Did anybody happen to catch on the news last night the new adoption restrictions in China?

[Midlodemocrat]

My brother and SIL are halfway through the process and all I caught was the teaser; didn't catch the full story.

If anyone knows it, would you mind telling me what you heard? I can't find anything on the web.

TIA.

[sinkingfeeling]

1. China will refuse adoptions by single people , those who are over 50 (?), and

those who are obese.

http://news.bostonherald.com/international/view.bg?articleid=172973

Edited to add link.

[jwirr]

3. I may get flamed but I do not consider these restrictions as a

sign of anything other than making sure the child does not have to grow up in poverty or without a parent. I was a single parent and one little slip can put you into real trouble. Companies and insurance plans recognize that excess weight is a health issue and many US adoption agencies do not consider parents over 50.

[Midlodemocrat]

5. I may get flamed, too, but on a personal level for my own family.

These restrictions will help them to adopt. They've been waiting a long time and I really want this to happen for them. In fact, they're probably going to adopt a child who needs facial surgery due to a cleft palate/harelip.

[philosophie_en_rose]

7. Wouldn't a health and financial resource test be a more accurate test?

Many 50+ year olds are healthier than their younger counterparts.

Many single people are well-off. (and they'd have to be to adopt through a foreign country).

All they are ensuring is that children remain in cold orphanages.

[Vox Acerbus]

2. here you go

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/12/20/news/adopt.php

They're tightening health and "social" restrictions. (i.e. can't be obese, you have to be married, etc.)

[philosophie_en_rose]

4. It sucks.

Overweight people can't be parents? Older people can be parents? Please.

I don't think anyone incapable of caring for children should be able to adopt, but these blanket prohibitions are going to prevent Chinese children from being part of families that will love them - especially children with health problems.

[Greybnk48]

6. It's not good for many

If you go to CNN website and search china adoptions you will find the new criteria. I'm a computer dummy so I can't put it all here for you.

From memory:

The new restrictions take effect May 1st, so if anyone you know is well into the process of home visits, etc. they will be o.k. My daughter and her hubby are now out.

No single parent adoptions; no parents over 50; you must have a BMI of under 40 (the chinese frown on obesity), neither parent can be taking any medication or have been treated for depression or anxiety; no significant facial deformities (on the parents).


I don't think there was anything else. My daughter also told me the wait list for Great Wall adoptions just jumped to 2 1/2 years for her (Milw. WI).

They are advising people to try Vietnam or elsewhere.

[philosophie_en_rose]

8. Do they not realize that Angelina Jolie can only adopt so many children?

Wow.


How many people have been treated for anxiety?

or have some sort of facial blemish?

[Greybnk48]

9. Both my daughter and SNL have been treated

and now they no longer qualify as adoptive parents. They have been working on this for over a year. :-(

[philosophie_en_rose]

11. I'm sorry. China is making a mistake.

Perhaps they can try the Philippines. There are many, many children in need there.

http://www.gov.ph/faqs/adoption.asp

(the Philippines is not a secular country, but they aren't very particular).

[Greybnk48]

12. Thanks for the info

they were absolutely devastated last night. Her and her husband are both Jewish, so I hope that's not a problem.

[Midlodemocrat]

13. OMG. I'm so very, very sorry.

If they've been treated medicinally, perhaps they could get their doctor to indicate it was situational depression and not chronic.

Best wishes to you and them.

[Greybnk48]

14. Thanks Midlo

We'll start working on an alternative plan right away. A little grieving, but no moping.

[Torn_Scorned_Ignored]

10. No more rescues

of female babies. It's a humanitarian thing. :sarcasm: :grr:

[BlueGirlRedState]

15. Mom of two girls from China

My husband and I adopted our daughters from China in 1998 and 2003 after being turned down by the foster care system in the U.S. The China adoption yahoo groups are buzzing with this new info. I particularly hate to see the restriction on single parents. I personally know many, many single moms of Chinese children and they are great parents. One of the moms I know adopted two children (her second and third from China) after her husband was killed aboard Flt. 11. These restrictions would have ruled her out. I was divorced twice before my current marriage, and so these rules would have eliminated me also. (Currently married for 10 years.)For a good discussion of the changes, I recommend this blog: http://research-china.blogspot.com/

I have read on this blog in particular that there is an increase in domestic adoptions in China, which is a good thing, and squeezing the international adoptions will make more domestic adoptions possible. I hope so, but there are still many, many children in orphanages in China, and many orphanages that are not participating in international adoption. The bureaucracy in China, the CCAA -- China Center for Adoption Affairs -- cannot handle the workload.

[sinkingfeeling]

16. The news story I heard last night said that the number of Chinese children awaiting

adoption had plunged over the last two years. Partially due to the 'one child' policy and the rest due to international adoptions. They indicated that the supply of adoptable Chinese children was going down so fast that China believes domestic adoption will do it.