At this very moment, thousands of children are ready for adoption and waiting for their forever family. Because of these precious children, we would like to make your family aware of the option to adopt a child through the China Waiting Children Program. Over the years, America World has been honored to place hundreds of boys and girls with their forever families.

The boys and girls can range in age from 6 months to 13 years old. According to adoption laws in China, a child must be adopted prior to their 14th birthday. The medical needs that are typically seen are cleft lip/palate, heart defects, hearing or vision problems, hand/foot/limb deformities, missing limbs, Hepatitis B, spine deformity, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, neural conditions, and developmental delays. The majority of children available through this program have a medically correctable medical need and many children receive surgeries in China. Older healthy children are also available, but most will be age nine or older.

New child files are received every month through a shared referral system for agencies to access. America World also receives child files through orphanage partnerships throughout China. Families currently enrolled in the America World China Program can complete a waiting children application to become eligible to be matched with a child. Prospective families are invited to learn more about the program by visiting the FAQ page or call or email our office to speak to a China Family Coordinator. Families are also invited to speak to any of our references who have adopted through this program. The blog also highlights information regarding children matched each month, along with general program updates, family stories, and other helpful resources.

Explanation of Child’s Status
Under Review: These children’s files are under review by a family.
Matched Children: We have a forever family!
Special Focus: These children may be matched to a family either with or without a dossier in China and may also be accepted along with another child.
LID Only: The CCCWA requires that these children be matched to a family with a current dossier in China.
Shared List: These children's files are listed on the CCCWA's shared list and are viewable by multiple agencies.

In order to obtain the password, please submit a request and the password will be emailed to you. If you are currently in the program, please email your family coordinator.

China is a country whose culture dates back to the earliest records known to man. At first glance, some of China's beliefs may seem quite different than those we hold in the western world. One example of this is the cultural preference for a male child. There are several reasons why Chinese families might prefer a boy over a girl. In rural provinces, a family's livelihood depends directly on the output of its family members. Because of this, a family with sons would be at a considerable advantage over one with daughters. Historically, it is also the son's honored responsibility to take care of his parents in their old age. A daughter, however, would be expected to care for her husband's parents rather than her own. In this regard, the Chinese believe that having a son is crucial to their livelihood, as well as a form of social security for the parents when they grow older. Although China has done much to change these belief systems in recent years, many families, especially in rural areas, still strongly favor the birth of a male child. This situation is further complicated by China's One-Child Policy, which prohibits families from having more than one child. As a result of this policy, there are potentially thousands of abandoned children throughout China.