to the family. This report also contains a recommendation by the social worker, based on personal observations, interactions, and interviews with the child and other members of the family. China requires two Post Placement Reports; one each at 6 months and 12 months after the adoption is finalized in China.
Refers to re-adopting a child in the United States after it has already been adopted Internationally. The most common reason for re-adoption is to obtain a United States birth certificate for the child, written in English,and identifying the adoptive parents as the legal parents of the child. The new birth certificate is essentially identical to birth certificates issued to other children in the same geographic area. This procedure enables the adopted child to have a local birth certificate in English that does not identify or set the child apart from other children, as being a child that is as somehow "different" from other children. Also see: Petition to Adopt.
Institution that houses children who are orphaned, abandoned, or whose parents are unable to care for them. Children adopted from China are housed in Social Welfare Institutes (orphanages) or with foster parents.
The individual that prepares an adoption home study for prospective adoptive parents, assists prospective adoptive parents in obtaining their pre-adoption certification where required, provides post-placement supervision of adoptive families once they have received their child, and counsels adoptive families to help them adapt to changes as the result of adoption. The wide variety of services that are provided by adoption social workers are essential elements in every successful adoption. China requires that adoption social workers be licensed in their State, and have at least a Masters degree in social work.
When used in the context of Chinese adoption, the term "special needs" generally refers to children that traditionally have been more difficult to place for adoption, because they have some form of physical or medical challenge. These children are part of China's Waiting Child Program, and typical medical needs include: cleft lip/palate, vision impairment, hearing impairment, missing digits/limbs, hepatitis, or congenital heart conditions.
Provisions contained in the Internal Revenue Code which allow adoptive parents to exclude from their adjusted gross income for federal income tax purposes, cash or other adoption benefits received from a qualified employee benefit plan provided by their employer.
An adoption in which a family of one race adopts a child of another race, also referred to as Conspicuous Adoption.
