Adoption Blog

Letter from Rachel

Updates

On Monday we traveled to Ambo, a town about an hour outside of Addis Ababa. It is such a beautiful drive out in the mountains and countryside.  We visited with an organization called New Hope Centerfor Children and Handicapped.  On their property they have a school and a residential facility for approximately 60 children.  The children are ages 5-12. We also visited an SOS orphanage, an organization that has orphanages all over Ethiopia.  Lastly, we visited the Kale Heywet church which is the sponsoring church for Compassion International.  They serve almost 300 children through this program, and we were able to play with the children for a bit.  All in all, it was a very fulfilling day!  Our vision is that these places will be great to take the Visiting Orphans mission teams.  We also visited another orphanage in Addis Ababa, and are hopeful to partner with them in placing orphans with their forever families.

Agency News

Hague Accredited!
America World is pleased to announce that we received notification on Friday from the Council on Accreditation that they have granted us Hague Accreditation. As you know the United States will implement the Hague Treaty on April 1st and our accreditation enables America World to continue to process adoptions in Hague countries (China and El Salvador, specifically). We thank God for His continued guidance and blessings on this agency as we seek to fulfill his call to help orphans. If you have any questions about the Accreditation please feel free to address them to your Family Coordinator or Program Director.

Orphan's Ticket Home Campaign

Buy a Ticket Home with your Tax Rebate
Have you heard about the Stimulus plan rebate that was recently passed by Congress?! This article suggests 10 tips for spending your tax rebate. The number 10 suggestion was to help poverty. Here's an idea!!! Why not take the extra money that the government will be issuing to you and help bring an orphan home to their forever family?! It only costs $300.00 to purchase a ticket home for one orphan.
Rebates are expected to be mailed to you by May. What a great way to use this unexpected bonus from the government! You can purchase a “ticket home” on America World's website at http://www.awaa.org/events/orphanstickethome.aspx.

Events

"Spirit of Adoption" Seminars
Seminars will be conducted on Friday, February 29th in San Antonio, TX and Saturday, March 1st in Camarillo, CA, Menifee, CA and Austin, TX. Next weekend, seminars will be held in St. Louis, MO; Denver, CO; Milwaukee, WI and Indianapolis, IN. We would like your help in getting the word out about these informational seminars. Talk to your church about promoting seminars near you via projected announcements, bulletin text and flyers. Also, be sure to invite those who may be interesting in adoption or wanting hear more about what God’s Word says about adoption! If you can distribute seminar promotion materials, please email our PR Department. You can get seminar details or register for a seminar near you at America World's Events page or by calling 888-ONE-CHILD.

China Program

Waiting Children Program:
The China Program is excited to announce that the “Special Needs Program” will now be called the “China Waiting Children Program.” This program title change better reflects the children available for adoption through China’s Special Needs Department. Children referred through this program may have special needs or may be a healthy older child. For more information, please see the previous "China Waiting Children Program" post.

Wait Time
The current wait time from LID to referral is 26-27 months with the trend of increasing by roughly a half to a full month every month.

China Waiting Children Program

Families in the Waiting Children Program received the Waiting Children Program Guidelines packet and all families in the China program received answers to frequently asked questions about the Waiting Children (WC) Program through the Weekly Encouragement. Families in the WC Program will continue to receive emails with updates on the program and announcements regarding referrals. As a result of the program’s name change, families should email waitingchildren@awaa.org for questions specific to the WC Program.

Also as a result of the program’s name change, the name of the Special Needs Yahoo chat group will change beginning Monday, March 3rd. The name of this Yahoo chat group will change from AWAA Special Needs to AWAA Waiting Children Yahoo chat group. America World families interested in joining this group can click on this link, click “join this group”, and follow the instructions: Families who received the Waiting Children Program Guidelines this week should note this change in the guidelines.

Ethiopia Program

Ethiopia Update
America World Received 2 referrals for the last week of February. The DTE (Dossier Submitted to Ethiopia date) for referrals in February is as follows.
Sibling group under 5: May 11, 2007
Female infant: July 18, 2007
Male Infant: September 20, 2007
Based on the new referrals, the wait time for infant girls is 7-9 months, for infant boys 5-7 months and the wait time for sibling group under five is 9-12 months.

Missions Trips
The last day to sign up for Visiting Orphans trips to Ethiopia is March 1! Sign up now by going to www.visitingorphans.org

El Salvador Program

This email went out to all current families this week from the Latin America Program Director, Christi Hicks:

Dearest Families,
Its with great sadness/excitement that I share some news with you. The sad part is that on March 14, 2008 I will be leaving America World. I’ve served with America World for 3 years exactly and am thrilled to see all the Lord has done in and through me in my time here. I feel that serving all of you in your adoption process has allowed me to grow in ways with the Lord that I never imagined. I will continue to pray with you and for your adoptions as you bring your long-awaited little ones home.
The exciting part is that I will be moving to Orlando, Florida to take the position of Executive Director with Identity for Children. I am excited to see how the Lord will allow my gifts and talents to best be used in this position as well as how he will continue to grow and stretch me for the sake of his kingdom and the least of the least.
I’m leaving you in quite capable hands. For those currently in the Latin America program, Katie Spencer, who has been the Post Placement/Intake Administrative Assistant for almost two years will split her responsibilities as the El Salvador Family Coordinator and Post Placement Coordinator beginning March 17, 2008 while Susan Maines will retain direction of the Latin America program.
Know that it has been such a blessing to serve and spend time with each of you in your journey.
Many blessings.

Christi Hicks

Kazakhstan Program

America World continues to have two families in country completing their required bonding time. America World has not heard any further information on the potential slow down due to post placement reviews. It appears that the risk of any significant effects of the post placement review may be lessening.

Russia Program

America World currently has six families in Russia; four finalizing their adoptions and two in country for their first trip. Another America World family accepted their referral for a girl and will be traveling next week. America World continues to see movement among the various regions and will keep families informed with any news or progress. America World would like to ask for prayer for the staff in country as they work to provide referrals, travel, and court dates for families.
America World would strongly encourage families seeking to adopt boys to apply for the Russia program.