Valentines for Haiti

A big thank you from all of us at GWCA and CAN for sending love to the orphans in Haiti for Valentine’s Day! We sent over 200 valentine cards, stickers, and cake to the kids. Because of you, these kids spent Valentine’s Day feeling special and loved. Check out pictures of their Valentine’s celebrations below!

If you want to send something special to the kids in Haiti, it’s not too late! You can order a cake package for any occasion. For more ways to help the kids, please contact our Adoption Counselor Hilary at hilary@childrenofallnations.com.

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Intercountry Adoption Changes

Dear Families,

As you may already know, each adoption service provider (ASP) is licensed to process adoptions within their state, as well as accredited by the Department of State (DOS) via an approved accrediting entity. An accrediting entity effectively governs compliance with the Hague Convention rules and regulations, under the supervision of DOS. Since the inception of the Hague Convention, the accrediting entity governing compliance has been the Council on Accreditation (COA). Recently, due to conflicts with DOS centering on how ASPs should be overseen, COA has resigned from its role as an accrediting entity. In its stead, a new agency, Intercountry Adoption Accreditation and Maintenance Entity (IAAME), has been approved. The transition of duties is still taking place, but in the meantime new requirements have been announced and we would like to make everyone aware.

Last week, IAAME released its fee schedules for accreditation, monitoring, and oversight, which are applicable to every ASP currently operating. Included in this fee schedule is a “Monitoring & Oversight” fee of $500 per adoptive child that will be assessed on any new adoptive families contracted on or after February 15, 2018. GWCA/CAN (and all other APSs) will be required to report new adoptive families each month, and then pay this fee per family the following month. As this is a fee charged by IAAME (and approved by DOS), this is what we would call a “pass-through fee,” wherein GWCA/CAN is merely a third-party processor. We want to stress this fee is NOT charged by GWCA/CAN, nor does GWCA/CAN have any say in this fee moving forward other than the requirements of reporting and billing. This fee is non-refundable per IAAME.

Beginning February 15, any contracts signed will be assessed this fee. In addition to other fees due with the signing of your contract, you will need to remit payment for one child (or the first child, if intending to adopt multiple children). If you are a family intending to adopt two or more children, please note that you will not be required to pay the additional fees for each child until you accept the referral which will be unique to each family’s case.

We understand that additional fees in an adoption, especially those not expected, can be frustrating. For this reason, we would like to once again stress that this is not the choice GWCA/CAN (or any ASP). GWCA/CAN is following the directions of IAAME, who is operating at the direction of DOS. If you do have any questions, please feel free to contact your application case manager.

Sincerely,

Great Wall China Adoption/Children of All Nations

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Benefit for Burundi: 30 days to $3,000

UPDATE: We’re happy to announce that over $2,500 was raised in the fundraiser for the orphans in Burundi! Thank you to all of our supporters!

In 2017, we launched a Benefit for Burundi fundraiser in hopes of being able to help an orphanage in Burundi that is near and dear to our hearts. Unfortunately, this orphanage does not have any financial assistance. Because of this, they are many months behind in rent and have minimal supplies.

At the close of our last drive, we were able to send funds to help this orphanage pay rent, buy supplies and much more! However, the orphanage still needs our help. In our continued efforts to find something more sustainable for this orphanage, we are asking you to help us raise $3,000 in 30 days. All proceeds raised will go towards the orphanage’s needs.

By purchasing a shirt or making a contribution, YOU will directly be impacting the lives of many children who did not choose for this to be their story. Thank you for helping us help them!

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New Haiti Referral

We’re excited to announce that we received a referral for a family that’s adopting from Haiti (a 4-year-old girl)! A referral means that a child has been selected for a family, and it’s an incredible milestone in the adoption process. Congratulations to the family from all of us at CAN! The next step for them would be to travel to Haiti to meet and bond with their new little girl. We look forward to following the rest of their adoption journey!

Haiti Adoption

CAN’s Haiti adoption program has both a Healthy Track and a Waiting Child program. Our Healthy Track program gives families the opportunity to be matched with a medically healthy child, while the Waiting Child program helps find homes for older children, sibling groups, and children of all ages with special needs.

Each year there are a limited number of spots available in the Healthy Track program, and they typically fill up very quickly. We are now accepting applications for our 2018 program, so now is a great time to get started! If you’re interested in learning how you can be matched with a child through CAN’s Haiti adoption program, visit our website or contact our Haiti Adoption Counselor Hilary at hilary@childrenofallnations.com or 512-323-9595 ext. 3062.

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